Cultural anthropology in relation to urban design and planning

Abstract

Planning and urban design in South Africa are confronted with a highly volatile decision making context, which is likely to be heavily influenced by unfamiliar cultural values. In this paper a number of anthropological precepts are examined in developing a culturally responsive approach to physical planning and urban design. The fundamental significance of meaning in planning of the built envi­ronment is shown through the work of various cultural anthropologists and a case study involving the development of Mmabatho. A matrix summarizes the relationship between culturally impor­tant variables and specific planning and urban design considerations. A prototypical procedure for neighbour­hood or urban scale design/physical planning is also offered.