Leading Architecture & Design August/September 2021

August/September 2021

www.leadingarchitecture.co.za

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THE BANK Daffonchio’s Rosebank revival ELLIPSE dhk’s residential revolution GREEN SCHOOL SA GASS Architecture Studios’ biophilic inspiration

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Celebrating Women Architects, Engineers and Urbanists

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Ed’s letter “There is no difference between what males bring to architecture and what females bring to architecture.”

“Women bring a level of sensitivity to the human and emotional experience of architectural design.”

These two statements represent two opposite poles in the range of views that came up in the interviews with women architects, engineers, interior designers and urbanists we conducted for our annual Women’s Month feature.

We introduced the feature a few years ago to celebrate women in the profession, to air some of their views, to emphasise the value that women bring to the field and to remind everyone – at the risk of artificially isolating women as a group or category representing a particular type of architect – of both the progress the field has made, and what still has to be done as far as transformation is concerned.

It might be worth noting that most of the women featured in this year’s profiles, at some point said they think that women tend be more empathetic than men. It also needs to be said that

many assert that women are still a minority on building sites, and, while most of the time they are treated with due respect, the work environment demands a level of assertiveness and insistence on their part that they are treated as equals – as if they need to prove themselves.

For this reason alone, it is worth reprising our feature. Until there is complete equality, it means on some level women are treated as the exception, and it is worth uniting to push back.

It is of utmost importance that, at the same time, we acknowledge that there is no such thing, essentially, as a woman architect. Or engineer. Or whatever. The diversity of views our interviewees expressed is testament to that. Where they were all of one voice, however, was in the belief that diversity strengthens the profession. A greater variety of viewpoints and experiential backgrounds simply makes for better buildings – buildings that can serve more people, better.

Graham

Editor's bookshelf Palaces of Stone: Uncovering Ancient Southern African Kingdoms

by Mike Main and Thomas Huffman

Across the face of southern Africa are more than 460 remarkable stone palaces – some small, others rambling, but many are astonishing. All are the legacy of kingdoms past. Some, such as Great Zimbabwe, Khami in Botswana and Mapungubwe in South Africa, are famous world heritage sites, but the majority are unknown to the general public, unsung and unappreciated. Palaces of Stone brings to life the history of various early African societies, from AD 900 to approximately 1850. By exploring a selection of known and unknown sites, the authors uncover the emergence of ancient civilisations and reconstruct the meaning of the ruins they left behind. Woven into the narrative are stories of powerful political states, flourishing local economies, long-distance trade, and the destruction wrought by colonialism and modern-day treasure hunters. This book will appeal to anyone interested in Africa’s ancient heritage.

8 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

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“While women are forging paths in many male dominated industries today, gender inequity remains a problem in architecture.” Danielle Reimers, Senior Associate, SAOTA [p12]

Contents

[p28]

08 THE BRIEF Editor’s note and book review.

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

32 GREEN SCHOOL The new Green School South Africa outside Paarl by GASS Architecture Studios sets a new benchmark for green buildings while harnessing biophilic design principles to create a school that is both beautiful and inspiring.

SPECIAL FEATURE

ON SITE

12 CELEBRATING WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE Leading Architecture + Design is celebrating women architects, urbanists and engineers this Women’s Month.

38 LIGHTING A special focus on LED lights.

43 FLOORING Ceramic tiles, luxury vinyl tiles, timber, underfloor insulation, waterproofing and other flooring solutions.

54 BRICKS & PAVING Clay bricks for energy-efficient design.

56 DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY Where architecture and technology meet.

60 AIR CONDITIONING AND HVAC SYSTEMS Cutting-edge air-conditioning solutions.

66 PAINT & COLOUR Colour trends, new paint products, surface preparation and a VR-inspired app.

82 FEATURED DESIGN South African social distancing solutions for restaurants achieve success internationally.

FIRST DRAFT

BLUEPRINT 18 ELLIPSE Ellipse Waterfall, a new high-rise residential development by dhk in the heart of Waterfall City, Gauteng, departs from conventional rectangular forms with elliptical towers of differing heights.

22 THE BANK The site of a former 1970s bank has been transformed by Daffonchio & Associates Architects into a super-efficient and historically sensitive contemporary addition to the Rosebank CBD in Johannesburg.

28 CORMED PRIVATE HOSPITAL The newly upgraded Cormed hospital in Vanderbijlpark offers an increased capacity and state-of-the-art technology.

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: Juane Venter 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 PUBLISHING TEAM GENERAL MANAGER: Dev Naidoo PUBLISHING MANAGER: Sandra Ladas email: sandra.ladas@newmedia.co.za PRODUCTION MANAGER: Angela Silver ART DIRECTOR: David Kyslinger Johannesburg Office: Ground floor, Media Park, 69 Kingsway Avenue, Auckland Park, 2092 Postal Address: PO Box 784698, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2146 Tel: +27 (0)11 877 6111 Fax: +27 (0)11 877 6198

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Published by New Media, a division of Media24 (PTY) Ltd © Copyright Leading Architecture & Design Magazine 2021 www.leadingarchitecture.co.za

While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of its contents and information given to readers, neither the editor, publisher, or its agents can accept responsibility for damages or injury which may arise therefrom. All rights reserved. © Leading Architecture. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, photocopying, electronic, mechanical or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright owners.

10 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

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Celebrating

Women in Architecture This August, in celebration of Women’s Month, Leading Architecture + Design has profiled a dozen inspiring women in the fields of architecture, urbanism, interior design and engineering, showcasing their skills and achievements, as well as their views on the challenges that the industry faces.

LIZELLE MCLEAN, ASSOCIATE, GASS ARCHITECTURE STUDIOS Lizelle McLean graduated in 2009 with a Master’s degree in architecture (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria. Her experience includes single-family residential, adaptive reuse, multifamily residential (including social housing and student housing), as well as commercial work and corporate interiors.

“I am drawn to the adaptive re-use work we have done in the inner cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria,” says Lizelle. “It is really inspiring to see how a project can make a real difference in the lives of everyday people.”

Recent career highlights include a social housing development of approximately 2 000 units, which is scheduled to be completed in 2023. She also counts among her achievements a major renovation to an existing high-rise commercial building in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, completed in 2019.

She says that in her view, major challenges that need to be corrected in the field of architecture include the perception that women get “too emotional” when speaking up, and the belief that women are somehow different or inferior to their male counterparts.

Tel: +27 (0)11 482 2045 Email: studio@gass.co.za www.gass.co.za

12 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

DANIELLE REIMERS, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, SAOTA Danielle Reimers is responsible for designing, developing and coordinating a diverse range of international projects. She has a strong interest in vernacular design and passive sustainable architectural practices. She is currently completing her MBA at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town, specialising in Leadership with a focus on Diversity & Inclusion.

Before joining SAOTA in 2013, Danielle worked at the internationally acclaimed architectural practice Renzo Piano Building Workshop, where she was involved in the extension to the Kimbell Art Museum in Dallas, Fort Worth, the extension to the Harvard Art Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Masterplan for the Area EX-Falck, a 45-hectare zone north of Milan, Italy.

“While women are forging paths in many maledominated industries today, gender inequity remains a problem in architecture,” says Danielle. “A 2015 SACAP survey reflects an unacceptably low level of women and highlights the extensive marginalisation of female architects of colour.”

She believes that diversity in the workplace unlocks new ideas and drives market growth, both paramount for innovation and economic growth. While the “slow shift to build equity” has a way to go, she says, “It’s a great time to be woman and an architect.

“Newly formed South African advocacy groups such as HerPerspective, Matri-Archi and The Why Group are fuelled by creating gender equitable workplaces,” says Danielle. “They are making concerted efforts to address professional obstacles through mentorship programmes, exhibitions and publications acknowledging women’s contributions to the field of architecture.” Their collective voice, bolstered by digital activism, is, she says, “fundamental in forging new conversations, perspectives and ideas that mirror the rich human tapestry we serve”.

109 Hatfield Street, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001 Tel: +27 (0)21 468 4400 | Email: info@saota.com | www.saota.com

W OME N ’ S M ON T H ZAHIRA ASMAL, DIRECTOR, THE CITY “The City puts ingenuity to work in the built environment through research, publishing, and critical and inclusive engagement,” says Zahira Asmal, who founded The City in 2010. “From architecture to design, culture and society, our focus is the making of cities.”

Her work addresses the social, spatial, cultural and economic inequalities in South Africa to find ways to make our cities inclusive.

“My observations and experiences of life during apartheid, especially the Group Areas Act, made a lasting impression on me,” she says. “Space for me became an important matter.”

Zahira’s publications, presentations and exhibitions include the book Reflections & Opportunities, which was published in English and Brazilian and presented in 17 cities, and the triple-volume Movement , which examines the socio-political, economic and cultural environments shaping South Africa’s big cities. She also worked with British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye on his book Adjaye Africa Architecture. Other highlights include representing South Africa at the International Architecture & Design Showcase in London in 2012. Between 2013 and 2018 she led a placemaking project that re-imagines underused and abandoned spaces at Johannesburg’s prominent Park Station.

Her current project, See, explores contested urban histories, equal representation in the memorialisation of history, and the construction of resilient postcolonial urban identities. She serves on the board of advisors for the International Archive of Women in Architecture.

“I would like to see more networks and institutions supporting women at various levels of education, mentorship, construction and business development,” she says. “In addition, the obstacles to our development and advancement should be dismantled.” www.thecityagency.co.za | www.iseeyou.capetown

CLAUDIA MELA, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, DHK ARCHITECTS Claudia Mela joined dhk in 2012, bringing her experience in design, master planning and advanced knowledge of Revit to the team, which has proved valuable in largescale mixed-use developments.

Claudia has worked on a wide range of projects, both locally and internationally, from conceptual to completion work stages. Career highlights include Newtown Junction, Oxford Parks and, recently, Ellipse Waterfall. While she says that there is no essential difference between what men and women bring to the profession, she believes “gender balance is key in all professions”. She adds, “Yes it’s been a male-dominated industry, but times are changing and society is adapting accordingly.

“If industries, especially typically male-dominated industries such as the construction industry, do not change, we will never gain global equality,” she says.

Claudia points out that 50% of dhk’s management team is female.

“Ultimately, hiring females within architectural practices makes firms more balanced,” she says. “Women bring a level of productivity and organisation to a firm that builds a firm up from its core and maximises everyone’s potentials and strengths.

“Respect needs to be a living unconscious system among cultures, in the office environment and respect in the industry,” she says. “Equally, if you portray respect, you will receive the same treatment.”

TESSA BRUNETTE, CAPE TOWN OFFICE LEAD, ARUP Tessa is an architect, integrator and building envelope designer who leads the Arup Cape Town office, as well as Arup’s sustainable development activities in Africa.

“I love the process of design, bringing many different voices and skillsets together to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Experiencing wonderful built spaces is an inspiration and a joy, and I strive to be part of teams that create delightful, thoughtful and well-performing spaces,” says Tessa.

Tessa has experience working across a range of sectors, from master planning and infrastructure implementation to specialist façade and multidisciplinary building engineering design services, both in South Africa and abroad. Recent career highlights include working on The Ridge at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town (featured in the April/May 2021 issue of Leading Architecture + Design) where she was responsible for leading the Arup integrated multidisciplinary team, leveraging specialist skills for 13 disciplines across 11 of Arup’s global offices. “This project embodies my approach to design, and being able to work in a collaborative way to realise phenomenal sustainable outcomes,” she says. She is currently extending that approach to a masterplanning scale.

“Diversity is important in our profession because of the impact the built environment that we create has on so many people, and therefore the need for different viewpoints and diversity of thought in their creation,” says Tessa.

She notes, however, that one of the central challenges in her field remains retaining women throughout their career journey, and “not losing young women from the profession as they approach mid-career and often [take on the role of] primary caregiver”.

She adds, “Sexual harassment on site and in boardrooms is real, and too often glossed over. Members of project teams often make assumptions of role based on gender alone, fueling gender stereotypes and undermining progress.”

Tel: +27 (0)21 409 3500 cape.town@arup.com www.arup.com Continued next page//

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 13

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KIM NEWELL, ASSOCIATE, PARAGON ARCHITECTS Kim Newell was recently appointed as Associate at Paragon Architects. “In terms of my professional career, it gives me the opportunity to grow further and contribute towards growth at Paragon,” she says.

Kim finished her Master’s degree in architecture in 2013, after which she joined a small private practice working on museum and exhibition projects. “I have always been creative,” she says.

“From a young age, I have always made things and created art. Architecture was a natural choice of career because it allows me to channel my creativity into creating buildings.”

She joined Paragon Architects in 2015, working with the team for 11 Alice Lane Phase 3. “After Alice Lane was complete, I was the project architect for 37 Commerce Crescent, a conversion of an industrial building into warehouse space,” she says. “I have worked on various projects at Paragon, including retail, office and residential architecture.”

