Share this story:
I am Karla,
Placemaking is how we turn spaced into places of meaning, connection, and identity.
A place made of magic
The V&A Waterfront is often seen as a property development company, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. At its heart, it is a neighbourhood, a place of wonder, inspiration, joy and magic. By the mid-1960s, the harbour area that became the V&A Waterfront had fallen into neglect, cutting the city off from its shoreline.
The V&A development was born in response, founded on the principle of reconnecting Cape Town, and everyone who visits, with the water. Today, that vision shapes our mission to collectively create the world’s most inspiring waterfront neighbourhood: one that offers opportunity, welcomes all, and fosters a true sense of safety and belonging. One of the ways that we achieve this is through our intentional approach to placemaking, looked after by Karla de la Bat, our placemaking expert.
So how do you move from being a developer and custodian of space to a creator of place? This is where placemaking comes in. Placemaking is responsive, people-first, intuitive and flexible. It’s not about building picture-perfect areas, but about creating places that respond to the real-life interests of people, places that people actually want to spend time in. It goes far beyond beautification.
At its core, placemaking is the transformation of space into a public place that works for everyone, across all walks of life. Space may be the built infrastructure and buildings, but ‘place’ is the intention, the identity and the meaning we create for the open areas in between the buildings. Placemaking has always been infused in our business approach, from the development of high-quality areas and events that bring the vibes, to the tables and chairs that families pull together to share an ice-cream in the shade. It’s about weaving together the functional elements, like seating and landscaping, with the exciting touches like art, play and music.
Last week, we introduced our new swivel-top play chairs at Battery Park. Walking past, I overheard a man say to his wife, while watching his laughing child tipped out of one: “There’s always something to see or do here… ons gaan hom nou nooit by die huis kry nie” (We’re never going to get him home now). I walked back to the office smiling.
“We use the analogy of an octopus to think of our public spaces. With the head, you have our well-known spaces like Battery Park, UCB Square, the Silo District. They are spacious and attract many people. The arms of the octopus are the corridors, between these high-functioning plaza. It’s important that these in-between spaces also function, inspire and guide people around the neighbourhood. We are intentional about this, using art, installations, engagement, our buskers and more. It’s a multi-faceted approach to ensure that every visitor has a safe, beautiful and vibrant experience.”We want all people, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, to walk away from our world inspired. We’re excited to see more people interacting with art thanks to our pilot programme.
A day in the life
“It’s very special for me to be able to engage with art. It’s not something that happens often, so it’s very special. One feels valued. I can feel the shapes. The textures. The energy!”
Ryan Childs / A Blind Art Lover
In the words
of one of
our buskers
In the words
of one of
our buskers
“Since we started busking here at the V&A Waterfront, we entertained locals and internationals alike. But we’ve also booked other gigs and made important connections. This neighbourhood is a place of opportunities. People recognise us and celebrate our talents. Through the exposure, people have booked us for various events which has totally changed our lives. We’ve travelled and been exposed to places we may never have seen. Being a part of the busking community here at the V&A has had an amazing positive impact on our lives,” explains Athabile Jim (Ithemba Youth Choir).
Read the next chapter
Chapter 01
David Green
Introducing V&A Change Chapters
