Leading Architecture & Design April/May 2020

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APRIL/MAY 2020

Deloitte's new African

HQ

SANDTON GATE

Reinventing the green precinct UMHLANGA ARCH

New ocean-facing icon 15 CHAPLIN

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Reflecting commercial life

FACTS, NOT FEAR, WILL STOP p8 THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

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CONTENTS FIRST DRAFT

FACTS, NOT FEAR, WILL STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

APRIL MAY 2020

p8

10 THE BRIEF Editor’s note.

12 INTERNATIONAL AAMI Park, by COX Architecture, is one of Melbourne and the world’s most iconic stadiums, continuing the strong architectural lineage of Melbourne and its Olympic Parks.

60 DRAWING BOARD

p14

What’s new in the world of architecture and design.

By pushing the fence back onto the face of the building, we make a poetic statement that you can have your fence and give people their civic dignity, too.

Kim Fairbairn, LYT Architects, 15 Chaplin [p26]

BLUEPRINT

ON SITE

14 DELOITTE

22 UMHLANGA ARCH

36 GLASS & ALUMINIUM

The new Deloitte African HQ in Waterfall, Gauteng, designed by commercial architecture practice Aevitas, consolidates Deloitte’s current Woodmead and Pretoria offices in a single building.

Umhlanga Arch, designed by Craft of Architecture in Umhlanga’s Ridgeside precinct, makes a bold architectural statement while harnessing the power of urban design to resolve its eclectic design elements.

Where aesthetics and efficiency meet.

26 15 CHAPLIN

Efficiency remains at the heart of sustainable heating.

The multifaceted façade of 15 Chaplin, on the corner of Oxford and Chaplin Road in Illovo, Johannesburg, by LYT Architects, reflects the multifaceted commercial and social life of the city.

p22

30 SANDTON GATE The first building in Sandton Gate, the new green precinct designed

by Boogertman + Partners, marks the beginning of a new kind of mixed-use development.

EDITORIAL EDITOR: Graham Wood email: graham.wood@newmedia.co.za SUB EDITOR: Anita van der Merwe LAYOUT & DESIGN: Julia van Schalkwyk PHOTOGRAPHY Unless previously agreed in writing, Leading Architecture & Design owns all rights to all contributions, whether image or text.

SOURCES: Shutterstock, supplied images, editorial staff.

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Supplied ADVERTISING ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE: Johan van Heerden | Cell: 082 887 6627 email: johan.vanheerden@newmedia.co.za SUBSCRIPTIONS Felicity Garbers email: felicity.garbers@newmedia.co.za

40 CEMENT AND CONCRETE Pushing the boundaries of architecture and design.

50 HEATING

56 INTERIORS Villa Verte, a new guest house in Cape Town – so called for its densely treed setting – was designed to be a showcase for exciting furniture design, artwork and craft.

74 FEATURED DESIGN The Brick Lamp by Dokter and Misses combines the base unit of architecture with light.

PUBLISHING TEAM GENERAL MANAGER: Dev Naidoo PUBLISHING MANAGER: Sandra Ladas email: sandra.ladas@newmedia.co.za PRODUCTION MANAGER: Angela Silver ART DIRECTOR: David Kyslinger

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6 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

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CORONAVIRUS: THE FACTS Facts, not fear, will stop the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) SYMPTOMS

RECOVERY

Much like the winter flu, the most commonly reported symptoms includes fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath.

While most patients (80%) experience mild illness, a small proportion develop pneumonia which, in severe cases, can result in organ failure (3%). Early evidence shows most fatalities are patients who are immunocompromised either due to extremes of age or pre-existing conditions.

Most cases are mild, with recovery taking on average 10 days.

TREATMENT

There is no currently available treatment or vaccine for COVID-19.

However, many of the symptoms can be treated.

INCUBATION PERIOD

Most commonly 5 days.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MASKS • Wearing a mask when in public places, especially crowded places, can help slow the spread of COVID-19. Even when wearing a mask, hand-washing and social distancing remain the most important interventions to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

• Cloth masks are easy and not expensive to make, reusable and help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 by acting like a shield to contain the respiratory droplets through which the virus spreads.

• The purpose of the mask is to reduce droplets that come out of the mouth or nose during speaking, coughing and sneezing.

• Avoid touching the mask or your face while

• •

• •

you’re out and when you get back home, wash the mask with soap and water immediately WITHOUT USING CHEMICALS and wash your hands again.

After washing, the masks should then be ironed or left out in the sun to dry.

You should not share your mask with anybody else, and it is preferable if every person has two masks so they can be interchanged during washes.

Remember not to handle the inside layer of the mask when taking it off or putting it on.

The public should not wear medical masks – these are reserved as personal protective equipment for our healthcare workers who are on the front line of our battle against COVID-19.

Emergency Hotline: 0800 029 999 WhatsApp Support Line: 0600-123456

8 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS

• Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with hand soap or hand sanitiser.

• Use a tissue or a bent elbow when you have to sneeze or cough and immediately wash your hands thereafter for 20 seconds.

• Do not shake hands or give hugs, limit physical contact and maintain a distance of 2m as much as reasonably possible, and immediately wash your hands should it be unavoidable.

• Keep a clean and sanitary environment, i.e. wipe frequently used surfaces, phone, door handles and taps regularly on a daily basis.

• Refrain from touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

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THE BRIEF

BY E DI TO R G RAH AM WO O D Die Braak Pavilion

ED'S NOTE This issue of Leading Architecture & Design was created under the unusual circumstances of the countrywide lockdown as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. As we assembled it, it brought home a few truths about architecture – perhaps most emphatically the degree to which architecture is about shared space.

The social isolation that lockdown has brought has been communicated repeatedly through images of empty streets and unpopulated public space.

The abandoned city squares and eerily quiet buildings remind us that the spaces in which we live, work and play have very little worth if they aren’t filled with life. And it’s a reminder of how much the buildings

FACTS, NOT FEAR WILL STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

See page 8 for important information necessary to help prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly relating to recognising the symptoms of the disease and the use of masks.

we design need to serve that social function. It’s no coincidence that the selection of projects that we have featured in this issue of the magazine all contribute actively to the quality of the urban space around them.

There was one more project we had hoped to include in the issue. As part of the inaugural Stellenbosch

Subscribe to Leading Architecture & Design >

Email: Felicity.Garbers@newmedia.co.za Tel: 021 701 1566

& DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020 10d4-A5-Ad-2020-pths.indd LEADINGARCHITECTURE 1

Triennale, an art festival that was planned to run until the end of April, architect Pieter Mathews was commissioned to design a pavilion for Die Braak, the historic town’s somewhat dilapidated town square.

He designed a structure entirely from recycled materials from construction sites. It was conceived not so much as a finished object, as a framework on ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: which all those R300.00 who frequent for 6 issue the square s (SA postage on could contribute, including VA ly, T).

adding to it for the duration of its existence with art, graffiti, by weaving materials into its mesh walls, and by simply inhabiting it. It was a design about how public space can be rejuvenated and reframed through design interventions, reengaging people with the places they live in. The degree to which its potential was curtailed by the lockdown stands a reminder of all that has been lost in this pandemic.

Graham

31 Jan 2020 10:57:31

Strength in Partnerships Commercial

Building B Irene Link Precinct Centurion, Gauteng

Artist's Impression Artist's Impression

Commercial

Barloworld Logistics Irene Link Precinct Centurion, Gauteng

Paarl Office 57 Main Street, Paarl T +27 21 863 0605

Pretoria Office 81 Regency Drive, Route 21 Corporate Park, Irene Ext 72 T +27 82 872 3347

Commercial & Retail

The Rubik City Centre, Cape Town

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INTERNATIONAL

M E LBOU RN E , AUSTR ALIA

AAMI Park

A

AMI Park, by COX Architecture, is one of Melbourne and the world’s most iconic stadiums, awarded the Most Iconic and Culturally Significant Stadium by the World Stadium Congress in 2012.

AAMI Park continues the strong architectural lineage of Melbourne and Olympic Parks evidenced since 1956 by the Myer Music Bowl and

Olympic Pool Complex, and later

by Rod Laver Arena and the MCG. It represents a move forward by the city to provide residents and visitors alike with a firstclass facility that embodies a pioneering approach to public architecture and, in turn, public life.

The design responds to its unique location through its

12 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

PHOTOGRAPHY DIANNA SNAPE/BOWERBIRD.IO

integration of the multi-code sports campus, providing a stadium that is easily accessed by spectators and highly utilised by elite players and clubs. The client’s functional brief was to provide a facility for four separate football codes, with spectator seating as close to the action as possible.

The activated relationship to the streetscape, the civic-scaled entry stairs, and the flanking urban plazas all integrate the stadium into its landscaped context, providing a strong

visual connection to the city, river and parklands.

A key philosophy was to provide the perfect seating bowl, with seats rising up to optimise the preferred east and west flanks with excellent sightlines and proximity to the action, while allowing close seats for the goal-end fans at north and south.

This form was articulated in a series of bays to maximise the sense of theatre and engagement that is so important to creating great events.

BLUEPR I NT

The sculpted symmetrical form of the new Deloitte African HQ at Waterfall City, as seen from the Mall of Africa, comprises two wings with a large multivolume central atrium.

The distinctive pattern on the faรงade, when seen from the N1 highway, is created by a combination of high-spec glazing and sandwichinsulated aluminium panels in strategic areas to reduce the heat load.

14 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

PRO J EC T # 1 D E LO IT TE

Sculpted T space The new Deloitte African HQ in Waterfall, Gauteng, designed by commercial architecture practice Aevitas, consolidates Deloitte’s current Woodmead and Pretoria offices in a single building.

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

he new Deloitte African HQ in Waterfall City, close to the Allandale interchange off the N1 highway, is situated on a prominent site with major highway frontage. It comprises 42 500m2 of workspace, and was designed to allow for a maximum occupancy of close to 5 000 people. The landmark new building consists of a ground floor plus six office levels and four basement parking levels with almost 2 000 parking bays. Atterbury developed the new Deloitte African HQ on behalf of a 50/50 joint venture between co-owners Atterbury and Attacq Limited (Attacq), a South-African based REIT. The architect was Aevitas Group.

A major objective of the new headquarters was to consolidate Deloitte’s former Woodmead and Pretoria offices to minimise costs

and the duplication of services.

Deloitte required a design that would encourage staff interaction and enhance its sense of integration as a company. As such, a large, low building with generous floorplates was required.

The long crescent-shaped site accommodated the required footprint, but its east-west orientation posed certain challenges, particularly exposure to harsh east-west light.

In addition to the shape of the site, the Waterfall City masterplan included an arterial pedestrian route that terminates on the new Deloitte African HQ's, running from the Mall of Africa to the highway, requiring the plan to maintain a visible link between the mall entrance and the highway.

Continued next page

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 15

>> B LU EPRINT

PRO J EC T # 1 D E LO IT TE Left: Not only does the open central atrium draw natural light into the building, but it also facilitates visibility and a sense of connection between floors.

These considerations and constraints informed Aevitas’ architectural response, which was to place a large, multivolume atrium at the heart of the building. Not only does this allow natural light to penetrate deep into the building (and allow a visual connection between the highway and the Mall of Africa), but it also facilitates a sense of connection between floors inside.

The atrium also provides the main pedestrian entrance to the building, a grand welcome space that also provides the major vertical circulation through the building.

A steep fall across the site was resolved by creating a podium of naturally ventilated basement parking levels with access at various levels, which alleviates traffic congestion. This plinth enhances the building’s sense of prominence befitting the site. A VIP drop-off entrance on Magwa Crescent, on the highway side, creates alternative access to escalators leading to the atrium.

The building then forms two Continued next page

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WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 17

>> B LU EPRINT

‘wings’ on either side of the atrium.

To mitigate the challenges of the east-west orientation, the architects designed a series of ‘fingers’ orientated in a north-south direction, which forms the essential shape of the building. The form was refined by “sculpting away at the corners”, as Chandler puts it, presenting a distinctive, recognisable architectural landmark.

The liquid appearance of the glass and aluminium façade articulates the sculptural forms of the building.

High-spec double glazing ensures visibility and natural light from the inside, while the potentially

PRO J EC T # 1 D E LO IT TE

detrimental heat load is reduced by positioning sandwich-insulated aluminium panels in strategic areas.

This material has a fluid materiality complementing that of the glazing, and also provides the distinctive patterning on the façade.

The combination of the east-west orientation of the building with the north-south ‘fingers’ create a series of secure outdoor spaces along the edges of the building, ideal for spill-out areas. As well as the main atrium, the ground floor includes staff restaurants, coffee shops, training facilities and a business centre. They open out onto a series

of secure break-out spaces on the western side of the building for outdoor dining. On the southwestern end, a staff pub opens onto an outdoor braai area and pizza oven, making this corner of the building – which interacts with the city and a major street corner – a lively, sociable area.