Kim is currently working on the renovation of 105 Corlett Drive for Balwin’s new head office and a new office building in Appolonia City in Ghana.

Kim reflects how fortunate she is to work at an architectural firm that prioritises gender parity. “There are strong women in the team who choose to build each other up rather than break each other down,” she says.

“This is not always the case in the construction industry.

“We need to support young women who chose a career within the construction industry and help them to grow their careers.”

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

ANTOINETTE KLOPPERS, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, PARAGON ARCHITECTS Newly-appointed Senior Associate Antoinette Kloppers believes that architects have a “responsibility to shape and influence people’s experiences for the better”.

She graduated in 2005 from the University of Pretoria, and joined Paragon Architects in 2013. Her professional experience includes a wide variety of architectural projects, including educational, office, retail, residential, industrial and student housing.

She developed a keen interest in regulations and construction law and was offered the role of Head of Building Regulations in 2016. She also offers CPDaccredited workshops on building regulations and accessible architecture.

A notable achievement for Antoinette is that, after five years of balancing work, family life and studying, she has completed her studies with the Association of Arbitrators and is now qualified as an arbitrator.

The design of an all-inclusive environment is something she feels very passionate about. Her daughter has a hearing impairment, and she enthusiastically promotes the awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities.

“The industry, and the world for that matter, need to recognise the diversity of human beings,” she says. “We need to provide an inclusive environment where we all can refine and be compensated for our own unique skills on an equitable basis.”

KIRSTIN CAVANAGH, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, PARAGON INTERFACE ARCHITECTS Kirstin Cavanagh studied architecture at Wits University, completing her Master’s degree in 2009, and began working at Paragon Interface in 2010.

She was drawn to the interior realm of architecture by her fascination with how people use space, and how good design can influence and improve people’s behaviour.

She has worked in project teams on large projects such as ABSA Towers West and Alexander Forbes’ head office in Sandton. She has also been responsible for designing and implementing office fit-outs in a variety of countries throughout the rest of Africa.

Kirstin is currently focused on running a number of smaller projects, ranging in size from 300m2 to 10 000m2 and including offices, schools and showrooms.

She believes that interior architects are privileged to be exposed to

14 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

the inner workings and culture of many different industries and businesses, and have a responsibility to share their knowledge with clients to help optimise their companies’ functioning through highperformance workplace design.

“As a woman working in the construction industry, one often finds oneself in a room filled with professionals and contractors, and yet you may be the only woman present,” she says. “Perhaps we have to speak a little louder to be heard and display a little more confidence to be taken seriously, but what I have seen emerge as a result is a good number of strong and brilliant women.”

On her recent appointment as senior associate, Kirstin says, “It confirms that one can continue to progress in a career and establish a family simultaneously – something that I was afraid would not be possible for me when I became a parent two years ago.”

W OME N ’ S M ON T H

TANYA BUSSCHAU, ASSOCIATE, DHK ARCHITECTS Tanya has eight years of combined experience in both the public and private sectors, performing an architectural and urban design role on a variety of projects ranging in complexities and scales, including local area development frameworks, residential urban design frameworks in the public and private sectors,

and commercial precinct plans. She currently serves on the Urban Design Institute of South Africa (UDISA) Steering Committee.

Prior to joining dhk in 2017, Tanya’s experience included architectural work on the Sol Plaatje University and various residential buildings. Her involvement in projects ranges from conceptual design to technical documentation, contract management and site supervision.

At dhk, her focus has been on the design, coordination and documentation of urban design frameworks, structure plans, concept and detailed masterplans, site development layouts and the development of design guidelines. Her current work includes urban design frameworks for Hatfield Town Centre

LOUISE BUYS, EXECUTIVE TRANSPORT LEAD: WESTERN CAPE, CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE, AFRICA, AECOM Louise Buys leads AECOM’s transport team in Cape Town.

“I am passionate about project management and actively managing various roads and civil infrastructure projects,” she says. “My duties include managing project teams, client liaison, stakeholder liaison, and schedule, cost, quality, risk and scope management.”

Although we often take the everyday conveniences such as roads and bridges for granted, she says, “Communities depend on engineers to do what they do best to allow the general public to thrive.”

Louise joined AECOM in 2009. “I first worked as a design engineer in the water department,” she says. “I started my career working on-site during the preparation period for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.” Later, she was given the opportunity to manage technical deliverables on a multidisciplinary project. “This provided me with a good understanding of team dynamics, the importance of coordinating project deliverables and how clear, effective communication ensures good and costeffective design solutions,” she says.

Her message to young women contemplating the idea of entering the engineering field would be, “If you are passionate about improving the day-to-day lives of communities with great design solutions, engineering is your thing! Women are sometimes put in a very specific box, but don’t allow anyone else to shape your future for you.”

Phone: +971-2-613-4410 Cell: +971-56-996-3851 Email: faye.bastow@aecom.com

in Pretoria and Conradie Park in Cape Town, a master plan for Franschhoek Pass Estate, as well as two residential architectural projects.

“Just like different backgrounds, cultures and upbringing shapes how a person approaches a task or design problem, similarly one can argue that men and women often approach tasks from a slightly different viewpoint,” says Tanya. “It is the combination of different opinions, ideas and approaches that produces the richest and most inspiring solutions.”

dhk Architects Email: hello@dhk.co.za Tel: +27 (0)21 421 6803 www.dhk.co.za

NIKITA BUDREE, SENIOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, AECOM Nikita Budree is a Senior Structural Engineer in AECOM’s Durban office. “I also assist our manager to plan the weekly workload for a team of eight engineers,” she says. “As an engineer, I design structures using hand calculations, 2D and 3D analytical programs; I also review designs and drawings.”

One of many career highlights was Nikita’s involvement in the design and construction of the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“I was given the opportunity as a young candidate engineer to design concrete suspended slabs for the stadium,” she recalls. “I was also fortunate to be heavily involved in a green field bottling plant in Mozambique, which gave me a huge platform to grow both as a design and site engineer, as well as to travel within Africa.”

She achieved her professional registration in 2015, which helped to boost her career. More recently, she has developed knowledge about travelling crane designs and fulfilled a design manager role on a press plant project in East London, as well as earthquake/seismic design on a project in Ghana.

“Site visits initially were awkward due to so many males on a construction site,” she recalls. “Eventually, I decided to take a stand and greet as many of the staff on site so that they could realise that us women are to be treated as equals.”

As a senior, Nikita says she enjoys mentoring others. “I also enjoy helping to organise social events within our team to keep the spirit up,” she adds. “I think this is a ‘motherly’ trait that I bring to the team.”

She says that women have to “constantly ‘think smarter’ as they juggle many roles both at work and at home”.

She adds, however, that “this brings a great energy to the construction industry”.

Continued next page//

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 15

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KIRSTY SCHOOMBIE, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, PARAGON INTERFACE ARCHITECTS Newly-appointed Paragon Interface Senior Associate Kirsty Schoombie says she is very excited about the challenges presented by her senior role. “I will continue to strive for excellence in design, to learn and grow every day, while mentoring the younger generation

W OME N ’ S M ON T H

of talented designers,” she says.

Kirsty graduated from Design Time in Cape Town in 2003, receiving the top student award in both 2002 and 2003. She joined Paragon in 2007.

“I have always been a creative person, with a love for design,” she says.

“It ’s the balance between creativity and order of interior architecture that inspires and motivates me.

Seeing a design become reality and witnessing the way people interact with our designs is always a gratifying experience.”

Her roles include design lead and project lead, and she is involved in concept design development, space planning and workplace

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strategy. She has worked on many award-winning projects, including Sasol Place and Discovery Place, both of which received SAPOA awards for interiors and as overall winners.

Other noteworthy projects include Bidvest Financial Services, Peregrine and Citadel, all at 1 Park Lane, Goldman Sachs, Ninety One, Long for Life and ACSA. “I believe that, particularly in the field of interior architecture, women bring a level of sensitivity to the human and emotional experience of architectural

design,” she says.

Kirsty acknowledges that COVID-19 has brought about both opportunities and challenges for the team. “We have endeavoured to instil a balance between work and home lives by creating a strong support system within the group,” she says.

“As a woman in the architectural profession, I endeavour to accomplish [this] on a daily basis, with my team and the larger female community of designers. There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish.”

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

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Bl ue print

Bending The first phase of luxury apartment development Ellipse Waterfall, by dhk Architects, is complete.

the rules Phot og r aphy Tris tan McL are n

18 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

T

he first phase of highrise luxury apartment development, Ellipse Waterfall, is complete.

Construction of the first two towers, 10-storey Newton and 11-storey Kepler, began in November 2019 and was completed in June 2021. This moves the development onto the second phase in which the flagship 16-storey Cassini tower, including The Luna Club, will be built. The Galileo tower will be built in the third and final phase.

Once complete, the sizable 45 000m2 precinct will include 600 brandnew apartments and other amenities such as leisure and lap pools, verdant gardens, and The Luna Club.

Designed by distinguished multidisciplinary design studio dhk Architects, the elegant form of the Ellipse Waterfall towers developed

by Attacq and Tricolt will deliver a highly recognisable landmark in the heart of Waterfall City.

#1 E L L IP S E WAT E R FA L L P H A S E 1

The 10-storey Newton, one of the first two towers of Ellipse Waterfall to be completed, adds a highly recognisable architectural landmark to Waterfall City.

Continued next page//

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 19

Bl ue print

The architecture is both bold and discreet, featuring a striking façade of glass and solid panels that allow the buildings to be presented as a singular, legible architectural form. The design moves away from simple allglass towers and will be recognised as an enduring and site-responsive addition to Waterfall City.

The carefully designed podium and The Luna Club will engage residents and endorse the sense of community, providing further quality to this unique development.

Wet Services Engineers Sutherland note that a significant amount of hot water storage space was saved – and energy loss avoided – by using a direct heat transfer system (with a coil design), which heats water instantly.

Waterfall City is a rapidly developing mixed-use suburb that encompasses

#1 E L L IP S E WAT E R FA L L P H A S E 1

a variety of lifestyle, residential and commercial functions. Prominent buildings within the district include the Mall of Africa, as well as several high-rise office blocks. The vision of Waterfall City is to establish a vibrant, modern destination that embraces urban living.

Phase two of Ellipse Waterfall has officially launched.

Professional team Developer: Attacq and Tricolt Architects: dhk Architects Project Managers: Tricolt Project Managers Quantity Surveyor: Tricolt Quantity Surveyors Structural, Civil And Façade Engineers: Arup Mechanical Engineers: Spoormaker & Partners Wet Services Engineers: Sutherland Electrical Engineers: Aftek Consulting Engineers Fire Engineers: Sutherland Landscape Architect: Green Inc Sustainability Consultant: Solid Green Interior Designer: dhk Architects Urban Designer: dhk Architects Lighting Consultant: Pamboukian

Tel. +27 (0)11 268 1412 Email: media@sutherlandengineers.com www.sutherlandengineers.com

Top and bottom: The striking façade of glass and solid panels of Ellipse Waterfall moves away from conventional allglass façades that tend to characterise tower design.

20 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

Aftek Consulting Engineers Tel: +27 (0)11 888-3138 Email: sidney@aftekconsulting.com

dhk Architects Email: hello@dhk.co.za Tel: +27 (0)21 421 6803 www.dhk.co.za

2105960_FP_E

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Urban investment

The site of a former 1970s bank has been transformed by Daffonchio & Associates Architects for Blend Property Group into a super-efficient and historically sensitive contemporary addition to the Rosebank CBD in Johannesburg, revitalising the pedestrian-friendly cosmopolitan culture of the area.

Phot og r aphy: Juane Ve nte r Continued next page//

22 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

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#2 t he ba nk Below: A glamorous undulating light installation invites visitors towards the building's main entrance and lobby.

T

he Bank, a new 13-storey mixed-use building in the heart of Rosebank’s CBD, Johannesburg, rose from the foundations of an existing four-storey building on the site. The name of the new development alludes to the history of the original building, a First National Bank dating back to the 1970s. Architect Enrico Daffonchio says, “The site was to all intents and purposes dead, so much so that the landlord across the piazza had built a wall to hide it from view.”

His new design sought to reactivate this important node and its surrounds, reviving its connection with the vibrant pedestrian and café culture that the area is known for, which includes art galleries, tree-lined avenues and a thriving commercial life, while introducing a sustainable contemporary dimension.

Stylistically, The Bank takes its cue from Rosebank’s historical Art Deco charm, aesthetically reviving the language in a ‘contemporary key’, as Daffonchio puts it. “A lot of the heritage of Rosebank has been lost [as] Art Deco buildings in Rosebank and Oxford Road had been bought and demolished over time,” he notes.

Rather than mimicking the style, however, he reinterpreted it, carefully considering the use of colour, volume, landscaping, and texture to integrate it sensitively into its context. Locally manufactured rough-faced black bricks were custom made for The Bank, and impart a sense of strength and stoicism to the façade. Their texture introduces warmth and charm, softened with the greenery of water-wise landscaping. Subtle brass elements on the façade, as well as Art Deco-inspired steel detailing and balustrades, add a sense of metropolitan glamour. At the top of the building, the form dissolves into a sleek, modernistinflected fragmented crown with deep landscaped roof terraces and balconies that offer sweeping views of the Johannesburg skyline.

