Meeting the Client

My chosen client, Shokat Alli Khan is an active and engaging member of the Lenasia community. His plan is to restore the beauty of the Klipsrivierspruit area in Lenasia, commonly known as Oupa Vets. Since I am a member of the community, I realised that this project would be a perfect fit for me because I understand the environment, the community members and values, cultures and beliefs. I can relate to the problems Mr Khan identified in the community as I have experienced the same. I also feel that taking on this project will allow me to contribute something positive to my own home town.

Rewind back to when my lecturer, Christa van Zyl, posted on Facebook that the class would be taking a trip to Lenasia. LENASIA!? Why Lenasia? I began thinking of all the possible places that university students would be interesting and Oupa Vets was not one of them. I have lived in "Lenz" my entire life and I know that there isn't many places of interest in this small town. The site was not always known for the numerous suicides and dumped bodies (as my dad says), however it was once a sanctuary, a place of beauty and peace. I think that Mr Khan's idea for the restoration of the dam is brilliant as it is the perfect opportunity to put Lenasia back on the map.

Mr Khan identified various problems in Lenasia such as the presence of beggars on every street corner, high unemployment rates, tough economic conditions, increase of drugs on the streets and a poor response to the aged, frail and terminally ill. The socio-economic conditions of Lenasia are a major concern and as members of the community, we have to take a proactive approach.

During the first meeting, Mr Khan showed the class a presentation of his visions for the Oupa Vets dam and how it will have a positive impact on the community, and in time the country. He briefly explained how the Desiderata Village atmosphere will be created. The village will provide housing for the homeless, peaceful cottage-like homes for the old and frail, electricity generating bicycles and gymnasium, a nature and wildlife game reserve, a water theme park (which Lenasia really needs), hiking and cycling tracks and picnic spots near the dam. Implementing such brilliant ideas to the town will generate high profits that will greatly benefit the community. Besides the fact that this village addresses most of the problems of the community, it also provides great opportunities for the future of South Africa. Lenasia could be the first place in the world to have an electricity generating bike that pays the rider. That is amazing! Who wouldn't mind working out if they going to get paid? There is also a great opportunity for Lenasia to become a tourist attraction and be known for something other than crime and shopping.

We later visited the site in Lenasia. The class was accompanied by Mr Khan, Christa, and 2 security guards (I should not have carried my laptop that day if I knew that there was a possibility of getting mugged). The walk to the site was quite far and tedious on that hot afternoon. I had to tread carefully through the 'pathway' as to not get glass, litter or insects in peep toe pumps. However, once I stopped complaining and actually looked up to view my surroundings, I found it simply beautiful. The site has so much potential and the Desiderata Village is the perfect opportunity to improve the area. I have always been fascinated by the beauty of nature and standing in that field made me realise how perfect this project would be for me if I could work in such an environment. I would always say that nature is my biggest inspiration but through the years at university, it was replaced by Pinterest and Behance. This project is taking me back to the essence of what inspired me to start creating and designing in the first place. I would like to make others see and feel the beauty of that site as I did. I want to make my audience forget the chaos of the rapid-paced lifestyle of Johannesburg living. I want them to sit and appreciate the beauty and peace that is around them in this envisioned sanctuary.

I look forward to working with Mr Khan on the Desiderata Village project.

#Village #Nature #Community #Lenasia