{ your land, my land }

After a mention in the State of the Nation Address, the issue of land reform is back in the public discourse. Is the "willing buyer, willing seller" model still the best way to ensure that the majority of land, particularly well located urban land and commercial farming land is redistributed in a meaningful way to the disenfranchised majority of South Africans? The case of Zimbabwe looms as a spectre of a potential future. One that the the most progressive nations of the SADC, and it's people cannot afford. When we talk about land reform we should we talking about both urban and rural land, however, politically 'land reform' (ie. the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform) is firmly, conceptually located on the rural front. For a bit of background to why land reform has not happened as quickly as it many think it should have, check out Urban LandMark, a programme focused on urban land markets, seeking means of making these markets more accessible to the poor. Lets get this discussion going. 

Image: Zapiro

{ tasting sónar }

I know I'm doing a little overkill on the Design Indaba inspired and related posts, but this sounds like pure  electronica indulgence! The Sónar Festival in Barcelona, Spain is one of the biggest electronic music festivals in the world and Cape Town is a hosting a fringe event in City Hall! If deep beats, dirty riffs and more than a little dub step gets you pumping, then check out the 'Tast of Sónar' party will be held at the City Hall next Friday night (2 March 2012). Headline acts include Massive Attack (!!) and Modeselektor! Plus a host of other international DJs and local acts including two of my favs dubstep DJ, Fletcher, and BLKJKS. Check the full lineup here. Tickets retail for R250, but with a local and international line up like this, it's a deal! Doors open at 21h00. For updates, and more info follow on Twitter  @SonarFestival, or #Sonar2012.

Images: Taste of Sónar

{ design indaba }

The annual Cape Town Design Indaba is on next weekend from the 2nd - 4th March 2012 - Get your tickets at Computicket, or at the door, and prepare to be inspired!

For a better world through creativity!

Images: Design Indaba

{ love your street }

Calling all urban designers, landscapers and archi's in Gauteng, or anyone to has a favourite street near the capital and ideas of how to make it better! Streets connect and have the power to change the way people experience the city. So, inspired by the Design Indaba, the Your Street challenge invites "creative proposals for how an aspect of your city's street life can be enhanced though the power of design!" 

The street you choose must be in Gauteng, but you don't have to be. And the best part? The winners will be able to actually implement their designs! According to the site, "[T]he first prize of R100 000 will be awarded to the designer that comes up with the best idea AND a sound business model that illustrates how their idea can feasibly be implemented. Three second-place winners will each receive R50 000 for innovative design solutions that can be immediately implemented using the prize money." 

Find out more about the competition and how to apply here. Proposals are due 16 March 2012 - so get designing!

Love your street. Love design. Design for social change.

Images: Design Indaba

{ living curiously }

In 2009 National Geographic launched their 'Live Curious?' campaign. As a result of watching copious amounts of the NatGeo Channel, I've had this phrase stuck in my head for the last couple months and have decided to appropriate it as my theme to live by for 2012! Find out more about the 'Live Curious' campaign here and see cool videos etc. Simple and beautiful:

If you are, you breath. If you breath, you talk. If you talk, you ask. If you ask, you think. If you think, you search. If you search, you experience. If you experience, you learn. If you learn, you grow. If you grow, you  wish. If you wish, you find. If you find, you doubt. If you doubt, you questioned. If you questioned, you understand. If you understand, you know. If you know more, and if you want to know more, you are ALIVE!!

Live Curious.

{ a tale of two cities }

Happy 200th Birthday, Charles! Your tales still ring true!

{ green city index: africa }

The Siemens Green City Index evaluates sustainability of cities based on 8 environmental and service capacity categories, namely: Energy and CO2, Land Use, Transport, Waste, Water, Sanitation, Air Quality, Environmental Governance; comparing cities on their overall environmental performance. The most recent addition to this study is African Green Cities Index, which evaluates compares 15 major African cities, have a look at the rankings here. Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and Pretoria all feature, with first three falling into the "Above Average" range, and Pretoria categorized as "Average", probably due to it being the highest generator of waste (!). The study provides a great overview of each of the cities studied. Check out the .pdf here.

Image: The Atlantic Cities