On the eastern side facing the highway, where the main training facilities are, a similar philosophy has been applied, creating spaces for the large crowds to break out during training sessions without overcrowding the atrium. The northwest corner houses a digital

experience centre with its own private spill-out area that relates to the rest of the city. An auditorium is located on the first basement level, fully integrated with the atrium above, but positioned to minimise disruption to daily activities on the ground floor of the atrium.

The varying levels on the site made it possible to control access and ensure the security of the building and its spill-out areas without walls or fences, thus allowing the building to remain fully integrated with the rest of Waterfall City and contribute to the open and friendly urban fabric of the precinct.

Continued next page

The atrium bridges on all six levels inside the building span 20m and are suspended from a two-metre-deep beam on the roof, keeping the ground floor column-free.

18 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

26 years of developing inspiring spaces Created in 1994 Atterbury has grown from a small startup into a sizeable multidisciplinary, multinational real estate development, investment and management group responsible for creating prime mixed-use, commercial, retail and industrial developments. From its South African roots Atterbury has branched out across Africa and into Europe.

Atterbury's philosophy is to build long-term relationships and mutually beneficial partnerships through its positive, progressive and collaborative corporate culture. Sustainability is naturally ingrained in everything the group does.

The art of development atterbury.co.za

>> B LU EPRINT

The indigenous landscaping around the building is supported by efficient irrigation with 100% harvested rain/sub-soil drainage water.

The ground floor of the atrium, with its coffee shops, restaurants and reception, is largely accessible to the public. Not only does this make it unnecessary for all visitors to access the upper floors, but it also encourages employees to make use of the public facilities, meeting and interacting in these communal spaces, and catalysing chance encounters and the exchange of ideas. Private meeting rooms are located on the upper floors, too, for use when necessary.

A single vertical circulation core also compels staff interaction. With each floor plate around 6 000m2, walking distances are kept short by splitting the ablution cores into two.

The atrium draws light deep into the floor while a ‘race-track’ walkway around its perimeter creates visual connections between floors, also facilitating staff interactions. These atrium bridges inside the building span 20m and the bridges on all six levels hang from a two-metre-deep beam on the roof, keeping the ground floor column-free.

The general workspaces are mostly located on the corners at the edges of the atrium, where they are easily accessible. The deeper you move into the building, the more private the spaces become, so that the arrangement in space is layered

PRO J EC T # 1 D E LO IT TE

– from the most public to the most private in the furthest reaches.

This arrangement also helps future-proof the building, making each floor easily sub-divisible and allowing maximum flexibility if, later in its life, it has multiple tenants. It also means that departments can rearrange themselves as they please, while still allowing logical and efficient operations.

The building achieved a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating on completion. At least 20% of building materials will contain post- and/or pre-consumer recycled content and 75% of construction waste has been reused/recycled. Enhanced ventilation, views and use of low-emitting materials ensure occupant well-being.

The atrium provides the main pedestrian entrance to the building, a grand welcome space positioned on an arterial pedestrian route in Waterfall City's urban plan, between the Mall of Africa and the N1 highway.

33 Fricker Road, Illovo, Johannesburg Tel: +27 (0)11 482 3781 Email: info@paragon.co.za www.paragon.co.za

Tel: +27 (0)11 804 6122 Email: info@nws.co.za www.nws.co.za

WSP in Africa Tel: +27 (0)11 361 1300 www.wsp.com

PROFESSIONAL TEAM ARCHITECT: Aevitas Group DEVELOPER: Atterbury QUANTITY SURVEYOR: NWS CIVIL ENGINEER: DG Consulting STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: DG Consulting ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Claassen Auret MECHANICAL ENGINEER: Adapt Resource Engineers GREEN CONSULTANT: Ecocentric FIRE CONSULTANT: WSP INTERIOR DESIGNER (ATRIUM AND COMMON AREAS): Aevitas Group INTERIOR DESIGNER (TENANT AREAS): Paragon Interface

A series of ‘fingers’ in a north-south direction mitigate exposure to the harsh light that results from the building's east-west orientation.

They have been sculpted and refined to form the essential shape of the building.

20 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

>> B LU EPRINT

ch Ar

o

From the podium roof, the passing traffic and life around Umhlanga Arch is reflected in the glass on the underside of the "bridge" of the arch.

22 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

f

fg

PRO J EC T #2 U M H L AN GA ARCH

Umhlanga Arch, designed by Craft of Architecture in Umhlanga’s Ridgeside precinct, makes a bold architectural statement while harnessing the power of urban design to resolve its eclectic design elements.

PHOTOGRAPHY PETER ORAVECZ

las s

Continued next page

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 23

>> B LU EPRINT

U

mhlanga Arch is a R1.3bn mixed-use development in Umhlanga’s Ridgeside precinct in KwaZulu-Natal spearheaded by the Multiply Group. It is a destination-focused development located on a prominent, steep corner site on a busy intersection, which offers arguably the precinct’s best panoramic city and ocean views.

Pioneering work in BIM was used to coordinate this complex collaborative project.

The building has cut a striking figure on the Durban coastline for years and is nearing completion.

It includes premium AAA grade offices within the glass facade of the arch allowing spectacular ocean and city views, luxury apartments, first-class retail, an authentic food hall dining experience along a European inspired cobbled high-street, an SMG BMW motor dealership and South Africa’s first Hilton Garden Inn hotel.

The enormity of scale of this 90 000m2 project, its prominence of position and fact that it has the highest building rights in the precinct demanded a bold design and landmark place-making design from Craft of Architecture (COA), the architects of Umhlanga Arch. The vision behind Umhlanga Arch is a “live, work, stay, play” development to serve the

diverse people of South Africa and international travellers alike.

The Hilton Group, the SMG BMW dealership and the developers all had their own briefs and specifications, which had to simultaneously be combined into a symbiotic whole. COA’s aim involved harnessing the potential of Umhlanga Arch’s mixed-use offering to create a vibrant sense of community through an eclectic people-centric design.

COA designed a striking structure with two towers – one 30 storeys high – and an iconic curving arch, both set on an eight-storey plinth.

The top of the residential tower, 109m from the ground, includes a private members’ club, the Pencil Club, which hosts a roof-top swimming pool.

Conceptually, the buildings function more like a town square or piazza than a single building, combining a few different design languages that have been brought together and resolved as they all

Left: While Umhlanga Arch is positioned prominently on the corner of Umhlanga Rocks Drive and Ncondo Place, the eponymous ‘arch’ allows views ‘through’ the building and provides glimpses of life on top of the podium reflected in the glass.

24 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

PRO J EC T #2 U M H L AN GA ARCH

spill out into a shared public space.

The eight-storey podium houses parking as well as the street-facing SMG BMW motor dealership, which directly addresses the intersection of Umhlanga Drive and Ncondo Place. It also resolves the steep slope of the site, which drops dramatically from Umhlanga Drive at the top to the street below.

The podium also includes several loft apartments on the sea-facing side, which brings life and an urban lifestyle quality to the façade. The iconic arch building, which gives the development its name and identity, forms the office component.

The towers house the hotel and residential apartments.

The podium rooftop forms a green park with landscaping and trees, lined with restaurants, shops and a market building.

These facilities not only shelter the open public roof space from prevailing winds, making it hospitable and comfortable, but also activate the rooftop to create an urban high street. The offices, residential block and hotel all open and spill out onto this shared area that can also be accessed from the street below via stairs and escalators, which have been cleverly shifted to the peripheries of the parking level to draw in shoppers from the pedestrianised sidewalks and the wider precinct.

The peripheries of the building

along the sidewalks are also made welcoming and pedestrian-friendly with the addition of canopies and retail displays, bringing human scale and animation to the streetfacing exterior of the building.

Apart from imparting a strong identity, the curved arch, which has a reflective glass façade, fulfils two other functions. It allows views ‘through’ the building, particularly from the key vantage point of the upper circle of Umhlanga Rocks Drive. This view also provides glimpses of the treetops on top of the podium and an indication of the active life in the green park. The underside of the bridge section of the arch also, however, reflects the life and activity to passers-by, while

providing those on the rooftop with a sense of the passing traffic and activity on the street below. This provides a sense of connection to the life happening in the Arch city to the outer urban precinct.

It is worth noting that technically and structurally, bringing together the separate components and grids – the towers and arch above a podium with space for parking requiring as few columns as possible – is a feat of planning and engineering. Its success was greatly assisted by the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems employed by the architects to coordinate the complex collaborative nature of the project.

The eclectic character of the

Shop-fronts and restaurants line the rooftop piazza as if it were a busy urban high-street, while the offices, residential apartments and hotel spill out onto it, activating the shared space and creating a sense of community.

building, with its combination of identities and components, is resolved in its conception as an urban plan rather than a single, unified design. Not only does this approach allow each stakeholder expression, but also allows the building to function with an authentic sense of community, fostering the social life and humanity necessary to animate it and bring it to life. The height of the towers and the bold, iconic design of the arch itself ensures the landmark quality befitting its prominent position.

PROFESSIONAL TEAM PROJECT MANAGER/PRINCIPAL AGENT: M3 Africa Consulting ARCHITECT: Craft of Architecture QUANTITY SURVEYOR: MLC Quantity Surveyors STRUCTURAL AND CIVIL ENGINEER: Arup ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: CKR Consulting Engineers WET SERVICES ENGINEER: CKR Consulting Engineers HVAC ENGINEER: Spoormaker & Partners LIFT ENGINEER: Spoormaker & Partners FIRE ENGINEER: CKR Consulting Engineers TRAFFIC ENGINEER: DMA Group LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Uys & White ICT SPECIALIST CONSULTANT: SIG Projects

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WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 25

>> B LU EPRINT The distinctive pinstripe or barcode-inspired pattern on the façade of 15 Chaplin in Illovo, Johannesburg, is married with a faceted, crystalline section, representing at once the multifacteted nature of the city and its modern, progressive commercial life.

The fence has been pushed back onto the face of the building, broadening the sidewalk and contributing to the quality of the public space on the busy intersection around the building.

Crystal class The combination of pin-striped and multifaceted façades makes 15 Chaplin – an office development on the corner of Oxford and Chaplin Road in Illovo, Johannesburg, by LYT Architects – reflect the multifaceted nature of business and society in Johannesburg.

PHOTOGRAPHY WARREN STANLEY

1

5 Chaplin went through a number of design iterations through its decade-long gestation before it finally rose on the corner of Oxford and Chaplin Roads in Illovo, Johannesburg.

Architect Kim Fairbairn explains that his earliest versions drew on a narrative based on the history of the pinstripe suit. Tracing its relationship through the generations, and the prevalence

of the classic business suit both in South Africa and abroad, he eventually arrived at a façade pattered something like a barcode as a symbol of commerce. “The entire façade was covered in a barcode stripe,” says Fairbairn.

When the project finally went ahead, the design was adjusted and updated. “I looked at the nature of what Joburg was portraying at the time and created a faceted façade,”

26 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

says Fairbairn. This new approach was designed to “encapsulate the multifaceted nature of business and society in Johannesburg”, he says, “which is also a reflection of its vibrancy.”

This new faceted façade was married with aspects of the pinstripe scheme, representing the city’s history, while at the same time referring to the modern, progressive nature of business in

the city now. The front door, taking the form of a slash, represents a metaphorical juncture between the old scheme and the new.

“Those angles haven’t been seen since Helmut Jahn’s Diamond Building on Diagonal Street,” says Fairbairn. “I really enjoyed relating the two.” He characterises the relationship as “more like cousins” than as a direct descendant.

Continued next page

PRO J EC T #3 15 CHAPLI N

A cutaway facing the corner on the intersection of Oxford and Chaplin Roads accommodates a series of balconies, imparting a sense of presence on the corner in a generous and receptive rather than an imposing manner.

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 27

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The grand foyer reprises the faceted, crystalline form of the façade, reflected on all three elevations and on the ceiling, accentuated with lighting.

While Jahn’s narrative referred specifically to diamonds, 15 Chaplin’s reprising of them reframes it to reflect the ‘multicultural cosmopolitan’ nature of the city.

The dialogue between the two reflects the changing and evolving nature of the commercial and social life of the city, while drawing a connection between the old and new CBDs, without polarising them.

Although it was always going to be a four-storey building, a third

basement was added to the design.

Strict town-planning rules specified 50% coverage, so the massing of the building was positioned on the corner of Chaplin and Oxford Roads to address the intersection. The entrance on Chaplin Road allows for a grand forecourt over the basement parking. A large foyer draws natural light into the workspaces, which have been arranged in an easily subdivisible layout. A deck on the roof provides a covered event space.

The building’s location on this increasingly prominent intersection demanded a striking visual statement, giving the intersection a clear identity as the burgeoning Rosebank CBD migrates north and merges with Illovo. In addition to its striking appearance, a cutaway facing the corner was opened to accommodate a series of balconies, which further strengthens the building’s presence on the corner.

It does so, however, in a generous, receptive manner, acknowledging the corner openly rather than forcefully imposing its identity on its context, activating the façade, and improving security in the public realm surrounding the building by making its activities visible to inhabitants of the building.

The facets on the exterior of the building were repeated in the interior, with crystalline structures reflected on all three elevations of the foyer and on the ceiling, accentuated with lighting. The grand foyer creates the impression “almost as if one was going into a crystal”, as Fairbairn puts it.

