urban planning portfolio

Dr. Robert J. Platt

15 November 2011

Portfolio

Curriculum Vitae

Personal Details

• Nationality British

• Profession Urban Designer and Architect

Education

• Ph.D. University of the Witwatersrand

• Master of Arts in Urban Design, University of Manchester

• Bachelor of Architecture, University of Natal

• Property Development Programme, Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town

Academic Experience

• Lecturer in Design, University of Natal 1976

Elected Positions

• Vice President Natal Institute of Architect 1987 – 1988

• Durban City Council Planning Committee 1986 – 1988

• Durban City Beach & City Steering Committee 1986 – 1988

Language Ability

• English Mother tongue

• Afrikaans Good

Curriculum Vitae

Professional Career

• Director Osmond Lange Incorporated, South Africa, Transkei, Boputhatswana and Ciskei 1979-1988

• Partner Architectural & Planning Studio, Botswana 1979-1988

• Director John S Bonnington Partnership, London, United Kingdom 1988-1991

• Partner Maurice Dibb Associates, Durban, South Africa 1991-1992

• Private Practice 1993-1994

• Director John S Bonnington Partnership, London, United Kingdom (based in China & Lebanon) 1994-1995

• Private Practice 1996-1997

• Osmond Lange Architects & Planners, Johannesburg, South Africa 1997-2000

• Halcrow International , London, United Kingdom (based in the U.A.E.) 2000 – 2007

• Sama Dubai , Dubai, U.A.E. 2007 – 2009

• Mubadala/JBI, Abu Dhabi U.A.E. 2009 - 2011

Urban Design & Placemaking

Urban Design Sowwah Island, Abu Dhabi

Mubadala was tasked by the Abu Dhabi Government to

create, on Sowwah Island, a new CBD for the city.

My role was that of Senior Design Manager responsible for

coordinating the work of the planning, design, environment,

traffic and utilities consultants to ensure successful delivery

of the Vision

Renderings by others

Urban Design Sowwah Island, Abu Dhabi

Renderings by others

Urban Design Business Bay, Dubai

This master plan for a new CBD for Dubai was prepared on

behalf of a government entity set up to spearhead

development growth in Dubai. It includes an 15km.

extension of the existing Dubai Creek, wrapping it through

the site and connecting it to the Arabian Gulf.

My role was that of project manager, and senior urban

designer responsible for urban planning and development

regulations.

perspective renderings by others

Urban Design Business Bay, Dubai

3D modelling and rendering by others

Urban Design The Lagoons, Dubai

3D modelling and rendering by others

This master plan for a life style project at the head of the

Dubai Creek includes some 90million sq.ft. of primarily

residential development, with a major waterfront living

component supported by a mixed use high street

environment.

My role was that of project manager, and senior urban

designer responsible for urban planning and development

regulations.

I subsequently joined the Master Developer as Director

responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of the

masterplan and the development control process.

Urban Design New City Plan, Dubai

This master plan for a new city of some 250,000 people was prepared in 2003 for the Dubai Municipality.

The site is an area of some 60sq.kms. of coastal land at the western end of the Emirate.

Following the development of a framework plan for the entire area, a detailed master plan for a notional

phase one was produced.

My role was that of senior urban designer responsible for urban planning and development regulations.

3D modelling of Phase 1 by others

Dubai Internet City Dubai Internet City Free Zone is a mixed use

development for E-Commerce and Media activities. It

will house 70,000 employees and 15,000 residents at

completion.

The Masterplan was completed in April 2001, with a

subsequent study assessing the impact of high-rise

buildings on the design concept being completed in

October 2001.

Demand for development has exceeded expectations

and the Masterplan is due for a review in January 2002.

My responsibility was that of senior urban designer,

developing early concepts (by others) into land use

plans and sub-division layouts, and producing

comprehensive Development Guidelines for the entire

site. I worked closely with landscape architects and

infrastructure engineers, and assisted in the production

of Town Planning Regulations for the project.

I subsequently project managed a complete review of

the original master plan, necessitated by the need to

respond to changing market patterns and investor

demand..

Urban Design

Urban Design Peoples’ Square, Shanghai

Shanghai is the fastest growing city in China, with ever-increasing pressures being

brought to bear on its public transportation infrastructure. Two metro lines intersect

at Peoples’ Square and a third is in the final stages of design. Most of the bus

routes from the suburbs also terminate at the Square.

