PRINCIPLES & ETHICAL VALUES 

As all qualities of urban life are dependent on their relationship with natural systems, it is essential to the growth of humanity (and urbanity) that the continued functioning and quality of the natural environment and its resources is maintained. Thus, the ethic is rooted in the very rational understanding that people and the natural environment in which we live, are totally inter-dependent. 

By adopting this holistic approach, as a founding principle, overlaid by a humanist or people centred approach, the interventions for CAMISSA acknowledge society collectively as the client of the programme. This reflects the core values of equality in environmental, spatial and social justice for all.

* It is a legal requirement of the Development Facilitation Act (1995), that all spatial planning be informed by the norms set out in section 3 of the Act. The Land Use Bill adheres to this approach and established the principles of ‘sustainability, equality, efficiency, integration and the principle of fair and good governance’ to guide development. To guide the spatial development of CAMISSA, these principles have been defined and elaborated on, to include derived principles. For more information on the derived principles, see here.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES 

As all qualities of urban life are dependent on their relationship with natural systems, it is essential to the growth of humanity (and urbanity) that the continued functioning and quality of the natural environment and its resources is maintained. Thus, the ethic is rooted in the very rational understanding that people and the natural environment in which we live, are totally inter-dependent.

By adopting this wholistic approach, as a founding principle, overlaid by a humanist or people centred approach, the interventions for RECLAIM CAMISSA acknowledge society collectively as the client of the programme. This reflects the core values of equality in environmental, spatial and social justice - for all.

* It is a legal requirement of the Development Facilitation Act (1995), that all spatial planning be informed by the norms set out in section 3 of the Act. The Land Use Bill adheres to this approach and established the principles of ‘sustainability, equality, efficiency, integration and the principle of fair and good governance’, to guide development. 

To guide the spatial development of CAMISSA, these principles have been defined and elaborated on to include derived principles.

PRINCIPLES FOR PERFORMANCE

The relationship between humankind and the land needs to be controlled, through the balance of primeval, rural and urban environments. Environmentalists prescribe a one-third split. This, as has been proved would ensure bio-diversity and sustainable development. If ecological laws are violated, there is little hope for social planning, based on a belief in the rational relationship between human beings and the environment. It is thus vital that the environment structures any development, based on the notion that landscape should be the chief consideration.

Landscapes can be interpreted on many levels - landscape as nature, habitat, artefact, system, problem, wealth, ideology, history, memory, place and aesthetic. The attempt to derive meaning from landscapes possesses overwhelming virtue, as it keeps us constantly alert to the world around us, demanding that we pay attention not just to some of the things around us but to all of them - the whole visible world in all of its complexity. The balance between the contextual freedom and constraint provides the essence to the quality of the built environment and thus its performance.

The role of landscape architecture in the upliftment of urban environments is not made through the introduction of greenery; its greatest contribution lies in the manner in which cities are ordered, space is defined and through the emphasis upon qualitative rather than quantitative space being distributed throughout a settlement. As such - landscape form should influence development, with events such as landform, ground conditions or water reinforced in structuring the local area and thus providing a natural sense of place - recognising this uniqueness of different environments provides a local identity.

The qualitative measure of primary urban qualities which contribute to the functioning and good performance of urban environments and specifically that of the public realm, need to be measured across scale according to the functioning and needs of space, place, and structure - this creates an evaluative base in which urban policy, plans and physical manifestation can be rooted. These overlap and it is in their commonality that the public realm exists.

SPACE
The natural system of light, air, geology, topography, soil, water, climate and ecology are responsible for the sense of place and are the main components of landscape design. From green open space system, to agriculture, to field, to park, to public square, to street, and the so called ‘left over space’; to garden and to courtyard – they all derive their unique sense of place as a result, primarily from a sensitive response to the natural environment. In "Genus Locii," Norberg-Schulz pointed out that ‘the basic act of design is to understand the vocation of a place and in this way protect the Earth and become ourselves part of a comprehensive totality’. Thus, for the purposes of measuring the qualitative performance of space, let us define it as meaning the natural system in all its contexts of locational and temporal spatial realms, incorporating both green open space and public urban space. And remember that "the importance of space lies in its enclosed entity". (Cammillo Sitte, 1889)

PLACE  ‘a place is a space which has a distinct character’ - Norberg-Schulz
Lynch defined the sense of place as being, primarily dependant on landscape, topography and climate. A sense of place may be achieved by responding to the larger scale elements of geology, hydrology, climate and ecology. These factors should dictate with regard to siting, design, construction methods, technologies and materials and thus aid in creating a more sustainable development, while fostering a sense of regionalism so important to identity and belonging. The clues to be found in the historic settlement patterns of the region or in the relic elements that have survived provide one with a sense of the charm that once made sense of the place.

