Creative Cape Town

Using new media, an actuarial specialist is enabling the City’s citizens to know more, say more and do more to make Cape Town a true Creative Capital. This is Future Cape Town.

Future Cape Town is, first of all, on Tumblr. Tumblr is a micro blog – something like a marriage between twitter and Facebook. It suits those online, on the ball and on the run. It suits Rashiq Fataar, an Actuarial Specialist with a background in actuarial science, finance or economics and a passion for promoting the Cape Town he wants to help create.

Posited as an ‘ideas outlet’, it covers a variety of short features touching on organisations, individuals and institutions at work in the fabric of the city. From cycling clubs started online to the Brand Cape Town debate, it looks at the city’s status quo, urban renewal and social rejuvenation with the insight of an insider and the perspective of a professional. Here are a few examples from his twitter feed :

While the micro blog and twitter profile have only been active for 6 months, they have accrued quite a following, mainly on twitter (3000). We chatted to Rashiq about generating dialogue in the city and his ideal Future Cape Town.

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Interview with Future Cape Town’s Rashiq Fataar.

CCT: Your educational background is stats and economics. How did you make the leap from number crunching to urban gauging through new media?

Rashiq: The jump to new or social media was a long time coming, and through an often-frustrating passion for Cape Town, Future Cape Town was born. Twitter has single-handedly provided a unique and effective platform for sharing my thoughts and interests, and more importantly, my blog. I remain a full time actuarial specialist and consider my blog and passion for Cape Town, occupying a different part of my brain. It is somewhere in between the chaotic mix of the left and right brain that I think Future Cape Town will find its place. My background in actuarial science, finance or economics often adds a dose of reality to issues facing Cape Town.

CCT: what is your ultimate aim with Future Cape Town?

Rashiq: We are currently in the process of engaging with various individuals and organizations as to the role we should and could fulfil and how best to position and deliver what we may have to offer Cape Town. I would like to believe that our goal would be firstly to stimulate debate around the future of Cape Town through various forms of media – traditional and “new”.  This may include encouraging others to be more vocal on issuesacross various communities in Cape Town, regardless of their profession or background. I felt that it was time that many positive developments and the greater potential of Cape Town was shared with Capetonians.

Secondly, as an “Ideas Outlet”, we are working with a few different individuals and projects to help them spread the word, or to offer our ideas through a more formal consulting role.

If we can reach a point where Capetonians feel they play an active role in shaping the future and vision of Cape Town, then we will be making progress.

CCT: Tell us a little about the redevelopment challenges in Waterkant St. What needs to be done to integrate it into the bigger picture?

Rashiq: The Lutheran Warehouse redevelopment involves the full restoration and re-integration of the existing old Lutheran Warehouse structure, on the corner of Strand, Bree and Waterkant. A new building is proposed to “float” above the existing structure, while a new double volume pedestrian mall will allow the public to mill through the building from the Fan Walk and Bree Street.

I would have liked to have told you that the debate is centred around whether we should mix old and new architecture in Cape Town or which architectural style is most appropriate for the new building. Unfortunately, the debate is really about vocal opposition that is ill-informed about the true merits of the project, and the extent to which the Augostides’ and Fagan Architects have gone in producing this proposal.

This paranoia has spilled over into the ears of municipal authorities and has sadly resulted in a building being blocked, despite already having obtained both heritage and planning approval. I can confirm that no city official or vocal heritage party who have thus far spoken with such authority about this project have visited the building and site. So the challenge can be separated into various parts including e.g. those who are simply ill-informed by choice and those who are simply anti-development. Why Cape Town is still entertaining these parties is still beyond me. The comments from various City of Cape Town Urban Design Review and Planning departments are out of date and disappointing for a city aiming to be a World Design Capital.

CCT: if late Architect and urban planner, Daniel Burnham (one of your heroes) was to look at Waterkant St, what do you think he’d suggest to help it to make Cape Town a truly creative city (that cares for all its citizens)?