Peoples’ Square is the heart and lung of the Shanghai CBD, and is suffering as a

result of the transportation pressure being brought to bear.

The objective of the project was to solve the transportation issues in a way that

would also lead to improvements for the users of the Square and to attempt to heal

the fragmented space.

My responsibility included urban design concept studies, liaison with transportation

engineers and the client body, and production of the presentation material.

Urban Design Hill Station, India

During the days of British rule the Indian Hill Stations were

developed as places for escaping the fierce humidity of the

coastal areas. Boarding schools also flourished in these areas

as parents wanted their children to spend time away from the

heat and unhealthy environments of the cities.

There has recently been a resurgence of interest amongst the

wealthier Indian families in this concept, and there is increasing

demand for boarding schools and weekend retreats.

The project was submitted in competition with other international

practices, and encompasses the development of a new Hill

Station and ancillary facilities on the edges of a major dam.

I was responsible for the design of the new town, and the layout

of a number of resort areas in the valleys of the surrounding

hills.

Urban Design Vista Technology Park Singapore

This was a concept design competition for a mixed

use project with a technology focus, located in the

Academic area of Singapore.

Working with a team of architects from Singapore,

my input included assisting with the development of

the Vision, and various detailed design studies to

project this image.

Urban Design Tourism Framework Plan, Dubai

I was the senior urban designer for this project – a

framework plan to create a regional tourism and

entertainment centre. The project was for the Dubai

Executive Office, and was launched in 2004 as

Dubailand.

My role included planning, site layouts, urban design

studies and the creation of development guidelines.

The project entailed extensive interaction both with

the client, and with potential investors, and included

presentations to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.

3D modelling by others

Urban Design Studies for Residential Developments

This sheet illustrates design studies for various

residential typologies located within master planning

projects undertaken in the Middle East.

Urban Design Khor Qurm Ras al Khaimah

I had the role of Project Manager and lead urban designer

for this resort development on the Ras Al Khaimah coast. It

comprises plots for resort hotels, a major theme park, local

retail, and apartment buildings, and is notable for its

relationship with an adjacent wetlands conservation project.

Urban Design San Fernando Trinidad

San Fernando is the second largest town in Trinidad. In the year 2000 the

Waterfront area was identified as an Action Plan area in an attempt to re-

vitalise an aging and rundown location to make it attractive to locals and

tourists.

I was responsible for site analysis and for the production of urban design

concept plans for the area, which included upgrading and re-use of existing

historic warehouse buildings, the creation of a new tourist plaza, and

proposing a series of small islands off-shore for building high-value villas and

condominiums.

The project also has to make provision for a major transportation interchange

and a coastal ferry service.

Urban Design Melrose Arch

Melrose Arch is a re-development in the suburbs of Johannesburg. It is

planned using New Urbanist techniques to be a series of mixed use

perimeter block buildings fronting a High Street and Town Square. It is

unique in the South African context, where development generally follows

segregated land use planning principles, and where shopping takes places

at giant indoor malls.

I was responsible for urban design matters, and for the design and delivery

of the urban fabric. I also undertook the production of Design Guidelines

for the numerous architectural practices who were commissioned to

design the buildings for Phase 1.

The project received an urban design award from the Institute of South

African Architects, with special mention for the clarity and practicality of the

Design Guidelines.

Urban Design Melrose Arch

Urban Design Welbedacht Village

A new mixed use development in Port Elizabeth, South

Africa, comprising commercial, retail, residential and

recreational functions for a population of 5,500.

My role included preparing concept plans for approval by

Local Authorities, detailed masterplanning, and

development of Design Guidelines,.

Urban Design Hillcrest Village

The Village is typical of small towns that have lost

their hearts due to commercial strip development

and increasing traffic congestion on the main

access roads.

The project aimed to re-vitalise the Centre by

creating a new mixed-use heart comprising retail,

commercial and residential functions around a

new town square.

Urban Design Hillcrest Village

Existing sports fields

New High Street

View towards new Town Square

Urban Design Township Upgrade

A proposal to upgrade an “apartheid era”

township (one of the first ever built).

The town was the scene of riots and housed

active cells of the ANC, and is now to be

developed as a living museum of the period.

