KZN Institute for Architecture calls for removal of spatial barriers

© HONGQI ZHANG – 123RF.com

"These are essential to attract financial investment, build social stability, and significantly reduce non-renewable natural resource consumption,” says Reddy.

“There is a growing global realisation that the radical transformation of our cities, towns and villages into much denser, more diverse, well connected physical environments is a prerequisite to achieving these goals. Public space that compliments recreational use with real economic, cultural and social opportunity is also key. This implies the necessity for a national spatial revolution.”

International speakers

With international keynote speakers, Felipe Leal, immediate past Minister of Urbanism for Mexico City, and Kelvin Campbell, chair of Smart Urbanism in London, together with metropolitan government, National Treasury, national and local business and property industry representation, and leading South African practitioners in urbanism, architecture and urban planning, the KZNIA 2016 We Design Conference will provide an interactive platform to intensely explore the potential of a comprehensive national spatial revolution in South Africa.

We Design Conference 2015 will take place on 22 April in the Durban City Hall.

The KZNIA’s prime objective is to ignite a national collective consciousness about the potential of radical change in the spatial configuration of our South African cities, towns and villages.

“We believe that by removing so many of the physical and spatial barriers between current reality and a prosperous, egalitarian, stable, safe and secure South Africa, we can radically transform into a sustainable powerhouse of economic opportunity, underpinned by cohesive social networks and celebrated in compellingly vibrant centres of unique urban cultural expression. We are inviting interested parties to join us on this paradigm shifting journey,” Reddy concludes.

For more info, go to http://kznia.org.za/we-design/about-the-conference.