Rashiq: I think Burnham would start at street level and walk the length of the Fan Walk. He would engage with those who are using the route while remaining committed to his ideals that “no little plans” should be made. His drawings or diagrams would be quite imaginative, and would certainly ruffle the feathers of many in Cape Town. Pedestrians, cyclists and traders would be prioritized along the entire route at all times, and not simply for large events. Surrounding traffic and spaces would then be aligned to the Fan Walk and not vice versa, while maintaining a sense of order, logic and elegance in delivering this vision.

CCT: Tell us a little about the walking tours you’re conducting.

Rashiq:  We have very recently started our COMMUNITY initiative and mailing list to share some events e.g. tours, walks or even “cycles”, which we will be organizing. These events may include tours of various buildings or spaces e.g. Cape Town Station, building sites under construction,activities e.g. using the MyCitiBus and cycle lanes, or other events we think would be interesting and exciting. Most of our events will take place outside of office hours allowing the majority of the COMMUNITY to attend.

Our first event which comprised of a small group of individuals from various backgrounds, was a tour of the Lutheran Warehouse building ,conducted by Casey Augostides, the property owner. The diverse views and questions, from the group which included amongst others an engineer, lawyer, actuary and brand manager, resulted in the full scope of the redevelopment proposal being considered. This robust “interrogation” or holistic view of the redevelopment proposalensured that the bigger picture and aims of the project became clear. It is then no surprise that the project is now fully supported by all those in attendance.

We are currently in planning to organize our next event, which will be a tour of the ongoing Cape Town Station revitalization project.
CCT: Has the overall response been positive?

Rashiq:  We have had a very good response from a wide range of Capetonians from various professions. Information about any event can be obtained by simply sending a mail to community@futurecapetown.com

Rashiq: The media has responded positively and has welcomed our views. A recent article,  “Stop praying at the altar of the past” which appeared in the Cape Argus in April 2011, was our first attempt at creating a broader debate through traditional media. The article of course received both support and opposition. It is the opposition I most look forward to replying to and engaging with.

Other organizations e.g. Cape Town Tourism, and the Cape Town Partnership. have been more than welcome to hear our views and share their views, and offer assistance where possible. We have thoroughly enjoyed our involvement in their events e.g. the position of branding of Cape Town or the “Our Cities. Ourselves” Transport exhibition.

CCT: Have any new ideas/initiatives risen out of this?

Rashiq: Beyond the COMMUNITY initiative we are constantly discussing new ideas. We remain quite interested in exploring new avenues using social media to encourage public participation on various issues. We have received encouragement from various parties to pursue larger projects but we are taking baby steps for now.

CCT: Is most of the project’s growth through social media / user-generated content on the web?

Rashiq: Most of the growth has been due to social media, which, in some cases, is able to offer a real-time experience to our followers e.g. as we receive new information on a development. However, we hope that as our blog following increases, we will reach a much wider audience through the quality of our blog content (which remains a work in progress).

CCT: Who do you feel needs to come to the table for everyone to eat well in this setup?

Rashiq: The City of Cape Town still needs to come to the table on a wide variety of issues, but we certainly do hope that the fresh blood of a new Mayoral Committee post local elections will ensure a more visionary local government, willing to take risks, and committed to Design in more ways than one.

A real commitment to being a Design City is still lacking, while important decisions are often based on reducing the impact of vocal opposition rather than educating vocal parties( often in the minority) about the broader benefit or bigger picture e.g. the zoning of Cape Town Stadium, the Green Point Park and elevated circle.

On the other hand Capetonians, themselves, still need to come to the table on various topical issues. Many still need to realize that they have a voice and an opportunity to be heard. Authentic views and stories directly from Capetonians ultimately offer the best guide as to how we should position Cape Town in the future.

Learn more about Future Cape Town on Facebook

Visit the Future Cape Town website