24 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

Above: Proud Mary, a new restaurant on the ground floor, spills out to the wide pedestrianfriendly sidewalk.

Left: Beautifully patterned brickwork, using custommade roughfaced black bricks, imparts a sense of warmth and charm to the façade.

The ground floor of the building includes high-end shops and a restaurant and café that spills out to the street. A bar and eatery open onto the first-floor terrace.

A wide pedestrian-friendly pavement has been provided along the western street-facing façade. “We elected to resurface the road with a cobblestone-styled paving brick instead of the usual asphalt and tar, which softens the roadway significantly and prioritises the pedestrian,” says Daffonchio. Significant resources were invested in upgrading the road around the building, rehabilitating the trees and creating an Uber lane.

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BLACKDOT did the engineering design of the system Phone: +27 (0)82 871 4049 www.blackdotenergy.co.za

Scan with your smartphone camera to watch:

ION T A R E N E -G S GA TION CO-GENERA

ION TRI-GENERAT IGN S E D Y G R E N AL E COMMERCI GA Solutions supplied the generator and the Turn-key implementation Phone: +27 (0)83 632 9495 www.gasolutions.co.za

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Clockwise from top left: A new staircase was inserted into the existing building atrium in the Art-Deco inflected lobby; local artist Cameron Platter was commissioned to create a mural in the dramatic four-storey light well cut into the south-east corner to make a voluminous internal courtyard; the detailing in the lobby creates a sophisticated metropolitan atmosphere; the interior of the ground-floor restaurant.

26 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

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“It is unusual in Johannesburg that a developer would give generously to the concourse surrounding a project,” says Daffonchio. The rest of the building includes four floors of co-working space, a hotel and, at the top, two floors of premium-grade office space (occupied by a banking institution, in a poetic nod to the building’s origins). Local artists have been commissioned by Art Gazette to create hundreds of unique art pieces for the building and notable pieces include two sculptures by the legendary local sculptor Eduardo Villa, donated to the public space.

“Technically, this was an incredibly difficult project because we retained the structure and built around and on top of it rather than demolishing it, so the engineering of this project was extremely complex,” says Daffonchio.

The existing basement foundations and the top structure were reinforced to support the load of the additional floors. A wide range of weight-saving measures, particularly in the choice of materials, kept the new build as lightweight and efficient as possible. Aerated concrete blockwork was used for the top three floor façades, lightweight steel trusses and roof sheeting, instead of a flat concrete roof slab, were used for the roof, and the six hotel floors were constructed with acoustic drywalling rather than conventional brickwork.

The limitations and structural idiosyncrasies of the existing grid were integrated into the internal floor planning and celebrated rather than viewed as a hindrance.

“The retail solution is innovative because we insisted that the functions of retail would not be separated internally but rather flow one into the other – so, although there are four different activities on the ground floor, they are all seamlessly connected,” says Daffonchio.

The existing building atrium was used to accommodate a new staircase and elevator circulation core. Major demolitions of the existing structures were kept to a minimum, although a dramatic four-storey light well was cut into the south-east corner to draw in natural light and create a voluminous internal courtyard. The existing slab edge beams, however, were retained and transformed into ‘shelves’ to support the cascading landscaping, and a local artist was commissioned to cover the internal walls of the

courtyard with a stunning mural.

It was not possible to extend the existing basement, so extra parking was created by making clever use of redundant spaces. Innovative car lifts were introduced where the soffit void was high enough, which allows one car to be stacked on top of another, co-ordination by a valet service and an app. This method will make an interesting case study for high-density urban regeneration challenges elsewhere in the city, says Daffonchio.

Rather than upgrade to the existing municipal power supply, costs were channelled into sustainable solutions.

Innovative solutions such as trigeneration, photovoltaic panels, energy-efficient smart HVAC and insulation made it possible to move a major portion of the power supply off the grid. A large gas generator uses the existing Egoli gas supply, and the heat it produces is captured through a heat-exchange system and is stored in large water tanks that provide free hot water to the entire building without any geysers or additional utility costs.

While The Bank adds a significant architectural landmark to the Rosebank CBD, it does much of its most significant work at street level. “We’ve used The Bank as a hinge pin to pedestrianise the Rosebank CBD area even more,” says Daffonchio. Its vibrant public interface and carefully considered influence on pedestrian traffic flow does much to contribute to the public-centric cosmopolitan culture the area has always been known for, reinvigorating this business district with its interconnection to a series of offices, malls and residential dwellings that surround it.

The Bank leads the way for new developments in the Rosebank CDB and surrounds to build a healthier urban environment.

Professional Team Client: Blend Property Group Structural Engineer: JRMA Consulting Architect: Daffonchio & Associates Architects Mechanical Engineer: VMG Consulting Electrical Engineer: SOLelec Wet Services Engineer: MG Building Services Fire Engineer: Building Code Consultants Main Contractor: Gothic Construction Quantity Surveyor: DMS QS Landscaping: Grace’s Glory Interiors: Imbewu Design Project Managers: Davidoff Project Managers Wall Tiles & Reception Desk Tiles (Lobby): Wolkberg Pv Panels & Co-Generation System: Blackdot Energy

BUILDING THE FUTURE dominique@davidoff-pm.co.za 011 234 2782

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 27

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The expanded and refurbished Cormed Private Hospital doubled capacity, and includes the full upgrade of all facilities and equipment.

28 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

#3 C OR ME D P R I VAT E H O S P I TA L

hospital High-tech

Phot og r aphy L ouis van Z yl

The newly upgraded Cormed hospital in Vanderbijlpark offers an increased capacity and state-of-the-art technology.

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www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 29

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#3 C OR ME D P R I VAT E H O S P I TA L

H

igh-level medical care in Gauteng received a significant boost with the expansion and refurbishment of the Cormed Private Hospital

by Giflo Medical, part of leading commercial and medical property developer, the Giflo Group.

The existing hospital’s capacity was doubled in size as part of an expansive upgrade, which included the addition of a new operating theatre complex with a laminar flow theatre, a fully equipped ophthalmology theatre, as well as a general theatre.

The new theatre complex has been operational since last November. At 4 400m2 Cormed Private Hospital now also boasts 62 beds in fully upgraded medical and surgical wards, an afterhours facility, intensive-care unit and high-care facilities.

Phase 1 of the initial redevelopment project was completed in October 2020 and the full upgrade of all facilities and equipment, as well as the

hospital expansion, was implemented while the hospital remained fully operational throughout the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of many challenges along the way, the official opening of the newly revamped Cormed Private Hospital will take place in June 2021.

Says Ivan Makkink, director of Giflo Medical, “We are very proud to have played a role in fulfilling the vision to establish Cormed Private Hospital as a significant, state-of-the-

Clockwise from top: the recovery room at the ophthalmology centre; the new double-volume foyer/ reception; a new state-of-the-art ophthalmology theatre.

30 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

art facility where patients from the Vanderbijlpark community and beyond can come for quality healthcare and aftercare.”

Here high technology meets the superlative patient care that has always been at the heart of the Cormed ethos.

This reputation, built over 30 years by the dedicated and passionate multidisciplinary team of Cormed Private Hospital, has laid a foundation of medical excellence.

The world-class upgrade

of the facilities is enabling the team to rise to the increased healthcare needs of the people of the Vaal Triangle – be they patients, physicians or employees – who choose Cormed Private Hospital for unparalleled patient care.

Professional Team Client/Architect: Giflo Group Main Contractor: Rubicon Construction Quantity Surveyor: Taljaard Meyer & Storm Inc Electrical And Mechanical Engineering: Spoormaker & Partners Civil Engineer: Struxit Projects Sustainability Consultants: Sem Solutions

Delivering medical development expertise The newly refurbished and expanded Cormed Private Hospital in Vanderbijlpark, developed by Giflo Medical, has doubled in size to deliver unparalleled patient care in the Vaal Triangle.

The world-class upgrade of its facilities included the addition of a new operating theatre complex with a laminar flow theatre, a fully equipped ophthalmology theatre as well as a general theatre, all whilst keeping the hospital doors open during the Covid-19 pandemic!

At 4 400sqm Cormed Private Hospital now also boasts 62 beds in fully upgraded medical and surgical wards, an after-hours facility, intensive-care unit and high-care facilities.

For medical development expertise you can count on, contact Giflo Medical today!

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

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

giflogroup.co.za

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green Lessons in

architecture Phot og r aphy K arl R og e r s

The new Green School South Africa outside Paarl by GASS Architecture Studios sets a new benchmark for green buildings while harnessing biophilic design principles to create a school that is both beautiful and inspiring.

32 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

INTRODUCTION Green School South Africa in the Drakenstein Valley just outside Paarl in the Western Cape is the first Green School in Africa. It is the third in a growing worldwide network of Green Schools, which educate for sustainability through communityintegrated, entrepreneurial learning in a natural environment.

The founders of Green School SA, Herman and Alba Brandt, first heard about Green

#4 g re e n s c h o o l s o ut h a f ri c a

The classrooms are arranged in organic clusters that face onto central courtyards with trees, creating intermediate and outdoor learning spaces and a strong relationship with the outdoors.

School Bali in 2011 and had it on their bucket list until in 2017 they embarked on an adventure to live in the jungle and have their kids attend the school for a semester.

They found the learning environment – and the principles on which the school was based – so inspiring that they decided to launch one in South Africa.

The school’s educational philosophy includes a research-based approach to learning about the environment based on

the conviction that all education systems should prepare children for a changing world and sustainable future. The prospect of a better future for the planet and for humanity depends on a preserving, restoring and sustaining nature in all our social and economic activities. Education, the Green School approach believes, should play a fundamental role in nurturing an appreciation that humanity’s future is inextricably tied to that of the planet, and promoting an entrepreneurial mindset among its learners that will in turn inspire innovation within a sustainable circular economy in future.

The Green School network is very particular about the physical space in which learning takes place: the school campus and buildings. The curriculum and the learning environment are inextricably intertwined, with lessons frequently taking place outdoors.

All Green School architecture is rooted in biophilic design, an approach that nurtures the connection between people and the natural environment. One of the most respected writers on the topic, Stephen Kellert, who was a professor of social ecology at Yale University, described biophilic design as “the deliberate attempt to translate an understanding of the inherent human affinity to affiliate with natural systems and processes … into the design of the built environment.”

Biophilic design harnesses the tangible and visible presence of light, space, plants, weather, ecosystems, natural forms, animals and other elements to maximise wellbeing and enhance the ability to learn and develop. Research shows that even in a normal green learning environment, test scores improve by as much as 25%.

Maths progression has been found to be 20% faster, absenteeism (among children and staff) dropped by 41% and reading progression is 26% faster than ordinary school environments.

Continued next page//

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 33

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CONTEXT The eight-hectare site is located in a lowlying valley with Paarl Rock to the north, the Drakenstein Mountains to the east and south, and the Simonsberg towards the southwest.

The first phase of construction, which was completed in February this year (2021), includes facilities for learners from kindergarten to Grade 8. A second phase, planned to be complete by 2025, will add facilities for learners up to Grade 12. The first phase includes 16 classrooms, the ‘Sangkep’, which is a hall-type space (Balinese for ‘gathering place’), an administration building and a central area known as the Heart of School, which includes a dining hall, kitchen, library, art and music studios, and ablution facilities.

Extensive landscaping and gardens are integrated with the architecture so that landscape and architecture are extensions of each other. The gardens include endemic plants, which help restore the biodiversity on the campus and beyond, support bird and insect life, including bees, butterflies and other seed-spreading insects. The gardens also include vegetable gardens, fruit forests, medicinal gardens and herbal corridors.

INSPIRATION GASS Architecture Studios won the tender to design Green School SA, working closely with a range of consultants and partners, including sustainable design consultants the Terramanzi Group, landscapers DDS Projects and various engineering consultants including AECOM and Sutherland.

The spatial arrangement of the buildings on the site was inspired by the organic tectonic shapes of the Paarl Rock Boulders.

The overall site plan mimics the broader geography of the area at an architectural scale, following nature’s example in which patterns are often repeated on varying scales, and disparate parts relate to each other to make an integrated whole.

Each building’s curved walls and organic shapes also echo the rounded forms of the boulders, which are reprised in other micro elements, such as the river pebbles used in gabion walls, harvested onsite and from nearby riverbeds. Their low-slung, horizontal emphasis helps them appear unimposing and almost ‘sunken’ into the landscape, while deep overhangs and other passive design principles enhance their comfort and performance.

The organic clustered arrangement of the buildings makes provision for intermediate and outdoor learning spaces, centred on courtyards with trees. Views of the mountains and school gardens are visible from all classrooms, and the classrooms themselves feature large windows and doors so that they ‘live out’.

