Abstract
Existing tools for capturing a community’s vision during a spatial planning and land-use management exercise often do not adequately articulate a community’s vision in an inspiring way and in a way that planners and the community are able to communicate what the vision actually means. The ‘pattern language’ approach, pioneered by Christopher Alexander and others, is introduced as a possible ‘new’ approach in South Africa that can be used to articulate a community’s vision as part of a municipal spatial development framework planning process. It is shown, based on qualitative research conducted at Mooiplaas, in the Great Kei Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, that a preliminary pattern language can be developed by working with a specific community to identify those features of their community they would like to retain and improve as well as what new features they would like to introduce into their community based on their vision. Areas for further research related to the ‘pattern language’ concept are identified. 
Highlights
Visions are an important feature of many planning processes and are used in the strategic planning process of organisations (Community Toolbox, n.d.; On Strategy, n.d.)
Visions are used in the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) process to provide a long-term vision of the municipality as per the Municipal Systems Act (MSA) (RSA, 2000: s26) and the development of Spatial Development Framework (SDF) plans of municipalities to provide a spatial vision for the area in future as per the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA), No 16 of 2013 (RSA, 2013: s21.c)
Over and above the municipality and Municipal Planning Tribunal having to consider the national spatial principles found in section 2 of SPLUMA, the content of the municipal IDP, the SDF plan and any spatial and development principles incorporated in these documents, they would have to consider the approved pattern language
Summary
Visions are an important feature of many planning processes and are used in the strategic planning process of organisations (Community Toolbox, n.d.; On Strategy, n.d.). This article argues that existing tools such as vision statements, SDF plans and development principles used to capture a community’s vision are insufficient for helping a community fully express their. It is suggested that additional visioning tools need to be explored in order to ascertain whether they may help improve the way in which a community’s vision is developed and articulated. The pattern language approach (Alexander, Ishikawa, Silverstein, Jackobson, Fiksdahl-King & Angel, 1977; Alexander, 1979) is introduced as a possible candidate for a new approach and methodology that can be used to capture a community’s vision. Some initial thoughts are provided as to how a pattern language can be used within the context of spatial planning and land-use management in South Africa. The article concludes by making recommendations for more research and work that needs to be done in order to pick up on some of the ideas introduced in the article
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
