DIEPKLOOF PARK situated in Soweto before you reach Bara taxi rank is my favourite place in Joburg and it makes me relax and feel free because of the exposure and there is a lot of space to move around. The park is divided into three sections. On the first section there is a big screen television where people can watch the soccer games together as a society. This then reminds me of what Cullen classify as the PLACE. When one enters in the three different spheres, the spirit and emotions change because of the environment they are in and when you go to the next section of the park, the atmosphere changes again because of the different environment from the previous one.
The second part has games where children can play and where parents sit and watch their children play, some people use the sport to have their picnics and enjoy each others company. What i like about this park is the view and because the topography is at an incline and differs in all three sections, it allows one to observe and enjoy the different views of the place.
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| link between pathways |
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| socialising and watching children |
I feel that the park makes children feel safe because there are security guards, many people using the park as path or a link into different pathways, the trees surrounding the park and the houses are facing to the park, all of those make the Diepkloof park a safer place compared to the other parks I know.The cars move slowly when they reach there and the are speed humps as well.
Maryam- you say that there are houses facing the park,which is an advantage for the users of one part of the park,the children. But wouldn't you also see this as posing as an inconvenience to the house owners around the park because of the nose levels generated by the park users, whether it be from the children or those watching games on the big screen in the park, especially games at night?Another question would be relating to privacy,is there an inter active edge or a solid edge that creates a more private space instead of feeling like their apart of the 'PLACE' that you have refereed to. Personally if i live in a residential area i want to feel the privatized 'place' as it is meant for.
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ReplyDelete@Maryam: well noise from children that are playing in the park is never inconvenient for parents and for them hearing their children play is what makes them happy and they know that their children are safe because they can see all the activities taking place in the park. the noise is never too much for the neighbours because they themselves participate and take part in the activities happening in the park because the park is for them.hence there libraries for people to study if they want a
ReplyDeletequiet place.
mbula khwashaba:why did you chose this place?
ReplyDeleteMaryam- So people who dont have kids as well as students who want to come home and quiety rest after a long day at school,as we have experienced,should just deal wiyh this noise. and no im not saying that houses around the park is bad, that was a very good analysis on your part because if i had kids i would also want to keep an eye on them, but i would want quiet aswell.The message in trying to put accros is what about those residentts who do want quiet? Who want peace after a long day?The noise that the children make is not the only noise that comes from there, the social gatherings, sports and all theses aspects could hinder certain people from wanting to live around there.SOS How do you address thesse two aspects?
ReplyDelete@mbula: this is the only place i feel comfortable and free in during weekends to relax and it is one of the best parks that we have in Soweto.
ReplyDelete@maryam: during the week everyone is tired and busy with their work, be it school work or house chores. children do their home works at the time and they also need to prepare for school so they stay in doors and relax to prepare for the following day. the soccer games mostly play on weekends and people wouldn't want to stay up until late because they have a long a day ahead of them.
It would have been nice to see a locality map for those of us who have no idea where this park is as well as locate the pictures on a map so that i get a better sense of the place.I like your analysis,mentioning the aspects that make this park feel like a safe place but it would have been nice if you showed that graphically as well i don't think those two pictures show everything that you are talking about.
ReplyDeleteGood analysis, i appreciate the way you showed the different types of safety recieved by the park and the way you were able to link your theory with personal expiriences.(Lerato, 605058)
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