Looking at the role of the creative arts in the city’s future was the aim of architect, Jonathan Edkins, who gave a talk on Collaborative City Architecture – Looking Forward at the University’s Engineering and the Built Environment Faculty Boardroom, Steve Biko Campus.
The Urban Futures Centre at DUT (UFC@DUT) hosted the event where Edkins spoke about exploring the city’s architectural developments, specifically in eThekwini, from the perspective of ‘placing people at the centre’ and developing a ‘community brief’. “A lot of my work is around areas which don’t take profits but around discussions, integrations and to try and absorb as much learning as I can and give back what experience I have back into the city’s initiatives,” he said.
Edkins is consistently looking at ways of improving inclusivity and broadening communications in the city’s architectural developments, and at the same time, increase synergistic interactions between those involved. “The city’s vision is to create a city for the people that is livable and caring. It’s about creating a place where people can live happily in a caring environment and have a good quality of life. We also want to see job creation initiatives, informal and formal business generation, new investments into the city, dispelling crime and grime and improving access and walkability through precinct management,” he added.
Edkins also reiterated that there is a need to ensure that there is a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to city architecture, which includes urban management, urban development, economic development, ecological leadership, cultural cohesion and sociology as drivers of responsible development and planning.
He also commented on the city project approach and said in order to obtain a sustainable urban design, all key role players such as local residents, civil society and community based-organisations as well as the private sector worked together through partnerships and effective participatory processes.
Jonathan Edkins is a professional architect, project manager and strategic development manager with 33 years of successful professional practice in the private and public sectors. He has practiced architecture in South Africa, UK, and Gambia. He is a former Head of eThekwini’s City Architecture Department. Presently, works at senior management level with DGIT (Diverse Group of Independent Thinkers). His goal is to focus particularly on architecture as applied at a city urban development level and explore the limits of the role of architecture as a profession contributing positively to leadership in social regeneration.
– – Waheeda Peters
Pictured: Jonathan Edkins looks at ways of improving inclusivity and broadening communications in the city’s architectural developments.
