Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Urbanization is occurring faster in Sub-Saharan Africa than
anywhere else in the world (Africa Research Institute 2012, p. 1).
The World Bank (2012b, pp. 181-182) states that Dar es Salaam
is one of the fastest growing cities in Sub-Saharan Africa with
an annual population growth rate of about 8 percent. Due to
strained resources and incoherent governance the Dar es Salaam
City Council is not able to provide basic urban services for the
residents (UN-HABITAT 2009, p. 9). As a result, the urban
environment is degraded and urban poverty increases (The
World Bank 2002, p. 6). Buildings, roads and other services are
prioritized in the planning process in many cities in developing
countries, which exterminates green spaces (Mng’ong’o 2005, p. 6). This is also the case in Dar es Salaam, where green spaces
are disappearing rapidly. The city center, referred to as the
Central Business District, is characterized by a stressful city
pulse of congestions, traffic jams and business people being an
overrepresented target group. There is a lack of formal public
spaces in the city center where people can elude the stressful city
pulse, relax and recharge their batteries. What is interesting is that
right in the Central Business District, in the exact area where Dar
es Salaam was once founded, is an unplanned beach area known
as Kivukoni Waterfront. The waterfront stretch is about one
kilometer and is situated in a bay between two ferry terminals
which act as major nodes. There are also several major landmarks
adjacent, which mean a large amount of people are moving in
this area. Kivukoni Waterfront is earmarked and mentioned as a
site that should be developed as a public space for recreational
purposes in the strategic document Dar es Salaam Central Area
Redevelopment Plan and in the current master plan Dar es Salaam
Master Plan 2012-2032. However, most parts of the waterfront
are inaccessible today due to steep slopes and dense vegetation.
Further, the area is littered and polluted, there are restaurant
facilities of poor standard and homeless people are moving in
the area, making it unhealthy and insecure. This thesis contains a
design proposal of how the waterfront can be transformed into
a public space, with the objectives of optimizing accessibility for
everyone and increasing safety. The design is based on three main
keys: connect, concentrate and commit, which help to enhance the
existing strengths of the waterfront and address its weaknesses.
We suggested five main destinations of different characters and
activities, and a continuous beach promenade that acts as a spine
by connecting the destinations and the waterfront with existing
walkways and roads. The design language is a mix of organic
shapes inspired by the ocean waves and strict shapes inspired by
the urban landscape of the city center. If well-designed and wellfunctioning,
the waterfront can have several positive impacts on
the Central Business District and Dar es Salaam in general, which in turn can improve the well-being of many people.