Urban Voids

Handout 3
Project: Urban Voids
Site: Marshall Town
Horizon Line: Small Street
Boundary: Market, Von Weilligh Rosettenville, Eloff + M2.

A
Mapping

Read the city as solids and voids. What different solids and voids can you find? Group them, name them, describe their characteristics (ex: public space, informal taxi rank, street and sidewalk, private garden, parking lot etc). Use illustration and text.
Analyze the site and its solids and voids critically in terms of

- sizes
- accessibility
- timetable (when is it used most, when least, by whom)
- context (built form framing the streetscape – height, proximity to sidewalk)
- programme (commerce, offices, residential, educational…)
- formal- informal business
- sidewalk and street: materials and quality
- public furniture (what is there, how is it used, does it work)
- safety
- greenery
- maintenance (is it clean?)
- public – private spaces
- actors and agents (who is using the area and who is responsible for what – economics, control, safety and others)

Point out positive and negative qualities. Use text and illustrations.

Extend and review the toolkit you developed in the previous project that planners/ urban designers/ architects can use as a guideline to design the infrastructure/ spatial backdrop for good street life/ urban voids. (Text and illustrations.)

B
Beyond Mapping

Apply your toolkit/ local code to the indicated area in Marshalltown.
Focus
The primary focus will be Small Street profile. Take cognizance of Small Street from Bree to Commissioner as a pedestrian realm. These clues, along with the greater site context should be the main generator of what can + will be Small Street South of Commissioner, stemming from the Carlton Centre.

Schedule
Thu 6 August
2 Urban Voids
Hand Out

Mo 10 August
University closed

Tue 11 August
2 Urban Voids
Pin Up Presentation

Thu 13 August
2 Urban Voids
Feedback
Mapping

Mo 17 August
2 Urban Voids
Crit
Urban Design Outline

Tue 18 August
2 Urban Voids
Pin Up Presentation
Urban Design Outline

Thu 20 August
2 Urban Voids
Urban Design Outline
Feedback

Mo 24 August
2 Urban Voids
Urban Design Outline
Crit

Tue 25 August
2 Urban Voids
Presentation/ Hand In

Thu 27 August
2 Urban Voids
Feedback/ Hand Out City after Soccer