Reflecting on Transformative City-making in the Cape Region Through Situated Co-Design Practices

Abstract

South African city-making is profoundly moulded by coloniality, apartheid and post-1994 practices simultaneously breaking away and continuing exclusionary processes. In the Cape region, city-making reflects the multiple divides (spatial, socio-ecological, and economic) ingrained in its urban morphology. Siloed development approaches are reinforced by rigid legislation and administrative boundaries, over-structured institutional apparatuses and hierarchical projects across sectors, scales, and levels. Progressive city-making is further constrained by limited budgets preventing meaningful participation and systemic interventions. Yet, multiple transformative city-making practices are emerging through collaborative partnerships between actors across sectors and through inhabitants’ alternative ways of navigating and re-making the divisive urban fabric. Drawing upon situated practice under the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading programme, this paper reflects on three attempts at transformative city-making in Manenberg, Monwabisi Park and Villersdorp. Through situated reflections, the paper argues that co-design lays the foundation for co-production which is imperative to transformative city-making. It begins by (1) formulating a working hypothesis of what co-design and co-production entail within transformative city-making: their definitions, preconditions and critical process steps. (2) Through this lens, the three case studies are critically described, questioning whether co-design is critical and how it contributes (or not?) to meaningful socio-spatial transformation. (3) Through the situated findings, the agency of co-design is discussed, describing its limitations, risks, and possibilities for knowledge sharing and relationship building. (4) In conclusion, the paper ascertains the importance of co-design in transformative city-making and unpacks the essential process steps and instruments of a co-design toolbox.