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ExhibitionA nAtion UndEr ConstrUCtion29 JUnE – 15 JUly 2012AmbikA P335 mArylEbonE roAdlondon nW1 5lsPrivAtE viEW: 28 JUnE 2012 6:30 Pm

book lAUnChrEflECtions & oPPortUnitiEs: dEsign, CitiEs And thE World CUP28 JUnE 2012 18:30

tAlks: thUrsdAy 5 JUly 2012 14.00 - 18:00ExPAndEd tErritoriEs ColloqUiUmChAirEd by Prof. kAtE hEron And Prof. lindsAy brEmnEr

fridAy 6 JUly 2012 18:00 - 20:00nAmibiA And soUth AfriCA: Post ColoniAl lEgACiEsChAirEd by Prof. lindsAy brEmnEr, UnivErsity of WEstminstEr

AmibkA P3, UnivErsity of WEstminstEr

Please email info@designingsouthafrica.com or visit www.designingsouthafrica.com for further details.

South Africa has a significantly fragmented past; while communities were kept apart on racial grounds, unable to interact or mingle, so too were South African spaces and cities. Apartheid physically split urban environments to facilitate segregation, and a duality of cultures, incomes and experiences of the city perpetuated.

This cultural, social and economic alienation symbolically came to an end with the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990. Freedom had officially come to South Africa, and the nation could begin the long process of knitting itself together, closing the physical and psychological barriers erected by the Apartheid regime. But insecurities around a South African identity remained. What was South Africa? It existed as a different construct for almost every community that constitute it. Could one be proud of South Africa? Who indeed were South Africans?

The conversation began with commonalities – as most do between strangers. South African natural landscapes, sunshine and sport formed the basis of a truly representative South African culture as moments and events that brought people together. South Africa’s re-entry into the arena of international competitive sports, and the excitement, renewed passion and need for sport was shared by all.

Here a new government saw the opportunity to strengthen the nation’s identity by rallying its population around sporting events, embracing large spectacles to better an international image, promote investment, improve local sport and also fill stadiums with proud, excited South African fans.

It was therefore no surprise that South Africa so actively pursued the FIFA World Cup, first in 2006, then in 2010. The world’s largest event was seen as the ultimate prize – an opportunity to fast track infrastructure upgrades, prove South Africa’s skill and talent to the world, and celebrate as a united country. The successful bid and anxious run-up to the 2010 spectacle was fraught with media speculation, bad press and First World gripes about Third World conditions. South Africa, however, stepped up to the challenge, and through serious planning, hard work and ingenuity designed what has retrospectively been called the best World Cup ever.

The euphoria around the event pulled South African communities together so tightly that a single identity emerged – South Africans were South Africans, despite their vast differences. Millions watched South African cities, their stadiums and infrastructure along with the soccer. One physical, social and psychological flag was flown and, for a moment, a single image of unity in diversity dominated.

A timE to rEflECtAfter the World Cup South Africa has moved on. A nation often defined by its hard-working, get-busy attitude has spent very little time looking back, questioning its achievement, and learning from the experience. South Africa needs to seriously interrogate the successes and failures of the World Cup, questioning how the nation presented itself and what the post-apartheid, post-World Cup country really stands for today. This limited reflection is important as it can dramatically impede efficient future planning when neglected.

DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA actively calls for this reflection and has engaged both high-profile local and international individuals and organisations to assess South Africa’s recent past and present plans in order to better facilitate and understand a new, better and considered future. The nation does not exist in isolation, disconnected from its people – and it is precisely this resource, South African human capital, that made the World Cup a success and can continue to build the nation. South Africa requires a platform to share its experience, achievements, urban culture and diverse people with the world and, assessing the positive global response to the World Cup, the world wants to know more.

soUth AfriCA UnitEdFor the first time in the international press, scenes of the Big Five (animals), rolling hills and sandy beaches were replaced with accounts of South African public transport developments, enormous stadiums, images of dynamic cities, cosmopolitan communities, and a general celebration of being South African. The world sat down at their

television screens, supporters watched the games and partied away, cultural, business and political commentators observed South Africa’s socio-economic infrastructure and all encountered a nation united beyond soccer, gold, diamonds and safaris.

South African skill and ingenuity were implicit in the soccer spectacle – it was as much about the creative as it was about the entrepreneur or the labourer. South Africa had its time in the spotlight and, for a brief moment, true unity bound the population – crime decreased, protests were put on hold and everyone dressed their houses with national flags.

South African society soon returned to normal, although confident with the success of the World Cup at the back of their minds. The delivery of stadiums now needed to be translated into the continued delivery of services and housing – with a similar urgency. South African talent needed to be shared with the world continually and the nation’s positive global impression had to be built upon and sustained.

This is where the challenge exists. Can South Africa hold on to the collective, motivated spirit of the World Cup in better addressing national concerns, while continuing to promote South African achievements, talent, people and cities abroad? DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA attempts to address this question through reminding South Africa and the world of the numerous successes evident in, and as a result of, hosting the 2010 World Cup.