The individual buildings themselves – particularly the larger administration and entrance building, Sangkep and Heart of the School – also took inspiration from the shape of a curled, dried leaf the architects found during early site visits, with part of its veined structure exposed. This form embodies the combination of a sheltering form that imparts a sense of refuge and security, which gradually dissolves into a slatted overhang with beams reminiscent of the leaf ‘skeleton’. Elements of nature are also expressed and made visible in other details, such as the rain chains (an alternative to gutters) and water channels.

LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE After a detailed due diligence, the team decided to target a Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification, which is considered the world’s most stringent sustainable building certification, and is aligned with the ethos and aspirations of the Green School network. In fact, the LBC aims beyond net zero status to become regenerative. This means that once operational, the school will for instance generate more energy than it consumes, use less water than it naturally gets on the site, not only take care of its own waste, but helps parents and community members to deal with their waste. The LBC requires not only documentation of the design, construction process and materials, but also performance statistics for a year after the completion of the building.

CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS Natural materials were prioritised throughout the campus, and include rammed earth, clay, timber, and locally manufactured bricks. Several of these materials drawn from the site itself, such as the rammed earth and stone, which is not just environmentally efficient (reducing the environmental cost of transportation), but also introduces a natural colour palette that arises from the

34 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

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The interiors of the classrooms and other communal areas, such as the kitchen and dining hall, have abundant natural light, powerful connections to the outdoor areas and views, and feature richly tactile natural materials, including joinery and furniture made from FSC-certified local timber and wood from cleared alien trees.

local setting and landscape itself.

The classrooms have clay floors, timber roof structures and reed ceilings. The LBC challenge requires drastically reduced quantities of cement, so lime plaster and predominantly lime-based floor screeds were used wherever possible. Doors were sourced from local salvage yards, restored and integrated into the buildings, often carrying with them connections to certain elements of local vernacular architecture. Beyond the sensory and tactile richness of the materials, these recycled elements add a dimension of local cultural heritage and a sense of historical context to the sense of place.

The LBC requires that the materials used in construction contain no harmful products, and further, that none of its stringent ‘red list’ of product ingredients is used in their manufacture either.

Many manufacturers in South Africa are unaccustomed to providing all the formation necessary to meet LBC standards, and in many cases were simply unable to do so. Some suppliers, however, rose to the challenge and several innovative

alternative products were developed specifically for the school, including some African firsts. These include wax-sealed timber (instead of wood preservatives containing arsenic and chrome), innovative recipes for red list-free epoxies for the floors for the kitchen and ablutions, and a VOCfree blackboard paint for the classrooms.

ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES Energy for Green School SA is supplied by a hybrid solar system that produces more energy than the school needs and feeds excess into the grid. While efficient passive design (including thermally massive materials, insulation, orientation, shading, etc) provides abundant natural light and thermal comfort, additional heating and cooling is provided by a Thermally Activated Building Structure (TABS) system. The system – one of a handful in SA, and the first in a school – circulates warm water in winter (and cool in summer) through pipes embedded in the floors. The temperature is controlled with reversible heat pumps.

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Clockwise from top left: Local rocks and stones are used in the gabion walls; classrooms are set in clusters, reflecting patterns found in nature; the rounded, organic shapes of the buildings was inspired by nearby landforms; meandering paths lead through covered archways, providing an immersive experience of landscape.

Water is drawn from a combination of boreholes, river water and rainwater harvesting systems. It is stored in a system of reservoirs and ultimately, especially through rainwater harvesting, is able to replenish the natural water systems from which it draws. The school’s advanced natural wastewater treatment plant has an extensive purification system that returns clean water to the natural system.

LANDSCAPING The influence of local architectural history is incorporated in a number of references to local vernacular building types. The notion of the Cape werf or farmyard is evoked in the spatial arrangements and distinctive low walls around the campus. Other details, such as the water channels that runs through the Heart of the School, based on the notion of the leiwater or irrigation channel, combine not just a cultural and historical reference,

36 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

but introduce a biophilic elemental presence of water to the campus.

The ribbon-like paths and wayfinding systems in the transitional spaces include curved, organic shapes that conceal and reveal aspects of the landscape, transforming the practical process of getting from A to B into a ‘journey of discovery’, prompting curiosity.

This sense of physical and intellectual freedom within a secure environment once again adds an embodied, experiential dimension to the pedagogic principles of Green School SA. The enclosed archways along the paths and planted berms that seems to rise around you as you progress along the paths, provide an immersive experience of the landscape. This meandering layout eschews axes and focal points, encouraging an exploratory principle and a sense of wonderment and discovery analogous with learning itself.

The site was previously used for grazing for horses, and the soil had become degraded and

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55A Main Road, Paarl 7646 Tel: +27 (0)21 863 2429 Email: info@energymasterbuilders.com www.energymasterbuilders.com

Tel: +27 (0)21 882 9889 Email: danie@ddsprojects.co.za Instagram: instagram.com/ddsprojects www.ddsprojects.co.za

Large areas are dedicated to vegetable farming using permaculture techniques, and other areas have been sown with cover crops to improve soil and for the raising of free-range chickens, a food forest with a variety of fruit trees, a medicinal garden, a dam to be planted with edible indigenous aquatic plants and in future to be set up for fish, a large indigenous forest area for foraging and agricultural education, and lastly an area dedicated for the production of honey with flowering indigenous plants.

eroded. The new landscape design, by DDS Projects, promotes biodiversity through habitat creation. It reintroduced endemic Renosterveld, which historically would have been the dominant veld type of this area.

To further promote biodiversity, seeds were sown and bulbs were interplanted. A large indigenous forest was created to function in part as a windbreak to assist in creating a microclimate and act as much needed habitat for birds.

A very large portion of the grounds at Green School SA is dedicated to the growing of fresh produce harvested from the gardens to supply the kitchen, where they are transformed into school meals.

This integrated experiential dimension of the children’s connection to the landscape and sustenance is embodied in the design of the campus.

CONCLUSION The complexity of this multi-layered architectural approach itself is a key principle of biophilic design. The natural and architectural environment is rich in information, embodying the organised complexity that stimulates mind and body.

Many aspects of the design and materials, down to the furniture, have a palpably handcrafted quality.

Ultimately, the environment of the school itself has the potential to prove regenerative beyond the site borders and to percolate into social, cultural and economic systems and institutions of the future through the influence it has on the children who attend Green School SA.

Professional Team Architects: GASS Architecture Studios Landscape Architects: DDS Projects Interior Design: D12 Interiors Structural Engineer: Sutherland Engineers Electrical Engineer: Frame Fire Engineer: AECOM Civil Engineers: Frame Engineering Traffic Engineer: ITS Comfort Engineer: Climetric Sustainable Design Consultant: Terramanzi Group Quantity Surveyor: AECOM Contractor: Energy Master Builders

Phone: +971-2-613-4410 Cell: +971-56-996-3851 Email: faye.bastow@aecom.com

Tel: +27 (0)21 425 0065 Email: media@sutherlandengineers.com www.sutherlandengineers.com

277 Main Road, Paarl Tel: +27 (0)21 872 4436 Email: info@framegroup.co.za www.framegroup.co.za

Email: adrian@amagroup.co.za Tel: office: +27 (0)11 807 7505 Adrian@ +27 (0)83 378 2891 www.d12interiors.co.za

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 37

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LED downlights: GU10 vs integrated Downlights are one of the most common light fixtures in the contemporary home. They provide ample illumination while keeping the space looking streamlined, as they sit neatly inside the ceiling itself. Almost every room in the home can benefit from this type of light fixture and lighting.

When shopping around for LED downlights, you’re typically presented with two options: fixtures that either accommodate a replaceable lamp or those where the light source is integrated.

Both have their advantages, so what you choose really depends on your personal preference and requirements. Eurolux Lighting has any and all options available!

GU10 LED DOWNLIGHTS A GU10 downlight is a light fixture that can be fitted with a variety of GU10 lightbulbs or lamps. When the lamp reaches the end of its lifespan, it’s easy to replace – simply remove and replace with a new lightbulb.

GU10 lightbulbs are typically more affordable and there are a

variety of types on the market to choose from. One of the major benefits of choosing GU10 downlights is that installing the lamp is relatively easy, without having to replace the entire light fixture. With that being said, it’s important to keep in mind that GU10 lightbulbs generally don’t last as long as the light source in integrated LED downlights.

INTEGRATED LED DOWNLIGHTS While GU10 downlights have replaceable lamps, integrated LED downlights are a complete unit with an integral LED light source. The light fixture is specifically designed around the light source, which generally has a longer lifespan than its GU10 counterparts. Integrated LED downlights offer a wide spread of light, resulting in fewer hot spots and even light distribution.

Certain models even offer a colourchanging option as a standard feature, with a choice of warm, cool and daylight colour variations.

Integrated LED downlights usually come with lengthy warranties and long life expectancies; however, when the light source does eventually fail, the entire unit has to be replaced. www.eurolux.co.za

38 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

A custom-made willowlamp lights the way in Kuwait Murano glass chandeliers imported from Italy have long been the lighting design of choice for upscale residences in Kuwait. But a desire to illuminate an interior with an original pendant piece that breaks away from the market norm, has led a Kuwaiti homeowner to look further than the traditional chandeliers available locally.

The solution was to import a custom-made willowlamp from South Africa that in itself is a piece of art. Taking inspiration from nature, willowlamp’s organic aesthetic provides a refreshing contrast to more classic chandeliers and thus paves the way for a new contemporary style of lighting in Kuwait.

After seeing an image of willowlamp’s Mandala chandelier installed in Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Suites hotel, the client was struck by the technical skill demonstrated by the Cape-Town based design company to produce multi-dimensional geometric patterns using chains alone. He then approached willowlamp to design a version of this piece for his own home.

Once presented with willowlamp’s design concept from, the client found it was indeed the fresh perspective he had been searching for.

To suit the space and create the dramatic effect desired, the original Liwa Suites design was adapted from a ceiling-mounted piece into a suspended pendant and then elongated. At a total height of 4.5 metres with a 1.2-metre diameter and made in smoke, silver, brass and copper, the beautiful result transcends from lighting into the realms of art and collectible design. Meditating on the design reveals a multitude of perceptions - an iceberg, a glass shard or an arabesque neomodern structure. Suspended in the centre of the home, it creates a magnificent and striking focal point.

This is not the first time willowlamp has created a custom piece for an international client. Various destinations around the globe, from Taiwan and London to Sweden and Kenya, glow under the light of these awardwinning designs.

Most notably, there’s the Crown Towers in Perth, Australia, which houses four 3-tonne Mandala-styled clusters; the Marriott Hotel in North Carolina, USA which is illuminated by a colossal ellipse-shaped Mandala; and the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre in Switzerland which basks in the glow of a multitude of willowlamp chandeliers. www.willowlamp.com

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Cape Town (Head Office) : 9 Racecourse Road, Milnerton, 7441 | Tel: +27 (0) 21 528 8400 | Email: info@eurolux.co.za Johannesburg: 72 5th Street, Wynberg, Sandton, 2090 | Tel: +27 (0) 11 608 2970 | Email: jhb@eurolux.co.za Durban: Talksure House 62 Umhlanga Ridge Boulevard, Umhlanga, Durban | Tel: +27 (0) 31 263 0088

www.eurolux.co.za

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A unique staging of art This winter, the city of Munich illuminated the Propylaeum, the city gate at the west side of Königsplat square, with a powerful LED lighting system from LEDVANCE. The Propylaeum was illuminated as part of a series of large-scale light installations throughout the Kunstareal verbindet, or museum district, during the city’s annual arts and cultural festivities. Thanks to LEDVANCE as a strong partner, it was possible to create a highintensity lighting solution robust enough to withstand adverse weather conditions.

The greatest challenge of the project was to allow the Propylaeum, an important symbol in Munich, to shine in a new light. The lighting design was carefully integrated with the existing architecture, emphasising the original design rather than distracting from it. The light installation had to meet the strict static and urban planning requirements of the landmark, which is under monumental protection.

In order to meet the dimensions of the light installation and

architecture, a specialised lighting system had to be found. An IP65certified lighting solution was needed that produces homogeneous illumination in terms of colour temperature and luminosity.

The lighting solutions from LEDVANCE were particularly impressive due to their high luminosity and homogeneity, combined with a low installation profile. Thanks to their high quality standards, the luminaires are also weatherproof. Due to the constant colour temperature, a consistent lighting pattern could be created.

At the same time, the low energy consumption of the lighting installation enables an efficient illumination of the Propylaeum.

Controlling the lighting with a LEDVANCE remote control allowed for greater flexibility and the lighting installation could be easily adjusted even after the installation of the steel frame. A seamless transition between architecture and lighting was created – a fusion of light and architecture was achieved. Luminaires used in the project generate over one

40 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

million lumens of luminosity to properly illuminate the monumental size of the building. “There are times when art and culture need more space than just an idea,” emphasises Yul Zeser, artist of the art installation in the Propylaeum.

