Abstract:
The focus of this paper is on the practical expertise and context driven design decisions required in creating liveable cities in developing countries.
In determining the relative position of a city’s rank on most liveability indexes, the following criteria are used: safety, education, hygiene, healthcare, culture, environment and recreation. However, most of these dynamics are usually not present in developing cities. In order to form a base for future development, it is argued that the provisions of basic infrastructure [i.e.: clean water supply, electricity and sanitation] as well as the development of functional social spaces are vital.
This project combines these two factors by developing a hierarchy of linked social spaces as generated by the existing nodes in the form of communal water points.
By means of the lessons learnt during a recently completed project framework for the buffer zone surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Zanzibar’s Stone Town, the basic requirements for upgrading human settlements to liveable neighbourhoods are illustrated.