As well as providing the corner with a new identity, the building also makes another gesture towards the public space surrounding the building. The intersection is a well-used drop-off and pick-up point for minibus taxis. As a result, there is significant pedestrian traffic on

DYNAMIC- DEPENDABLE- DELIVERY Development Management | Project Management Construction Management | Turnkey solutions Built Environment Advisory Services CONTACT: +27 11 656 14 55 / +27 11 656 7502 WWW.3DPROJECTS.CO.ZA

28 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

PRO J EC T #3 15 CHAPLI N

the intersection, and queues of commuters congregate at certain times of day.

Rather than placing a fence of the perimeter of the stand, it has been pushed back “onto the face of the building” as Fairbairn puts it, lending more space to the sidewalk. Rather than being two

metres wide, it is now five meters wide without any compromise to security. “These sorts of civic gestures are critical to make cities more walkable and more friendly,” he says. “We are very proud to be able to create that.”

The landscaping on the sidewalk includes trees and greenery,

which improve the quality of the urban fabric around the building.

A fence-like pattern on the façade makes a “poetic statement that you can have your fence, and give people their civic dignity, too,” says Fairbairn. LED lighting along the top of the ‘fence’ adds to the safety and friendliness of the public space

The front door of the building, which is accessed via the forecourt, takes the form of a dramatic slash, which functions as a juncture between the pinstripe scheme and the faceted façade.

around the building at night.

As such, while 15 Chaplin gives a high-end modern commercial identity to the corner, its commentary on the evolution of Johannesburg business and society is translated into a positive contribution to the future of the urban space around it. This is evident in the way in which it makes a strong and clear statement, but a gentle and receptive one. Also, by broadening the sidewalk and improving the public realm, it makes a transformative gesture that has the potential to catalyse further similarly inclusive development, setting in motion a domino effect that could improve the urban fabric in the area, and pave the way for a better urban domain.

Tel: +27 (0)11 656 14 55 or +27 (0)11 656 7502 www.3dprojects.co.za

Tel: +27 (0) 11 880 1490 Email: info@leap.co.za www.giantleap.co.za

PROFESSIONAL TEAM CLIENT: Victhyme Investment (Pty) Ltd, Investec Property (Pty) Ltd, Giant Leap Interiors and Calibre PROJECT MANAGER AND PRINCIPAL AGENT: 3D Projects ARCHITECT: LYT Architecture QUANTITY SURVEYOR: Vusela Quantity Surveyors CONSULTING STRUCTURAL AND CIVIL ENGINEER: Calibre Civil & Structural Engineering CONSULTING ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: KKA Consulting Electrical Engineers (Pty) Ltd CONSULTING MECHANICAL ENGINEER: C3 Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd FIRE CONSULTANT: Chimera Fire Protection Consultants (Pty) Ltd CONSULTING GREEN CONSULTANT: Solid Green Consulting CONTRACTOR: Tiber Construction (Pty) Ltd

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 29

>> B LU EPRINT Tenants have outdoor terraces and views from both sides of the building, either in the direction of Sandton or Randburg.

Phase One of Sandton Gate is positioned on a prominent point near the entrance of the precinct on William Nicol Drive, which has been added to prevent traffic congestion resulting from the densification of the area.

Left: An immersive large-scale artwork

by Johannesburgbased visual artist Hannelie Coetzee, consisting of a series of raised white granite pillars, draws pedestrians through the precinct and enriches their experience of it.

30 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

PRO J EC T # 4 SAN DTO N GATE

Green gateway The first building in Sandton Gate, the new green precinct on the outskirts of the Sandton CBD, designed by Boogertman + Partners, marks the beginning of a new kind of mixed-use precinct promoting the health of individuals, the environment and the city itself.

PHOTOGRAPHY TRISTAN MCLAREN

T

he first building to be completed at Sandton Gate marks the first phase of a much larger mixed-use green precinct – the first of its kind in South Africa. Situated on William Nicol Drive between Sandton Drive and Republic Road, it is on the doorstep of the Sandton CBD, but is much easier to access.

The precinct’s developers, Abland and Tiber, employed architects Boogertman + Partners from the project’s inception to conceptualise a comprehensive offering, ranging from the concept, urban framework and individual buildings all the way to logos and branding.

It combines commercial, residential and retail space, and integrates high-density development with a low-key urban environment, with a newurbanist emphasis on creating walkable, pedestrian-friendly surroundings. When complete, it will include 80 000m2 of mixed-use commercial space, retail, restaurants, gym, offices, healthcare and potentially a hotel, plus approximately 300 residential apartments.

Sandton Gate is one of the first green-rated precincts in South Africa, with a landmark 4-star certification under the Green Star SA Sustainable Precincts v1.1 tool.

In fact, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) selected

the Sandton Gate as a pilot project, making it an important case study in the way in which certifications can go beyond certifying buildings and be applied at a precinct scale.

Motorised transport is restricted in the precinct and much emphasis has been placed on ensuring that the street and podium levels across all buildings and phases will connect seamlessly, creating a safe pedestrian environment and a fluid experience with easy access to all amenities. Not only is this emphasis on limiting motorised traffic in keeping with sustainable urban principles, but the precinct’s emphasis on walkability also establishes the conditions for a healthier, more active urban lifestyle.

The site has a steep 12-metre drop, which meant that meticulous thought and planning went into ensuring pedestrian connectivity, keeping the podium level seamless between the buildings planned for various phases, and linking levels with staircases, elevators and escalators to ensure easy access.

Continued next page

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 31

>> B LU EPRINT

Sandton Gate is also distinct from other developments in that it does not wall itself off from its urban context, but instead actively knits itself into the broader city, seeking to unlock links and connections between urban nodes and contribute to the creation of a better functioning city. Its position joins with major roads and transport networks, making it easy for commuters to connect to the precinct from all corners of the city. It is also located on one of the planned routes for the extended Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which in turn will link it to the Rosebank and Sandton Gautrain stations.

Beyond this, it is also situated on a key point overlooking the Braamfontein Spruit, considered to be one of the longest municipal parks in the world. The spruit runs from the south of the city in Braamfontein all the way north to Sunninghill where it joins the Klein Jukskei. This green spine is a favourite route for cyclists.

Sandton Gate will connect with this major green spine at the key nodal point where the Delta Park green link connects with the Braamfontein Spruit as it turns towards Bryanston.

By drawing this urban green spine into the precinct and becoming a stop along the cycle

trail – with plans for a coffee shop and cycle shop – Sandton Gate’s planning further activates and unlocks the potential of this popular cycle route to function as an urban green spine.

The residential component of the precinct will directly overlook the Braamfontein Spruit, and the stretch of river adjoining the site will be rehabilitated and upgraded, so residents of the precinct, as well as residents from the locality, are encouraged to make use of this open space.

As the first building to be completed in the precinct, Phase One plays a crucial catalytic role in the exposure of the precinct to

the public and in establishing its presence in the city. The building is approximately 16 000m2 in size and includes a 2 800m2 Planet Fitness gym, 800m2 of retail and 12400m2 of P-grade office space.

It is positioned on a prominent point near the entrance of the precinct on William Nicol Drive, which has been added to prevent traffic congestion resulting from the densification of the area. Its position ensures accessibility as well as visibility from this arterial route, particularly emphasising the activity on the landscaped piazza surrounding the building.

Continued next page

Above: The artworks in the precinct include a hand-made vertical garden system with waterwise succulent plants, which form a large-scale living pixelated artwork.

Right: The building uses a lightweight external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) on its façade, which contributes to its energy efficiency.

32 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

Phase One already includes a restaurant and bar that spills out onto the piazza at podium level.

PRO J EC T # 4 SAN DTO N GATE

Artist Hannelie Coetzee's art installation, which becomes a fully integrated part of the landscaping and architecture, articulates questions about the environment and urban existence central to the precinct.

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>> B LU EPRINT

The gym is strategically positioned on the podium level facing onto William Nicol Drive, gaining maximum visual exposure.

The gym includes an active spillout area onto the podium, and a restaurant and retail components facing the piazza further activate and animate the space. Top-floor tenants have views either in the direction of Sandton or Randburg, and outdoor terraces also animate the building on its upper levels, with visibility from both sides.

The brief for the building included strict guidelines for the ratio of common versus rentable area, requiring that the 2 000m2 floor plate be sub-divisible into smaller areas of about 250m2 each.

After a rigorous design process, the architects devised a scheme they now refer to as the “Abland H”, which found a solution to the challenge of integrating cores versus sub-divisibility.

The building has two cores and two wings, with the largest portion

of the floorplate central to the cores. This configuration allows the floor plate to be subdivided into 250m2 tenanted areas. The placement of the fire stairs allows a small secondary common area, too. As a result of its success, this innovative solution is likely to be

replicated in various other phases of the precinct scheme.

The building uses a lightweight external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) on its façade with a single glazed shopfront system. Daylight has been maximised within the office space to lower the requirement of lighting during the day. The necessary R-value was achieved with the low glass-to-solid ratio of the façade system, and still received a 5-Star Green Star SA Office Design v1.1 rating.

The scheme employs the most efficient HVAC system currently available to achieve a 40 percent saving on electricity.

It makes use of a thermal storage system – two massive ice tanks in the basement, three meter

in diameter by 10m tall – using crystal isotopes to help store energy gathered in off-peak load time. The system is modular, and could be added onto to service the whole precinct as it develops, including residential and other commercial options.

Both energy- and waterefficiency strategies have been implemented to reduce the overall consumption of the building and associated costs for tenants. Energy consumption has been lowered using energyefficient light fittings. Watersaving initiatives include waterefficient sanitary fittings, rain and moisture sensors, irrigation at night to reduce evaporation, drip irrigation and pressure regulation valves. Overall, the This page: The gym features an active spill-out area onto the podium, which, together with the restaurant and retail components, activates the piazza and animates the space around the building.

34 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

PRO J EC T # 4 SAN DTO N GATE

The gym spans two levels: one opening onto the piazza and this one, at basement level, animated by the installation of hand-made vertical garden system called WildWall Tiles.

water-efficiency measures are expected to save approximately 30% over a notional building, or 2 740kl of water per annum.

Johannesburg-based visual artist Hannelie Coetzee has worked alongside the architects, engineers and builders of the precinct from its early phases, designing artworks to explore and articulate the questions about the environment and urban existence raised by the precinct. Coetzee specialises in partnerships between those involved in various projects to engage the public, enhance their appreciation of nature, and contribute to positive change.

Phase One includes a largescale installation of 90 raised white granite pillars sourced from a koppie in the Kalahari, presenting an immersive ‘deconstructed mountain’, titled The Narrowing. It is visible from William Nicol Drive, and is positioned to draw pedestrians through the precinct as much as to enrich their experience. She has also devised a hand-made vertical garden system called WildWall Tiles, which contain waterwise succulent plants, and has used them to assemble a largescale living pixelated artwork.

PROFESSIONAL TEAM PHASE 1 BUILDING OWNER: POD Property Fund DEVELOPER: Abland and Tiber ARCHITECTS: Boogertman + Partners ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: CKR Consulting FIRE ENGINEER: IFESA TRANSPORT ENGINEERS: Kantey & Templer MECHANICAL ENGINEER: C3 Climate Control, Consulting Engineers

Tel: +27 (0)11 705 2505 Email: general@quanticost.co.za www.quanticost.co.za

Structural & Civil Engineers Tel: +27 (0)11 463 4020 www.lsgauteng.co.za

Tel: +27 (0)11 510 9999 Email: info@abland.co.za www.abland.co.za

Tel: +27 (0)82 823 0846 Email: wwiggill@jhb.kanteys.co.za www.kanteys.co.za

Tel: +27 (0)11 430 7700 Email: tiber@tiber.co.za www.tiber.co.za

Tel: +27 (0)11 790 1600 Email: mail@boogertmanjhb.co.za www.boogertmanandpartners.com

STRUCTURAL/CIVIL ENGINEERS FOR THE PRECINCT: Kantey & Templer QUANTITY SURVEYORS: Quanticost STRUCTURAL/CIVIL ENGINEERS FOR THE BUILDINGS: L&S Consulting LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS: Landmark Studios SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CONSULTANT: Solid Green WET SERVICES: CKR Consulting MAIN CONTRACTOR: Tiber PROJECT MANAGER: Abland

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 35

ON SITE

G L ASS & ALU M I N I U M

SUMMIT XPS BOARD Well-known supplier to the building industry, Swartland, has recently launched Summit XPS Insulation Board as part of its Summit range of insulation and decorative ceiling products. There are currently several types of eco-friendly insulation to choose from – with extruded polystyrene, or XPS, being one of the most popular. Daneel Pretorius, Category Manager for Swartland’s Summit range, elaborates, “XPS is a wonderful environmentallyfriendly insulation solution – it is energy efficient, easy to install and lightweight, which is why we are so excited to introduce the new Summit XPS Insulation Board to the market.

It is affordable, 100% locally made and manufactured in the Swartland factory, following strict global warming potential

protocol to ensure a zero ozone depletion potential rating.”