For the lighting installation to meet the demands of adverse weather and performance, the

ECO HIGH POWER FLOODLIGHT 500W and LED STRIP VALUE-500 RGB PROTECTED from LEDVANCE were chosen. The light sources from LEDVANCE were compelling here, both in their performance during daily operation and in their long operating time, as well as their wind and weather resistance. www.ledvance.com

LEDVANCE.COM

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As a trusted partner with more than 100 years of experience in general lighting, we combine the traditional with forward-thinking lighting technology. We offer one of the world’s most comprehensive product portfolios in general lighting. Modern lighting solutions for your projects. Energy-efficient, durable and flexible in use.

In the LEDVANCE Performance Class you will find a reliable solution for the majority of your lighting tasks. Our core portfolio includes a wide range of high-quality, demand-oriented products with excellent performance in terms of lifetime, efficiency, material and quality of light. Features such as easy installation, DALI versions and comprehensive guarantees add value.

Featuring our Performance Floodlight an aesthetic designed LED Floodlight with standard 6500K&4000K CCT and Ra>80. With a system efficacy up to 120lm/W and a 10KV surge protection. Ideal for general-purpose applications to enhance the futures of your project or using floodlight as an additional security measure. The OSRAM LED Daylight Sensor Classic A is a classic bulb shape lamp for outdoor use, in outdoor luminaires. Easy replacement of classic lamps thanks to a compact design. Light sensors detects daylight on the basis of the spectral distribution. Our lamp provides safety through automatic switch-on at dawn. Energy-saving lighting solution because of automatic switch-off at daylight. A LED alternative to conventional lamps. Sustainable, eco friendly, low energy consuming lamp ideal for your outdoor project needs.

LEDVANCE is the licensee of product trademark OSRAM in general lighting

ALBERTON

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When offsite meets onsite – helping developers deliver the best homes more efficiently Back in June 2020, soon after the COVID-19 pandemic started to turn the world upside down, the South African government announced an ambitious infrastructure investment programme worth R2.3tn), with the housing sector included as a key target.

That year, the overall construction market contracted by more than 16%, but thanks to the planned investment, and the opportunities presented by modern methods of construction (MMC), the growth forecast is a little healthier for this year, at 6.1%. We hope to see the South African housing sector benefitting from some of this growth.

This year, Mitek has brought its own Posi-Joist solution to the South African market, offering the benefits of offsite construction and modern methods of construction (MMC) to the region. They have already seen interest in it develop for a number of applications in both the residential and commercial sectors, and believe that this MMC-type approach is the key to recovery and growth.

Tried and tested, and widely used across the US, UK, Ireland and Australia, Posi-Joist has been helping to deliver efficiencies in the house-building sector for more than a decade and has already been used in well over 250 000 projects in the UK alone.

Interestingly, of all the countries that are currently employing MMC approaches, it’s

Japan that tops the league table, building the highest number of homes using MMC. It’s fair to say that other nations are increasingly recognising that if they are going to meet demand, in an efficient and cost-effective manner, then MMC is the way to go.

BENEFITS FOR ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS Architects and builders alike are increasingly grasping the benefits offered by modular, offsite construction, and are widely enquiring about Mitek's Posi-Joist solution across a variety of construction methods. It’s an approach that delivers reduced costs and timescales, as well as

a more environmentally friendly approach as there’s less waste, and a reduced need for concrete slab.

Instead, made-to-measure Posi-Joists combine the versatility of timber with the strength of steel webs to produce strong, clear spanning and lightweight floor and roof systems, and the modular construction makes managing your ‘just in time’ supply chain much easier.

Custom end details and the freedom provided by the open web service void allow for great flexibility, and the increasing use of Posi-Joist ‘cassettes’ allows for even greater offsite construction and time savings during the onsite phase.

For developers and builders who want to see improved predictability in terms of cost, time and quality – something that MMC is known for delivering construction solutions such as Posi-Joist are the perfect answer.

They offer the best of both worlds: offsite precision and construction, with traditional skilled onsite labour for installation.

As South Africa seeks to deliver on its investment plans, Mitek looks forward to seeing MMC – and Posi-Joist – being an integral part of the nation’s healthy construction future. www.mitek.co.za

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 43

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Latest LVT range from interface provides subtle and elegant floors Interface, the world’s largest modular flooring company, solely represented in South Africa by KBAC Flooring, has unveiled its latest luxury vinyl tile (LVT) product, Iridescence.

Designed to mimic the mineral and organic coloured pigments found in abstract paintings, the new product, from a company that has set new standards in global sustainability, offers customers the ability to create a unique floor for their space.

The Iridescence LVT product combines tones of greys, blush pinks and powdery blues to provide a subtle and elegant floor installation. The stylish tones are complemented by a series of earthy and mineral shades that ‘ground’ the product, while shades of yellow and teal provide distinctive pockets of colour to suit any floor.

Interface’s exciting new LVT product compromises 12 colourways to amplify any design: • Smoky greys – Polar, Night, Shadow • Blush pinks – Blossom • Powdery blues – Herb, Wave, Frost, Ink • Earthy and mineral colours – Reef, Clay, Earth, Golden.

delight designers and property owners: • Iridescence LVTs are fitted with Sound Choice backing as standard – the revolutionary backing is formulated for superior noise reduction, and offers the best-in-class performance for reduced impact sound and floor-to-floor sound transmission • Iridescence LVTs contain at least 39% recycled content and are carbon neutral throughout its full lifecycle, with Interface’s acclaimed Carbon Neutral Floors programme • The new range has been developed and constructed with sustainability in mind and includes a commitment to deliver Environmental Product Declarations for all hard flooring products • Iridescence LVTs contain no phthalates • The new range is backed by Interface’s 15-year commercial warranty.

The product, designed by the Interface Design Studio, was created for use on its own, to mix and match between colourways, or with Interface carpet tiles for

Cape Town Tel: 021 464 4320 E: infocpt@kbacflooring.co.za Johannesburg Tel: 011 608 4270 E: infojhb@kbacflooring.co.za www.kbacflooring.co.za

44 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

endless design possibilities.

Iridescence is available in 50cm x 50cm tiles and, alongside Interface’s entire LVT portfolio, features the following attributes to

KBAC Flooring has offices and showrooms and can handle installations in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. www.kbacflooring.co.za

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Mapei: Your partner in flooring Mapei, a worldwide leader in the manufacture and supply of world-class flooring solutions, has established itself in the local flooring market through its range of innovative quality system solutions and technical service provided to the market. As an ISO 9001 accredited manufacturer, they not only adhere to the strictest local quality standards within the products themselves, but also the best practice in service delivery and customer support.

Mapei South Africa is completely focused on creating solutions that are reliable, efficient and long lasting.

Continued research and development ensure that Mapei’s products are world class, environmentally aware, and deliver the highest quality and reliability. Mapei’s flooring lines include the following: SURFACE PREPARATION AND UNDERLAYMENTS From residential to commercial applications, Mapei supplies the most suitable self-levelling screeds for various types of applications to correct substrate imperfections.

These underlayments are fast setting and have low levels of VOC, which are suitable for interior and exterior applications for both new flooring installations and renovations.

TILE ADHESIVES AND GROUTS Mapei’s wide range includes adhesive or grout for ceramic, porcelain and stone materials. This range includes polymer-modified cementitious

adhesives, deformable cementitious adhesives, as well as reactive resin polyurethane and epoxy adhesives.

An aesthetic finish can be achieved with Mapei’s water-repellent cementitious grouts and waterbased epoxy grouts, which are available in a variety of colours.

PRODUCTS FOR INSTALLATION This line of products includes a wide range of adhesives for installing vinyl, PVC, linoleum, cork, rubber and carpet floor coverings. These adhesives are complemented by the necessary primers, moisture barriers and grouts for LVT. INDUSTRIAL FLOORING SOLUTIONS Mapei has a series of systems for epoxy, polyurethane and cementitious floors that are resistant to abrasion, impact loads, cracking and aggressive chemical agents. These floors are widely used in open offices, the food and beverage industry, the pharmaceutical industry and manufacturing warehouses.

LOCAL SUPPORT The Mapei range of flooring solutions is backed up by the highest level of local technical expertise and knowledge providing specifications, on and off-site training and technical support. As an established BBBEE level 4 contributor Mapei continues to invest in local manufacturing and in expanding their product solutions. www.mapei.co.za

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 45

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Ceramic Industries invests in worldleading tile tech Installation of one of the world’s most advanced tileproduction facilities has begun in Hammanskraal, Gauteng. Ceramic Industries’ new SAMCA+ plant will feature Italian-made SACMI tile-pressing equipment, along with a new 241m-long, energyefficient kiln.

“As an innovative business with a long-term view on our investments, we decided to get ahead of the game and invest in world-leading technology and machinery,” says SAMCA+ factory manager Jaco Snyman. The investment totals R274m, and includes the installation of energy-efficient, Italian-made SACMI Continua equipment, production lines and kiln.

WHAT MAKES SAMCA+ DIFFERENT? Conventional tile pressing is achieved by filling a cavity with clay, then pressing it between two punches. The bisque emerges as rectangular or square shapes to a size determined by the amount of clay in the cavity and the size of the die box. By contrast, the new machinery uses technology that’s able to form the clay between two

large rollers in a continuous feed.

The clay is cut to size thereafter.

This ensures maximum flexibility for tile dimensions, allowing unlimited lengths, widths of up to 1800mm, and thicknesses of between 3mm and 30mm.

“This is a first for our Group, and a first in southern Africa. Few manufacturers in the world have the ability to produce a red-body tile with high-quality textures and unrivalled surfaces,” says Snyman.

NEW TECH, NEW TILES, NEW SIZES SAMCA+ will be producing largeformat floor tiles, responding to a strong preference in the market for the near-seamless look that can be attained with these sizes. The initial production will include sizes up to 900 x 900mm in square tiles and up to 600 x 1200mm in rectangular tiles. Production trials on slabs up to 1800 x 3000mm in size are planned, and when these are productionready, they’ll be the only South African-made slabs on the market.

An in-line rectification plant forms part of the manufacturing process, producing perfectly square edges that allow for grouting

46 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

gaps as small as 1mm – ideal for attaining an uninterrupted design effect. Initial production will commence in September 2021, and from early 2022 SAMCA+ will also manufacture a select range of shiny tiles. State-of-the-art printing equipment will allow for special effects and printed profiled finishes.

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP “We have ambitious plans to become a producer with zero carbon emissions, so the environmental credentials of any new plant equipment is crucial,” says Snyman. By the company’s current estimations, the new equipment will result in a 17% saving on electricity and a 21% saving on gas.

Part of the efficiencies are won from heat recovery, with hot air directed from the kiln’s cooling chimney to the drier.

The continuous production method also reduces clay wastage from 12% to just 3%. However, the aim is to achieve zero waste on clay, and the new machinery allows for 100% recovery for reuse in the milling process.

PREPARING FOR DEMAND Installation begins this month, with production commencing in September 2021. A team of 14 Italian technicians will oversee the process in collaboration with the local SAMCA+ team. “Our team members are in a unique position, as they have the opportunity to rebuild and install state-ofthe-art equipment that they will ultimately be working with,” said Snyman. “We’ll be learning new skills from the SACMI team, enabling us to become the most technologically advanced tile producer in South Africa.”

Snyman emphasised the company’s track record of successfully reading international design trends and the needs of the local market. “We’re confident South Africans are going to love these new high-quality, large-format tiles – made with ecologically responsible methods by a proudly South African company,” he said. www.ceramic.co.za

INVEST IN STYLE We’ve always believed in style, and we’ve always invested in it. We’re proud to announce the forthcoming launch of our SAMCA+ floor tile factory. World-leading equipment producing innovative, stylish products – something our customers are very comfortable investing in.

CERAMIC INDUSTRIES • INVEST IN STYLE

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN

WWW.CERAMIC.CO.ZA Tel: (016) 930 3600 Email: enquiries@ceramic.co.za

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Oggie’s Ande range at ‘Queen of the West’ in Cape Saint Francis This home in the Eastern Cape village of Cape Saint Francis, designed by architect Sean Skelton, offers a robust but sensitive response to the rugged beauty of the coastline and the prevailing weather conditions.

Dubbed ‘Queen of the West’, it is a house of two parts: its dramatic cantilevers and deep, almost saillike overhangs give it a weightless quality, but it is nonetheless “anchored in the coastal rocks”, as Skelton puts it.

While the majority of the house floats above the ground, towards the back it is rooted in the rock, to the extent that a large boulder has been retained and protrudes into the basement den. The house in effect “engulfs” the boulder, as Skelton describes it, and then, towards the front, it is raised above

the ground. Rocky landscaping “brings it back down to earth again,” explains Skelton, and reconciles the contrasting aspects of its design.

The boulder is also visible from the upper level through a glass floor, which allows natural light into the basement den.

