Township Upgrading of Helenvale, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Abstract: The overall aim of our study in South Africa has been to make proposals about the future land use of Helenvale, a degraded township north of Port Elizabeth. The intention has been to create a dense housing area with high accessibility and well functioning public facilities and public transport. This includes analyzing the area’s building structure, internal and external connections and linkages, nodes for services and public transport, greenery and public spaces. A proposal was then made about the future land use and development. It also includes making suggestions on a smaller scale of the spatial layout of streets and blocks within the area. The focus of our proposal has been how to increase the density of Helenvale, to improve the spatial linkages and public transport and to create defined public spaces and facilities. The final part of the project presents two individual proposals on a smaller and more detailed scale. We have each focused on different neighborhoods within the area and suggested a future land use. The first step of our project has been to study the different policies and documents established by the municipality. This was essential in understanding the planning issues they are dealing with and their intentions for the future development for different parts of the municipality. These documents have also had a significant impact on our proposal. Information about the physical structure of Helenvale was collected during our two months of field work in the township through inventory and interviews with residents. We studied the existing physical environment of housing, public space and connections within the area and to the surroundings. Another important part of the inventory was to make observations concerning public life and social activities. To analyse the structure of Helenvale we have studied different methods and theories of Kevin Lynch, Jane Jacobs and Jan Gehl. We also did a SWOT-analysis to identify conflicts of interest and needs of the area as well as possibilities and potential opportunities. Based on own observations, the different methods, inventory made in the area, interviews with residents and the municipal guidelines we created four keywords for our proposal. The keywords are Densification, Public Space, Accessibility and Integration. We have based our suggestions for the future development and upgrading of Helenvale on these core themes.