There are so many benefits to this amazing building material – some of which include: • Environmentally friendly: Summit XPS Insulation Board not only makes buildings more energy efficient, but its manufacture does not result in harmful wastes or byproducts. The gasses used in the manufacturing process have zero ozone depletion potential, with no significant contribution to increasing greenhouse gasses. It is also 100% recyclable, and its exceptionally long lifespan reduces its overall carbon footprint.

• Versatility: XPS can be used for a wide variety

36 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

of applications, including as nail-up ceiling and insulation, also as ceilinged insulation between trusses for an exposed truss look, over-rafter insulation, over-purlin insulation, cavity/perimeter wall insulation and under-floor (surface bed) insulation.

To maximise its versatility, Summit XPS Insulation Board is available in thicknesses of 30mm, 40mm and 50mm, with special orders of 60mm to 100mm also available. As far as lengths are concerned, it is available in lengths of between 1,8m up to 8m, and you can choose between a faux Pine and smooth finish.

• No leaks and easy installation: Summit XPS Insulation Board comes standard with tongue-andgroove edging, which makes for exceptionally easy installation. It also provides a tight, energy-efficient seal, stopping air leaks and gaps, and preventing any hot or cold air from escaping.

• Lower heating and cooling costs: The main driver behind insulation is to reduce the cost of keeping a building’s interior cool in summer and warm in winter.

A well-insulated building

will be easier to cool or heat, as it will keep more of the cool or hot air indoors, preventing it from escaping.

• Endurance: The insulative qualities of various insulation materials often degrade over time – resulting in slowly rising utility bills. Summit XPS Insulation Board’s closedcell structure ensures an exceptionally long lifespan when compared to other traditional materials.

• No mildew: Summit XPS Insulation Board does not absorb moisture, and as such, it does not present a favourable environment for mildew or mould to grow, which can be detrimental to the health of both people and pets, and can contribute to possible damage to the structural integrity of a building.

• No flame-spread hazard: Summit XPS Insulation Board will be classified as B/ B1/2/H&V in terms of SANS 428, which means that although it is combustible, it poses no flame-spread hazard. Exposed to fire, it will shrink away from the heat source, creating no flaming droplets or flame-spread. www.summitxps.co.za

Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.

Swartland has been supplying the building trade with quality products since 1951. Our renowned production excellence is applied to our vast range of products: Cape Culture, Winsters and Kayo wooden windows and doors, Kenzo aluminium windows, doors and shower doors, Hydro garage doors and Digi automation, Summit XPS insulation board and cornices and Col awnings and manufactured pine products. ‘Experience Quality’ is not just a slogan, it’s our commitment to holding ourselves to the highest standards and to ensuring that every experience with us is a quality one.

www.swartland.co.za

086 110 2425

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AT TAYLOR, WE KNOW THAT ONE SIZE DOESN’T ALWAYS FIT ALL – NOR SHOULD IT Matching a blind to your intention for a space could mean the difference between endless days of basking in the sun, or cowering away like Dracula because of it.

We’ve spent over 60 years ensuring that the blinds you choose are perfectly suited to your specific application. And during that time, we’ve seen that our most satisfied clients are the ones who state their product needs upfront, in order to gain the most value from our range.

Perhaps your need requires you to make a room look bigger? We suggest blinds in lighter colours such as white, beige and light grey, as these amplify the natural light.

For this space-enhancing feature, we recommend our Roller Blinds. They’ll ensure sunlight becomes an asset in space creation.

If you’re experiencing too much intense sunlight, choose one of our glare-reducing darker colour screens. Not only do these take the edge off the light, but, through a protective outer layer applied to the blinds, they provide UV protection for your floors and furniture too. It also means that the colour of the screen

won’t disappear over time.

Think of it as a beach umbrella that will never blow away.

Our indoor PVC roller screens have been engineered with peak productivity in mind. They reflect up to 30% more solar energy when compared to traditional dark screens. This makes them the ideal choice for collaborative spaces, conference calls or covert catnaps.

Taylor’s screens are certified Greenguard products and meet stringent chemical emissions requirements.

38 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

Certain screens are flame retardant and all are safe for use around people of all ages. www.taylorblinds.co.za

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CALL FOR LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AFTER SOBERING BUDGET As Finance Minister Tito Mboweni painted a sobering picture of the country’s economic future in his recent Budget Speech, AfriSam has encouraged government to foster industrialisation through a level playing field.

“For a number of reasons, South Africa is unfortunately de-industrialising its economy,” AfriSam CEO Rob Wessels said. “As committed corporate citizens, we are up to the social challenges and want to keep our industries thriving as an engine for upliftment.”

Speaking after AfriSam’s Annual National Budget breakfast event held in Sandton recently, Wessels emphasised the need for fair competition in the cement sector. He said industry was engaging government and trade authorities to ensure fair conditions over the import of cement, including the enforcement of existing port tariffs for these goods.

He also noted that the

recent imposition of carbon tax in South Africa meant a further cost added to local producers, which many importers did not face.

AfriSam sales and marketing executive, Richard Tomes, noted that cement imports were rising and were having a negative impact on job creation in the country.

In his address to the event, Econometrix chief economist Dr Azar Jammine warned that the signs for any recovery in the construction sector this year were not good – with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting a growth rate of only 0,8% for the local economy. This was even before the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in China was factored into this estimate.

“Most of the upturn in cement demand that we hope for, in the immediate future, will come from infrastructural investment projects rather than from the building industry,” Dr

Delegates attending AfriSam’s Annual National Budget breakfast event.

Jammine said. “The outlook for the building industry in the coming year looks very bleak. Building completion statistics – especially for flats and townhouses – are declining sharply.”

In the previous financial year, the construction sector had performed even worse than the broader economy, which grew at just 0,4% according to the IMF. The sector lost about 131 000 jobs in 2019, representing 8,8% of the workforce. This was the most jobs lost by any sector in the economy.

According to Jammine, cement sales had fallen by about 5% over the past year.

Econometrix chief economist Dr Azar Jammine

40 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

However, he was “reasonably hopeful” that cement demand might achieve about 2% growth over the next few years.

While there was “no total collapse”, he did acknowledge that the cement industry was one of worst-hit sectors during the current downturn.

Tomes noted that AfriSam had already removed inefficient capacity and rightsized to cope with the current challenging environment.

“Unless we see an upturn in demand soon, we might have to revisit other cost-saving initiatives,” he said.

In his recent budget speech, Minister Mboweni committed government to redirect spending towards infrastructure and away from public sector wages. The state’s wage bill was one of the main reasons behind the ‘huge expansion’ in South Africa’s budget deficit.

Dr Jammine argued that the fate of the economy now relied on President Ramaphosa’s ability to implement the plans announced by Minister Mboweni, and to push reforms that could attract investors and make government spending more efficient. www.afrisam.com

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Creating Concrete Possibilities

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NOISE POLLUTION DECREASES LEARNING AND CONCENTRATION Few things irritate us more than exposure to excessive noise. In learning environments funded by public sector – where excessive noise is inevitable – acoustic comfort should be critical to maximise concentration and mental performance. Sadly, insulation against noise often takes a back seat to cost and speed of construction.

According to the World Health Organisation, the safe level of noise in a classroom cannot exceed 35 decibels. In France, a study found that with every 10-decibel increase in classroom noise, students’ language and math scores decreased by 5.5 points.

Children have sharper hearing, and are also particularly sensitive to high-pitched noises. Scholars trying to concentrate may be far more aware of noise from outside than their teachers.

Improving classroom acoustics is critical to efficient teaching and learning, and architects play a key role by designing low-noise primary structures, rather than relying on retrofitting with foam, polystyrene and wall panelling.

The greater the mass of the wall or floor, the more difficult it is to set up vibrations in it, and hence more difficult to transfer sound from one side to the other. Brick walls perform well in reducing the transmission of airborne sounds due to their density. It is also effective against impact noise such as heavy footsteps, banging doors, scraping furniture, etc.

SOUND TRANSMISSION IN CLAY BRICK MASONRY In the research report Measurements of Sound Transmission Loss in Masonry it was found that the average double-leaf plastered clay brick wall cuts over 50% of the noise from outside.

Ambient noise of around 65db (moderate to loud) is reduced to less than 20db, which is barely audible.

A double-skin clay brick wall is therefore defined as a superior insulator, even without the cost of additional insulation. Because the brick has mass, it has the ability to inhibit sound penetration of both airborne and impact sound.

42 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

Masonry walls provide a slightly textured surface that absorbs sound. Textured brick and face-brick also reduce sound reflection and reverberation.

When one side of a masonry wall is finished with plaster and paint, this seals the fine pores in the brickwork and also eliminates partially filled

and unfilled mortar joints.

Many older buildings are having to be retrofitted with sound insulation and acoustic panels at a huge cost. By applying the walling materials during construction, effective acoustics are built in to living, working and learning spaces. www.claybrick.org

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inspire sustainable, contemporary commercial and residential architecture and paving.

Our technical manuals educate property owners and construction professionals on best practice in masonry construction for sustainable, energy-efficient buildings.

Free technical and construction guides for clay bricks & pavers at www.claybrick.org Promoting Inclusive Sustainable Practices in the South African Clay Brick Sector Switch Africa Green is funded by the European Union

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PPC BUILDING COMMUNITIES IN TIMES OF CRISIS

In these unprecedented times, innovations within the construction industry are key to ensure we drive business continuity. A direct response to market demand while sustaining businesses across the region cannot be undermined. PPC, a business that exists to empower the community to experience a better quality of life, remains steadfast in its commitment to providing something of enduring value through its 100% local products with 100% quality for all its customers and communities.

“Now is the time for us to demonstrate the impact of our collective efforts. While we explore the journey towards a time post-COVID-19, our

sustainable, adaptive and innovative approach to our daily operations will give us opportunities to go beyond and build our communities through this crisis,” says Njombo Lekula, Managing Director at PPC RSA. As the leading supplier of cement in Southern Africa, PPC remains resolute in its vote of confidence in our country and its potential for growth.

Speaking on the business’s efforts to address tomorrow’s needs today, Lekula described how PPC’s 127-year history has demonstrated that the business does not just supply cement and related products.

“Empowerment means doing more than just providing building solutions that provide

44 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

shelter from the elements while standing for generations.

Empowerment at PPC is daily living our brand promise, ‘strength beyond’. Because we strive for excellence in all we do, we remain a trusted partner in business and community.

Therefore, we remain committed to supporting essential services and outbreak response activities, thereby preventing and/or containing the spread of COVID-19 in countries where we operate.”

Understanding that together we are stronger, opportunities to inspire confidence and provide solutions that enable us all to reach our full potential are sought after. The business’s greater customer focus is critical now more than

ever as PPC continues to make a concerted effort to provide the best scientifically formulated solutions for specific applications.

The PPC footprint has been designed to drive accessibility and education on how the PPC Sure Range can be applied, creating buildings that will stand the test of time.

Follow PPC Africa on Twitter @PPC_Africa, like us on www.facebook.com/ PPCAfricaLtd and visit us at www.ppc.africa to find out how PPC has been fulfilling its brand promise in a community near you. Follow PPC on LinkedIn www. linkedin.com/company/ ppc-africa, to stay up to date with our operations.

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INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNICRETE AQUA ZIG ZAGS AND DZZs FOR STORMWATER ATTENUATION MANAGEMENT All new properties developed in the Ekurhuleni region, regardless of the size, are required to submit a stormwater management plan to the Ekurhuleni Municipality.

To meet this prerequisite, the consulting engineers, Mhiduve (Pty) Ltd, developed an innovative stormwater attenuation management system through the use of Technicrete’s Aqua Zig Zag Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and DZZ interlocking pavers on the new Columbia Pharmaceutical factory development in Boksburg, thereby enabling it to meet local authority requirements.

Deon Slabbert, Project Engineer from Mhiduve (Pty) Ltd, says, “We could see that the successful management of the stormwater element at this new factory required an

innovative approach due to space challenges we faced on site. In addition to permeable paving used as a covering for attenuation ponds, we used Technicrete’s DZZ 80mm interlocking pavers over areas of 3 000m2 and 1 200m2 respectively, below the permeable paving that had capacity to hold 1 600m3 of stormwater. We also sourced 4 300m2 of Aqua Zig Zag 80 mm Class 40/2.6 pavers. The DZZ pavers were coupled with 2-4 mil of filler stone that was used as grout in the system.

“The DZZ paving blocks are ‘slotted’ paving blocks, which allow the stormwater to penetrate the surface through these slots and be collected in the unique layerworks underneath the paving surface from where it can be released in a controlled manner into the system of the

46 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

local authority. The SUDS that were supplied by Technicrete are increasingly being used to prevent run-off and flooding, as well as a method of collecting, attenuating and cleaning stormwater,” explains Slabbert.