Skelton’s approach was, in many ways, a response to the earthy, elemental geology of the coastline as well as to the coastal climate, which informed the materials and finishes of the house.

While the weather is usually sunny and pleasant, intense seasonal rains and prevailing winds at certain times of the year demand a sense of solidity and robust finishes.

The cantilevers are finished in raw concrete, which complements the other natural materials such as rock

48 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

and timber, as well as steel and glass.

Skelton carried the honest materiality of the house and its relationship with the surrounding landscape into many of the interior finishes. “All the textures and the colours are taken from the landscape,” he says and in many cases “actually mimic” the palette of the distinctive coastline.

The flooring material was crucial. His clients immediately leant towards a natural material like timber, and Skelton selected Oggie engineered oak not only for its quality and aesthetics, but also because of its dependable performance and stability in rainy and humid conditions.

He selected a rustic oak in a Carbon Black colour from Oggie’s Ande range. Its irregular handscraped finish complements the raw, elemental quality of the architecture and extends its relationship with its setting. The

warmth and rich, tactile quality of this particular finish, he notes, not only brings a sense of comfort and luxury to the interiors in the context of the coastline, but also imparts a timelessly lived-in look which suited the house.

Oggie’s Ande range has been used throughout the living areas, kitchen, dining room, passage, study and den. Heavily trafficked and transitional areas between indoors and out include concretefinish tiles, which stylishly frame the Oggie floors while reducing wear and tear. At the same time, it cleverly offsets the interior floors and the outside decking.

The end result, Skelton observes, is not just stylish and luxurious, but beautifully integrated with distinctive architecture of the home and its setting. www.oggieflooring.com www.seanskelton.com

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a.b.e. Polyurea for linings and waterproofing of new Atlantis waste pond

Products supplied by a.b.e.

Construction Chemicals were used for the waterproofing and lining of the new Atlantis Q waste pond at the water treatment facility at Witsand, Atlantis, about 40km north of Cape Town on the West Coast. a.b.e. Construction Chemicals is part of the CHRYSO SA Group.

Brett Papayanni, Sales Manager General Construction for a.b.e. in the Western Cape, says the company supplied VIP QuickSpray Industrial Polyurea linings, VIP QuickPrime 2K SF epoxy resin, and durarep FC to fill blowholes on the concrete surfaces of the pond, which is about 4m deep, 10m wide and 30m long. a.b.e. Construction Chemicals holds an exclusive agreement with VIP (Voelkel Industrie Produkte) in Germany for the SA sale and distribution of the German company’s respected range of protective coatings and joint fillers.

Produced in Munich, VIP Polyurea coatings have been internationally hailed as a “new revolution in coating technology” and have set new benchmarks in terms of durability, protection, ease of application, and turnaround times. durarep FC is a popular and widelyused a.b.e. fairing compound.

Papayanni says Prize Roofing of Cape Town, an a.b.e.-approved VIP Polyurea applicator, applied durarep FC fairing compound by steel trowel to the roughly 600m2 concrete surfaces of the pond to fill blowholes created by air entrapped on the shuttering. “The entire surface was then coated with VIP QuickPrime 2K SF epoxy primer before a 3mm coating of VIP QuickSpray Industrial was sprayed onto the internal walls, floor, and over the top of the pond’s concrete parapet,” he explains. “a.b.e.’s durarep FC is a single component polymer-modified cementitious fairing coating that provides an attractive smooth finish to concrete and masonry. It is generally used either for fairing or to close blowholes prior to applying protective coatings. It can be applied from a featheredge to the 3mm thickness specified for this project,” Papayanni adds.

VIP Polyurea QuickSpray Industrial pure polyurea coating can be applied to concrete, metal, foam or other surfaces and, within seconds, builds a rubber-like elastic skin that will not only resist punctures but has excellent resistance to heat distortion and sagging as it

50 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

maintains its flexibility and shape.

The coating, once cured, is also not affected by moisture and copes with fluctuations of temperature with its high elongation and superior tensile strength.

Some of the advantages of VIP Polyurea QuickSpray coating include: • Extremely fast reaction and curing times – different systems offer between 6 to 90 seconds gel times • Exceptional adhesion to concrete, steel, aluminium, plastics, fibreglass, wood and foam • Seamless and jointless flexible coating • Capacity to transgress multiple substrates in one application • Application in any thickness is possible in a single application • Strong sound insulation • Resistance to ultraviolet radiation, saltwater, and

aggressive atmospheric conditions • Coverage of large areas at a rapid rate.

VIP QuickPrime is a twocomponent modified epoxy resin for the priming of a variety of surfaces.

For the Atlantis Q waste pond, it was used as a moisture-blocking primer on the still-damp concrete surfaces. “The primer, which is VOC free, provides excellent adhesion and prevents capillary-activated creation of pores on the concrete surfaces. a.b.e. is providing a 10year material warranty on the VIP Polyurea products used at Atlantis,” Papayanni states.

The main contractor for the construction of the new pond, completed in March this year, was Civils 2000. www.abe.co.za

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Superior thermal insulation with Pratliperl Energy efficiency in the construction industry is more important than ever due to load shedding and the rising cost of electricity. Pratliperl from Pratley is a ‘green’ building material that can assist the construction industry to meet sustainability criteria such as SANS 204. The thermal insulation of a two-leaf (220 mm) brick wall can be doubled, for example, by simply plastering the inside and outside with Pratliperl.

Pratliperl is derived from a volcanic glass called Perlite. The raw material is then expanded in special furnaces to create millions of small, well-sealed Pratliperl beads. Each

bead has a small vacuum inside, giving the product its unique thermal-insulation properties.

Pratliperl is also ultra-lightweight, which reduces the cost of high-rise structures. In addition, the product is highly durable and features good acoustic properties. It can even be gunited when applied to large surfaces.

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

Sikalastic®-560 Sika’s premium waterproofing system, Sikalastic®-560, proved to be a great success on a weeklong refurbishment project in Llandudno, Western Cape. The double-decked garage roof of House Apostle, which is also used as a seating area, needed waterproofing maintenance due to water seeping through weak areas.

This is a common problem for homeowners, especially so when prior waterproofing systems are damaged, or failing with age. In this case, the old bitumen torch-on membrane was no longer watertight, so the owners were looking for new solutions to end their battles with leaks. To avoid having to remove the existing membrane, they sought a waterproofing product that could simply be applied over it. Sika were consulted for advice and concluded that the company’s premium liquid-applied waterproofing system, Sikalastic®-560, was the appropriate solution.

Sikalastic®-560 is a one-component, liquid-applied roof waterproofing solution, based on Sika Co-Elastic Technology (CET). It is a cold-applied coating and is highly elastic and UV resistant. Popular with many homeowners for its seamless finish, it also facilitates easy application on the more complex detailing prevalent on many rooftops. Furthermore, its reflective coating contributes to a cost-effective reduction in cooling costs by enhancing energy efficiency in the house.

52 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

lightweight tile adhesive filler.

“Pratliperl is a thermally-insulating and fireproof aggregate for plaster screed and concrete,” explains Pratley Marketing Director Eldon Kruger.

Specified for lightweight plaster and screeds, Pratliperl has been pre-treated to enable it to mix with ordinary cement. It is also resistant to spalling under fire conditions, which improves the integrity of structures and enhances health and safety. The product can withstand temperatures of up to about 1 250°C without comprising its structural integrity.

Once cured, Pratliperl has superior strength compared to conventional

lightweight concrete. Compatible with cement and other binders, it can be used to produce ultra-lightweight panels, boards, bricks and blocks that can be cut, nailed and drilled. www.pratleyminerals.com

APPLICATION OF SIKALASTIC®-560: Surface preparation: A thorough cleaning process begins with removing all the paving and sand, and was followed by pressure washing the more stubborn dirt. After surface preparation, and prior to application, Sikalastic®-560 was properly stirred for a minute, to achieve a homogenous mixture.

Roof waterproofing application: 1. Apply first coat of appr. 0.75 kg/m2 (for non-absorbing substrates) – 1.00 kg/m2 (for absorbing substrates) of Sikalastic®-560 on a length of approximately 1m.

2. Roll in the Sikalastic® Fleece-120 or Sika® Reemat Premium and ensure that there are no bubbles or creases. Overlapping of the fleece is minimum 5cm.

3. Apply second coat of approximately 0.25 kg/m2 - 0.5kg/m2 coat right into the wet fleece to achieve the required film thickness. The entire application should occur while Sikalastic®-560 is still liquid, wet on wet.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until the roof area is waterproofed.

5. After the two coats are dry, seal the roof area with one or more additional coats of Sikalastic®-560 (≥ 0.5 kg/m2 per coat).

6. Please note: always waterproof the detailing prior to doing the horizontal surfaces. Refer to the datasheet for correct waiting times for drying of coats.

Once the waterproofing coatings had dried and cured, the final paving was returned to place so that the roof could resume its dual role as a seating area.

Not many challenges were encountered, but one of them was the sealing of the outlet pipes, given their complex geometry. However, since Sikalastic®-560 was designed for roofs with many details, and can be used even when accessibility is limited, the outlet pipes were sealed without any major hassle.

The contractor, Claude Darries, was more than impressed with the onecomponent and cold-application properties of the product. He added that it was not only easy to use, but also had a seamless and flexible finish. “A contractor’s dream.” www.sika.co.za

ENHANCING YOUR INDOOR EXPERIENCE

Sika® ComfortFloor® Sika ComfortFloor® makes it possible to create a perfect interior environment with full freedom in design and aesthetics. Whether it be residential or commercial, Sika ComfortFloor® provides the perfect combination of comfort and aesthetic appeal in a seamless and highly functional solution. n n n n n n

Soft and warm Durable and robust Hygienic and easy to clean Green building certified system Healthy indoor air quality Highly functional

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

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BR I C KS + PAV IN G

Passive design is energy-efficient design Brick walls add character to any room, providing a textured backdrop that complements other design elements.

Exposed brick walls can make an otherwise boring space feel warm and inviting, not to mention unique! The atmosphere of this rustic clay brick home south of Johannesburg is not only authentic and appropriate for the semi-rural area, it’s also practical.

“I’ve spent most of my life in the construction industry,” says proud homeowner Mariana Lamont. “As a woman, of course, my home is where my heart is. I have a real appreciation for craftsmanship.

“The bricks I chose have that handmade feel. Each has its own hues and shades, such character. In a world of steel and glass and shiny plastic, clay brick is 100% natural. It’s the perfect contrast to smooth and reflective metal surfaces and it brings out the colour and softness of textured fabrics.

It also supports local South African manufacturers and construction workers,” Mariana explains.

“There’s just something magical about the late afternoon sunlight dappling a wall of natural brick. I took this photo of the rainbow – it illustrates how my home makes me feel protected and blessed.

“My home is totally liveable. My kids can play, my dogs can be dogs. My clay brick walls can handle the toughest abuse, and still look great. And now that I am working from home, I can confirm these walls are also a great insulator against noise!”

HARNESSING FREE ENERGY – WITHOUT A SOLAR PANEL “People think of passive design as something new and trendy,” Mariana says.

“Actually, passive design is just energy-efficient design. It harnesses free heat from the sun, and natural night-time cooling, to make a home more comfortable. It reduces heating and cooling bills. Incorporating passive design into my house did not add to

construction costs, because it was taken into account during the design and construction stages.”

While passive solar heating is still very desirable in cold climates, cooling is more of a priority in South Africa. This Highveld house needs to deal with both extremes, making the choice of clay brick as a building material more important.

Passive design for the Southern Hemisphere considers: • The movement of the sun across the sky, with seasonal changes • Temperature ranges, both seasonal

54 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

and day-night

• Humidity ranges • Direction of cooling breezes, hot

winds, cold winds, and wet winds

• Impact of local geographic features and adjacent buildings.

THERMAL MASS IN BUILDING DESIGN Thermal mass is the ability of a material to retain heat energy when subjected to thermal temperature differentials. Clay brick has relatively high thermal mass.

As executive director of the Clay Brick Association of Southern Africa,

Mariana Lamont has easy access to facts and figures comparing building materials. The CBA is known as one of the top sources of research on energy efficiency in buildings.

“My walls are double-leaf clay brick with a cavity. In summer, the walls absorb the heat energy from the sun.

Because it’s a dense material, this process is slow. Brick is able to absorb a large quantity of heat energy before it radiates to the inside of the house.”

Maximum external air temperature is usually reached between noon and 2pm. A lag of six hours – typical for clay brick walls – means the brick reaches maximum heat around 7pm, just as outdoor temperatures are falling. The brick releases its heat back outside, not inside.

In summer, heat energy on the surface of a west wall is 700-900W/ m2. But thanks to the insulation, only 5-6W/m2 of heat energy on average passes through to the internal space.

That gives you a lovely cool house in summer.

