Wednesday 4 April 2012

LINDIWE GUGUSHE: PRIVATE BUT FUN!!!



The space i have chosen is a fun spot for South Point residents, where braais, parties and picnics are held. It is located within the Clifton residence which is part of the South Point Residence Company. Clifton is located along the De Korte street, Johannesburg.

There are three main words to describe this space: PRIVATE, ENCLOSED and COMFORTABLE. What i like about this area is that it is private, therefore making it safer. According to Mark Francis private spaces are enclosed and seperated from other spaces and this creates some "social control which protects and guards the space from undiserable entries". Relating to this statement, the fun spot is enclosed as it is suituated within Clifton and outside like a public park. This enclosure forms a restriction of public movement into the area, that is only Clifton residents( and people who relate to them) can use the space. It is therefore not classified as an open space because it is not acccesible to everybody(Kevin Linch).

The high walls act as hard edges which automatically form an enclosure. The wide space available allows for easier movement and can accomodate many people. The colourful, round sitting areas, green patches and vegetation brings about comfort. The comfort of a place is defined by its vegetation and sitting areas, according to William Whyte, this is useful "for design and management."

10 comments:

  1. Dineo Lekgothoane: The space must be enclosed as a result of a hard edge,forming a boundary between the space itself,and the external environment hence the public is unable to enter this precinct.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes this is a nice environment as you describe it. But it is only accessible to a those who can afford it in Johannesburg. Such place are as you say enclosed and comfortable but for a significant of the population living in Johannesburg such places are not available.

    ReplyDelete
  3. precisely, the enclosure makes it more secure accommodating for people who don't feel safe in the city.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lerato Ratau:I personally live there(shine****)and I absolutely agree with you Lindi, instead of the residents having to party out there where most fill uncomfortable and unsafe they have a beautiful ENCLOSED,PRIVATE and COMFORTABLE space right at their backyards.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ntshwangwako Letsoalo: I like the space chosen but seem to be offended by the fact that some other South Point Accommodations do not provide this type of space to their residents. I stay at Diamond House, South Point, on Melle Street and have not found a space as OPEN BUT PRIVATE as this. I have personally been to this particular South Point and experienced this space in a different way. The height from where I stood unfortunately provided me with a clear view of the site partially shown in the last image. Does this space not serve as a deterrent to residents who have not physically been down there? Is the wall high enough not to disturb the comfort in the Fun Spot?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lindiwe Gugushe: the other site u saw is a different area, that is why there are fences and walls creating a barrier between the fun spot and the that space.The higher the walls the better, because they serve not only as edges but provide shade in the afternoons too(as yo can see in the first image).

    ReplyDelete
  7. but don't you think that the high walls and the enclosed place may give one a feeling of dis-comfort like Cullen says that, that can result into the claustrophobia in extreme conditions. do you not think that. that can happen to one of the people in there?

    ReplyDelete
  8. ohw and that was zintathu mazamane

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lindiwe Gugushe: enclosure to a certain extent causes discomfort for those who have the phobia...but this enclosure is rather meant for safety and security which infact bring about comfortability!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Edwin Ndlovu: the area is nice, very colourful and welcoming, but as the second comment decribes its only accessible to the indivduals who stay there, but not to the other students from other res.

    ReplyDelete