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CORPORATE IDENTITY    

The identity of the centre should reflect the functions within the building. These functions include instilling the necessary knowledge in a society that will equip them in order to transform their immediate- and city environments into sustainable environments. Making a positive change to a city/urban environment through knowledge and training.

In order to change a society one needs to equip the society with the necessary knowledge and skill to facilitate change, therefore the primary function will be of education and training. (Community Kitchen and Lecture hall will provide various levels of training).

The other functions will serve to support the Centre in order to make it economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. These functions include a Restaurant, Strip mall, Community market and Recycling centre.

The Centre will serve as an example of sustainable methods successfully implemented. Elements such as Grey water recycling, solar geysers, energy efficient lighting and Urban Agriculture/vertical farming will all be in use and on display.

The aim is to create a nodes between the civic and industrial areas of town, a point of interaction between the two. Its position includes it in the CBD regeneration area and location on Govan Mbeki (Main Road) positions it at the heart of the public transport routes. In short, the centre will create a Sustainable Urban Environment through Urban agriculture.

In order to achieve a sustainable community all people within a city need to come together, stand united for a cause. The U + I symbolize the coming together of individuals. These letters can also represent separate social or cultural groups.

The Bus, bottom left of the U, resemble public transport. Public transport is a symbol of community, it is a humble form of transport and more sustainable than using a motor vehicle. At the right top half of the U, sky scraper windows are incorporated subtle into the letter, this symbolize the professionals. All spheres of society should be welcome and have use of the Centre. The leaves in the I represent the sustainable and Agricultural element to the Centre. It is placed in the centre instead of above of the I, because it forms the heart of the centre. It is the origin of the centre. In order to make a change in a city, one needs to have a change of heart, A vision filled with compassion.

The + sign, resembles the coming together of many different elements. Its aim is to bring to memory the sign one often sees when a blood type is denoted. O⁺ for example. Secondly in order to make a success of such a project a sustainable lifestyle needs to become so much a part of a person’s life it should be something one cannot live without...blood. Thirdly, it hints that this centre aims to make a positive change in the community.