An UrbAn imPrEssionAn achievement and concurrent failure of the World Cup was in the marketing of South African cities. For the first time in South Africa’s recent history, all of the country’s large cities were pitted against one another. The competition was on for who would host the final, who would build the best stadium, who would attract the greatest number of tourists, and who would host the most World Cup teams. This new competitive spirit meant that cities needed to perform.

The nine host cities, all once places of deep-rooted segregation and planned apartheid division, now had an unparalleled opportunity to reconsider their city spaces, to create public spaces, and transport opportunities, to essentially, rapidly democratise space. Fan parks, giant television screens, connective public transport and the strategic placement of World Cup event spaces worked as unifying mechanisms but today lasting changes (besides new stadiums) are not as visible in many host cities.

Johannesburg actively took the World Cup opportunity to celebrate its urbanity. South African cities are, after all, great social melting pots where a diversity of residents creates rich urban cultures, bustling streets and varied, energised economic activity. Some South African cities, however, stayed away from celebrating their idiosyncratic urban cultures, instead opting for the tried-and-tested route of highlighting the beauty of local fauna and flora (rather than people and initiatives) – static images on old South African postcards, reinforcing an international perception that South Africa is merely a pretty landscape, where lions do in fact roam the streets.

By sidestepping this temptation, Johannesburg was able to seriously present itself as a global economic node. It shrugged off perceptions of violent crime and corruption, replacing them with true urban experiences of vitality, culture, design and sophistication. Tourists flocked to Johannesburg, eager to experience a real South African city – and Africa’s finance centre still benefits from this successful PR drive.

While the temptation existed for Cape Town to focus too specifically on its natural beauty and related outdoor activities, the city quite openly embraced its built-up centre, utilising existing public spaces and creating new ones. The historic Grand Parade became the city’s Fan Fest – a symbolic site of celebration given new meaning in post-apartheid South Africa.

Due to the central location of the Cape Town Stadium, close to the CBD, the city’s functions also became much more integral to the successful hosting of tourists and visitors. The Fan Walk that was built across the city, connecting it with the stadium, was a successful mechanism for moving large swathes of people through the city. It also became a site for celebration and partying, as restaurants and street vendors activated its edges. Today it exists as an urban asset, a pedestrian link which makes Cape Town’s city bowl easier to navigate

and possibly more vibrant for tourists and residents alike.Johannesburg’s approach was similar, although distance is a

significant obstacle in making Johannesburg accessible, so initiatives like the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) were implemented to better connect the city to previously separate areas like Soweto. The Soccer City precinct also conceptually acts as an urban velcro, uniting two massive city areas, which is considerable considering that 15 years ago you wouldn’t have found one street sign in Johannesburg even indicating the direction of Soweto.

The World Cup gave cities the opportunity to significantly rethink themselves, redesign their spaces and realign their identity. All South African cities could have set themselves up for sustained interest after the World Cup, rooting themselves in the world as leading urban centres, so as to continue benefitting from the World Cup long after it. While Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban used the World Cup to better shape and form their cities, this opportunity was lost on the majority of the other host cities.

Even though cities have not truly embraced the enormous opportunities presented by the World Cup from a legacy perspective, such as a post-Olympic Barcelona succeeded in doing, South Africa hit the big league in hosting the successful event – and this memory, if kept alive, has significant implications.

EntrEPrEnEUriAl sPiritFrom the designers and builders of large iconic stadiums, to the artists and performers at the event’s ceremonies, the policeman at the border post to the hotel magnate – every South African had the opportunity to shine. This flame of optimism and success still remains in most that were a part of the event – the fire just has to be kept burning.

The World Cup unveiled true South African talent and expertise, the kind that is so often lost to better global opportunities. This energy and human capital has to remain in South African cities, and these cities must support and celebrate it. The nation should never stop promoting South African skill – it should be embraced and championed. A developing nation desperately needs designers, urban thinkers, economists, engineers, artists and planning specialists. The World Cup proved that the skills not only exist, but are world leading.

Design talent, in particular, is a growing global currency – the cities who best support their creative communities, from architects to fashion designers, artists and city visionaries, tend to be the most well-known, and most visible. Think London, New York, Milan, Hong Kong and Berlin. Designers are best positioned to take their experience of urban centres to the world, representing their cities at the World Expo for example, or global trade shows. Also, designers implicitly embrace urban culture, absorb it and create suitable responses; world-leading buildings, social upliftment projects, exhibitions and publications all highlight the wonders of global cities, and are all the products of leading designers.

This talent needs be backed and nurtured in South Africa, creating the opportunity for the country to export ideas and knowledge produced in South Africa.

nEW PArtnErshiPsThe country’s recent inclusion in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) partnership is a wonderful platform for the sharing and commodification of design-thinking to blossom. Both Brazil and Russia will be hosting forthcoming World Cups. South Africa now sits in a privileged position, armed with the experience of hosting the tournament to share its knowledge with the new hosts – South African designers can advice and assist Brazil with branding strategies and tourism infrastructure development. In return, once the avenue for dialogue is opened up, the vast developmental lessons learned by Brazil and Russia could support a growing South Africa.

