TEDx CAPE TOWN: Reclaiming Camissa
CAMISSA describes an innovative approach to the reclamation of a unique Water system, that currently flows beneath the city, by reclaiming the ‘lost spaces’ associated with the waterways that flowed through the urban landscape, into a public landscape and a pedestrian structure for the central city. By restructuring the city according to environmental principles and creative urban planning interventions, reinstating watercourses, rehabilitating and celebrating the remnants and elements of Water utility infrastructure embedded within the urban fabric and linking these into a web of accessible public precincts, it becomes an interconnected series of 'places’ where Water functions within the public realm. As a series of places, where the public can gather it becomes a progressive, living system – and thus an effective mechanism for building the city’s civic life; and a sustainable Water management strategy. With the backing of scientific knowledge this paves the way for real development to take place within the community, the eco-system and the broader living environment. As a Hydro-Spatial Development Framework which, through the use of Water, the system focuses on the re-instatement of the socio-ecological link, that reunites the mountain and the ocean in Cape Town.
The vision is one of a genuinely progressive Water management strategy that offers opportunities for new models to transform the future wellbeing of the city into an equal society for all people; and allows for public integration and education through the recreational use of the system. The approach brings real transformation highlights, challenging the narrow technological approach to addressing sustainability issues. The application of the concept of civic hydrology enables the reclamation of the public landscape and cultural identity of the city, giving meaning to the ancient name of the city - 'the place of sweet waters.'
It is our intention to affect a sustainable approach to Water use, planning, design and management to be put in place, that is based on the intrinsic value of Water as a significant public resource - not separate from the value of land and landscape. And that society be made mindful of the role of Water in the city landscape; and that public and private institutions that manage water and associated public assets will realise that the business as usual approach to Water and land management is unsustainable.
One day, the people of Cape Town will gather around the common heritage of CAMISSA, the very waters that defined the location of the city, reflecting the public past and embracing a new civic infrastructure, inspired by a deliberate recognition and respect for the social, cultural and ecological significance of this Water. Linking the past with the present, to develop a different model for our future, by connecting people to this vital resource, to celebrate the Water that links mountain to sea, past to future, and people to the environment.
The vision is one of a genuinely progressive Water management strategy that offers opportunities for new models to transform the future wellbeing of the city into an equal society for all people; and allows for public integration and education through the recreational use of the system. The approach brings real transformation highlights, challenging the narrow technological approach to addressing sustainability issues. The application of the concept of civic hydrology enables the reclamation of the public landscape and cultural identity of the city, giving meaning to the ancient name of the city - 'the place of sweet waters.'
It is our intention to affect a sustainable approach to Water use, planning, design and management to be put in place, that is based on the intrinsic value of Water as a significant public resource - not separate from the value of land and landscape. And that society be made mindful of the role of Water in the city landscape; and that public and private institutions that manage water and associated public assets will realise that the business as usual approach to Water and land management is unsustainable.
One day, the people of Cape Town will gather around the common heritage of CAMISSA, the very waters that defined the location of the city, reflecting the public past and embracing a new civic infrastructure, inspired by a deliberate recognition and respect for the social, cultural and ecological significance of this Water. Linking the past with the present, to develop a different model for our future, by connecting people to this vital resource, to celebrate the Water that links mountain to sea, past to future, and people to the environment.
INTRODUCTION
CAMISSA is the reclamation and restoration of the ‘lost spaces’ associated with the waters that once gave rise to a settlement at the tip of Africa, providing a pedestrian structure for the central city - where Water will be reclaimed and once again function within the city space.
By linking the series of green and urban open spaces associated with the Water system and its utility infrastructure into a web of physically accessible public spaces, it becomes an interconnected series of ‘places’ where Water is reclaimed, recycled, re-used, re-instated and functions to revitalise the city and urban public life.
The system encompasses the harvesting of the Water resources, reinstates the watercourses and celebrates the elements and remnants of the old heritage Water utility infrastructure, together with the provision of new features. Environmental and cultural education will thus be attained in an interactive way, through public engagement in civic hydrology.
Public awareness will be raised and enhanced with ‘place making elements’ of this cultural landscape, spreading the consciousness of Water and creating a myriad of opportunities for recreation and other civic resources. Environmental and cultural education, by engaging the public interactively within the system will allow for transformation and social integration through the recreational value of the scheme. This will facilitate an increased inclusiveness in the city; and make it a more welcoming place for all the region's residents and visitors.
