MATIMBA EMMANUEL NGOBENI: Joubert Park is One of the Most Vibrant Spaces in Johannesburg.

Figure 1: Locality map showing Joubert Park and its surrounding areas (after Google Earth, 2012).

LOCATION
Joubert Park is located in the city centre and can be approached from a number of directions. It is bounded by the Wolmarans, King George and Twist streets. 

Figure 2: The Joubert Park's landscape just outside the Johannesburg Art Gallery (http://2summers.net/2010/11/20/two-posts-for-the-price-of-one-apartheid-photography-and-corn).

ANALYSIS
Joubert Park is one of the most vibrant public spaces in the Johannesburg inner city. A great public space is where social interaction and and economic exchanges take place (Carr, 1992). Carmona et al. (2003) further states that a public space is only considered to be successful when it is defined by these four key attributes: diversification of activities, accessibility, comfortability and sociability. Thus the broad-stroke vision of the park is to better balance between the social activities that people undertake and the attractions that turn it into a positive public space for the neighbourhood and Johannesburg at large.

Figure 3: The range of activities people undertake within the park (Ngobeni, 2012).

Joubert Park is designed as a multifunctional public space since its landscape is flexible enough to accommodate a variety of activities - people of different ages are using the space. Young children have their own playground whereas the elders are either engaged in playing the outdoor chess board games or watching movies on the big screen.



Figure 4: The key elements of permeability (accessibility) (Ngobeni, 2012).

"Permeability is a property of how easy it is to move through an environment and depends heavily upon the paths and other objects placed within the space" (McCall et al., 2005: 36). The park's accessibility is clearly defined by its multiple entrances. In addition, those entrances allow people to come in from all sides of the park. Moreover, its design comprises of a set of linear paths that allow its users to circulate freely between the various amenities a park has.

Figure 5: The park's landmark and the variety of benches (Ngobeni, 2012 and http://www.specialisedpools.co.za/what_we_do_largeWaterFeatAndPonds.html).

Comfortability, according to Francis (1987), involves perceptions about safety, cleanliness of the environment, comfortable seating space and the adequate shading from the extreme summer temperatures. Furthermore, he chiefly argues that the role of the natural systems in the urban environments is "to help create greater user comfort and satisfaction" (Francis, 1987: 32). Similarly, the park has a variety of benches in which people sit on. They also offer a choice to their users. On the other hand, the fountains in the middle of the park are the incredible marks that stay in the memories of those who frequently use the space. Those landmarks also enhance the park's visual appropriateness.

Figure 6: The lively character of the public space (social interaction) (Ngobeni, 2012).

Sociability explains the way in which friends run into each other and feel comfortable interacting with strangers (Carmona et al., 2003). Correspondingly, those social interactions tend to make them feel a strong sense of attachment to their community. As a result, that lively character of the park acts as the real "glue" that sticks the surrounding areas together.

Figure 7: Other facilities and elements that make Joubert Park one of the great public spaces (Ngobeni, 2012).

Carr (1992: 22) concludes that "a great sociable space is filled with life, energy and a palpable sense of the enjoyment that is derived from spending time in such a lively public setting". In the final analysis, I therefore rate Joubert Park as a successful public space that is suited to its surroundings, both physically or socially, because it does offer the kinds of activities its users desire as well as engendering feelings of safety, comfort and connections to other people.




REFERENCES

• Carmona, M., Heath, T., Oc, T. and Tiesdell, S. (2003): Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design, London: Architectural Press. Chapter 5.
• Carr, S. (1992): Public Space, Cambridge University Press.
• Francis, M. (1987): The Making of Democratic Streets for Public Use, in A.V. Moudon (editor): Public Streets for Public Use, New York: Columbia University Press, 23-39.
• McCall, R., O'Neill, S., Carroll, F., Benton, D. and Smyth, M. (2005): Responsive Environments, Place and Presence, PsychNology Journal, 3(1): 35-73.
• Ngobeni, M.E. (2012): Joubert Park is One of the Most Vibrant Public Spaces in Johannesburg, Photographs Specifically Taken for the Blog.