“Now in winter, the opposite happens and insulation traps the heat inside,” Mariana concludes. “These walls don’t just make my lounge look warm and cosy, they hold the heat well into the evening.” www.claybrick.org

FOR GOOD Q FOREVER Brick masonry is tactile and three-dimensional, adding character with stunning accents to enrich architectural design. The enduring colours, hues and textures of natural clay brick are the perfect complement to soften angular concrete, steel and glass.

CBASA represents clay brick & paver manufacturers across Southern Africa and drives inclusive, sustainable practices in the industry. We inspire energy-efficient, contemporary architecture and paving that supports our local producers, builders and architects.

Free technical and construction guides for clay bricks & pavers at www.claybrick.org THE

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D e s i g n + T e c hn o l o gy

Reinventing revolving doors with Dormakaba Sub-Saharan African provider of smart and secure access solutions, dormakaba South Africa, has announced the revitalisation of its KTV three- and four-wing revolving door series, following the relocation of its production facilities from Germany to Bulgaria.

“Featuring numerous design variants and a plethora of optional functions, everything about KTV revolving doors have been overhauled. KTV delivers an eyecatching feature to the foyer of any business, giving it a highquality architectural appearance,” says Esmeralda van Niekerk, Sales Manager ESA/IGS | SSA (Sub-Sahara Africa) at dormakaba South Africa.

Featuring the KT FLEX direct

drive super-flat gearless and brushless drive system, the 100mm canopy doors deliver high accuracy for the optimised positioning of the sealings while providing the best movement control possible.

The German TÜV independent inspection association has tested and certified KT FLEX for two million cycles – a significant increase of the one million cycle standard requirement. This provides customers with the peace of mind that all the safety features and electromagnetic compatibility are fully compliant with international standards.

The KTV series now also comes standard with an LED light ring.

This feature not only prevents

56 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

unsightly dirty edges on the ceiling but also ensures the uniform illumination of the cabin, regardless of the position of the door leaves. Its stainless steel floor pan protects and drains the outer floor ring half from rainwater.

Meanwhile, the sheet metal shroud guides the sealing foil from the floor ring to the building foundation.

KTV doors also feature a sheet metal cover with two waterspouts and circumferential end profile that makes the range particularly safe against water penetration. It has an automatic night shield with

low-energy drive and the external night closure can be manually operated and locked.

“While traditional automatic revolving doors have clearly visible sensors that take away from the design features, the KTV series features integrated sensors for both rotation start and pinch-zone safety at the leading mullions. These and numerous other advancements combine to make the dormakaba KTV series of revolving doors one of the leaders in the industry today,” adds Van Niekerk. www.dormakaba.com

Gypframe®

www.gyproc.co.za

THE EFFICIENT CEILING AND PARTITION BACKBONE Gypframe® T-bar Concealed and Exposed Ceiling Grid

Customer Contact Centre: 0860 27 28 29

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D e s i g n + T e c hn o l o gy

Fastest ever imagePROGRAF printer For fast-paced businesses working to tight deadlines, the new Canon imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 Series combines high-speed output to support continuous productivity and efficiency. With excellent media handling and the scope to produce high-quality applications, including CAD/GIS drawings, renderings, maps and posters, this robust printer is the ideal choice for customers in architecture, engineering, construction and manufacturing, as well as professional print service providers and copy shops. For an efficient workflow, the multifunctional imagePROGRAF TZ30000 MFP Z36 integrates the printer with a precision scanner in one device.

MAXIMUM OUTPUT, MINIMUM DOWNTIME Printing at speeds of four A1 CAD pages per minute, this newest model is the fastest in the imagePROGRAF Series. With 700ml high-capacity ink tanks and dual roll feeding, it maximises output and minimises downtime, comfortably handling production volumes between 300 and 500 square metres a month, supported

by Direct Print Plus workflow management software and a highcapacity stacker holding up to 100 A0 sheets.

Designed for maximum productivity, this printer series comes with ‘hot swap’ media rolls and inks, making it the first system in its category to enable users to replenish media and ink on the fly during printing. The smart roll set takes the guesswork out of media loading; the user simply places the roll into the feeder and the printer does the rest. From the moment the print button is clicked, the first A1 CAD print can be in the user’s hands within 20 seconds.

The CPP printer driver and CPP Publisher Select job submission tools help to achieve efficient printing with reduced misprints by monitoring the media width and the remaining amount of media before printing.

EXCEPTIONAL CANON PRINT QUALITY The new printer uses Canon’s superior LUCIA TD ink technology, enabling high-quality output from CAD drawings to maps and

posters, on a wide range of coated and uncoated media. Fine black lines and text can be reproduced clearly and with minimal feathering, even on uncoated media. Furthermore, due to the weather resistance of the inks, vivid colours are prevented from fading, even when using inexpensive, plain inkjet paper.

IMPROVED DESIGN AND SECURITY Space-saving, ergonomic console design means that operations such as ink tank and media roll changes happen at the front of the imagePROGRAF TZ-30000, while completed prints are removed from the top of the device.

The MFP Z36 model packs even greater functionality into a smaller footprint, thanks to the integration of a high-quality multi-function scanner with dual LED light source system. This MFP model is easy to install and particularly suited to smaller office spaces. It comes with a large free-position touchscreen with easy-to-use preview functions and rich image editing capability.

For optimum security, all file data can be erased from the hard disk once each print job is completed, and optional PIN code and interface security can be used to prevent unauthorised access.

Commenting on the launch of the new imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 Series, Junichi Wachi, Director of LFP EMEA at Canon Europe, says, “In developing the new imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 Series, we set out to address a number of typical frustrations faced by users of low-end LED plotters. This fully featured production printer balances productivity and efficiency, slashing large-format print and finishing times and helping customers to deliver on the tightest deadlines. I’m certain that this latest addition to the imagePROGRAF family raises the bar for customers and will match the growing demands of any business needing streamlined and hassle-free large-format print production.” www.canon.co.za

58 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

MEET THE

BRAND NEW imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 Series Deliver optimised, high-volume business printing results with secure, seamless, and sensible technologies for unparalleled production value.

View Canon’s sophisticated, large-format product range here: https://www.canon.co.za/business-printers-and-faxes/ imageprograf-tz-30000/

For more information please contact CZA-Marketing@canon.co.za

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A IR C OND I T I ONIN G + H VA C S Y S T E M S

How to protect heritage or historic buildings from fire risk

The issue of protecting heritage structures and other buildings containing priceless artefacts or documents from fire risk came into stark focus in mid-April. A blaze originating at Table Mountain eventually swept onto the upper campus of the University of Cape Town (UCT). It caused extensive damage to the African Studies Library reading room, known previously as the JW Jagger Library. Built in the 1930s, it is home to many international research collections, with an estimated 85 000 items in total.

The first factor to consider is that the reading room was obviously not designed initially for that purpose.

“It is particularly challenging where you have a building that did not necessarily have fire-resistance measures incorporated into its design,” points out ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk. Has the building been adapted from its original function and construction, or is it a relatively new building that can accommodate such measures?

In terms of a historic building where the walls, floors and doors cannot be rendered fireproof, an alternative passive fire-safety approach is to adopt a fire-rated shelving system. Such mobile shelves can then simply be wheeled out of harm’s way for safe transfer

of the contents outside. However, caution must be taken in not opening any external doors that can introduce more oxygen into the burning building, causing the fire to get out of control.

Another option is to use a gas fire suppression system designed specifically for archives and libraries, which have the benefit of not leaving behind any damaging residue.

The challenge here is that because libraries present such large spaces, the quantity of gas required is quite considerable. Hence the larger question is the protection of the heritage building itself versus its contents. While older buildings may have a stone or brick superstructure, the flooring and internal structure is generally made from timber.

The construction materials used in older buildings are definitely not in line with modern regulations.

Complicating the issue is that heritage buildings are very difficult to retrofit with conventional sprinkler systems, for example, due to the fact that their external appearance has to be preserved.

However, there is a responsibility on any building owner to ensure that a building is fit-for-purpose in terms of fire protection, which extends to both loss of valuable property and loss of life.

60 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

“The risk is that we possibly lose a building, as opposed to trying to save the contents. However, that is a strategy that the building owners or the trust in charge of a particular heritage building needs to consider,” comments Van Niekerk. The fact that the fire that devastated the African Studies Library reading room originated outside indicates that attention needs to be paid to wildland urban fire interfaces that can protect such buildings, for example.

Modern buildings also deploy drencher systems that keep the exterior cool with water curtains in order to protect windows, doors, walls and roofs against an encroaching fire. “This is probably the best strategy to adopt in the event of a fire like the recent Table Mountain blaze, as it means a heat shield is essentially created around a building in order to protect it,” says Van Niekerk. In addition to modern advances like recessed sprinkler systems, which are only activated in the event of a fire, another solution is a hypoxic system that introduces nitrogen into an area to reduce the oxygen level to the point where spontaneous combustion cannot occur.

However, the best approach remains a proper fire-risk assessment, which looks at a building holistically and not in isolation to any other factors. What is the environment that surrounds the building? This played a critical role in the Cape Town fire, which propagated in the fynbos of Table Mountain and quickly spread. “In this instance, there was a driven wildland fire with burning brands being blown towards buildings,” notes Van Niekerk.

There are also internal factors that need to be considered, such as the possible sources of ignition inside a building and how best to manage these. Notwithstanding that a

building is old, the electrical system can still be modernised without affecting its heritage ‘look and feel’. In addition, modern electrical management systems based on earth leakage and thermal resistors, as well as computer monitoring, can result in an automatic shutdown if any risks are detected. These can range from fans, heaters and computer terminals that are left on, to overloaded multi-plug extensions – a common cause of fire in a typical office environment.

“Managing the internal environment of a building adequately allows for the fire risk to be minimised. Obviously, risk can never be eliminated by 100%, but it can definitely be reduced to an acceptable level,” highlights Van Niekerk. An effective means to achieve this is to introduce refuge areas into heritage buildings in particular, which forms part of the overall life-safety strategy. A refuge area has its own oxygen supply and fire-rated walls and doors in order to protect occupants until a fire dies down or is brought under control.

“There is an onus on the owners or trustees of a heritage or historic building to safeguard that building against fire. This is a risk assessment that any responsible building owner should conduct. It is advisable for any commercial or academic institution to request their insurers to come take a look at their buildings in order to give them advice. If the insurer does not have the necessary technical expertise or experience, ASP Fire offers this specialised service to a host of insurers,” stresses Van Niekerk.

While the bulk of its work is based on such expert assessments, this does feed into the actual design and commissioning of risk-appropriate fire-prevention solutions. www.aspfire.co.za

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A IR C OND I T I ONIN G + H VA C S Y S T E M S

How modern technology is streamlining everyday living We live in a world of self-driving cars and miracle medical cures – welcome to the future. With so many technological advancements rolling out on an almost daily basis, it’s easy to get left behind.

If you would like to keep moving with the times, then smart-home living is your best bet. This means upgrading your lifestyle as better systems are released, and staying up to date with the latest news and trends in science and technology.

While it may not be impossible to implement or purchase every new piece of tech, you can begin by modernising your home.

GIVING YOUR HOME THE ABILITY TO THINK FOR ITSELF With so many smart products floating around, it’s difficult to know which of them to trust, or which of them are the smartest of the lot. It is important to choose a consolidated system.

A system that can give you ease of access to different elements in your home from one central hub. To take it a step further, choose a smart-home solution that can perform tasks without you needing to lift a finger.

Like adjusting the temperature in your home based on the weather conditions in your suburb. Or having

specific window blinds close at midday, to avoid the harsh afternoon sun heating up your rooms to an uncomfortable temperature.

the temperature within your home better. New models of heaters and air conditioners may also consume less energy, so do a little research.

UPDATE YOUR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS Fans, air conditioners and heaters all use a lot of energy. More energy usage means you spend more money and negatively impact the environment too. Smart-home living means coming up with solutions like automated heating and cooling, and even window dressings like blinds that will help to regulate

BETTER LIGHTING Something else that may drive electricity bills up is the lighting within your house. Longer-lasting fluorescent and LED lights are not as heavy on energy usage and work just as efficiently. Look for systems that allow you to control your house’s entire lighting system from one application, as this is also likely to save energy.

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IMPROVE YOUR SECURITY FEATURES Most South Africans seek to improve the security in and outside their residences. Smart technology simplifies such systems by allowing homeowners total control and access to their gates, garage doors, security beams, etc. You can also find motion sensors to give you real-time notifications when there are any unwanted guests in your home.

SMART-HOME AUTOMATION As the ultimate in modern living, smart-home solutions allows one to integrate the above systems into one easy interface. Through your device of choice, such as a phone or tablet, you can remotely control the temperature, lighting, security beams, garage doors, driveway gates, automated blinds and a host of other elements. Automating these networks means that even without controlling them, your household runs on a predetermined routine, which frees your time up for what is really important. MyPlace Smart Home Solutions is not only intuitive, it also streamlines day-to-day living. www.myplaceafrica.co.za

STOPPING FIRES BEFORE THEY START!