Technicrete sales representative Wayne Oliver says, “SUDS are increasingly being used to prevent runoff and flooding, and as a method of collecting and cleaning stormwater. It is an interesting and successful use of our DZZ range of interlocking pavers for an application as crucial as stormwater attenuation management that was a critical component of the Columbia Pharmaceutical factory development. The combination of the DZZ with the Aqua Zig Zag and filler stone established a good

permeable paving system suitable for the dispersion of the quantities of stormwater expected.”

The Technicrete sustainable urban drainage system allows heavy rain to infiltrate through a permeable concrete block paved surface into a unique sub-base before being released in a controlled manner into sewers or water courses. The paved areas must be firmly restrained and Technicrete kerbing was utilised for this purpose on this attenuation project.

“The DZZ offers a hardwearing surface overlay for traditional applications such as commercial and industrial roadways, depots, suburban streets, petrol station forecourts, as well as residential driveways and pavements,” says Oliver. www.technicrete.co.za

Find our branches at www.technicrete.co.za

p a v i n g | m i ni n g | m a sonr

PAVING FOR: • Driveways • Roadways • Pavements • Walkways

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RETAINING WALLS FOR: • Earth embankments • Steep channels • Slopes • Bridges / river banks

Technicrete is a subsidiary of ISG, a leading supplier of innovative infrastructure products to the construction and mining markets in Southern Africa.

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CE M E NT & CO N CRETE

KWANOBUHLE WASTEWATER TREATMENT Kwanobuhle, a large township on the outskirts of Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, had a wastewater treatment works (WWTW) that was long overdue for refurbishment. Projects of this nature are often overlooked; however, given the magnitude of the impact of these works on the community, the decision was taken to refurbish the WWTW. Access to clean water is, after all, a basic human need.

Wastewater treatment is a process used to remove contaminants and convert it into an effluent, which can be

broken down. This recycling plays a vital role in the use and sustainability of scarce resources.

Ibhayi Contracting took on the responsibility of rehabilitating the Kwanobuhle Wastewater treatment plant.

The project began in January 2019 and is expected to be completed 18 months later in July 2020.

The rehabilitation process, which ordinarily is no easy task, was made simpler using Sika products. The concrete spall repairs on the plant were conducted using two products:

concrete. The aerators and digesters were also lined with Sika Monotop-612 by trowel application, to reprofile the concrete surfaces.

Sikagard-720 EpoCem, a protective coating, was subsequently applied as a 2mm thick layer to the Sika MonoTop-612. Sikaguard 720 Epocem is a thin film sealer, made from epoxy and cement-based fillers, used on vertical and horizontal surfaces. It is a unique product that provides concrete protection and acts as a moisture barrier to allow for

wastewater treatment plants, was applied to complete the build-up. Finally, all joints in the structures were sealed with Sikaflex Pro 3i and Sikadur Combiflex.

Given the state of disrepair of the WWTW, it was achieving nowhere near full capacity. Project challenges were inevitable expectations and most, such as labour disputes, were dealt with readily. However, once the digesters and aerators are complete, all would have been achieved to ensure project success. The community of

returned to the water cycle with minimum impact on the environment. In municipalities, this process takes place in water treatment plants, where pollutants are removed and

SikaTop Armatec-110 EpoCem reinforcing protective coating and the Sika Monotop-615HB high build repair mortar. The latter being a repair and reprofiling mortar for structural

the rapid application of an epoxy coating onto surfaces with high moisture contents.

Sikagard-63N epoxy, a high chemical-resistant coating, with a long track record in

Kwanobuhle can look forward to this redevelopment as it is surely one that will stand the test of time; and is certainly not a waste. www.sika.co.za

Sikafloor® DecoDur DECORATIVE FLOOR SYSTEMS

Style and performance go hand in hand with our Sikafloor® DecoDur flooring system. These systems blend ceramic-coated quartz aggregate with a clear polymer matrix to create a wide range of appealing finishes and textures. Boasting superior mechanical resistance and long-term performance, they are ideally suited for commercial, institutional and industrial uses. And with an endless variety of decorative quartz color combinations and slip-resistant textures, the systems can be tailored to fit your unique conditions and tastes.

Benefits of using Sikafloor® DecoDur Quartz ■ Lower maintenance and life cycle costs vs tile, sheet goods and carpet ■ Superior mechanical resistance, chemical and stain resistance ■ Easy-to-maintain, seamless, hygienic surface

Call us for more info: 010 823 8688 www.sika.co.za

48 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

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CE M E NT & CO N CRETE

WE’RE EVERYWHERE IN YOUR HOME With a trend towards customisation and sophistication, Métier Mixed Concrete is pushing the boundaries of architecture and design. Our customers want to tell a story through their space, allowing us to customise technical beauty through their personal selection. Seafoam, cobalt and plum, colours not usually associated with concrete, form part of our range and demonstrate that we don’t just do the grey stuff. We’re everywhere in your home.

various applications, in a range of strengths.

This includes our Decorative Concrete range with product offerings that extend to our DECO, Executive and Ocean ranges, which are inspired by raw materials from the earth, sea, salt and sand. These ranges create extensions of these elements effortlessly in any space. From foundations to countertops and everything in between, we can tailor-make to you and your customer’s recommendations and

available respectively.

Some of the many benefits include energy efficiency for green-star-rated buildings and environments, stain resistance, low maintenance and affordability. All our raw materials are locally sourced and all products are produced to meet SANS specifications.

automated plants across KZN and Gauteng, our product range is optimised by innovative research and development. The company lives up to its brand maxim of ‘Service, Quality and Reliability’, and continues to offer value-added partnerships with our clients.

We have specialists in the field of concrete design who focus on ensuring that Métier remains on the cutting edge of concrete technology, producing a wide variety of products for

specifications, using a variety of aggregates and pigments.

For other applications, such as textured finishes and thin applications, our exposed and screed alternatives are

Métier Mixed Concrete is well positioned as a market leader and will remain at the forefront in terms of ready-mix concrete technology and innovation.

With 15 state-of-the-art fully

We guarantee that every decorative concrete pour and design will be uniquely yours.

Let us partner with you to create your point of difference. www.metiersa.co.za

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 49

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H E ATI N G

MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF HOSPITALS WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE RISK The fire risk faced by hospitals was revealed dramatically when the theatre section of the Mitchells Plain Day Hospital in Cape Town was gutted by fire on Friday 13 September 2019. Earlier in May 2019, patients from the Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital in Soweto, Gauteng, had to be evacuated following a fire at the administration block.

The biggest challenge faced by hospitals when it comes to fire risk is that a large number of occupants are either incapacitated or immobilised, which renders them extremely vulnerable, ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk points out. In terms of specialist

facilities such as mental health hospitals, patients are often restrained or restricted to certain areas, which increases the risk even further.

“It is essential for hospitals to be able to compartmentalise their wards in the event of a fire. Therefore, if a blaze breaks out in one part, patients can be moved to another section, and the fire can be contained within the enclosure of origin,” van Niekerk explains.

ASP Fire has the capability to assist architects from the outset by becoming involved with the design phase of hospital projects, offering its specialist fire-engineering expertise and experience.

LAD Half-Page October 2019.indd 3

50 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

For example, a high-rise hospital building requires a fire sprinkler system, while evacuation routes in such a multi-storey structure also have to be considered carefully.

“We can design appropriate fire detection and suppression systems for hospitals, from sprinklers to water mist systems. Hospitals also have high-risk areas such as gas storage and server rooms, which require special attention,” van Niekerk highlights.

ASP Fire can conduct firerisk assessments at existing hospitals to highlight causes of concern for management. These

range from non-functioning fire doors to equipment that has been vandalised or not maintained properly.

“We are able to offer assistance in order for existing buildings to be modified accordingly, so they can be fully compliant with all the necessary regulations and standards,” van Niekerk adds.

ASP Fire has carried out work in this regard for Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Helen Joseph Hospital, as well as for a number of private Netcare hospitals. www.aspfire.co.za

08/10/2019 16:49:38

STOPPING FIRES BEFORE THEY START!

Designing Buildings To Stop Fires

+27 11 452 2169

ASPFIRE Chat to us on LinkedIn

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H E ATI N G

ULTRAMODERN ECO-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL COMPLETED IN SOWETO Now South Africa’s largest and fastest-growing township has its own eco-friendly healthcare facility right on the spot.

“The budget was really tight,” comments Dwayne Pienaar, MD of Aircycle Engineering, “but with help from Fourways Airconditioning, we accomplished it.”

The subject in question is the new Soweto Healthcare Hub, situated on Chris Hani Road near Maponya Mall and the University of Johannesburg Soweto campus, and featuring state-of-theart energy-efficient air conditioning.

“We started design of the

air-conditioning system at the end of 2018 and completed it

by February 2019. Installation then began and the total project was finished in December 2019.”

ENERGY-EFFICIENCY A KEY REQUIREMENT Co-developed by Annenberg Property Group and Terray, and project managed by Terray, one of the key HVAC requirements of the building was energy efficiency.

“Working in conjunction with Fourways Airconditioning, we designed five separate systems with six outdoor Samsung Heat Recovery DVM units. Alliance

Package Units also supply pre-cooled fresh air, while two Hydro units provide hot water at 55°C, utilising heat that would otherwise be wasted,” says Pienaar.

53 indoor ducted Samsung units deliver cooled/heated air to the three floors, with the ground floor housing consulting rooms and a pathology laboratory. The first floor has a 24-bed day ward with three theatres and a procedure/scope room, while a 34-bed psychiatric clinic occupies the second floor.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE “Aircycle did the basic design, then Fourways completed the drawings for us. Not only did Sello Ramatswi and others work hard to help us come within budget, but Fourways’ technical staff were always

52 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

available to assist as the installation proceeded. Their support system is excellent and technical back-up 100% – I can’t fault it.

“Samsung’s DVM units with Heat Recovery are exceptionally energy efficient, and we are gratified that we have been able to accomplish the high standards set for us by the developer,” concludes Pienaar.

The result is that Soweto now has a modern daycare private hospital right where it’s needed – with the additional bonus of an HVAC system designed to be both eco-friendly, as well as energy efficient.

A significant step forward in the growing, bustling metropolis that is Soweto today. www.fourwaysaircon.co.za

Samsung DVM S

Less energy usage.

More eco-friendliness.

With COPs as high as 4.94, Samsung DVM S units ensure maximum energy efficiency. Individual zone control provides the ideal temperature for multiple rooms, while Samsung’s unique Wind-Free and 360º Cassette indoor units ensure draught-free airconditioning. Coupled with motion and CO² sensors, the result is a perfect blend of energy-savings and eco-friendliness. Samsung DVM S: backed by Fourways Airconditioning nationwide.

Proudly distributed by Fourways Airconditioning: · Gauteng: (011) 704-6320 · Pretoria: (012) 643-0445 · Bloemfontein: 083 381 0074 · George: 082 380 0708 · Cape Town: (021) 556-8292 · KZN: (031) 579-1895 · Port Elizabeth: (041) 484-6413 · Helderberg: (021) 854-5233 · East London: (043) 722-0671

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H E ATI N G

SUSTAINABLE PLASTER AND SCREED FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS In the construction industry, it is important to comply with quality standards such as SANS 204, which is a National Standard for Energy Efficiency in Buildings. SANS 204 contains performance levels that are higher than SANS 10400-XA, for example, and that define the minimum requirements that must be adhered to in order

to achieve a three Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa.

An ultra-lightweight, thermally-insulating and fireproof aggregate for plaster and screed is available from Pratley. Known as Pratliperl®, the product is touted as the modern solution for energyefficient buildings.

Specified for lightweight plaster and screeds, Pratliperl® has been pre-treated to enable it to mix with ordinary cement. The thermal insulation properties of a two-leaf (220mm) external brick wall can be doubled simply by adding 16mm of Pratliperl® plaster on either side of the wall, Pratley Marketing Director Eldon Kruger reveals.

54 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

“Not only is Pratliperl® a ‘green’ building material that can assist in meeting sustainability criteria, the fact that it is ultra-lightweight slashes the cost of high-rise structures in particular,” Kruger adds. In addition, the product is highly durable, and features good acoustic properties. It can even be gunited when applied to large surfaces, adding to its cost-effectiveness.

Applications range from underfloor insulation and insulated roof decks to lightweight screeds on corrugated iron or concrete roofs, fireproofing structural steel columns, insulating cryogenic tanks, loose-fill thermal insulation in wall cavities, and lightweight tile

adhesive filler.

Apart from its excellent thermal insulation properties, Pratliperl® is also resistant to spalling under fire conditions, which improves the integrity of structures and enhances health and safety. The product has been extensively fire tested and can withstand temperatures of up to 1 250°C without compromising its structural integrity.

Once cured, Pratliperl® has superior strength compared to conventional lightweight foam concrete. Compatible with cement and other binders, it can be used to produce ultralightweight panels, boards, bricks and blocks that can be cut, nailed and drilled. www.pratleyminerals.com

Gauteng 012 653 8204 / Cape 021 983 1140 / KZN 031 569 1800

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I NTE RI O RS

VILLA VERTE When Jim Brett and Ed Gray decided to launch a sister property to their exclusive-use Villa Maison Noir in Hout Bay, Cape Town, it was with the intention of creating yet another sanctuary-like space that was inspired and informed by the natural beauty of the bordering Oudekraal Nature Reserve.