Norburg-Schulz explained that, existential space is divided into the complimentary terms ‘space’ and ‘character’, in accordance with the basic psychic functions of ‘orientation’ and ‘identification’. Space has to be formed and defined, in order to be given quality – to become a place. 

Lynch described the design of place as being constructed through spatial form, temporal form, sequences, visibility, ambient qualities, sensing, materials, details, information, and concluded that openness is not only a product of physical character, but also of access, ownership and management. Thus, for the purposes of measuring the qualitative performance of place, let us define its meaning as the built form, green open space, public urban space, and include space defining elements and how the edges are created - whether they be horizontal or vertical, as well as place making elements, such as items of cultural heritage, or civic hydrology that provide the clues to the cultural landscape. 

STRUCTURE (NETWORK AND INTERSECTION)
In "Genus Locii," Norburg-Schulz describes the primary elements of urbanity as public spaces, movement nodes, institutions, facilities and utility infrastructure, linked by streets. Common to streets and spaces is that they can have identities beyond the purely functional aspects of movement and gathering. Where streets are the linkages or ‘web of links’ - the common element, and where spaces or 'nodes', are the special places of public expression and celebration – the ‘array of centres’. These are defined by regional, metropolitan and local spatial realms and are defined by nature itself; and places are defined by locational, structural and functional order. The order reflects an understanding about the way people live and requires a repeated set of links between ‘purpose’ and ‘function’ and ‘space’.

In the South African context, Apartheid planning had the unequal treatment of people as its underlying premise, this manifest itself in the segregated physical form and subsequent unequal distribution of resources, facilities and opportunities. This was further exacerbated by Modernism’s functional segregation, and resulted in inefficient urban patterns that stress already marginalised residents, infrastructure and the environment. Thus, to represent the public good is to direct urban patterns so as to provide a life of pride and dignity in public urban places for all people. The manner in which the urban realm (the public spaces) are made is vital if the environment is to have legibility for it is this space that carries the public spirit. Landscape Architecture does much to promote these, and thus a balanced hierarchical clarity of structure (at all scales) enables a range of opportunities and promotes integration and multi-functionality, and possibilities for public and private identity. Thus, for the purposes of measuring the qualitative performance of the structure, let us define its meaning as that of built form, green open space, public urban space, locational spatial realms, movement hierarchy, institutions, facilities, economic generators and housing.

CRITERIA FOR PERFORMANCE

SAFETY
Acknowledgement of safety as a quality of life is important at all scales and has various applications, as safety provides an element of ‘partaking’ – vital to the experience of space.

Safety is regarded in terms of where not to occupy space - thus the protection from natural or human induced hazards, including the destruction of bio-diversity necessary for sustainable development and pollution; and it implies the safety of healthy environments (eg. cleansing and water management); shelter from harsh climatic conditions; safety from traffic and security through surveillance. By ensuring the protection of the natural environment, (waterways, ecology, resources, good land for agriculture, and  open green space systems) and by siting in accordance with the elements (appropriate orientation provides protection, comfort and efficiency) we ensure the primary aspects of safety. 

A determination of how well a place is connected to other resources or areas of urban development, for the benefits of exchange and other opportunities for well being, are all aspects of the principle of safety. Positive public spaces are conducive social environments. And the design of spaces that encourage communal responsibility ensures safety - as ownership is created through providing territoriality and defensible space. Spaces are defensible if communities or individuals can control them.  Safety implies a visually and functionally ordered and ‘controlled’ environment, thus free of pollution, noise, congestion, accidents, crime and disease. The built environment can play a positive role in establishing identity, and identification with the environment increases a sense of responsibility to others and to the space. The need is, to ensure safety on the environmental level and to create measures of visibility and surveillance through the urban form. Opportunities for passive surveillance improved with greater visibility; multi-functional land-use ensuring longer hours of use all give rise to the complexity and diversity needed to create this quality in the lives of citizens. 

On a local level, safety is considered through the careful placing of openings; distances between buildings; the location and size of public spaces; and the typology and function of buildings and spaces within a community. Provision of adequate lighting after dark, and the treatment of streets as public spaces all need to be created in ways to ensure safety. 

SUSTAINABILITY
“......meeting present day human needs, without compromising the ability future generations require to meet their own needs. That could only be by sustaining the resource and ecological base for human activities indefinitely. That requires no depletion or degradation of environmental capital in the form of finite stock of non-renewable resources and renewable natural sink capacity.” - Brundtland, 1987. 

Sustainability is a way of using resources (energy, air, land and water) and the ecological base that will leave some over for future generations. Hughes described an ecosystem as the totality of living things and non-living things on an area of the Earth's surface, interacting to produce a characteristic flow of energy and cycling materials. The concept of sustainability is applied to ecological sustainability, primarily as meeting these ideals, would automatically achieve sustainability of human activity, since human life is dependent on it. 

