Terryson Himayumbula
9 April 2009
Correspondent TERRYSON HIMAYUMBULA wonders whether the new CBD wwill tell the story of Gaborone
What is architecture of a city? In plain terms, this is how a city is perceived by its inhabitants and visitors. This will include the layout of the city, the road arrangements, the spread of facilities, the height of buildings, the materials or finishes of the buildings, the general language and rhythm of the built-up area, which involve the contrasts and comparisons, the age of the buildings and the technologies used and or incorporated and many such things.
So what do we mean by language and rhythm of buildings and contrasts and comparisons. It is simple: a square followed by a circle and then a triangle, and then a square, a circle and a triangle create a pattern of these shapes following each other.
From that, you will get a rhythm - you can also deduce the language. Using different colours for each shape, you can create some form of contrast and begin to compare them.
As you approach most cities, you first reach residential areas, then industrial areas and finally get into the central business district (CBD). For other cities, you get to the industrial areas first, then to the residential, then the CBD follows. Generally, the CBD is at the centre, hence the central business district.
A CBD is an area that has almost everything one coming to the city from within or outside t will want. It has shopping malls, eating areas, entertainment halls, office parks, government offices (sometimes), light industries and much more. Basically, a person must be able to do all they want within that area. CBDs generally start small, but the mastermind plan should always provide expansion space and direction.
This perhaps becomes the point of contention in most Africa cities - expansion space and direction. In 1999, when I first landed in Gaborone, I knew where the CBD was.
It was clearly the area between the two narrow roads with insufficient parking now, which back then with a few cars on the road was big enough and there was lots of parking space. The government offices were nearby, as was the bus rank. The Main Mall was small and compact.
The two tall buildings, the Ministry of Health and the Attorney Generals' Chambers were still under construction. The fact that the roads were not well defined did not matter since everywhere was a road and, being a foot solider then, roads were not anything.
Today, if you are directing someone from, say Mafikeng via Lobatse how to get to the CBD, how would you direct him or her? Most probably you would ask them what they want and then say it is at Game City, Molapo Crossing, Riverwalk, or BBS Mall.
If they insist they want to see how the city centre is, you would probably run into trouble with which road gets into the city centre and where the city centre is.
Not so long ago, there was a complaint that the city centre is dying because major business and office parks are going far away. It looks like that prophecy may come true.
Because in the Main Mall, all you find in the two or three storey buildings are run down offices with broken window panes, leaking sewerages, hair saloons, internet cafes, print and copy shops, one man briefcase offices running very old air conditions and ceiling fans. That sounds really bad. But it is not so bad actually. Debswana has a very good building and the Universal Church of the Kingdom has put up a nice one too.
Time Projects have some buildings coming up quickly next to the beautiful BTA building.
The South African Embassy block is a beauty also there next to the United Nations Place.
I almost forgot the Mascom head office building and the President Hotel. There is also the Metropolitan high-rise building just being refurbished.
The Main mall is still alive. But what is the feel you get when you drive round the city centre? Assuming this is it, but including the Government Enclave built in the eye of the circular rounds.
Frankly, it is quite difficult to read order in the city centre, especially the area of the government side. Maybe that is why other developers are moving away to create more ordered commerce and finance parks with clear roads showing which office is in which street.
The issue of rhythm and language: What rhythm comes through in the city centre that could be sought from the shapes of designs, the heights and the materials? Okay, let us say Debswana House and the British High Commission are rectangles on plan. How about heights, given also that the South African High Commission across Queens Road is three or four stories?
Let us move to the issue of materials. From the existing situation, one can notice that a CBD that combines offices, shopping centres, entertainment areas and resting grounds is missing.
I believe it is in response to these shortfalls that a new CBD is in development. I am watching with great interest. We have accused the white man of having given little thought to our great city's design. I hope we are giving our city good thought.
As a quick comment, in The New CBD, I see the beautiful Square Mart, sharing the sky with SADC House over looking the court with its interesting colours and historical shapes, a perfect example of contrast.
I am not sure about language between the three though. Below the towers are the Three Magosi Monument, watching this new development. It sure must be coming up right this time around.
But who is watching out for the past mistakes not to be repeated in the high places?
By the way, the roads in The New CBD seem aright with the provision of traffic lights and streetlights. However, the size of the place could be too small again. We still are yet to find out whether the drainage system is adequate.
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