Urban renewal project becomes part of WDC 2014

13 Aug 2013

The Future Tyger project, which launched yesterday 12 August 2013, has been accepted into the World Design Capital 2014 programme. The project, led by the Tygerberg Partnership, aims to transform and rejuvenate the Voortrekker Road development corridor including the Bellville central area by 2040. The project was filed under 'theme 2' of WDC 2014, 'Bridging the divide', which calls for design initiatives that will reconnect the city and reconcile communities.

Tienie Le Roux, executive director of the Tygerberg Partnership said, "This is a powerful injection into the regeneration efforts of the partnership and we could not be more thrilled about the recognition and support shown for our project by the World Design Capital 2014 team. This places us firmly on the international stage."

Public conversation, design competition

The project kicks off on 26 August with a public conversation aimed at collecting feedback from those who live, work, learn, play, use health facilities or own businesses in the area. Visionaries and freethinkers are called upon to put forward their ideas for regenerating the area, which is rich in potential for development, but has been neglected for some time.

Innovative technologies will be used to encourage creative collaboration through a series of hack-a-thons, 3D simulation models of the city and public meetings. Social media, gaming and traditional media will be used to engage with people in the area and other affected stakeholders.

An international design competition, which invites planners, architects and urban designers from across the world to participate and share their ideas for how the Tygerberg area could look in the future, will be launched at the Tygerfest community festival in October.

Shahid Solomon, programme executive of Future Tyger said, "The feeling the temperature phase of the programme will provide an opportunity for everybody to comment on issues, choices and perceptions. The next phase of exploring the possibilities invites interested stakeholders to a mix of local design workshops, online games, simulations and competitions; while the third phase, imagining the future, will embrace looking at possible futures for this part of the city to 2020, 2030 and 2040.

"The shortlist for the International Design Competition will be announced at the University of Stellenbosch's Winelands' Conference on Innovation in the Urban Age in April 2014. Announcement of finalists will take place mid 2014 at a designated World Design Capital 2014 event with the winning designs being exhibited at WDC 2014 events during the rest of the year. Prize money of up to $30 000 is offered."

Mayor's Urban Regeneration Programme

The Tygerberg Partnership is implementing the Mayor's Urban Regeneration Programme, which embraces regional business, universities, the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape government and local communities. The company was recently formed to drive regeneration in the area.

For more information, go to www.futuretyger.info.