The reclamation of this vital Water resource alone, make the project viable to implement as a truly sustainable initiative, adding value to serve as a ‘laboratory’ - an open-air Water museum, exhibiting our natural and cultural heritage - giving meaning to the ancient name for the city, CAMISSA - 'the place of sweet waters'.
By linking the series of green and urban open spaces associated with the Water system and its utility infrastructure into a web of physically accessible public spaces, it becomes an interconnected series of ‘places’ where Water is reclaimed, recycled, re-used, re-instated and functions to revitalise the city and urban public life.
The system encompasses the harvesting of the Water resources, reinstates the watercourses and celebrates the elements and remnants of the old heritage Water utility infrastructure, together with the provision of new features. Environmental and cultural education will thus be attained in an interactive way, through public engagement in civic hydrology.
Public awareness will be raised and enhanced with ‘place making elements’ of this cultural landscape, spreading the consciousness of Water and creating a myriad of opportunities for recreation and other civic resources. Environmental and cultural education, by engaging the public interactively within the system will allow for transformation and social integration through the recreational value of the scheme. This will facilitate an increased inclusiveness in the city; and make it a more welcoming place for all the region's residents and visitors.
The reclamation of this vital Water resource alone, make the project viable to implement as a truly sustainable initiative, adding value to serve as a ‘laboratory’ - an open-air Water museum, exhibiting our natural and cultural heritage - giving meaning to the ancient name for the city, CAMISSA - 'the place of sweet waters'.
Map by Caron von Zeil.
OVERVIEW
RECLAIM CAMISSA is a Public Benefit Organisation (Non-Profit Trust), which provides a stewardship for the waters that flow from Table Mountain to the Atlantic Ocean. The programme's main aim is to reclaim Cape Town’s central city connection to the water, ensuring that the public is able to enjoy the right to this water; and that the water remain in good ecological health. The significance of this water goes beyond the central City of Cape Town as it seeks to demonstrate a sustainable approach to water management, which has applicability internationally.
RECLAIM CAMISSA functions as a mechanism to raise funds and support the implementation of the vision that is CAMISSA. The organisation has designed a sequence of projects, which can be rolled out systematically, which capture the full range of historical, cultural, heritage, social, economic, educational and place-making potentials associated with the water resource in a holistic, integrated and coordinated manner. While there is an implementation programme, the power of the programme lies in its totality.
CAMISSA is a Spatial Development Framework (SDF), which through the use of water, focuses on the reinstatement of the socio-ecological link that reunites the mountain and the ocean, into a public landscape - as a sustainable solution for Cape Town's central city. The framework is comprised of a series of systematic structural maps for the integration of natural and urban layers of the city. This system re-structures the city according to environmental principles; and establishes integrated and flexible urban development around the natural resource of water. Thus, enabling us to rise and meet future environmental challenges in a city no longer water secure by 2015.
The aim is that a sustainable approach to water use, planning, design and management would be put in place that is based on the intrinsic value of water as a significant public resource that is not separate from the value of land and landscape. Society would have been made mindful of the role of water in the city landscape; and both public and private institutions that manage water and associated public assets would realise that the business as usual approach to water and land management is unsustainable. The vision is one of a genuinely progressive dual water management strategy that offers opportunities for new models to transform the future wellbeing of the city into an equal society for all people; and allows for public integration and education through the recreational use of the system.
Cape Town is at an impasse in terms of social direction - struggling to shed the damaging social engineering of our more recent Apartheid past, and current political leadership has failed to inspire the citizenry with a new vision. CAMISSA is an inspiration for a new way of looking at urban infrastructure at a time when Cape Town sorely needs social and economic transformation. Reclaiming CAMISSA has the capacity to link the past with the present so we can develop a different model for the future. It is a way to take the city forward, to overcome its social limitations, by drawing from its ecological and cultural roots. The project has the potential to address a wide array of urban challenges through a single-minded focus on one element of the city: its water resources. Through extensive research, RECLAIM CAMISSA has unearthed aspects of the past that illustrate how the springs and streams were part of city life, culture, religion, work, play, ritual and connectedness. By restoring these water resources and creating projects around them that reintegrate them with urban life, stories of healing and celebration, of sharing and connection are revealed.
