Town and Regional Planning students and their lecturers are using their skills to make a difference in a local community.

During the next few months, this CPUT group will come up with an improved layout of the Flamingo Crescent Informal Settlement, which is located in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town.

This bold initiative is part of a Service-Learning Project that will see the CPUT group work closely with the Informal Settlement Network (ISN) and Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC).

These organisations aim to assist communities within informal settlements to achieve community-owned and driven development processes.

Lecturer, Nicholas Pinfold says the partnership aims to ensure a holistic approach that encourages community participation wherever possible.

Recently students and lecturers visited the Flamingo Crescent Informal Settlement and met with community members. Student also evaluated the site and developed a timetable for the initial mapping of the settlement.

The group will present an improved layout plan of the settlement later this year to the City of Cape Town.

By Nurahn Ryklief and Town and Regional Planning’s Nicholas Pinfold

Written by CPUT News

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The Faculty of Informatics and Design has found a new home for the departments of Interior Design, Architectural Technology, and Town and Regional Planning.

These departments, which were previously based on various CPUT campuses, are now housed in the recently opened Foreshore Campus, also known as the Thomas Pattullo Campus.

The official campus opening on 17 November 2008 coincided with the week-long Faculty of Informatics and Design exhibition of students’ work. The opening ceremony itself was preceded by an awards ceremony that acknowledged the sterling works of students within the three departments housed in the Thomas Pattullo Building.

In celebrating the opening and exhibition, guest speaker Malcolm Campbell, President of the South African Council for the Architectural Profession, said the building was historic and appropriate as it previously housed the offices of the Industrial Council for Building. He said its function is aligned with the original function of the building.

Campbell noted that it was unique for three related departments to be put together. “We need to celebrate that,” he said.

Campbell said, “There is no skills shortage in architecture, but people have not been trained adequately or have not upgraded their skills. The challenge of this institution (CPUT) is to play a role.” He said retraining will be easy with the location of this building in the CBD, next to all transport modes.

Prof Johannes Cronjé, Dean of Informatics and Design, commented on the appropriateness of housing the three departments at the same venue. He noted,""Cross-fertilisation is taking place here with students getting interested in what is being done at other floors.""

“We promised students last year that there’ll be an amalgamation and difficulties. In spite of that they are still producing the best work,” he said.

By Thami Nkwanyane

Written by CPUT News
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Diligence has paid off for two Town and Regional Planning students who have gained an international mentor thanks to their hard work.

Swiss Academic, Matthias Thoma, is a renowned urban planner who has worked in Zurich, Berlin and Santiago de Chile. He spent five months at CPUT as a guest lecturer which is where he met Noorudeen Roman and Faren Benting earlier this year.

The pair won a competition Thoma ran which encouraged students to pitch their best project ideas to him to win a cash prize and his ongoing mentorship.

After a portfolio review and interview Noorudeen and Faren were selected and despite the fact that Thoma has now returned to Switzerland the pair still enjoy a useful link to him.

Faren, who hopes to work abroad after graduating, says Thoma helped her think outside of the box and bring an international perspective to projects while Noorudeen says Thoma’s individual attention helped improve his assignment marks significantly.

In a letter of motivation for Noorudeen, Thoma commended the youngster’s passion for improving the life of informal settlement dwellers.

Written by Lauren Kansley
Tel: +27 21 953 8646
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.