Essentially, South African cities should invite Brazil and Russia on tours of World Cup infrastructure; introduce the new hosts to designers, organisations and city management. South Africa should open itself up to fostering an exchange, and sharing its experience with the world, placing it squarely in a leading position with regards to the planning, design and management of large-scale projects.

In a globally competitive world, nations and cities have to use their unique experiences and attributes to better position themselves. The international community has to be embraced – it should no longer be an ‘us and them’ dynamic.

Two years after the opening spectacle of the World Cup, South Africa has to adopt a new global view and confidence. The nation has proven itself numerous times, and can stand proudly amongst other global leaders. The skills and rich experience which so many South Africans got from working on World Cup projects need to be put to use again, in better building communities, establishing inclusive urban environments and advising other nations in similar situations.

CrEditsCurator: Zahira AsmalProject Manager: Dionne GriffithDesigner: Erika Koutny

imAgEsBruce SutherlandDave SouthwoodLeon KrigeLitshe le Golide, Andrew Bell with Guy Ailion

With gEnEroUs sUPPort fromBrand South AfricaBritish CouncilHobs ReprographicsSpier Wines

in AssoCiAtion WithBritish CouncilLondon Architecture Festival

Exhibition

A NATION UNDER CONSTRUCTION

For its first project in London, DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA is participating in the British Council’s International Architecture and Design Showcase 2012 (21 June-23 September), a global gathering of cultural projects that investigate architecture and design from across the world, presented for the London 2012 Festival. At the ‘Architectures of Change’ hub at Ambika P3, DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA presents a new exhibition entitled ‘A Nation Under Construction’.

A selection of striking portraits, reportage, landscape and cityscape images by Andrew Bell, taken from the short film Litshe Le Golide on which he collaborated with fellow architect and filmmaker Guy Adam Ailion, Leon Krige, Dave Southwood and Bruce Sutherland have been curated and combined with the moving image installation ‘Design, A Better Life for All’ (a snapshot of DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA’s ongoing research). Together the exhibition’s narrative forms an exploration of the urban, architectural and social development issues and opportunities that arise through mega-events on the eve of London’s turn to take centre stage as host of the 2012 Olympic Games.

EssAy by ZAhirA AsmAl

book

Reflections & Opportunities: Design, Cities and the World Cup

Reflections & Opportunities, published by DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA, encapsulates the critical, reflective dialogue the organisation has generated since 2010. Edited by DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA founder Zahira Asmal, the book is divided into two sections. The first section, “Reflections” contains ten feature articles by leading international and local publications including Wallpaper*, Financial Times and Design Week. Secondly, “Opportunities” entails four essays by key academics: African Centre for Cities director Professor Edgar Pieterse; architect Henning Rasmuss; professor of international relations at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation in São Paulo Oliver Stuenkel; and Cape Peninsula University of Technology sports management lecturer Brendan Knott.

The publication features a foreword by the head of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee, Dr Danny Jordaan. Striking images and photographs by Andrew Bell (from the Litshe le Golide film with Guy Ailion) and David Goldblatt – one of the country’s most revered photographers – complement the full-colour, large-format publication.

Published in English and Portuguese, the book is the first formal South African gesture towards sharing its experience and learnings with Brazil, the hosts of the next World Cup and Olympic Games. The two languages can be read by simply flipping the book over – English designated by a blue title on one side and Portuguese in green on the other.

• ISBN: 978-0-620-51995-3• 55 x 195mm | 234 pages | April 2012• £30• www.designingsouthafrica.com/book/

AboUt

www.designingsouthafrica.com

DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA is a city making and design advocacy initiative based on research, critical reflection and positive future growth. Through seminars, exhibitions, publications and online resources such as the comprehensive, multimedia Cities Report, DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA provides a tool to engage and connect governments, cities, designers, architects and the public.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup saw a galvanisation of the previously unheralded strategic, economic and creative skill inherent in the country. Created as a platform to salute the energy that created the World Cup, DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA posits the event as a case study for national cooperation, dedication and identity. The country performed under intense international scrutiny and now has the chance to present its success as inspiration and learnings, not only to other nations, but also to its own future generations.

Since 2009, DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA has continued to advocate a space for open dialogue about sustainable and integrated urban futures, design frameworks and social environments. Achievements need to be celebrated, and lines of exchange, communication and collaboration opened, while lessons for urban environments need to be explored and mandated.

With Brazil hosting the next FIFA World Cup, DESIGNING_SOUTHAFRICA is also starting to share its resources through the DESIGNING_BRAZIL initiative. Faced with similar socioeconomic forces, South Africa and Brazil have a lot to share with and learn from each other, in turn offering valuable teachings to other nations of the Global South.