Introduction To Studio At Denver

Studio AT Denver

Overview

The Denver area mostly comprises of a light industrial area with a residential sector that is located to the east of Johannesburg CBD and is surrounded by a broader industrial band along its boundary. Main Reef Road is located towards the north of Denver which borders Johannesburg’s historical gold mining belt. Surrounding settlements, such as the Denver Hostels, surfaced within the area during the development of Johannesburg in order to house the migrant workers entering the city. This was also managed by the planning of the infrastructure that was developed during the apartheid era.

Due to the amount of poverty that is evident in KwaZulu-Natal, some of its locals within the province moved to Gauteng in search of job opportunities and a better quality of life.

The community of Denver mostly speak the isiZulu language and follow the conventional hierarchical structure of their decision making within the area. The informal politics within Denver chose that one head chief that makes all the decisions within the community and allocates tasks to his subordinates which then manage the tasks that are given to the residents. This form of hierarchical ranking is part of the Zulu tradition and forms the basis of their culture. Due to this sense of order existing within Denver, it is difficult for the neighbourhood to have complete ownership over their own space and therefore it affects the individual’s form of decision-making. The spatial changes are only made relative to the region’s social structure.

The communal spaces within Denver offer the community a space where they can gather and socialise. These spaces offer the community a sense of ownership and are therefore kept clean. These courtyard areas are the support level in Denver and the settlement buildings around these spaces are adjusted according to what the community needs.

The government promised Denver’s residents that they would be granted suitable housing and when this was not met, they told the community that they would be relocated to areas with affordable housing but none of this was provided. Denver’s inhabitants reside in the ever-growing informal settlements and encounter unhealthy living conditions as their waste is disposed within the main storm water channel. The build-up of waste within this area causes the channel to flood during the rainy season and is seen as a neglected area where there is not sense of ownership. The public toilets are also in poor condition and the drainage channels do not have a decent infrastructure to control the outflow to a designated area. The electrical power lines hang low within these parts which prevents any trucks or waste removal vehicles to enter the area and is also a danger to the residents, especially the children. The quality of the laundry areas, which are by the water points, do not have an adequate drainage system and there are no designated safe areas for the children to play while the mothers wash clothing. These neighbourhood support levels need to be retained in order for the community to have a better quality of life.