1. An African experienceâŠ
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DANIEL NELL
PORTFOLIO danielnell15@gmail.com
+27 78 165 8459
2. Contents:
1 CURRICULUM VITAE
2 EDUCATIONAL WORK:
1st year MLA: Metropolitan planning project: Barcelona informal settlement Spatial
Development Framework
2nd year MLA: Thesis dissertation: Muizenberg seafront
2nd year MLA: Landscape construction detailing examples
3 PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE:
2010 -Cape Town International Airport (commercial)
2010 -Sunrise Villas (residential)
2008- Afriland Business Park (commercial)
CONTENTS
4 ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE:
2011- Khayelitsha: Bulelani Precinct Participatory Design Project (research)
4. 2
Barcelona Informal Settlement SDF
Focus groups Site analysis
Formalised community
courtyard spaces
EDUCATIONAL WORK
Cultural mapping
Project Description:
The Barcelona Informal Settlement project engaged Town Planning students and Landscape
Architecture students at UCT to work with an impoverished community in an informal settlement in
Cape Town, which is situated on a old landfill site. The aim of the project was for students to work with
the community together with international NGOâs Slum Dwellers International (SDI) and help develop a
spatial development framework which could be taken forward to the City of Cape town.
Precinct zones of strategic
The project involved students conducting focus group sessions with the local community as well as
intervention analysing the site by using cultural mapping as well as terrain analysis techniques.
Spatial Development
The final product of my spatial development framework took the approach of addressing the
Framework Plan immediate issues surrounding the community by proposing strategic planning development
interventions that would provide the catalyst to activate social and economic growth. This approach
drew on the principle of accommodating informality by means of providing the necessary formalized
infrastructure and development in which to improve the settlements overall performance.
Development of public amenity
infrastructure
5. 2
Thesis dissertation: Muizenberg seafront
Project Description:
Problem statement: Over the last few decades due to economic, environmental, planning and
management issues the coastal town of Muizenberg which was once a thriving holiday and
tourist destination has suffered greatly from urban decay and a poor environmental quality.
These factors have led to the erosion of âsense of placeâ and the uniqueness of place that
made Muizenberg a world renowned coastal town and tourist destination.
Hypothesis: My thesis argues that through a number of strategic interventions, when designing
the landscape by responding to social, cultural, environmental and aesthetic layers the identity
of Muizenberg will be restored and enhanced
EDUCATIONAL WORK
7. 2
Description:
Construction detailing The design philosophy for construction detailing in this project was to respond to the harsh environmental
conditions of the site, which included strong SE winds and salt spray. This made conditions uncomfortable
for users. Therefore the design approach was the creation of raised berm structures that function as dune
barriers providing for a sheltered and more comfortable micro-climate for users.
The site also required the use of robust materials that could withstand the harsh environmental conditions,
as well as heavy public use. Railway sleepers have been used as retainer wall cladding to celebrate the
historical railway connection to the site.
EDUCATIONAL WORK
8. 2
Description:
Construction detailing The design approach for construction detailing was to reveal the natural
processes of the site by day-lighting underground mountain streams and
using local sandstone material as robust seating.
The colourful iconic Victorian bathing huts have long been associated with
Muizenberg beachfront. The design approach was to re-interpret the
bathing hut to provide for a more flexible structure that could
accommodate a kiosk or crafts vendor, as well as providing a sheltered and
shaded environment.
EDUCATIONAL WORK
9. 3
Cape Town International Airport (commercial)
Client: Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)
Project Description:
Clients brief:
The Cape Town International Airport is one of the busiest airports on the continent and with FIFA World Cup in 2010 the CTICC
required indigenous landscaping that would showcase to visitors of the world the Western Capeâs richly diverse floral kingdom
of plant species.
The site and its environment:
-The site includes areas to be landscaped along all recently constructed approach roads to and from the airport terminals on
the land side of the airport as well as planting around the IRT bus terminal and open plaza space outside the main terminal
building.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
The site is situated in a harsh environment on the âCape Flatsâ which is exposed to strong winds throughout the year as well as
poor soils which have been contaminated by fuel spills in recent years. Due to the height and structure of buildings some
landscaped areas will be greatly affected by low temperatures and sunlight in the winter months.
My involvement in the project:
-Initial concept planning and plant selection as well as CAD planting plans.
-On site supervision of landform construction and site and tree planting supervision.
-Project manage, formulating budget estimates, site inspections.
10. Sunrise Villas (residential)
3
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Project Description:
Sunrise Villas is situated on the corner of Baden Powell Drive and Prince George Drive in Muizenberg . (Cape Town) The site is a high density residential
development. The clients brief requested that the landscape design should include endemic Strandveld (coastal vegetation) planting which is a request by the
local municipality. There was also the need for the provision of improved pedestrian pathways through and around the development, as well as to re-habilitate
and re-vegetate an existing sand dune on the perimeter of the development.
My involvement in the project:
-Plant selection and CAD planting plan design.
-On site supervision of construction of external dune
-Project manage
11. 3
Afriland Business Park (commercial)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Project Description:
Afriland Business Park is situated in the Stellenbosch region of the Western Cape. The project brief was to create a contemporary commercial
business park design that accommodated public spaces in which allowed for employees and client s to enjoy the natural views and climate of the
wine land landscape.
My involvement in the project:
-Assist in plant selection and CAD planting plan design.
-Site inspections with contractors
-Production and render of Landscape Plan and perspective drawings
12. 4
Khayelitsha: Bulelani Precinct Participatory Design Project (research)
IFLA research paper presented in Kenya 2011
ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Project Description:
The Bulelani Precinct participatory project also know as the âEmthonjeni Projectâ was part of a pilot project programme
for the Monwabisi Park Informal Settlement Transformation Programme in Cape Town. The parties involved in the project
included lecturers and students from UCT who facilitated and documented the process of the âemthonjeniâ project
together with the NGO Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods (SUN), as well the community of the Bulelani Precinct area.
The main aims of the project was to develop a small public open space which can support Early Childhood Development
(ECD) and to be guided by participatory design methodology, as well as to develop a better understanding of design
epistemology from an Afrocentric perspective.
My involvement in the project:
-Initial conceptualization of a series of participatory design workshops .
-Facilitate and document workshops and participatory design process.
-Presented research findings to the 2011 IFLA Africa Symposium: Landscape Architecture Education and Practice in Africa