Greenhouse Project Citichat 25 May 2001

CITICHAT 20/2001 25 May 2001


Greenhouse Peoples Environment Centre

An e-mail regarding a special presentation on the design proposals for the GreenHouse Peoples Environmental Centre, reminded me that I have for some time wanted to write something on this project only briefly mentioned in previous Citichats.

The R10 million Centre will be situated in the North West Quadrant of Joubert Park, the site having been provided by the Council. It is intended to be a “home” for environmental NGO’s and CBO’s and activists in Greater Johannesburg, ‘a sustainable energy and environmental development experimental and display centre, through its building fabric, resource use and recycling, edible landscaping, information provision and management and an educational centre.’ ‘In essence the GreenHouse Project is to be a place of inspiration towards a green ideal which persuades every individual who visits that they do have the power and skill to improve their own quality of life as well as improving the environmental and social legacy for future generations.’

The Project Team suggests that the project will provide an opportunity for investors to participate in a learning partnership that will have far reaching yields for the development of Johannesburg. These yields will be felt in five dimensions.

☻ Educationally (knowledge) because of the documentation and research reports on Green building (including our own) that are found in the Green Living And Development (GLAD) files housed in the building.

☻ Economically (wealth), because of the income and business opportunity that the construction process will offer to local residents, as well as increasing sales opportunities to satisfy the expected demand that visitors to the GreenHouse Project will have for a wide range of ecological products

☻ Aesthetically (beauty), because a beautiful and inspirational building will enhance the natural beauty of Joubert Park, and the Inner City.

☻ Ethically (values), because of the ecological mindfulness that the GreenHouse Project team contributes to the consciousness of our fellow citizens, through the programmes of the GreenHouse Project.

☻ Politically (power), because of the interaction that the GreenHouse Project precipitates within civil society and between civil society organisations and local government, to advance the principles and implementation of Local Agenda 21.

The project offers opportunities to investors and donors the former including the showcasing of ecological products and energy efficient technology innovation and opportunities for involvement of emerging contractors with an interest in ‘green building’. Donor opportunities exist for those organisations with a focus on inner city regeneration through enhancement of quality of life or for those with both environmental and developmental interests in making a unique example of sustainable urban development.

Danish Cooperation for Environment and Development (DANCED) have provided R4,6 million for a three year start up period for human resources and organisational establishment. This excludes capital for building, furnishing and equipment but has included professional consulting fees. With effect from November 2002, social investment from other sources will need to be found to continue the programmes of the GreenHouse Project. These include

 Programme for assimilation and dissemination of Green Living and Development (GLAD) knowledge. R850,000 per annum.

 Sustainable Energy and Environment for Development (SEED) Programme. R 200,000 p.a.

 Friends of the GreenHouse (FROGs) start up funding. R 25,000.

 Organisational Support and Capacity Building programme. R500 000.

Joubert Park is of course perceived as an area of major urban distress and so one must ask the question as to what impact the project will have on the surrounding area? The Project Team claim that it:

☻ Will enhance Joubert Park as a ‘green lung’ in the inner city, making surrounding residential properties more attractive to home buyers, which should corresponding lead to increases in property prices.

☻ Will attract visitors to the inner city, many of whom will also visit the Art Gallery and other inner city attractions.

☻ Will provide educational opportunities for both children and adults to understand themselves as part of the environment and responsible for maintaining its integrity.

John Clarke the Project Manager reflects on the sustainability of the project – “The long term sustainability of the project will probably depend on maintaining an effective “Friends of the GreenHouse (FROGs)” outreach, since the rationale for the project is essentially an ethical one, summed up as “how can we make our society sustainable by using only renewable resources on a sustainable basis?” We assume that individuals and organisations who are sincerely interested in that question, will give resources to us. In turn we will demonstrate how to achieve “more with less”, and through strategic investment of resources donated to us, develop an expanding capital base (capital understood holistically as incorporating social and ecological capital as well as financial and manufactured capital).

The programmes we offer will be managed as value-adding initiatives, that preferentially address the interests of people disadvantaged and/ or marginalised by inequitable economic, political and social practices, whether perpetrated by local, national or international forces. Until such time as global economic relations are fair, the programmes we offer will need to be supported by humanitarian aid and Corporate Social Investment, if their impact is to be significant. Implied in this is a strong lobbying and advocacy role that the project will play, in concert with other social movements working for overall social and environmental betterment.“

The architects for the project are Nick Whitcutt and James Jacobs and the project team is aiming for the Centre to be sufficiently complete by the time of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg next year, so that it can be officially opened as a flagship exhibition project, “demonstrating the fruits of a sound partnership between local government and civil society, in addressing urban environmental concerns”.

Whilst Greater Johannesburg is wonderfully ‘treed’, the city centre with its history of tearing down architectural gems and replacing them with schlock can hardly be described as ‘green’! So the Greenhouse Environmental Centre is a welcome addition in the long list of current projects.

On the eating front, have had a number of enquiries regarding making bookings at the Portuguese restaurant ‘Cuana” I mentiones a couple of weeks back. Phone 333.1321 or Alice at 082-637.9367.

Moving to the western edge of the city, one of the best known of our city eateries is undoubtedly Kapitans. Established in 1887 (the year after the discovery of gold!) it is the oldest curry restaurant in South Africa now run by the fourth generation of the original founders. Often quoted as Nelson Mandela’s favourite restaurant, it was actually used by him as a clandestine meeting place prior to his incarceration as also by the Transvaal Indian Congress. The curries are all mild and tasty – the masala is a mix from the grandfather of the current Kapitan and the masala tea is evidently something else! The décor can only be described as “Joeys eclectic” and proceedings are ruled over by Ma Kapitan, a colourful character if ever there was one – I have been berated loudly by her on both my previous visits for leaving food on my plate – but it was truly for reasons of quantity and not quality! Tucked away on the first floor at 11 Kort Street, bookings on 834.8048 – parking not always the easiest.