Abstract
M.A
We are living in changing times marked with an increased sense of uncertainty, and continuous reminders of the unpredictability of what might be lurking around the corner; whether it is a catastrophic credit crunch, climate change, terrorist attacks, youth riots or mass redundancies. Globally, this sense of uneasiness has been intensified by an era of continuous change and recurrent attacks on the urban form of cities. This is particularly so in old cities that have experienced trends of transformation due to urban decay. Such developments have resulted in structural changes leading to urban decline. A classic example is the Maboneng precinct, which has experienced a decline, with the upper and middle - class populations moving outwards into the suburbs and most industries as well since the 1970s. The concept of urban resilience has been adopted by the city of Johannesburg to deal with disturbances within the urban system. The city is reorganizing while experiencing change, so as to still retain the same function, structure, identity and feedbacks. There are no explicit studies that inform the impact of urban resilience in Maboneng, and there are limited documented studies that inform the urban structural changes that have taken place in the precinct over the past 10 years. Consequently, this study aims to evaluate how the concept of urban resilience has been applied in Maboneng. The work expresses the extent to which it has been implemented and also evaluates the drivers that have influenced urban resilience in Maboneng. This work adopted a case study research design and a qualitative research approach. Data were collected through structured in-depth interviews, with key informants involved in the development of Maboneng together with observations, map surveys and photographic surveys of the precinct. The results reveal that there are currently various historical land uses and urban activities that exist in Maboneng. It shows the various distinctive changes that have occurred over the past 10 years, and the drivers that have influenced urban resilience in Maboneng. Although urban resilience has led to a lot of beneficial structural changes, these have come with challenges such as urban decay, urban morphological structural changes and changes in urban form. The study concludes by recommending that all community members be consulted during the transformation and renovation of buildings within the precinct.