Design in Newlands🌍🔎




For our 'Design for Sustainable Futures' subject we looked at the Montebelllo Design Centre in Newlands Cape Town as a case study. Unfortunately CPUT had to close it's doors due protests from thugs and the university body not addressing the state of affairs. As a result we see another year of academic put on hold and the lives of students disrupted. There was a sense of anxiety and tension in the air and this took away from the 'joy' of and the experience of this assignment. The Montebello centre is tucked away under the shade of Table Mountain just below Newlands Forest. It is conveniently located near Rhodes memorial and Kirstenbosch Gardens. The scenery is beautiful and the centre is a heritage site. The building exterior has a weathered look with the original brick work, interior decor and roofing. The building exterior has a weathered look due to exposure to the elements. To me it looks like a place where old people go for tea and lunch.

Our objective in our assignment was to walk around the site, apply Biomimicry slow design principles and immerse ourselves in the location. We had to get a feel for the natural ecology of the site and speak to the tenants to find out what their challenges were as well as what they liked about the place. We were split up into groups of 4 and were designated different tenants to speak to. Our group, group 1, consisted of Nomfuneko, Naomi, Luca and myself. We approached the Nursery, Garden cottage restaurant and John Bauer ceramics. I did not take enough photos so I will have to return to the place. I am going to make a video presentation and fill it with the different parts of our assignment and have the group weigh in on it. The feeling among the group is sombre with lack of enthusiasm going around. Even though the situation is not ideal and egregious I still push on because my spirit is stronger than the obstacles that lie in my way. This is also based on my experience where I had to face chaos and uncertainty in the past, particularly in my BTech year in 2016, and I graduated with Cum Laude.

With all the challenges presented I can not give in or give up. I must proceed and deliver my best because I intend to get the most out of my studies with my sights set on a master's degree and a phd insha'Allah. I find myself moving between small objectives and bigger objectives, work, academics and family life. Balancing and multitasking is the norm and I appreciate the people in my life that offer me words of kindness and constructive criticism. My life is a slow design so I am in tune with this system. I have never attained anything easy in life and anything worth my attention has been an on-going development.

...a luta continua


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