South Africa has turned its back on apartheid and made a miraculous return to the world map. A successful homecoming in a globalizing world calls for a new vision of the future. Jungle Port City presents a comprehensive vision of the future of Durban, a rapidly swelling port on South Africa's east coast. The plan posits an all-in response to the problematic of its threatened nature, its antiquated harbour and the fast-burgeoning city: that response is Jungle Port City. The design constructs a varied 'archipelago' consisting of 20 islands: 7 of jungle, 8 of port facilities and 5 urban islands. Sundry new bridges are needed for the traffic infrastructure hopping from city to jungle to port to island and so on.

Jungle An indigenous ecological system, the Jungle follows the course of the rivers from the interior, through the city and ending at the ocean. The jungle corridors bring a wealth of flora and fauna within reach of the city dweller.

Port The port has fifty years development ahead of it, within the parameters of the project. To save space and money we propose a vertical container terminal; this accords with the local employment situation, as there are no state-of-the-art facilities required to move and stack the containers. In 2050 the terminal will reach its peak with a grand total of 72 million containers. At that moment the containers will be stacked to a height of 51 metres; bridges will link the various terminal islands with each other and with the hinterland.
City The five urban islands are to be the preserve of tourism, houses and offices. Today's low-density white suburb will transmute into a high-intensity area where all those who wish to live there can do so. The existing context of a botanic garden in the city will be reversed in the new tourist-based concept of a city in the botanic garden. Informal settlements also get top-notch treatment in this 'archipelago mix'. Like the jungle, the agriculture follows the course of the rivers and forms wedges in the city. The emergence of small farms and corporations is stimulated to offer city dwellers an alternative or additional source of income.

Place of education: Rotterdam
Specialization: stedebouw/urban design
Tutors: Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, Endry van Velzen, Bert van Meggelen, Harm Tilman & Henk de Bruijn