Page 68 - Bulletin 19 2015

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Conclusion

In closing I would like to say that due to time constraints, I have not looked at the railway

side of the strip which of course is a crucial part of the place and as you probably know this
zone is controlled by PRASA who are unhappily, a law unto themselves. I would further add

that we should be campaigning strongly and tirelessly for change in this regard and to have
places like the pools, the harbour, the Brass Bell, and for that matter, all work on the seaward

side, to be subject to Heritage scrutiny.

There is a strong need for a clear set of guidelines to be drawn up to inform and monitor

further development in the Kalk Bay – St James context. We need to maintain and improve

the heritage of the area and a key part of this clearly involves the use of stone.

One final point I would like to add, and this cannot be stressed enough, is that with all the
current talk and trends around sustainability we tend to focus on the modern and alternative

when it comes to materials, but stone itself is by far the ‘greenest’ construction material. It is
maintenance-free. It lasts much longer than other materials. It is readily available and fully

recyclable. (Fig. 1.102.)

Stone was one of our first building materials. It has been used to construct everything from

humble dwellings to our most iconic structures. As a building material, stone requires
virtually no manufacturing and is so durable that stone structures built thousands of years ago

are still used today—characteristics few contemporary ‘green’ products can equal. Yet stone

has been largely overlooked by the green building movement, while ephemeral products
made of recycled plastic often carry green labels. This ancient building material may be more

relevant than ever in today’s green building industry. (Figs. 1.103 & 1.104.)