Villa Verte – so called for its densely treed setting – was designed to be a showcase for exciting furniture design, artwork and craft. The duo enlisted architect Thomas Leach to conceive of the structure, which replaced a drab 1970s-style building on the site. Its five peaked roofs symbolise the five elements,

and seamlessly combine private and open spaces.

Private rooms cantilevered into the trees make the space feel like a beautifully appointed treehouse, exposing its occupants to the panoramic views of the mountains surrounding them and creating expansive interior living spaces.

Further nods to nature include the circular shape of the villa itself. “Curves and circles are used throughout the property, as nothing in nature is square or rectangular, even at its most cellular form,” comments Leach.

This approach extends to the interior design. “The use of curves rather than corners

56 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

throughout subliminally softens the entire space, which puts people at ease,” states Gray.

Each of the four suites has a unique interior treatment, outlook and layout. Custom wallpaper by Cara Saven creates cocoons of flowers or foliage out of each space.

Freestanding bathtubs and showers with a view ensure that even the bathrooms offer a striking experience of the surroundings. The balconies leading out from each of the rooms allow guests to quite literally sit among the trees.

In the open-plan living areas, surface treatments such as timber roof panelling, metallic cladding on the kitchen island and terrazzo floors all engage the senses, while the furniture and objets d’art have been chosen to further stimulate with bold colour, interesting form and engaging textures.

Trevyn McGowan of the Guild Group, who collaborated with the owners on conceptualising the interiors,

says that she concentrated on the villa’s context. The Guild Group worked on a collection of custom furniture for the villa, together with Gray and Brett.

A combination of African, botanical and mid-century influences informed the designs of these contemporary furniture pieces. “The shapes and detailing needed to reflect Africa, but also have echoes of where Jim and Ed comes from – their apartment in New York City has a mid-century sensibility, so traces of this also come through,” says McGowan.

In addition to the bespoke furniture, contemporary artwork serves to elevate the experience still further and inspire guests. The artworks include both established artists such as Cameron Platter, Dorothee Kreutzfeldt and John Murray, and up-and-coming artists like Rosie Mudge and Rodan Kane Hart. www.maisonnoir.co.za

American tulipwood Multiply by Waugh Thistleton Architects

Design that doesn’t cost the Earth

Architects, interior designers and furniture makers all over the world have embraced American hardwoods for the range of colours, grains and textures they offer. Not only do American hardwoods offer consistency in grade, quality and supply, but they’re also carbon negative. Rest assured in the knowledge that each kilogram of U.S. hardwood product stores the equivalent of 1.835 kilograms of CO2 for as long as its remains in use.

For more information:

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D ESIG NS REVE ALE D

DESIGNS REVEALED THE BANK BY DAFFONCHIO AND ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS The Bank is an exciting new mixed-use development in the hub of Rosebank, Johannesburg. It is an approximately 14 300m2, 12-storey mixed-use building with three additional floors of basement parking. The structure of the existing four-storey building, previously a bank, is being retained and added onto.

The ground floor consists of retail, restaurants and hotel reception and conference facilities. The other 11 floors are occupied by offices and a hotel. The public areas around the building on ground-floor level will be activated through the design of pedestrian-friendly landscaping and furniture.

The building uses mainly renewable energy sources, such as a solar farm on the roof to power the building, as well as a heat-recovery system that reuses the waste heat from the HVAC to heat water for the hotel.

The design aesthetic celebrates the history of the original building as a banking institute. The deep face-brick façade creates an impression of strength and resilience, which is softened by the greenery along the façade. The building then defragments at the top into a minimalist crown, which creates deep landscaped roof gardens in which to enjoy the views of the Johannesburg skyline.

CONRADIE PARK BY DHK ARCHITECTS South Africa’s first fully integrated, mixed-income, mixed-use development, aimed at reversing apartheid spatial planning and located near Cape Town’s CBD, has been launched for sale to the public.

The revolutionary 22ha community comprises over 3 500 homes – some subsidised or grant funded, the remainder for sale on the open market from about R950 000, including transfer costs.

Phase one, comprising 99 units and called Kirstenbosch, has been launched with the public keen to be part of a “connected, multi-cultural community, marked by affordability, sustainability and security”, says founder of Realtor of Excellence, Toni

for growth and evolution: “It’s aspirational – by connecting various groups, those renting subsidised housing will be inspired to buy subsidised properties. Subsidised homeowners will in turn strive to buy their first house on the open market. The model provides social and financial support for this.”

The historic project is a partnership between developers, Concor, and the Western Cape Government, which describes it as one of seven provincial “game changers” aimed at providing affordable housing close to jobs while redressing apartheid-era spatial challenges.

Concor project leader, Mark Schonrock, said the model showed how state-owned land

Enderli. Occupation is set for early 2021, while phase two will launch soon.

Conradie’s head of sales, Wayne Lawson, says the development is an incubator

could be unlocked to boost economic growth while providing mixed-income housing in one neighbourhood.

Located near main arterial routes and the Mutual and

58 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

Thornton railway stations, the project includes a long-term transport master plan, potential new MyCity routes and significant road upgrades.

Schonrock said the R3bn project will stimulate small business growth by providing 10 000m2 of retail and, initially, 14 500m2 of commercial space – all designed by architects dhk and Jakupa. Over 2 000 jobs will be created during the construction phase, added Schonrock.

The campus includes two schools, various creches, a

business hotel, an urban gym and extensive pet-friendly parks. Foot and cycling paths are part of an integrated non-motorised transport plan, while green technology has been applied to energy, water and waste management.

“We’re essentially building a new, affordable, sustainable, self-contained town for the future, characterised by integration, connection and inspiration. It’s a first, and the public is embracing the vision and its potential to help address the country’s housing challenges,” added Schonrock.

Innovation for sustainable style Besides a clear focus on design innovation, we’re using new technology and inventive processes to make our products in a sustainable way. Because reducing energy consumption and waste is every bit as important to us as style.

Tel: (016) 930 3600 Email: info@ceramic.co.za www.ceramic.co.za

DRAWING BOARD

ADVANTAGES OF STANDARDISATION The Joint Building Contracts Committee (JBCC), in the Preface to its May 2018 agreements, states the following: Persons entering into or preparing contracts using the JBCC suite of contract agreements and support documents are warned of the dangers inherent in modifying any part of it.

Experience has shown that changes drafted by others, including members of the building professions, often have unintended results that may be prejudicial to either, or both parties.

Lloyd QC, in Royal Brampton Hospital NHS Trust v Hammond & 7 Others, stated that, “A standard form is supposed to be just that. It loses value if those using it, or at tender stage those intending using it, have to look outside it for deviations to the standard.” The Construction Industries Development Board (CIDB) recognised that standardisation is to the advantage of all stakeholders and published the Standard for Uniformity in Construction Procurement (SFU) in 2004 in Government Gazette No 26427, as amended regularly

thereafter. In the SFU, the Scope of it reads: This standard establishes requirements for procurement within the construction industry, which are aimed at bringing about standardisation and uniformity in construction procurement documentation, practices and procedures.

However, notwithstanding the foregoing, very little standardisation currently exists in the South African construction industry, particularly in the manner Organs of State and other Public Sector Bodies (State) procure and manage their contracts. The JBCC and the National Department of Public Works (NDPW) considered the

60 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

status quo as not sustainable nor desirable for the industry and embarked on a cooperative process between professional members of the NDPW and JBCC to bring the requirements of State and Private Sector closer – in order to minimise the need to amend contractual conditions for State.

The JBCC PBA edition 6.2 of May 2018 requires a minimum of amendments to cater for the differentiated needs between the Private Sector and State in the use thereof. As a direct result of this, the subcommittee that was established could, after numerous work sessions and meetings, reach agreement on the Contract Data suitable for State, when using it with the JBCC PBA edition 6.2

agreement. JBCC holds the view that genuine uniformity can only be achieved through the accreditation of the Contract Data by the CIDB and State Attorney for use

by State, together with the form of contract that is most suitable for building work, i.e. the JBCC. The benefits derived when implemented will be: • Proper uniformity – not a myriad of contractual conditions/contract data • Ease of pricing – therefore procurement certainty • Known risks – not different between various State entities (national, provincial and local) • Better tender prices – contractors will be more comfortable with the standard conditions, i.e. what is expected of them and what they can expect from their employers • Less disputes • Less delays • Improved cost management – accurate budgeting made more certain • Improved project management – in case of personnel redeployment between State bodies and service providers where appointed by State. www.jbcc.co.za

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® ® ® ® heheJoint Building Contracts Committee NPC (JBCC ) was registered in in Joint Building Contracts Committee NPC (JBCC ) was registered 1997 asas a Non Profit Company.

The Committee is representative of building 1997 a Non Profit Company.

The Committee is representative of building owners and developers, professional consultants and general and specialist owners and developers, professional consultants and general and specialist contractors who contribute their knowledge and experiences to to thethe contractors who contribute their knowledge and experiences compilation ofof the JBCC documents that: compilation the JBCC documents that:

• • •

the consensus view of of the constituent members; •portray portray the consensus view the constituent members; published in in the interests of of standardisation and good practice; and •are are published the interests standardisation and good practice; and forfor use throughout Africa - and elsewhere!

•suitable suitable use throughout Africa - and elsewhere!

® ® Periodic revisions ofof the JBCC contract documentation suite guarantee that Periodic revisions the JBCC contract documentation suite guarantee that documentation documentationremains remainscurrent. current.The Thelatest latestJBCC JBCCEdEd6.2 6.2May May2018 2018 Agreements were meticulously drafted to to ensure anan equitable distribution Agreements were meticulously drafted ensure equitable distribution ofof contractual risk and if properly managed will secure the successful outcome contractual risk and if properly managed will secure the successful outcome ofof most building projects most building projects ® ® AllAllJBCC documents JBCC documentshave havebeen beenapproved approvedbybythe theConstruction ConstructionIndustry Industry Development Board (CIDB) and is is the preferred documentation forfor use byby thethe Development Board (CIDB) and the preferred documentation use private sector and national, provincial and local authorities in South Africa private sector and national, provincial and local authorities in South Africa

011 482 3102 011 482 3102

www.jbcc.co.za www.jbcc.co.za

info@jbcc.co.za info@jbcc.co.za

POPO Box 3137, Box 3137, Houghton, 2041, Houghton, 2041, Johannesburg, RSA Johannesburg, RSA

>> D RAWIN G BOARD

REMARKABLY PRECISE – EVEN WHEN USED OUTDOORS: THE FIRST BOSCH LASER MEASURE WITH CAMERA The measurement of lengths, areas, volumes and inclines will be even easier and more efficient thanks to the new GLM 120 C Professional laser measure from Bosch. Previously, it was difficult to precisely identify the laser point of a laser measure in bright environments or over long distances. The new GLM 120 C Professional is the first laser measure from Bosch to come with an integrated camera. Users can use this and the cross-hair on the display to precisely aim for the target point – and, as a result, they can also precisely measure over large distances of up to 120 meters. The camera has a resolution of five megapixels, works with a three-stage zoom, saves up to 700 images and shows the last 50 images, along

GLM 120 C Prof Laser measuring range Measuring accuracy (typ.)

Digital viewfinder Tilt sensor range Angle measurement accuracy Lowest indication number Units App Bluetooth TrackMyTools Memory storage Laser class & type Battery type Dust & Splash water protection Working temperature/ storage temperature Size/ weight

0 601 072 F00 0,08 – 120 m ± 1,5 mm 5 MP 360° (4x 90°) ± 0,2° 0,5 mm mm, cm, m, ft, inch Measuring Master Bluetooth smart (Low Energy) Module integrated 50 (measurements & pictures) Class 2, 650 nm, <1mW 3,6V Lithium-Ion (3120 mAh) IP 54 –10 °C...+45 °C/ –20 °C...+70 °C 142 (176 with pin) x 64 x 28 mm/ 0,21 kg

with the measured values, in the display.

BLUETOOTH INTERFACE FOR PROCESSING DATA Thanks to the Bluetooth interface, the measured values can be transferred directly to the Measuring Master App and be further processed. This means that, for example, you can share measured data with colleagues, carry out material calculations, or create and adjust floor plans.

SIMPLE OPERATION MINIMISES APPLICATION ERRORS The GLM 120 C Professional focuses on simple operation using the selection wheel, as was the case with the GLM 50 C Professional.

The functions that can be selected include, for example, the stake-out function, with which you can very quickly measure and mark equal distances. The tool also features a 360° tilt sensor

THE SMART SOLUTION

FOR MEASURING AND DOCUMENTING • 5MP camera as viewfinder with zoom function allows for precise measuring over long distances, outdoors and in complex surroundings • High-contrast IPS color display provides optimal readability

• Bluetooth transfer of measurements to Measuring Master App for easy documentation and storage of measurements.

• Functions: Length, area, volume, add/substitute values, continuous measure, indirect measure, stake-out, wall surface, digital spirit level, timer, memory

Bosch Measuring Tools | 011 651 9671 | www.bosch-professional.co.za

62 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

and, therefore, can also be used to measure inclines and as a digital spirit level.

