The exercise that is sponsored by Old Mutual forms the first phase of a proposal for a collaborative low-cost housing and urban development strategy between the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Maryland, Old Mutual, Fuel Lab/Gensler and the City of Harare.
Jonas Mushosho, the Group Chief Executive of Old Mutual said their investment towards the project fell in line with the group’s policy that constantly seeks sustainable ways of developing society. Mushosho said transformation of the local economy was the key to long term sustainable business growth in Zimbabwe.
“As a leading investment and savings group with interests in property development and management we are keen to take a leading role in support of such initiatives. Zimbabwe, in general, and Harare in particular as the capital city, is very important to Old Mutual. Our long history spanning over 110 years demonstrates our unwavering commitment to this country,” said Mushosho.
“We lead the way in promoting and encouraging environmentally sustainable practices in the property industry. Adhering to the Green Building principles, we create properties that are energy and resource-efficient, as well as environmentally friendly. These principles incorporate design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impacts on our environment.”
Mushosho said Old Mutual’s desire for excellence motivated it to partner with internationally-renowned Gensler, a global design firm with 20 practice areas that include architecture, city planning, interior design and product design, among others. Gensler has worked with various cities in the developing world in coming up with sound and culturally relevant models of urban development and renewal.
Thabo Lenneiye, a spokesperson for Gensler, said the stakeholders’ workshop was expected to develop a strategy and a brief for the focus of the program. This phase also includes a research and development studio to be held at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design and NUST, respectively.
“Following these sessions, which will include the production of draft plans, sketches, etc., the key stakeholders – civil society, businesses, city elected representatives, council officials – will consider different options to inform concrete and specific strategies that will guide future planning of Harare.
“The goal is to assist the City of Harare to produce a strategy as a basis for a Master Plan Towards 2040. The strategy will cover both formal and informal developments, therefore boosting potentials and reducing the efforts that are required to upgrade these types of urban patterns,” said Lenneiye.
She said the consultations will bring together graduate students in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and other related disciplines together with stakeholders in order to develop options for the future planning of Harare.
“In the process, Zimbabwean students will be exposed to urban planning, architecture and landscape architecture tools, techniques and methodologies from other parts of the world.”
Findings and recommendations from the year-long exercise that has been divided into three phases will be contained in a two part publication.
Volume I: Towards a Vision 2040 for the City of Harare; Volume II: Low Cost Housing Prototypes for Harare.
Post published in: Business