Co-hosted by the JDA, the Architecture ZA 2015 conference and exhibition brought together leading-edge thinkers in architecture and the built environment to tackle a range of issues under the theme “Future City”.
The City of Joburg shares its key policies and strategiesThe City of Joburg shared its key policies and strategies for the future of the city at Architecture ZA 2015.Changing the cityscape for the better, today and as a legacy, was the focus of the Architecture ZA 2015 conference and exhibition in Newtown from 24 to 26 September.
Co-hosted by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), the City of Johannesburg and the South African Institute of Architects, Architecture ZA brought together leading-edge thinkers and multi-disciplinary practitioners in architecture and the built environment to tackle a range of issues under the theme “Future City”.
The event followed a series of remarkably successful AZA Festivals, the first of which was held in Newtown in September 2010. This year’s programme was broader, more inclusive and structured at targeting the largest possible audience of architects, as well as members of the design fraternity, at all levels of their career development.
Presentations, workshops and panel discussions attracted numerous decision makers over the three-day programme as participants engaged in seeking solutions for moving towards an inclusive, sustainable, resilient, economically active and creative city.
Architecture ZA 2015 included a major exhibition of architecture and built environment suppliersArchitecture ZA 2015 included a major exhibition of architecture and built environment suppliers.”As the City of Johannesburg, we are utilizing this conference to share key policy imperatives which are helping to shape the future of our city,” said Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Development Planning Rosslyn Greeff.
“The established and long-standing architectural community of Johannesburg has an excellent track-record of working with the City on iconic and impactful projects which have already altered the nature of our city.”
Greeff said that the conference presented a unique opportunity to engage with emerging architects and entrench deeper partnerships towards shaping the future Johannesburg.
“The City of Johannesburg’s involvement in AZA 2015 signals a deepening of a partnership with the built environment fraternity towards the shared Future Johannesburg.
“This collaboration seeks to illicit ideas for a City which at its core connects its residents to opportunities and resources through a backbone of efficient, safe and effective public transportation infrastructure.”
Yondela Silimela, Executive Director for Development Planning at the City of Joburg, said the top priority for the future Johannesburg was the creation of a just city.
“This just city can only work if it is underpinned by collaboration and co-existence. The future of this great vibrant African city is people-centric, with a design that is responsive to the needs of its residents,” Silimela said.
“There is a need for us to jointly rethink the regulatory environment in which we function, and it is important we understand that the city we live in is multi-dimensional. This is why, as mentioned by MMC Greef, we as the city are pursuing, quite aggressively, a more compact and intense use of spaces through the Corridors of Freedom.”