New TB Lab unlocks social potential

PHOTOGRAPHY ANTON SCHOLTZ; theMAAK

Bridging the needs and financing of DTHF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the South African Medical Research Council, theMAAK has completed a new Aerobiology TB Research Clinic in Masiphumelele, Cape Town, for the study of the transmission of TB among humans. The building includes dedicated laboratories on the ground floor and staff offices on the first floor. These facilities enable the rigorous testing and monitoring of the transmission of TB organisms, in order to find ways to curb the disease.

A key intention of the architects’ approach towards building is the incorporation of public space that supports enhanced public life and social activity. In this project, the building is sited so that it creates a new courtyard of public space and itself forms an edge to hold the space. The building was then cut back at an angle, to a) generously give of its own footprint expanding the public space, and b) create a strong link between itself and the adjacent existing clinic building. By creating this shared ‘free space’ between the new clinic and the surrounding buildings, theMAAK was able to unlock the social potential of the site for all of its users.

The building is sited so that it forms an edge that creates a new courtyard of public space and unlocks the social potential of the site.

Architecturally balancing “striking and welcoming”, “bold and subtle”, the new building appropriately addresses both the ambition and prestige of the internationally acclaimed research of DTHF, as well as the sensitive human nature of their work. It is from the existing facility that the new building reveals its bold face: the north-facing aluminium façade fins, from this angle, optically compound to form a confident new face for DTHF, clearly marking a positive and impressive move forward for the Foundation. Moving across the site and changing the angle of view, the fins become thin vertical lines and the inner workings of the facility are revealed. Furthermore, the fins and overhanging roof afford the appropriate levels of privacy, shelter and transparency for client, staff, patients and users of the social courtyard. The scheme’s bright staircase acts as the joining element that bridges these worlds of solidity and transparency with its prominent geometry and colour; allowing it to act as a visual constant emphasises the dynamic nature of the screen.

The simple geometries and bold form of the building are communicated through the expression of the building’s sawtooth roof on both the north and south façades – the south acting as the understated counterpart to the more celebratory north. The roof’s geometry lets soft south daylight into each of the first-floor offices. Veiled behind the north façade fins, which follow the roof’s profile, is a generous social landing for these offices. Supported by nine equally spaced off-shutter concrete columns, this area extends over the ground-floor footprint. This gesture helps provide adequate cover from rain along the external circulation spaces and sufficient solar shading for the sensitive testing labs below.

With the completion of this unique build, the architects wish to set a new tone of bold, appropriate and inspiring public buildings for all people.

The building’s sawtooth roof lets soft south daylight into each of the first-floor offices and external circulation spaces.

Social architects theMAAK focus solely on public buildings,working with existing organisations, NGOs, funding bodiesand Corporate Social Investment (CSI) to realise tangible andlong-lasting social impact through built infrastructure. Often,these projects take place within developing communities.The architects take a firm position on “designing worldclassbuildings for those who need them the most” and willtherefore not compromise on delivering the best solution toboth client and community. With their latest project recentlycompleted for the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF),they are hopeful that the project will set a new architectural precedent for building in developing areas.www.themaak.co.za | @the.maak