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From Township to New Town
Orlando East
Johannesburg, South Africa
Osmond Lange Architects, Ikemeleng Architects

Johannesburg was built on the South African savanna surrounding one of the world's richest gold mines. Apartheid, the separation of whites from blacks and “coloureds,” was initially the practice of colonial mining enterprises and later sanctioned by the government.

Soweto, the South West Township, was created as a separate development for black residents, purposefully distanced from white areas. It was the site of countless forcible relocations and of the famous Soweto Uprising, in which hundreds of student demonstrators were killed. Township residents were not permitted to own businesses or property and were consequently forced to travel long distances to work and to shop.

While apartheid ended in 1994, its legacy has remained largely intact in the built environment. Black townships still lack decent sidewalks. Fears about safety keep wealthy white residents in their cars, compounding congestion and limiting opportunities for walking and biking. In the 1980s, black-owned minibus services rose to fill the growing gap in the public transit network. While they have met this need, the service they provide is poor.

But change is coming. In August 2009, Johannesburg opened Rea Vaya, Africa's first full BRT system. As former minibus owners take over operations, Rea Vaya has become the first successful urban transport investment for the post-apartheid government. Sidewalks and public spaces in Soweto are beginning to take shape, as well.

A commuter rail line serves Orlando East, the study site in Soweto. The Rea Vaya BRT also travels through the site but is not well connected to the commuter rail. Despite proximity to a major transit hub with the potential to densify, much of the area remains traditional single-story settlements.

The images here propose a transit-oriented, mixed-use development where more ‘eyes on the street' allow people to walk safely between the rail and BRT stations and on to shops, offices, markets, restaurants, and open spaces. A thriving, diverse Orlando East would allow its residents to enjoy a new sense of place where activity and accessibility transform it from a township to a new town center.

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