RECLAIM CAMISSA functions as a mechanism to raise funds and support the implementation of the vision that is CAMISSA. The organisation has designed a sequence of projects, which can be rolled out systematically, which capture the full range of historical, cultural, heritage, social, economic, educational and place-making potentials associated with the water resource in a holistic, integrated and coordinated manner. While there is an implementation programme, the power of the programme lies in its totality.
CAMISSA is a Spatial Development Framework (SDF), which through the use of water, focuses on the reinstatement of the socio-ecological link that reunites the mountain and the ocean, into a public landscape - as a sustainable solution for Cape Town's central city. The framework is comprised of a series of systematic structural maps for the integration of natural and urban layers of the city. This system re-structures the city according to environmental principles; and establishes integrated and flexible urban development around the natural resource of water. Thus, enabling us to rise and meet future environmental challenges in a city no longer water secure by 2015.
The aim is that a sustainable approach to water use, planning, design and management would be put in place that is based on the intrinsic value of water as a significant public resource that is not separate from the value of land and landscape. Society would have been made mindful of the role of water in the city landscape; and both public and private institutions that manage water and associated public assets would realise that the business as usual approach to water and land management is unsustainable. The vision is one of a genuinely progressive dual water management strategy that offers opportunities for new models to transform the future wellbeing of the city into an equal society for all people; and allows for public integration and education through the recreational use of the system.
Cape Town is at an impasse in terms of social direction - struggling to shed the damaging social engineering of our more recent Apartheid past, and current political leadership has failed to inspire the citizenry with a new vision. CAMISSA is an inspiration for a new way of looking at urban infrastructure at a time when Cape Town sorely needs social and economic transformation. Reclaiming CAMISSA has the capacity to link the past with the present so we can develop a different model for the future. It is a way to take the city forward, to overcome its social limitations, by drawing from its ecological and cultural roots. The project has the potential to address a wide array of urban challenges through a single-minded focus on one element of the city: its water resources. Through extensive research, RECLAIM CAMISSA has unearthed aspects of the past that illustrate how the springs and streams were part of city life, culture, religion, work, play, ritual and connectedness. By restoring these water resources and creating projects around them that reintegrate them with urban life, stories of healing and celebration, of sharing and connection are revealed.
MISSION
RECLAIM CAMISSA aims to implement a programme that will allow people to gather around the common heritage of CAMISSA - the very waters that defined the location of Cape Town, reflecting the public past and embracing a new civic infrastructure. This time inspired by a deliberate recognition and respect for the social, cultural, and ecological significance of this water.
RECLAIM CAMISSA will have put in place the infrastructure to connect people to this vital resource, with beautiful parks; pedestrian walkways; and urban public places by celebrating the waters that link mountain to sea, past to future, and people to the environment.
RECLAIM CAMISSA will have put in place the infrastructure to connect people to this vital resource, with beautiful parks; pedestrian walkways; and urban public places by celebrating the waters that link mountain to sea, past to future, and people to the environment.
OBJECTIVES
• To encourage, support, promote, collaborate and raise funds that will reclaim “the place of sweet waters” - thus securing our vital natural resource, our past / heritage and our future / destiny.
• To increase access to water as a scarce economic resource and assist in reducing pressure on the Greater Cape Town Municipal Area's water resources.
• To implement the development of the framework through institutional and civic collaboration, to advance an effective and sustainable system for the socio-ecological link of Cape Town’s central city.
• To differentiate a new spatial order, by restructuring the city in accordance with environmental principles, which regard the importance of natural resources. Thus re-instating the ecosystem link from the mountain to the sea to meet performance criteria for sustainability and bio-diversity.
• To advocate for the preservation, restoration, and transformation of the environmental and historical heritage of the lost spaces associated with the water system, into a web of public landscapes where people will be enabled to learn about our past, present and our future in an integrated way.
• To link natural, cultural and public urban environments with the utility infrastructure associated with the water system and to secure their value as functional, recreational and educational resources through the creation of a cultural landscape where social integration; and upliftment opportunities are integral to the programme.
