| The South African
High Commissioner will visit the UK’s largest eco-village
- Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) in South London, tomorrow.
BedZED is one of the most coherent examples of sustainable living
in the UK and is receiving widespread recognition for its innovative
approach to delivering sustainable urban development. Her Excellency
has long been involved in sustainable development and the sharing
of ideas between the UK and South Africa. A Johannesburg EcoCity
project ‘Ivory Park’ a sustainable community centre
and housing terrace based on BedZED principles has been twinned
with BedZED and is currently being built for the Earth Summit. Her
Excellency and colleagues will meet with representatives from the
BedZED team to take a tour and find out how Ivory Park can be further
linked. The aim of the twinning is to share knowledge between the
UK and South Africa and help create solutions for sustainable living.
Pooran Desai, Director of independent
environmental organisation BioRegional Development Group, will be
leading the tour. BioRegional is a partner in BedZED. The party
will also meet WWF’s Director of Policy Andrew Lee, The Mayor
of Sutton, a representative from BedZED developer, the Peabody Housing
Trust, Architect Bill Dunster and BedZED residents. The South African
delegation will also include a representative from the South African
housing industry. The representative will be looking at how sustainable
building methods can be replicated for use in rural areas. Councillor
Ncwana of the UK South African High Commission will also be present.
The introduction of Energy efficient homes to South Africa could
make a significant impact on reducing pollution. The country widely
uses coal as a source of power which has resulted in smog, especially
in Johannesburg, and can cause respiratory problems, particularly
for children.
The Earth Summit will take place
in Johannesburg from 26 August – 4 September during this time
the world’s attention will be focused on the progress that
has been made since the Earth Summit in Rio ten years ago. It is
becoming increasingly apparent that there are few tangible projects
that can actually demonstrate sustainability. The City of Johannesburg
currently has a shortlist of seven showcase projects, of which Ivory
Park is one, and from this list of seven projects four will be chosen
to highlight and arrange visits by an estimated 10-20,000 people
during WSSD. It is hoped that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and South
Africa’s President Mbeki will open Ivory Park when they visit
Johannesburg.
After consultation with local
government and community members it was decided that the Ivory Park
eco-development should consist of a sustainable community centre
and demonstration terrace. The project is supported by WWF with
the help of Bill Dunster Architects, engineering company Arup South
Africa, Lafarge, The Body Shop Foundation, The Rufford Foundation,
Kingfisher plc and Global Forest Products. The local community is
keen to see Ivory Park be successful as a showcase for the World
Summit and to reap some of the economic benefits of having visitors,
and longer term to expand on eco-tourist opportunities.
The community centre has a roof
garden to increase insulation and a passive ventilation system a
solar energy system is also planned. The homes are built using a
terrace system. By sharing walls, money is released for investing
in the insulation. The homes are designed to allow upgrading with
a simple mezzanine floor to increase sleeping area for little extra
cost. The more compact layout afforded by the terrace design means
land is released for open communal areas – important both
for a more sustainable urban design, but also much more in tune
with traditional African community life. Sustainability and an ‘African
Solution’ are certainly compatible. Local people have received
training to meet the quality standards necessary this will help
build skills within the community long term.
In South Africa the project is
generating a lot of support. Pooran Desai has given presentations
to various groups including architects and planners. Ivory Park
is already contributing to the huge amount of enthusiasm for continuing
to implement solutions for sustainability.
The project will be used to encourage
the UK and South African Government, house building industry, investment
community, planners, architects and other business interests and
funding agencies to commit to sustainable housing. WWF-UK for example
are very interested in using this opportunity to get the UK government
to commit to a ‘1 million sustainable homes’ initiative.
Notes:
Johannesburg EcoCity, is an initiative promoting environmental projects
in townships around
Johannesburg.
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