Adil's Shortcuts: United or Fragmented city?

Thursday, August 7, 2025

United or Fragmented city?

The new spatial development plan for Windhoek has now been released and is open for public discussion ( can be downoaded at: www.Windhoeksdf.com ).

On the left below is what the City of Windhoek and their consultants propose. On the right is what I am proposing. Should we go for 'policy areas' only and thereby keeping the divided and fragmented city as proposed by the City, or should we concentrate on nodes AND corridors and thereby create a united, inclusive, sustainable and just new city?

The overriding idea of the planners is a city wide densification and intensification, but concentrated exclusively around existing centers/nodes.

Their argument: Corridors are strictly to be avoided - because - 'we do not have a public transport system and it will not be viable in the near or distant future'. My idea is firstly also densification and intensification, also at nodes, but mainly along new to be created corridors along existing main and arterial roads.

Secondly the creation of a new mega center with a very strong symbolic value, linking east and west between Katutura and the CBD over the B1 freeway.

Thirdly, intensive agriculture along the Hosea Kutako airport corridor between the new freeway and the existing railway line only and along the Rehoboth corridor in line with the new NDP6 objectives.

Fourthly the creation of intensive industry along the Okahandja corridor (Also in support of the NDP6 objectives).

These are all labour intensive work areas that are then linked via a new passenger railway line on or along the existing one with added stations. And fifthly, linking the densest and poorest populated area and main workforce with that railway line via the new Monte Christo road which would also be converted into a high activity corridor.

Further corridors will develop as time passes and we managed to convince the planners that corridors are a better option to create housing, employment and alleviate poverty, than concentrating on nodes only. What do you think?

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Adil Abdalla

A Sudanese a Senior Executive and Urbanist, with degrees in architecture, planning, properties and urban management. Also, trained on Agile, Six Sigma, PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2, IMS, Change, Strategy, Innovation, Business. Affiliated to ICOMOS, PMI, ULI, APMG, ISOCARP, IFMA, RTPI, IWFM. MEFMA, Extensively, practiced the collaboration of operational strategies and frameworks as critical to avoid redo or failed outcomes. Experienced engagements in UAE, KSA, Qatar, Malaysia, Sudan, India, Egypt and Tanzania. Epistemically believe in empowering the enlightened municipal role towards the Urban Correctness. Passionately envision and research on Urban Democracy, Management, and Optimized Solutions. Blogger, Author, Traveler and Coash.

The Urban for the Commons

Despite my early specialty as architect, I had dived deeply in recognizing the anciant builders' merit who had no drawing boards, nor engineered data, but only their empathy with others' built-needs. Therefore, I had ended up with "the Urban for the Commons", who represent more than the half of urban world. In their informal settlements and slums, they dream with little built incubations and shelters. Architectural interpretations and aesthetics would release their energy, innovation and passions. Yet, it is just wishful vision due to our complex and business driven world.