Urban Public Space - The Towers, Heerengracht For The Win

This is a favourite modern place of mine in the city where architecture and landscape find majestic convergence. Public spaces in the Cape Town city centre often suffer neglect and abuse, but this one gets it right, albeit with security and cleaners on standby. It is arguably semi-public for that reason in the same way that the Waterfront is, but besides all that, the space itself is a triumph. Designed by Boogertman Architects and Square One Landscapers, a five storey high steel slatted pergola envelopes this awe inspiring space, creating a sense of protection like some ancient clearing in a forest. Running water, grass and bush and tall, leafy trees make this a natural sanctuary within a rather stark and dispersed part of the city. The joy and comfort people absorb from this place is palbable in our body language and facial expressions and our socializing and how we choose to congregate here en-masse over lunch.