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Alliance for Sustainable Urban Development in Africa

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Urban Accelerator Bellville

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Urban Accelerator Bellville

Urban Accelerator Bellville

Location: Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
Project type: Integrated Concept design for 2nd Public Transport Hub of Cape Town
Year: 2017
Client: City of Cape Town
Consortium partners: VE-R, MOVE Mobility, BKVV

The City of Cape Town had pointed various locations in the urban fabric of the metropolis to become ‘catalytic projects’. These projects should help inclusive development forward at several areas. To find out whether this location could play such a role a series of workshops with city staff and various stakeholders had first of all answer the question: Could this opportunity area become an urban Accelerator?

The area of Bellville is one of the catalytic project locations. In this area the 2nd largest train station in the Cape region is located. It sits besides the centre of the former old village which was connected via a long straight road (Voortrekker Road), and functioned as the intermediate stop from the city centre towards the Stellenbosch hills. Nowadays the Bellville area is fully emerged in the urban fabric. Still the potentials to grow as a strong second node of the metropolis has not been grasped fully. The teams analysis led to the conclusion that an integral vision for the area of which the Bellville station is the centre, is needed. In a series of ‘pressure cooker workshops’ with all professionals involved the contours of a Transit Oriented Development model appeared for Bellville. The position of the station is the perfect accelerator for all sides of the site and stretched over an area of influence much larger than the current CBD for instance.

The vast open and unused spaces around the station are typical for the Cape Town metropolis urban fabric. These need to be inversed and become the drivers of change for this area. Secondly the existing infrastructure needs to be used differently. Instead of investing in very expensive car infrastructure, which will contribute to only more car traffic, the train station needs to be more intensively connected to other mobility functions to create an efficient passenger transit hub. Therefore, a platform above the railway tracks is proposed which can be linked to the existing elevated expressway to accommodate taxis, buses and minibuses with a passenger concourse in the middle connecting the railway below with the other transport means on the sides of the platform. By bending the concourse to the ground floor levels a smooth connection to the existing old village centre can be made and the unused railway yards on the other side can be unlocked.

This Concept design for a masterplan process was welcomed positively by representatives of the City and PRASA (Rail authority of South Africa and owner of the station).                                      

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VE-R

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VE-R

VE-R is an office for landscape architecture and urbanism based in Haarlem, the Netherlands. More than 20 years of working together in different settings, Berrie van Elderen and Remco Rolvink have strengthened their collaboration by starting VE-R. The office designs projects within and outside Europe, including the Netherlands and Belgium but also African countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria, as part of DASUDA (Dutch Alliance for Sustainable Urban Development in Africa). The projects, ranging from small-scale design interventions to larger-scale strategies and master plans, focus on contemporary challenges and with a sustainable approach to the built and unbuilt environment. Our main drivers are:

  • Transitions to inclusive public spaces, urban developments and landscapes;
  • Increasing and accelerating transition to renewable energy, biodiversity including and circular use of resources;
  • Creating robust spatial frameworks with flexibility for infills and possibilities of changes in these infills over time while the continuity of the spatial frameworks remains;
  • Develop new planning concepts such as the Urban Accelerator© concept for African citiesAim for implementation, because projects are not completed on paper;Collaborating with people, at project level, to make optimal use of all expertise;
  • Involve users and stakeholders and plan together to create more ownership of areas to be developed.

>> See the VE-R website

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Rebel Group

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Rebel Group

Specialized strategy and finance advisory firm leveraging international expertise at the interface of the public and private sector

Rebel helps public and private organizations bridge the gap between their infrastructure needs and financial resources by focusing on developing public-private partnerships, innovative capital financing, project delivery strategies, efficient management, and performance improvement. In addition we offer a range of related services in the field of policy and strategy, institutional development, capacity building and feasibility studies.

We have extensive experience in public investment financing in Europe, Africa, North and South America and Asia from the simplest of deals to the more complicated deals. We thrive on our ability to provide creative solutions to our client’s problems and have shown our tenacity to bring projects to success by going the extra mile.

RebelGroup is headquartered in Rotterdam (Netherlands) and has further presence in Antwerp (Belgium), Dusseldorf (Germany), Washington DC (USA), San Francisco (USA), Toronto (Canada), Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Jakarta (Indonesia).

We work globally with substantial experience in nearly every country on the African continent. We highly value the drive for sustainable urban development, and for this reason we are active members of the DASUDA alliance.

