IGNORANCE OF LOCAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND SPATIAL CONTEXTS IN THE GLOBALISATION OF URBAN DESIGN

The globalisation of urban design threatens local culture and rationality. The ignorance of local socio-economic and spatial relationships and intentions continues in the establishment of many urban developments. Gentrification is topical when considering mitigating socio-economic, infrastructural and spatial challenges. Due to its unjust history, South Africa needs urban regeneration strategies consequent to racial planning and administration during the apartheid dispensation. Today, planners find themselves constantly redressing past chronic challenges instead of planning from an advanced urban development foundation. What is needed is (i) to reduce high levels of inequality; (ii) improve the living conditions of previously disadvantaged communities; (iii) modify apartheid geographic forms and settlement patterns; and (iv) creation of a sustainable and integrated space for human settlements with access to social and economic facilities. The reason for this article is to underline the significance of adjusting the physical (local context) and metaphysical (intent) parts of urban improvement. As a result, both the profession and its products can enrich society and its place in a meaningful way.