[ d e s i g n ] d e v e l o p m e n t  

 

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN [SIX]

 

[URBAN SWIMMING] THE DESIGN OF A PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL FOR PRETORIA CENTRAL

 

[2014] According to the professional swimming coach, Chris Zungu (2014), water exposure is the main remedy to combat the drownings that SA has experienced in the past 20 odd years. Although canalised and restricted from its natural flow, the Aapies River is the largest natural element in Pretoria Central Business District (CBD). Submerged under the city scape, it is unattended and neglected.

 

The City of Tshwane Master Plan for 2055 states that the Pretoria CBD has an uninviting physical appearance with underachieving relaxation activities. According to the City of Tshwane (2012: 7), inner city living is less desirable due to the ill-functioning business, property and leisure market. The CBD, while currently being gentrified by various residential and commercial projects, does not expose dwellers to a consequent amount of stimulation, pleasure or excitement. Patrick mentions that the varying zones need to overlap to prevent unsustainable patterns of movement (2008:8). The architect Theo Crosby, mentions that a city made for access is made for success. Furthermore, he believes cities must be grown on a basis of social interaction and exchange. The city should create new centres so they can grow into elements of a city (Crosby, 1965).

 

Residents living within the city need to leave the CBD in search of recreation activities. For example, the closest public swimming pool to the city centre is 2,7km away – a 35 minute walk.