Residents’ perceptions of the importance of outdoor spaces and neighbourliness for medium-density mixed-housing in South Africa

Abstract

Medium-density mixed-housing is promoted in various countries as a means toward creating more sustainable settlements. It does, however, require residents to live closer to their neighbours, share outdoor spaces, and be more neighbourly than what may typically be required in lower density suburban neighbourhoods. Yet, how important are outdoor design and neighbourliness for the success of medium-density mixed-housing in a South African context? This article examines the perceived importance of a number of outdoor design and neighbourliness factors from the point of view of residents living in such developments in South Africa. A survey of 300 residents across 10 developments reveals the importance of both outdoor design and neighbourliness, particularly if children, women, and older residents are involved. Planners and designers should, therefore, include sufficient private and common outdoor spaces to address the needs of residents and to promote neighbourliness and consequently the social acceptability of this type of housing in South Africa.

Medium-digtheid gemengde behuising word in verskeie lande bevorder as ’n middel tot die skep van meer volhoubare nedersettings. Dit verg egter van inwoners om nader aan hul bure te leef, buite-ruimtes te deel en om meer buurlik te wees as wat tipies in laer-digtheid voorstedelike woonbuurte vereis sou word. Tog, hoe belangrik is buite-ontwerp en buurmanskap vir die sukses van medium-digtheid gemengde behuising in ’n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks? Hierdie artikel ondersoek die vermeende belangrikheid van ’n aantal buite-ontwerp- en buurmanskapfaktore uit die oogpunt van inwoners in sulke ontwikkelings in Suid-Afrika. ’n Opname van 300 inwoners verspreid tussen 10 ontwikkelings openbaar die belangrikheid van beide buiteontwerp en buurmanskap, veral as kinders, vroue en ouer inwoners betrokke is. Beplanners en ontwerpers moet dus voldoende private en gemeenskaplike buite ruimtes insluit om aan die behoeftes van inwoners te voldoen en om buurmanskap en gevolglik die sosiale aanvaarbaarheid van hierdie tipe behuising in Suid-Afrika te bevorder.

Medium density mixed housing e hlohleletsa ka hara naha tse fapakaneng e le mpokhoa oa ho etsa bolulo ba batho bo itswedise pele. Le ha ho le joalo; e hloka baahi ho dula haufi le baahisane ba bona, ba arolelana dibaka tsa kantle ebile ba bbontsha boahisani ho feta metse ya lower-density. Le teng ho bohlokoa ha kae ho ba le dibaka tse kantle le boahisani hore medium density mixed housing e atleheka hara naha ya Afrika Borwa?serapa sena se shebisisa bohlokoa ba dibaka tsa kantle le boahisani ka leihlo la baahi ba dulang dibakeng tse tjena Afrika Borwa. Dipatlisiso tsa dipotso tse ileng ho baahi ba 300 ka hara dibaka tsena tsa medium density mixed housing, tse 10, di bontshitse bohlokoa ba dibaka tsa kantle le boahisane, haholo holo ha bana, basadi le batho ba baholo ba le teng. Ha ho le joalo, ho bontsha hore bareri ba tlameha ho kenyelletsa ditlhoko tsa baahi le ho hlohleletsa boaisane le kaohelo ya ho ba le bululo bo tjena Afrika Borwa.