>> See the RebelGroup website

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MOVE Mobility

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MOVE Mobility

MOVE Mobility is a young, versatile and dynamic Dutch consultancy firm, working all over the world. Its international team holds experience in sustainable mobility and transport planning, spatial planning and the development of relevant tools for supporting transport related consultancy services. They provide integrated spatial planning and transport solutions for creating liveable places. Their goal is to improve accessibility, liveability, safety and economic vitality of countries, regions and cities, by providing guidance towards the establishment of a sustainable transport system. MOVE Mobility is responsible for developing the sustainable mobility module and its relation with environment, housing and land-use planning.

Their core business follows three main directions, which are constantly interacting and creating synergies: (1) integrated transport planning services, (2) development of appropriate tooling, using (big) data (e.g. the MOVE Meter) and (3) knowledge transfer and capacity building.

In recent years they have participated in and concluded projects in Europe (The Netherlands, Georgia, Germany), Africa (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa), The Americas (The USA, Mexico, Colombia) and Asia (Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Palestine Territories, Iran), in close collaboration with local partners and stakeholders.

In their recent projects they have been dealing with and trying to find solutions for transport related issues, such as congestion, safety, pollution, health by developing appropriate policies, data and tools, at and for various scales (international, national, regional, local and neighbourhood level). Their clients are both (international) institutions and organisations, such as: UNDP, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Change), The Dutch Ministry for Infrastructure and Water Management, Ugandan Local Government Association and private parties.

>> See the MOVE Mobility website

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CDR International

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CDR International

CDR International B.V. (CDR), founded in 2012, is an independent medium-sized Engineering Consultancy firm in the Water Sector, operating globally and having its roots in the Netherlands. CDR is an acronym for Coasts, Deltas and Rivers. Our professional services cover the range from project inception development, climate change vulnerability and adaptation studies, (bankable) feasibility studies, covering the whole project cycle from project idea development to detailed design, value engineering through to construction supervision and added-value advice during implementation. We offer our services to the private and public sector including international financial institutions.

Our expertise services consists of:

  • Coastal protection and Marine Structures:

Coastal protection and design of marine structures is our key expertise. With inhouse experts on all facets required to develop effective, integrated and constructable coastal protection schemes to combat coastal erosion in a sustainable manner.

  • Flood Protection and Climate Resilience

Due to urbanisation pressure and climate change people and assets are increasingly at risk of water related hazards like flooding. CDR provides flood risk assessment and flood risk management studies that are tailored to the needs of stakeholders via participatory design processes.

  • Dredging, Reclamation and Land development

As Dutch water experts we know how to create land in a water environment. CDR is experienced in geotechnical and hydraulic design studies for public and private land reclamations and developments. CDR site supervision team for the dredging and reclamation works can be deployed to ensure the quality of the works.

  • Port Master Planning and Waterway Transport

Trade and transport of goods via water are key for economic growth. CDR has experience in Masterplan studies to port infrastructure design.

  • Numerical Modelling and Simulations

Numerical modelling studies form the basis of many of our studies and designs. We are using the latest models available for scientific and industry use.

>> See the CDR website

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Integrated urban development and landscape architecture

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Integrated urban development and landscape architecture

Urban public spaces and landscapes in African cities face numerous challenges, ranging from limited access to well-designed public spaces to safety concerns and the impact of climate change. These challenges hinder equitable access and long-term sustainability. At DASUDA, we are committed to promoting inclusive and green public spaces in urbanizing areas across Africa. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for all urban residents, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds. We strive to address disparities by improving access to essential services such as improved air quality, micro-climate regulation and collective facilities like sports and gathering areas. Additionally, we encourage initiatives such as urban agriculture and other economic opportunities to foster inclusive economic growth within communities.

Recognizing the threats posed by climate change, DASUDA lead partner VE-R landscape architects and urbanists integrate nature-based solutions and green-blue frameworks into most projects. By leveraging these strategies, cities can preserve their natural resources and create healthy and liveable environments for all citizens. We aim to make public spaces resilient to climate change impacts, including flooding and heatwaves, ensuring their long-term viability and accessibility. Lead partners CDR International and VE-R landscape architects and urbanists have multiple times joined forces to achieve this.

Moreover, we celebrate the rich cultural heritage and distinct identities of African cities. We believe it is crucial for public spaces to reflect and embrace this diversity. Our approach incorporates elements that respect and preserve local cultural values and traditions, creating public spaces that resonate with the communities they serve.

We collaborate with local government entities, urban planners, community organizations, and residents to integrate all the aspects of urban development in sustainable urban landscapes. By engaging in participatory planning processes, investing in appropriate infrastructure, prioritizing safety and security measures, and integrating climate resilience strategies, we strive to overcome the challenges and unlock the full potential of public spaces in African cities.

It is our mission to create inclusive, sustainable, and culturally vibrant urban areas that contribute to the overall well-being and prosperity of African urban communities. Together, we can build a future where everyone has equal access to safe, green, and thriving urban environments.

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