• To address not only waste, pollution and re-use of water and land, but also to provide the clean energy (local scale hydro-electric) required to irrigate urban landscaping and power the lighting for the city's public spaces.
• To provide an essentially vehicular free, continuous open public space and maximise opportunities for water navigation in order to reduce the carbon footprint.
• To enact public awareness by co-ordinating, facilitating and implementing an environmental and cultural education campaign, that will capture the imagination of the public and provide interactive public education, through the recreational use of the system.
• To re-instate the sense of place that has been lost by vertical development, which has forced water underground into stormwater pipes and sewers and allow this to structure new development, based on issues around 'place', 'identity' and 'integrated settlement'.
• Develop and restore the ‘lost spaces’, enhancing the physical environment with sustainable and economical irrigation of green spaces and urban planting, so that property values along the edges increase.
• To assist in providing opportunities for collaboration between civic groups, stakeholders and other interested parties, ensuring that the design of the project facilitates increased inclusiveness in the city.
• To promote and collaborate to reclaim not only the vital natural resource, its associated land and utility infrastructure, but also the associated cultural landscape; through the implementation of key projects as ‘bite size chunks’ of the program.
• To enhance the tourism value of city through the provision of a link from mountain to sea - with Table Mountain as One of the New Wonders of Nature and Robben Island, a World Heritage site; and through the provision of related public information. To promote these sites as places of interest to both Capetonians and visitors, activating these spaces with installation and performance art that tell the cultural stories associated with the water.
• To procure funds for the ongoing expenses in attaining the objectives of the organisation.
• To increase access to water as a scarce economic resource and assist in reducing pressure on the Greater Cape Town Municipal Area's water resources.
• To implement the development of the framework through institutional and civic collaboration, to advance an effective and sustainable system for the socio-ecological link of Cape Town’s central city.
• To differentiate a new spatial order, by restructuring the city in accordance with environmental principles, which regard the importance of natural resources. Thus re-instating the ecosystem link from the mountain to the sea to meet performance criteria for sustainability and bio-diversity.
• To advocate for the preservation, restoration, and transformation of the environmental and historical heritage of the lost spaces associated with the water system, into a web of public landscapes where people will be enabled to learn about our past, present and our future in an integrated way.
• To link natural, cultural and public urban environments with the utility infrastructure associated with the water system and to secure their value as functional, recreational and educational resources through the creation of a cultural landscape where social integration; and upliftment opportunities are integral to the programme.
• To address not only waste, pollution and re-use of water and land, but also to provide the clean energy (local scale hydro-electric) required to irrigate urban landscaping and power the lighting for the city's public spaces.
• To provide an essentially vehicular free, continuous open public space and maximise opportunities for water navigation in order to reduce the carbon footprint.
• To enact public awareness by co-ordinating, facilitating and implementing an environmental and cultural education campaign, that will capture the imagination of the public and provide interactive public education, through the recreational use of the system.
• To re-instate the sense of place that has been lost by vertical development, which has forced water underground into stormwater pipes and sewers and allow this to structure new development, based on issues around 'place', 'identity' and 'integrated settlement'.
• Develop and restore the ‘lost spaces’, enhancing the physical environment with sustainable and economical irrigation of green spaces and urban planting, so that property values along the edges increase.
• To assist in providing opportunities for collaboration between civic groups, stakeholders and other interested parties, ensuring that the design of the project facilitates increased inclusiveness in the city.
• To promote and collaborate to reclaim not only the vital natural resource, its associated land and utility infrastructure, but also the associated cultural landscape; through the implementation of key projects as ‘bite size chunks’ of the program.
• To enhance the tourism value of city through the provision of a link from mountain to sea - with Table Mountain as One of the New Wonders of Nature and Robben Island, a World Heritage site; and through the provision of related public information. To promote these sites as places of interest to both Capetonians and visitors, activating these spaces with installation and performance art that tell the cultural stories associated with the water.
• To procure funds for the ongoing expenses in attaining the objectives of the organisation.
in Association with
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ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED by THE RECLAIM CAMISSA TRUST No. IT 2882/2010.
This is a citizen-scientist open source database. By acknowledging and referencing the source, you are welcome to use the material and information provided here for the common good.
This is a citizen-scientist open source database. By acknowledging and referencing the source, you are welcome to use the material and information provided here for the common good.
