Planning Partners were approached by the V&A in 2017 to work with Mowana Civil Engineers to create a new pedestrian plaza where the once, large traffic circle was situated in Walter Sisulu Avenue. The traffic circle connected numerous access routes from the CBD, Walter Sisulu Avenue, South Arm Road, West Quay Road and Dock Road. The traffic circle was deemed to be a danger to pedestrians and was flawed in way finding aspects. The project was successfully completed in 2019.

Our role was to design the hard and soft landscaping to the new plaza. Paving design was influenced by the major pedestrian desire lines from various destinations from the CBD towards the Waterfront. Urban beacons were designed to add to the placemaking of the plaza – clusters of large steel ‘parasols’ were included, these also act as directional aids that lead pedestrians to safe crossing points.

Soft landscaping was very basic – we sourced the largest containerised Ficus natalesis trees in the Western Cape, these were carefully placed between  in gaps that were formed by a spaghetti of existing and very old underground services – one must remember the plaza is situated in an area of the old working harbour. The super-sized trees created instant shade and immediately improved the  micro climate for pedestrians, stone stub seating walls are provided for seating in the shade.