Alliance Française de Durban, Urban Futures Centre (Durban University of Technology) and the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) are joining forces in taking the bold initiative of breaking down the Alliance Française’s boundary wall, through a project named “Alliance Without Walls”.

This initiative is part of a broader Durban wide project entitled “Imagining a City Without Walls”. The project is the brainchild of the Urban Futures Centre (UFC) which is housed within the University’s Engineering and the Built Environment Faculty (EBE). “Imagining a City Without Walls” advocates the removal of high walls and a takes a critical look at conventional suburban safety measures as a way of making communities safer and contributing to social cohesion.

Interest and support for this project, as well as the Alliance Française initiative, has been received from a diverse group of stakeholders. These stakeholders include architects, urban planners, criminologists, public police and the private security industry. In addition, a strong voice of support has been provided by the community that borders Sutton Park and the eThekwini Municipality.

The process will begin with an exciting workshop on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design which will be held on Tuesday, 3 February at 2pm. This interactive workshop will be directed by three technical specialists of the CSIR, led by Tinus Kruger. It will be held at DUT’s Steve Biko Campus. As part of the CSIR’s Safety and Security Flagship initiative, the research professionals will contribute their expertise by incorporating Crime Prevention through Environmental Design into the initiative in Durban, further creating a platform to promote ongoing dialogue.

The first phase of the process will round off with a braai and Cinema in the Park event and a presentation on Friday, 13 February. This event will be open to all.

Through this project, 200 Architecture students at DUT will be the first group to learn about environmental design and how this is linked to crime prevention. The end product of this process will be a deconstructed and reconstructed space which will be completed by Franco-South African construction companies. The breaking down of the Alliance Française wall is not just a design or physical process, it is also an act of “unlearning”.

“We are daring to do what people have been afraid to say” is an enduring thought toward the shifting mindset concerning public spaces and crime prevention in communities throughout South Africa. 50 students will be working on the “Alliance without Walls” project as a study case, from Monday, 2 February 2015 until Friday, 13 February 2015.

Journalists are welcome to join:

• CSIR Training Workshop in the S10 Basement (S-Block) at the DUT Steve Biko Campus on Tuesday, 3 February 2015 at 2pm.
• Site Visit for CSIR and DUT Architecture students at Sutton Park and Alliance Française, Wednesday morning, 4 February 2015.
• Presentation at 1pm to 2pm, braai at 2pm to 5pm, and Open-Air Cinema event at 6PM to 8PM at Sutton Park on Friday, 13 February 2015.

For further information, please contact:

DUT
– Prof Monique Marks on (031) 373 2180 or moniquem@dut.ac.za
– Tseliso Moahloli on (031) 373 2043 or tsidim@dut.ac.za

Alliance Francaise de Durban
– Vuyolwethu Ndlela on (031) 312 9582 or marketing.afdbn@alliance.org.za

An extended dossier with comprehensive material including photos, biographies and case studies of key partners relating to the “Alliance without Walls” project is available on request.