The advantages of sustainability are in terms of humankind's basic existential needs and public health. The goals are in terms of minimizing the use or waste of non-renewable resources; sustainable use of renewable resources; and in keeping the wastes generated by urban producers and consumers within the absorptive capacity of local, regional and global sinks. The aim is to meet the human needs in each city, rather than the pooled regional resources needed by both producers and consumers.

Resource management is central to this issue. Whilst renewable resources (vegetation) are self-maintaining and self-producing and are available indefinitely, if not exploited; replenishable resources (land, air and water) are resources that can recover after being heavily downgraded in quality; and non-renewable resources (minerals), which have no biological origin, like renewable resources but are physical and chemical assets that exist in finite quantities. Metabolic requirements of cities are the materials and commodities needed to sustain the inhabitants at home, work and at play. This impacts on the number of people that can be supported indefinitely in a given context without exploiting the ecosystems productivity, upon which we are dependent. 

Sustainability implies the efficient use of resources - natural, financial or human. Sustainability depends on local renewable resources with high levels of efficiency in the management of ecology and pollution, implying recycling and re-use of urban waste. Energy efficiency of buildings would be a requirement of safety as well as sustainability and thus appropriate local materials should be used for building and intervention, in a sustainable manner. Sustainable development comes to mean development that would allow for continuity, and thus by implication - economic sustainability and maintenance are inclusive.

INTEGRATION / EQUITY / ACCESS / CHOICE
The principle of integration as described in the Land Use Bill, requires more elaboration as the pre-condition for integration and access has not been defined. As stated in the Muni-SDF, “the city is currently inequitable and not integrated precisely because people do not have equitable access to the natural and urban opportunities, which it offers.” (Muni-SDF, 1999:20) In order to achieve access in an equitable manner, the city needs to be integrated.

The term does not mean that all parts of the city should be the same or have exactly the same opportunities and facilities. This is not achievable or desirable. It is not possible because a characteristic of urban systems is that more collective activities tend to group themselves together for mutual benefit, at the most accessible locations in the city. 

A characteristic of positive urban environments is that they provide for choice, particularly in terms of location, lifestyle and affordability. While, if the principles of celebration are applied, no two areas can or should ever be the same. Thus, equity ensures that all people have easy access to a broadly similar range of opportunities – choice. These are thus inter-dependant criteria.

INTEGRATION is a synthesis of place and nature of space, structure, and public realm and thus performs a variety of functions and promotes diversity, complexity and multi-functionality through the experience of that space. Rather than separating functions or activities - these need to overlap or be integrated. Positive integration of public, industrial, commercial and residential fabric and even income groups provides safety and balance within an urban environment

EQUITY of space relates to that of the natural and urban environments ensuring balance, especially where ecosystems are concerned. And implying that the opportunity to experience the benefits of urban life, are available to all; to ensure that no individuals or groups are unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged over others and that all people have access to the full range of urban opportunity; including open space.

ACCESS and convenience are created and influenced by the spatial configuration of structuring elements in an urban community. A strong hierarchical framework to access in the physical form is necessary, to create continuities and access at all scales and for legibility. 

The location and layout of facilities need to be considered in respect of movement structuring. It is vital that these are efficient, in that the minimum effort results in the maximum performance, therefore that they are permeable and adaptable. Primarily movement defines structural patterns of accessibility, and thus the layout of roads, streets and pathways should meet the needs of pedestrian circulation.  

CHOICE provides freedom (of choice) of all that urban environments have to offer. This, in turn generates complexity, diversity, intensity and the range between them.


CELEBRATION  'the city as a work of art’
Lastly, it must be remembered that even the poorest of people come to the city not only to work, but also to celebrate life. Hence the concept of the 'sense of place' becomes central. It celebrates and recognises the uniqueness of different environments and different cultures. People are said to stay rooted in places that have a strong local identity. The distinctive qualities of a region - be they natural, cultural or physical need to be endowed with recognition. This leads to the growing recognition of diversity and difference, whereby a range of needs and cultural expression are identified. The resultant experience in the city is one of dignity. 

Celebration calls for the reinforcement of the natural features, thereby creating places to celebrate life. It frames focal points, demarcates entrances, defines edges and creates identity within neighbourhoods, through public spaces and public art. The quality of an urban area which is alive, and vibrant and which constantly supports activity is rooted in dignity and gentility. 

Celebration in its transient form generates economic activity. In its physical manifestation, celebration is required to demarcate use and function of public areas through beautiful details. This expression of identity within an urban environment leads to legibility and clarity.

CAMISSA provides ample opportunity for celebration, and in particular, the celebration of water as a focal theme, since it is the very raison d’etre, for settlement at the Cape. The planning; development and design process of CAMISSA reflects all of these principled considerations in terms of their capacity to affect 'space', 'place' and 'structure' of the environment. To further the development of CAMISSA, an important factor must be public participation, as public participation is vital to the success of any proposal.

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