The design enhances the experience from a

tourist perspective, and provides a sequence

of focal nodes to organise the built form and

the various functions.

Urban Design Nansha Golf & Country Club

A private golf resort outside

Gaungzhou, Southern China.

It comprises 2 18 hole golf

courses, a central clubhouse,

members’ villas, an indoor

tennis centre, a members’

“Chinese” village, and a

members’ “Hilltop Town”

I was resident project

architect, and responsible for

the design of many of the

buildings.

Urban Design Golf & Country Estate, Portugal

A substantial project (2,500 acres) close to Lisbon, on the

southern coast of Portugal, comprising an 18 hole golf course,

large groups of private villas and apartments, hotels, and

ancillary facilities.

The natural landscape, which includes a fragile ecological

coastal reserve, was used to create identifiable village areas,

and to provide walking and riding trails with a focus on the

natural beach and forest environment.

Urban Design Beirut Masterplan

A new mixed use suburb on re-claimed land south of Beirut, for the Prime

Minister of Lebanon. It comprises high value apartments arranged to

maximise sea views, plus extensive commercial, hotel, recreational and

retail functions. There is also provision for a marina on the northern end of

the site.

My role including development of a Vision for the site and detailed studies

to ensure maximisation of sea views from residential plots.

Urban Design Free Trade Zones, Lebanon

The zones shown here are two of of 15 locations throughout

Lebanon developed for the Investment Development Authority of

Lebanon (IDAL).

The concept is to create areas for stimulating local growth by

offering Free Trade industrial facilities - effectively neutral areas

free of exchange control mechanisms.

Urban Design University of Zululand - Umlazi Campus

The masterplan for a new campus for 5,000 students. My role was assistant master planner for the academic

facilities complex (shown in these images).

Architecture

Architecture National Bank of Dubai

View from the Dubai Creek

A new building to accommodate the headquarters and main branch of the

Bank. The building reflects its prestige position and responds to opportunities

presented by a prime site on the Dubai Creek.

Accommodation comprises 24,000m2 of banking, office, and special functions

areas.

This was a competition entry; various design studies for the tower can be

seen in the Artwork section of this document.

Architecture Farmers Union Building London

A dual function office building housing the National Farmers Union headquarters (3,000m2) and lettable office space

(10,000m2). It is sited on prestigious Knightsbridge in central London.

Architecture Office Building Watford

A commercial development in Watford, England - the winning scheme in a developer’s competition providing 8,000m2 of

high grade office space on 5 floors.

Architecture Office Park Derby

A commercial development in Derby, England - comprising 30,000m2 of speculative office space in a group of 3 and 4

storey buildings. The design had to acknowledge a conservation area on two boundaries - style and materials were

selected with this in mind.

Architecture Morula Sun Hotel South Africa

This project involves the re-furbishment of an existing

casino hotel. New themes have been developed, using

a mixture of traditional and high tech to complement

the style of the existing buildings

Architecture Waterfront Hotel Durban

This 60 room hotel is located in the

Harbour in Durban South Africa,

and is designed to provide a

comfortable yet dramatic

destination for travelling

yachtsmen.

It comprises accommodation,

central facilities, a multi-storey

glazed display area, outdoor cafes,

and specialist shopping.

Architecture Whipsnade Zoo

Design studies for new animal enclosures and themed

display areas for different animal and activity

categories.

Architecture University of Zululand Library

The Library is positioned at the intersection of major campus

routes. It houses some 150,000 volumes in 8 departmental, and 3

special collections, and the internal space is sub-divided into

vertically expressed slots of accommodation to reflect this.

Architecture Domestic Interior Studies

This was a sketch proposal for a planned

extension to one of the palaces of the Qatar

Royal Family.

Artwork

Artwork Existing Buildings


Studies of Buildings in The Lake District, UK.


An old farmhouse outside Durban, South Africa.

Artwork Images of Lancaster

Artwork New Projects

Morula Sun - View of new Main Entrance


University of Transkei - View of Phase 1 and Library

Refurbishment of Existing

Warehouse into Specialised

Shopping Arcade


Early pencil sketch design studies for an Office Park in Derby,

comparing a low-rise “mega-structure” with a combination of low

and high-rise buildings.


Design studies for the National Bank of Dubai Headquarters.