EASY-TO-READ COLOUR DISPLAY WITH ROBUST PROTECTIVE SCREEN Users can read and check the last four measurements and the current measurement result on the 2.8-inch colour display during the measurement. The colour display rotates automatically (as with smartphones), allowing the user to easily read off values in any situation and at any incline.

Thanks to the robust protective screen, the GLM 120 C Professional can withstand any use on the construction site. www.bosch-professional.co.za

Bosch connectivity: Laser Distance Measure GLM 50 C and GLM 120 C

Three plane line laser GLL 3-80 C and GLL 3-80CG

Thermal Camera GTC 400 C

Inspection Camera GIC 120 C

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Tel: +27 11 396 8140 info@safehousesa.co.za www.safehousesa.co.za

ALBERTON

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AUTOMATION – THE HOT TREND IN POOL COVERS The pool cover industry is on the cusp of a new trend – pool cover automation. “Today’s pool covers tick various boxes on water saving, electricity saving, safety and financial savings but pool owners are now looking for a little bit more bang for their buck,” says Merce Williams at PowerPlastics Pool Covers.

“They want a pool that is practical and reflects their lifestyles and aspirations, and a big part of that is down to the pool cover, not just the pool design. Ease of use has become key to the all-important customer experience, followed by aesthetic appeal. With a deep understanding of exactly what the market expects from their covers, PowerPlastics Pool Covers has curated a series of automation solutions for pool covers at all levels of the market.”

Starting at the top end, the Roldeck fully automatic covers are the perfect finish and will raise the value of the property.

Imported from the Netherlands and a leader in European markets, Roldeck offers clean lines and push-of-a-button ease of use.

“A Roldeck cover is made up of a series of slats that float on the surface of the water and roll in and out. The

mechanics can be seamlessly incorporated into the pool and the controls linked to the home’s automation system.

The Roldeck slats come in a variety of colours and types, with different slats for different purposes such as heating and aesthetics. The cover can either be retrofitted or planned for at the start of the pool build with a belowground fitment option,” says Williams.

Within this automatic slatted range is the Solar-powered Slatted Cover, which is a beautiful way to bring further sustainability to the pool with its solar panel functionality.

A slatted cover can have a safety feature added to protect children from drowning accidents. By adding a stainless-steel rail system, the cover can carry weights of up to 50kg per square meter, providing a barrier to safeguard children and pets.

For lighter budgets but still delivering on automation, the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover is the most trusted safety cover on the market.

This Solid Safety Cover can be semi-automated with a Vektor Rollup Station, making singleperson use effortless.

“Our Solid Safety Cover complies with the SABS

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safety certification as outlined in SABS 10134. This recommended standard then forms part of the South African Building Standard or SANS 10 400D, which restricts public access to a pool. Safety and automation aside, the cover seals off the water, which makes it far more sustainable from a power and water standpoint when compared to nets and fences,” says Williams.

PowerPlastics Pool Covers has recently launched a new automation option for thermal covers using GeoBubble material. The Solar-powered Georoller is a rollup station operated with a remote control or directly on the unit. With the press of a button, the cover rolls in or out over the pool.

This rollup station also ensures correct cover care and storage, boosting longevity.

“Initially, pool owners added automation solutions to

thermal or safety covers only if the cover was extremely large and not operational by one person. Now, with this new line, we are seeing more and more pool owners with smaller pools opting for automation purely for everyday convenience and aesthetics,” says Williams.

It is always best to consult a cover specialist like PowerPlastics Pool Covers at the beginning of a pool build or pool refurb. While most covers can be retrofitted, prior planning is critical if you are to have a truly safe, sustainable pool that looks great too.

“Our advice? Keep the pool simple and keep the edges straight and clear from obstructions. Approach the pool as an extension of the overall living area. A quality cover really can raise the value of a property,” concludes Williams. www.powerplastics.co.za

LAMINATE FLOORING Flooring foundation for every room design m a c n e i l fl o o r i n g . c o . z a

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HOMEWOOD’S HEARTFELT STORY OF SUSTAINABILITY Deeply embedded into Homewood’s philosophy is the idea of sustainability. For them, it’s not just an afterthought for their custom furniture manufacturing business, but it’s something that has been with them from the very start, which they have founded their entire business upon. It’s a feeling that resonates deep in the heart of Homewood’s founder, Ian Perry. He finds great meaning in his craft and has a deep-seated passion for the environment.

“It’s a love and a respect for the wonderful raw material we use. Our goal is not to abuse and exploit our natural environment but rather to highlight and expand it. By carefully utilising and proudly displaying the natural beauty of trees and, ultimately, wood in our furniture and smalls range, we are hopefully educating the public and creating that same awareness and appreciation,” says award-winning furniture designer, Ian Perry. “Our love of the environment starts with us, the employees of Homewood. All of us enjoy the outdoors and it’s this that

creates the desire to protect it… I think.”

Homewood’s furniture crafting journey all starts with sourcing the right tree.

They firmly believe in only using alien invasive hardwoods, as this means that these trees will be removed from indigenous environments. And when most manufacturers would only use part of the tree, Homewood use as much of it as possible. In fact, 90% of the tree is often deemed as unusable for furniture

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production because of knots or variation in grain.

However, while these sections may be viewed as undesirable by some, they are celebrated by Homewood, giving their furniture a special wabi-sabi beauty.

Homewood also make use of factory offcuts by making what they call ‘smalls’ – small everyday household items such as chopping boards, hat racks and trays – furthering their aim towards protecting the environment with minimal waste. www.homewood.co.za

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TAL INTRODUCES NEW ADHESIVE FOR LARGE-FORMAT TILES TAL, a division of Norcros SA, is pleased to introduce a new tile adhesive, specially designed for fixing largeformat tiles. The new adhesive, TAL Goldstar XL, is a quick-setting, highstrength product that has been developed in response to the global trend towards larger tiles.

“Our customers indicated that they needed a product with a longer open time in order to allow for the ‘double-buttering’ technique, where the adhesive is applied on both the substrate and the backs of the tiles, so we developed TAL Goldstar XL to have an extended open time of 30 minutes,” says Obert Rukato, Technical Executive

at TAL. The product is also more workable to help make the installation process seamless, preventing the adhesive from ‘skinning’, ensuring a wet-to-wet installation where the two layers ‘kiss together’.

Classified as a C2TFE product with improved cementitious tensile adhesion strength, TAL Goldstar XL sets in 12 hours and is slip resistant. This slip resistance is key for wall installations; however, mechanical bracing is still required for the full drying time. For tiles over one metre in size, a longer drying time may be required, depending on site conditions.

It is advisable to allow at least 8-10 hours after tiling before

NEW

THE TAL MULTI-LEVEL SYSTEM FOR LARGE FORMAT TILES

trafficking or grouting.

In order to offer a full large-format solution, TAL is extending their range of tiling tools to include suction cup holders, as well as levelling spacers. Additionally, a full set of specialised tile cutters, scorers and frames to hold and move large tiles is also available for hire from the company at a nominal rate.

Large-format tiles may have permissible surface flatness irregularities, i.e. the tile surface may be ‘curved’ or ‘bowed’. TAL offers bespoke specifications for the installation of these tiles as it is imperative that the substrate to be tiled is totally flat and level. The use of self-levelling spacer/clip

systems will further assist in reducing ‘lippage’ of tiles.

It is important to note that when installing large-format tiles there is a smaller number of joints between them – as compared with the same area of normal format tiling – meaning that less stress (movement) can be accommodated at the tile joints. www.tal.co.za

THE SCIENCE BEHIND BEAUTIFUL SPACES

1

LEVEL 1

PRIMER TAL Keymix + TAL Keycoat

2

LEVEL 2

ADHESIVE TAL Goldstar XL + TAL Bond

3

LEVEL 3

GROUT TAL Wall and Floor Grout + TAL Bond

TAL FREE TECHNICAL ADVICE CENTRE: 0860 000 TAL (825) or taltech@tal.co.za • www.tal.co.za *TAL, *TAL Keymix, *TAL Keycoat, *TAL Goldstar XL, *TAL Bond and *TAL Wall and Floor Grout are registered trademarks of Norcros SA (Pty) Ltd.

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 67

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OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE BLUE… A heritage building of some renown, Union House has stood tall in the heart of Cape Town’s Central Business District for generations. Today, the 900m2 premises serve as the headquarters of the dynamic Spier Arts Trust, an NPO that supports emerging artists.

After more than 20 years of weathering intense Cape winters, the building was due for renovation. Plascon and preferred applicator, Indawo, were contracted by the client in mid-2019 to restore this well-known building to its former glory – and then some. It was agreed that a vibrant deep blue would be the perfect hue for the building’s dramatic makeover, replacing the previous muted beige.

BUT WHY THE DRASTIC CHANGE? The dramatically rich, eye-catching blue – Plascon’s ‘Eye of the Storm’ – is very much in keeping with the building’s current purpose, which is to house a creative team of both artisans and administrators. In addition to making a strong and inspiring statement, a deeper colour can prove more sympathetic to an older building than a lighter tone, as it’s low light reflectance makes it more effective at masking surface irregularities.

But before the final coating of colour could be applied, much surface preparation was needed. The façade was riddled with uneven plasterwork, cracks and peeling paint – all of which are characteristic of an older building. Indawo seamlessly coated the walls with breathable, high-quality Plascon Professional Super Acrylic Matt, atop a Plascon Professional High-Alkali Plaster Primer.

This prestige project was supported by the Plascon 360° Partnership Pledge, which covers the Plascon specifications, material and application thereof in conjunction with Indawo, to ensure the enhancements and preservation of the client’s investment.

AND THE END RESULT? The striking outcome for the newly reinvigorated Union House is characteristic of Plascon Products. www.plascon.com

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TERRAIN IS A NEW NATURE-INSPIRED TUFTED TILE RANGE FOR HEAVY COMMERCIAL SPACES Discover nature’s contours with Terrain, a tufted tile range from Belgotex that explores how adaptable and forward-thinking designs, materials and systems might use nature – adapting its power to transform challenge into change.

With both colour and pattern inspired by the earth’s surfaces, our planet serves as a key reference and is celebrated in the exciting new floorcovering.

A wide spectrum shifts fluidly where each colour transitions through the gradient and seamlessly blends into the next. In this way, the range mimics the same optical phenomenon witnessed in nature.

Created for heavy commercial application, the new range is defined by irregular contours with seemingly torn and unfinished designs that embrace organic imperfection. The planks

can be laid in ashlar, brick or herringbone formations – the graded effect lending an interesting texture and subtle pattern to hardworking floors.

The carpet’s colour boasts a depth and magnitude that’s able to convey planet earth’s vast beauty, where individual colours have the confidence to stand on their own and, when working with the rest of the range, show up in full kaleidoscopic glory.

Twenty colours tell the story of the range’s main attributes, from resilient sunbaked clay and earthy tones, subdued mossy and forest greens, to calming blues, rich purples, moody greys, and variations of these shades in-between.

Terrain – The Edge of Change is a new tufted tile range that brings the best of the outdoors into heavy commercial spaces. www.belgotex.co.za

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SAWPA GUIDANCE NOTE: TREATED WOODEN POLES STRUCTURAL (SANS 457) VS NON-STRUCTURAL (SANS 1288) whether because of drying or mechanical defects (or both).

SANS 1288 poles are therefore classified as nonstructural poles and shall not be used as structural poles. SANS 457 poles are classified as structural poles intended for the pole types and end uses specified in SANS 457-2 and SANS 457-3, i.e. building poles, agricultural poles, fencing poles, and guard rail posts.

The allowance for treating

such as ranch-style outdoor furniture or other applications where a crooked/curved natural-looking pole was required by the purchaser on request. Proper preservative treatment and protection against biological agents, such as decay fungi and wood-destroying insects, would still be ensured in

purposes where the end-user/ consumer can potentially purchase a pole, and then use it in an application where it could fail and cause harm or damage due to noncompliance with the physical strength requirements specified in SANS 457.

Note: Utility poles, i.e. transmission, communication,

visual requirements specified in SANS 457 cannot and will not be met. SANS 1288 poles do not and cannot comply with the visual and physical strength requirements,

poles under SANS 1288 was only permitted from 2000 onwards. This was to allow for the use of treated poles not in compliance with SANS 457 in applications

accordance with SANS 1288.

The SANS 1288 pole treatment allowance is therefore only for special requests/orders and needs, and not for general retail

and street lighting poles are covered under SANS 753 for selected pine species and under SANS 754 for Eucalyptus species. www.sawpa.co.za

Gypframe 2019-9-001

Treated wooden poles (excluding utility poles) can be produced under either SANS 457 or SANS 1288.

(Please note that SANS 457-2 is applicable to softwood, e.g. pine and SANS 457-3 is applicable to hardwood, e.g.

Eucalyptus/gum).

The difference between the SANS 457 and SANS 1288 standards is that SANS 1288 only covers the preservative treatment requirements when the physical strength or

Plasterboard wall and ceiling systems’ ultimate performance depends on wall frame and ceiling grid rigidity, coupled with corrosion resistance. Gyproc’s wall and ceiling systems rely on Gypframe® to be the backbone; you should too!

www.gyproc.co.za

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA APRIL/MAY 2020 69

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DEN BRAVEN SILICONE NO AND STRUCTURAL GLAZING SILICONES

the Den Braven difference!

Perimeter sealant Fungal resistant UV/weather resistant Durable elastic 6 colours Glazing sealant

Den Braven Silicone NO and Structural Glazing Silicones are internationally renowned sealants used for connecting and bonding curtain-wall modules and in-shop glazing.

The Den Braven Silicone NO is also the sealant of choice as a weather sealant around glazing joints, to prevent moisture getting into glazing panels. It was used in the construction of one of Cape Town’s new landmarks, The Silo District, which includes the Zeitz MOCCA Museum, the five-star The Silo Hotel and the Radisson Red Hotel. Silicone NO can, in addition, be used in bathrooms and kitchens, due to its neutral formulation, low odour and fungicidal properties. It is low in VOCs and ideal for application in confined areas, such as a hotel bathroom. The fungicidal properties of this sealant means the seals will not develop the black mould so often seen in damp bathrooms, especially in hotels, where it would be highly undesirable. Silicone NO was used in The Tsogo Sun (Stayeasy), Protea Hotel and The Virgin Active in Cape Town.

Here are some interesting points about these two specialised sealants: • They are neutral curing sealants: almost odourless, superior adhesion, superior weatherproofing, no corrosion, no discolouration, available in a variety of colours to match • They are sustainable ‘green’ sealants: UV resistant, extends building lifespan, saves on energy

Do it right the first time Contact us in JHB: 011 792 3830, CT: 021 552 9674, DBN: 031 579 2375 or sales@ denbraven.co.za www.denbraven.co.za Den Braven Sealants South Africa Please contact us for further product, technical information and technical assistance

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consumption and cost, assist insulation, blocks out noise, meets Green Building Council of SA standards, very low VOC • They are ‘elastic’: absorbs movement, durable expansion properties, strong connectionadhesion, Silicone NO has excellent ozone and UV resistance, Structural Glazing Silicone top structural performance characteristics.

Silicone NO is available in black, white, grey, bronze, light bronze and clear – in 300ml cartridges or 600ml foil packs on special request.

To get optimum performance from any sealant or adhesive, one should always test the compatibility of substrates, follow surface preparation and cleaning procedures, as well as adhere to the Technical Bulletin of Joint Dimensions on the Den Braven website. Den Braven technical sales consultants are also available to advise and discuss requirements of the job on hand. www.denbraven.co.za

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MORE TO STUD AND TRACK THAN YOU THINK? Three crucial aspects determine the stiffness of a drywall partition: the stud and track performance, the stiffness of the plasterboard, and assembly (determined by system design). Once complete, the backbone of any drywall – the wall-frame comprising stud, track and the fixing specialist straps, noggins and screws – are hidden and their role not easily apparent.

Wall-frame is crucial to the overall performance of partitions. Specific characteristics of a drywall system advantage relies heavily on the contribution of the steel wall-frame to which the plasterboards are fixed. During the selection of a stud-and-track system, four key aspects must be taken into consideration: the height of the wall, the fire protective and duty rating, with acoustic rating the final consideration for the fit-out professional.

Galvanised steel wall-frame contributes to each of these aspects; while not all may be required simultaneously, designs inevitably require at least two of these.

The physical appearance of the stud and track components in wall-frame may be misleading; some products appear to be work-hardened and allude to deliver similar

performance profile-forprofile. The truth, however, is that this cannot be delivered.

This is illustrated by the visual similarity of products to UltraSTEEL®. They may be knurled; however, that does not make them dimpled, highperformance steel profiles.

Faced with a construction environment that grows ever more challenging, the fit-out process of any structure in every sub-sector of the South African construction sector drives cost-containment as an imperative. Locally, installers can select products from a number of stud and track suppliers. These profiles are formed using a range of metal thicknesses, some producing knurled surfaces that may suggest that these products have been work-hardened when they may not have been.

Market prices for these products may be lower than those for true work-hardened profiles, making them highly attractive. The South African Building Interior Systems Association (SABISA) defines mutually agreed specifications that applies to stud and track products.

According to SABISA, the ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Material) standard, ASTM C645, requires the following: 1. Minimum 230 Mpa yield

strength for profile steel; 2. The minimum thickness is determined by performance requirements, not by a prescriptive minimum thickness. Minimum base thickness of 0.45mm, where a yield strength of 230Mpa steel is used, non-rigidised; and 3. Steel with thickness less than 0.45mm must be rigidised and shall be supported by manufacturer’s performance test data.

Currently only a single process, UltraSTEEL® meets this requirement, licenced only to Saint-Gobain.

Work-hardening can also be described as the dimpling process for cold roll metal forming, that results in specific and measurable changes in material performance. It is possible to predict this through a finite element modelling process, followed by experimental validation. During 2014, an academic article was published detailing the research by Hadley Industries and academics from the Universities of Wolverhampton and Sussex in the United Kingdom.

The process, patented world-wide as UltraSTEEL®, enhances a rolled flat steel

sheet prior to the forming of profiles used in a range of applications, including drywall wall-frame. Through simulation it was proved that prediction was accurate in determining how the process introduced plastic strain into the flat sheet and distributed it through the sheet. Plastic strain is a crucial factor in determining the extent of the expected increase in performance. Carefully considered properties must be controlled – the shape and relative position of the dimples on the milling roll, friction and the overlapping gap between the forming rolls.

This approach allows a thickness-for-thickness improvement in stiffness and strength in studs and tracks produced using UltraSTEEL®.

Structures that are increasingly safe and aesthetically pleasing present the construction industry with ongoing challenges and opportunities. For interior fit-out purposes, the backbone of great projects will be reliable high-performance steel, which are lightweight and strong. There is only one UltraSTEEL®: it delivers the performance and reliability that contractors, specifiers and owners deserve and expect. www.saint-gobain-africa.com

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THE ART OF ESTIMATING Cost estimating is generally regarded as a science. This should be correct, considering we use spreadsheets and other measuring software doing complex calculations in the background. Cost estimating is mostly part of an overarching function such as engineering or quantity surveying, hence the tendency to refer to it as a science. Even universities reside estimating within the science and engineering

departments. There should be no doubt, or should there be?

Could estimating be a form of art? Artistic, talented, vision, feeling, flowing, seeing, etc are all concepts we would think fit within art. When compiling an early-stage estimate, your estimator can have all the computers, software and techniques but may not have the ability to link costs with the early design concepts.

Estimators need to put

themselves in the designer’s shoes in order to see the same vision. This would require a specifically talented person who could read (feel) the artistic flow of the design in order to understand how to allow costs for it.

The less information there is, the more the estimator needs to rely on their artistic talent to complete a cost estimate. The more information there is, the closer the estimating process is to a science. More experienced estimators have more “artistic talent” and are able to work with less information. Once designs and drawings are complete, it will be possible to use techniques residing in the world of sciences.

Estimating is also one of the building blocks for financial control. In the same sense, early-stage financial control would also reside more with ‘gut feel’ and ‘seeing the vision’ than trying to apply taught techniques to estimate costs with concept information.

Reasonably accurate earlystage cost estimates are produced by experienced and talented individuals who can apply their profession almost as a work of art.

Therefore, when you need an estimator, it may be better to look for someone who can see your vision.

Deon Vermuelen www.2iiqs.com

YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN HANSGROHE Considering themselves to be the ultimate partners to retail and trade, Hansgrohe’s ability to consistently offer the highest quality of tailored goods and services is what makes them an industry leader. This forms a cornerstone of their ethos and corporate philosophy, standing behind their commitment to be right by your side.

ENSURING PRECISION Hansgrohe has, over its lifespan, developed a method for collaboration so that you get the most out of your project. Whether you have questions, problem queries, recommendations or specific wishes, they will be at your service with regular site visits to give you peace of mind. They consult on the technical specifications and ensure supplies during planning, delivering on time and holding plumbers to the highest level of training. Their work comes with a 15-year guarantee, on top of a number of unique innovations and more than 600 design awards.

COMMERCIAL A fine example of a commercial project exists in the Sasol Global Headquarters in Johannesburg, designed by the Paragon Group. The building boasts some incredible amenities that include indigenous biomes for South African wildlife, insects and birds on the grounds and roof. It was awarded a 5-Star Green Star design category rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa.

RESIDENTIAL Almost two decades ago, Hansgrohe was contracted by the minds behind Eden Island, a luxurious residential marina development of breath-taking beauty just off of Mahé. A mixture of Hansgrohe products and ranges feature throughout the houses; more than 500 units custom-designed for this development.

HOSPITALITY Hansgrohe products have been featured in a number of developments in the

72 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

hospitality industry. One such example is the Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport, the first hotel in Africa to offer 100% offset carbon-neutral accommodation and conferencing. Inside, one will find low-flow fittings on all taps and showerheads, making the hotel the epitome of ‘Sustainable by Design’. These fittings take the form of the Hansgrohe Decor range, one of the company’s most sophisticated product lines.

PARTNERS AT HOME Hansgrohe products are used in buildings the world over, as the company supplies products to over 140 countries, and directly into the homes of people. www.hansgrohe.co.za

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TAKE YOUR LIGHTING PLAN TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH RADIANT

LPL002DL 60W Aluminium 515mm x 1195mm

Lighting can have a dramatic impact on how an architectural project or renovation project is perceived. A successful lighting plan calls for the contractor, developer and light-fitting supplier to enter into a dialogue and reach an understanding about what is required and how those requirements will be met. The Radiant Lighting team boasts extensive knowledge about project lighting and knows exactly how to source unique fixtures to suit all sorts of installation requirements. Radiant’s insight about products, technology and the effects of lighting allow the team to assist with integrating lighting into even the most challenging interior design projects.

As lighting experts, Radiant understands that quality project lighting is based on the balance of the following three pillars: HUMAN NEEDS It’s no secret that the quality of lighting in a building affects the people in it. A happy, healthy, and productive office environment relies on appropriate lighting and sufficient, strategically placed office systems. Places such as public facilities, shopping centres and parks attract more visitors and shoppers when they’re well lit.

ARCHITECTURAL CONSIDERATIONS Modern architecture is complex and often features technological advancements not found in the buildings of decades gone by. This calls for lighting that is seamlessly integrated into the architecture. In fact, lighting design is now seen as a creative extension of architecture with the main objective being to complement the style, shapes and colours used throughout the building.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY Most modern-day lighting project briefs will ask for a sustainable lighting solution. This results in a smaller ecological footprint and a lower energy bill, so it’s a win-win situation for both the client and the environment. LED lighting set on a dimmer switch, timer or motion sensor is often used to achieve this.

Contact Radiant Lighting to learn more about their extensive range of indoor and outdoor fixtures for your next project. The team of specialists is always happy to offer professional and technical advice, from specifying an on-site supervisor to aftersales service that is backed up by warranties. www.radiant.co.za

Light up your project

LPL004 36W steel LED ceiling light 597mm(w) x 597mm(h)

KE81 2 x 54W Metal and glass ceiling light 110mm(w) x 1205mm(h) Radiant Lighting offers an extensive range of efficient lighting and state-of-the-art electrical products and accessories to meet your architectural and building needs. Whether it’s ambient, task or accent lighting that your project requires, our lighting specialists are on hand to offer you professional and technical insight.

JHB +27 (0)11 386 0000 CTN +27 (0)21 521 2500 DBN +27 (0)31 263 0096

www.radiant.co.za

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FEATURED DESIGN

Lightbulb moment

T

hese new Brick Lamps from Dokter and Misses could have been made for architects. The design duo behind the brand – Adriaan Hugo and Katy Taplin – have taken unfired bricks, and sculpted away at this simple, universal building block, etching them with signature Dokter and Misses geometric patterns. They fire it themselves and fit it with half-chrome warm white screw-in

74 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN APRIL/MAY 2020

ES globes, which gives the lamps a theatrical quality. They make striking standalone pieces, but, as bricks do, lend themselves to modular repetition and endless combinations.

The way they take the two most basic elements of architecture – the solid materiality of the brick and the abstract, intangible quality of light – and combine them in a new piece of design is nothing short of poetic. www.dokterandmisses.com

s | Corporate Identity | Perforated Façades | Expanded Metal ther Louvre | Façade C a e W & ladding reens c s n u s | S g n i l i | Ce mns Colu

Building Art Light, rhythm, balance and attention to detail are the hallmarks of great art. Alania Building Systems’ custom designed, technologically advanced aluminium building solutions brings your project to life by creating functional yet beautiful structures.

Every project we undertake benefits from design innovation, exceptional service and uncompromising quality of workmanship and materials from a team of solutions-driven professionals who stop at nothing to ensure inspirational results.

Johannesburg • Cape Town • Durban info@alania.co.za Tel: (+27 11) 683 1774

www.alania.co.za