Designing Buildings To Stop Fires

+27 11 452 2169

ASPFIRE Chat to us on LinkedIn

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A IR C OND I T I ONIN G + H VA C S Y S T E M S

Enhancing iStore’s retail experience with Samsung air conditioning Creating the ideal retail environment is about more than creating the perfect design – it is about creating the perfect retail experience. Ensuring you have a calm, safe and welcoming atmosphere so that shoppers feel comfortable browsing without being distracted by undesirable temperatures, means the need for air conditioning in stores to create an inviting space for shoppers and an enjoyable environment for staff to carry out their duties, is no longer a luxury.

In June 2020, iStore Queens Hotel V&A, Cape Town opened their flagship store in the city’s spirited and mixed-use district, Dock Road Junction, characterised by cultural landmarks, offices, and the Cape Town harbour. The air conditioning project for the premium Apple reseller was completed by HVAC installer Southern Air Conditioning (Pty) Ltd and SVA Architects, all with the assistance of Fourways Group Cape Town.

RISING TO THE ‘AIRCASION’ The iStore Queens Hotel V&A not only looks impressive but also boasts wide open spaces, training facilities, separate training rooms and an on-site Apple-certified repair workshop. There are also product experience lounges,

dedicated areas to showcase the whole range of Apple products and accessories, and technical support and setup desks.

At 380m2, this is the second largest iStore in South Africa, and every single design element was taken into consideration. It was important for the store to keep some original features, like ceiling beams thought to be from ancient ships, and original raw brick walls from hundreds of years ago – making the choice of aircon units even more important, so as to ensure their fit with the magnificent architecture of the building.

With the help of Fourways, Southern Air Conditioning rose to the occasion by selecting and installing the precise Samsung units to fit into this store, while also considering clean air as the fight with COVID-19 continues.

STATE-OF-THE-ART AIR CONDITIONING Southern Airconditioning, along with Fourways, were tasked with installing Samsung DVM S Eco units (Heat Pump and Heat Recovery models) to ensure sufficient heating and cooling for the size of the building. The Samsung DVM S Eco is a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) outdoor unit, which is connected to multiple compatible indoor units.

64 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

The installation includes numerous of Samsung’s units: 360° Cassettes, a 4-Way WindFree™ Inverter Cassette, as well as an MSP Duct, producing a total cooling and heating capacity of 100kW. Using advanced design systems, Fourways endeavoured to offer SVA the design flexibility to create a customised comfort in the building with less restrictions.

The 17 Samsung 360° Cassettes have an elegant modern design that’s combined with powerful performance and effortless control. The circular design harmoniously blends with the exposed iStore ceiling beams while circulating air so that every corner has the same desired temperature.

Its bladeless design allows for air to gently disperse and descend across the room so that customers feel comfortable without the sensation of a direct draft.

The 4-Way WindFree Inverter Cassette assists with energy saving and less noise disturbance, among other innovative features such as optional motion detect sensors as an additional add-on. Once it reaches the chosen temperature, the unit automatically switches to WindFree mode. In Windfree mode, the outdoor unit consumes up to 55% less electricity compared to normal mode.

The structure of this iStore is large and has wide open spaces, hence

the addition of the Samsung MSP Duct to deliver much more air over a long distance. Its flexible design and compact size allow for simple and cost-effective installation and maintenance, such as easy removal of the filter to ensure it is sufficiently cleaned for continuous clean air.

Now more than ever, air quality is crucial to businesses and the public – hence the chosen aircon system by Southern Air to maintain a healthy indoor environment.

FOURWAYS GROUP, ACCREDITED DISTRIBUTOR OF LEADING AIR CONDITIONING AND WATERHEATING PRODUCTS Fourways Group not only provides solutions for all your HVAC needs, but also unparalleled VRF design and technical assistance on an international level. Southern Air Conditioning have completed several large-scale projects in the region, putting them on the map as one of the leading aircon installers in the Western Cape. Fourways is proud to have partnered up with Southern Air and SVA Architects to provide the iStore Queens Hotel V&A with an innovative and beautiful solution, to ultimately create an extraordinary retail experience for their customers. www.fourwaysaircon.co.za

Smart Airconditioning Solutions

Enhancing shopping experiences all year-round.

Appealing to the modern consumer means creating the best in-store shopping experience. Samsung brings you unrivalled performance and style with the 360 Cassette. It’s an advanced, bladeless air conditioner that integrates a circular design for an even airflow and elegant aesthetic.

Not only does it blend in with any interior design, but it is also powerful and energy-efficient for retail use. Its booster fan technology ensures the air gently reaches every corner of the room, keeping your customers comfortable while saving you running costs.

Panels

White

Black

FourwaysAir

Custom

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pa int + c o l o ur

Dulux plugs more power into interior design future through VR-inspired app

Choosing the best paint colour for your home can be tricky. After all, people want to feel that their interior design reflects their personalities and aspirations.

Many people stick to neutral, light tones due to fear of choosing the wrong colour, or being disappointed when what they thought would be the perfect shade of grey turns out to be a bit more blue than they’re comfortable with.

Dulux has a range of options to help you take back control of your next home paint project. The newly renovated Dulux Visualizer app is here for the rescue, with its impressive ability to virtually colour test by picturing it before you paint it.

This easy-to-use app provides a live impression of how a room will look in any colour you choose before you paint it. Users can let

their imaginations run wild with a comprehensive selection of colours, inspiration ideas and trends such as the Dulux Colour of the Year 2021: Brave Ground. This groundbreaking app is an interior designer, DIY enthusiast or even first-time homeowner’s dream with its simple settings.

“Dulux is committed to adding colour to people’s lives. Through our innovative Visualizer app, it becomes so much easier to choose a paint colour because the app gives you an immediate impression of what your home would look like at the click of a button. It’s as simple as picturing it before they paint it,” says Dulux Colour Expert, Palesa Ramaisa.

All you need to do is download the Dulux Visualizer app from your app store, scroll to the menu option of a virtual catalogue that provides

66 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

an array of colours. When you select a visualizer option, you can take a picture of the room or choose an image from your gallery. Next, pick a colour from the palette or pick a colour from your room with the colour selector, and tap on the walls to paint them. If you like the image, you can save it as a reference image.

“Once selecting a colour, the full details of the shade, including products and colour scheme suggestions, will appear. Colours on the screen may vary depending on your screen settings and resolution.

There are also helpful videos to guide you and even point you to the nearest paint store. Once you’ve narrowed down your selections, Dulux Roller testers can also help those who are more hands-on to see and feel their colour option in person,” adds Ramaisa.

This nifty app is now revamped

with new features and can be downloaded on a range of smartphones or tablet devices. Some of these updates include: • How-to videos to help with masking, colour finder, colour picker and a My Ideas function that pops up for first-time users before they use a feature, and also after as a constant reference if they are unsure • Tooltips and easy-to-follow prompts for those wanting to save data and prefer reading instructions • Improved edge detection, accuracy and overall experience.

Whatever your style preference, there’s always a colour that can help you create an inspiring space for you and your loved ones. www.dulux.co.za

Every morning.

Every client.

Every job.

Do it all justice.

Your hard work deserves a paint that gives you a flawless finish every time.

AkzoNobel, the AkzoNobel logo, the Flourish logo, Dulux Trade and the Dulux Trade logo are trademarks of the AkzoNobel Group © 2021.

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Bring habitat home

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pa int + c o l o ur

Duram’s Habitat Colour Collection draws inspiration from nature’s diverse colour palette. Featuring a selection of 90 inspired paint colours, all are conveniently available in 90ml Colour Samples. Earthy and sophisticated, bold yet neutral, it’s never been simpler to find the perfect colour.

With the move towards more conscious and sustainable living, warm neutrals with earthy undertones are inspired by nature, such as Otter Trail, Little Karoo and Berg Wind. Contemporary greys such as Coastal Spray , Heron’s Crest and Clarence Drive remain popular, bringing sophistication to any space.

It’s important to see how neutrals change from day to night, so test them on different walls and in every room. To create the illusion of space, serenity and an airier feel, try Lady Grey, Darling White or Misty Cliffs on the largest surface area. For a striking accent wall, try Black Mussel, Milkwood Tree, Kingfisher Splash or Fire Finch. These exquisite colours are all available in affordable and convenient 90ml Colour Samples from Duram’s Habitat Colour Collection.

Duram’s richly pigmented paints are available for interiors and exteriors – walls, ceilings, trims or accents – and for any style, providing exceptional colour,

luxurious finishes and unbeatable value. Ideal for interior living spaces, Duram Classic Matt is least reflective and hides imperfections. Duram Satin Touch’s satin finish creates an elegant interior for high-wear areas.

Popular Duram WallTech is a durable low-sheen with a soft glow, ideal for interior and exterior. Duram Armatex’ fine-textured finish covers hairline cracks, hides plaster imperfections and offers all-weather protection on exterior walls. Duram Bathroom & Kitchen, a hygienic paint, protects against black stains, steam and moisture. These are complemented with Duram’s enamels, which offer a tough and extremely durable finish.

The well-balanced and considered colours can be tinted using highperformance pigments and top quality tint bases. Duram’s decorative paints are low-odour and low-VOC with minimal chemical emissions, protecting your health and that of the environment. Being water-based, they provide easy clean-up without the need for strong chemicals.

Duram’s Colour Smart advanced colour technology allows for beautiful depth of colour, exceptional endurance, fade resistance and high colour accuracy.

The Habitat Colour Collection is available at hardware stores. www.duram.co.za

SAVANNAH SUNSET 76 |

GBR/25315/LA

BRING HABITAT HOME

BUFFALO HORN 10 |

HABITAT C olo u r C o l l ec tion 90 inspired paint colours

Duram’s Habitat Colour Collection draws inspiration from nature’s diverse colour palette. Featuring a selection of 90 inspired paint colours, all conveniently available in 90ml Colour Samples. Earthy and sophisticated, bold yet neutral, it’s never been simpler to find the perfect colour.

Ask for Duram at your local hardware store.

The paint that’s made smart to look smart.

Dry paint colour and sheen may vary from colours shown.

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pa int + c o l o ur

Heavyweight champion: new Micatex with Polycell With its long-respected and powerful duo of mica for stretch and marble for strength, Plascon Micatex has been a trusted household name for decades. But now, Micatex has beefed up its act even further, by making its already weather-tough exterior finish even tougher with the addition of yet another respected household brand – Polycell Fine Crack Filler – allowing you to enjoy the benefits of Micatex and Polycell Fine Crack Filler in one. The new Micatex with Polycell combines two top products long-revered by consumers for superlative quality and durability, making it 23% tougher than its nearest competitor. Micatex with Polycell is a match made in heaven, designed to withstand even the most hellish of weather.

Fixing hairline cracks is painstaking and time-consuming – a nightmare for most homeowners, let alone the contractors who have multi-storey buildings to coat. In the past, the thousands of hairline cracks that pepper a building’s walls would need to be scrupulously filled before any painting could take place. Now, Plascon has done all the hard work by adding Polycell Fine Crack filler to Micatex.

Not only will Micatex with Polycell cover any hairline cracks at the same time as it coats them, Plascon has taken its new Micatex formula yet another step further, by adding a host of other bonuses to this already convenient new product. Micatex with Polycell has twice the film thickness of conventional paints and is a whopping 23% tougher

than its leading competitor.

WeatherToughTM technology, unique to Plascon, and Polycell Fine Crack Filler combine to ensure that moisture doesn’t seep through hairline cracks, in turn preventing dampness and damage to paint film. Micatex with Polycell not only simplifies the application process, but it is also easy to maintain. With a low dirt pick-up, walls coated in Micatex with Polycell are a breeze to clean. Add long-lasting colour to the mix and your walls will have that ‘just painted’ look for years to come.

Micatex with Polycell is a worldfirst innovation that comes with a trustworthy reputation. Plascon has been producing industryleading coatings for over 130 years

70 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

and Micatex, specifically, has been the preferred product of architects for the past 25 years. Inspired by the strength of South Africans, this product comes with a 12-year guarantee – giving you peace of mind, knowing that your walls are well protected for the long haul.

Plascon’s Micatex has always been a hero product. Improving it now is in line with the company’s concerted drive to reinvent itself and renew its product offering, ensuring that Plascon’s leading products continue to remain top of mind because of the unsurpassable value they offer their users. You can rest assured that Plascon’s Micatex with Polycell has got you covered. www.plascon.com

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pa int + c o l o ur

Prominent ultra matt – a good all rounder!

When it is time to decorate a newly-built house, or even to just paint a previously painted wall surface, we tend to only focus on the colour choices. Although the colour is very important, we should not forget that the surface preparation and the choice of paint to be used is also a vital aspect. Ensure that the surface to be painted is clean, dry and sound.

These are the three main principles of the state of the substrate prior to painting.

Should you require a guidance on the specific surface preparation, please use the guidelines as stated on Prominent Ultra Matt Technical Data Sheet.

For a very good interior paint option, Prominent Paints would suggest to use Prominent Ultra Matt. This product has a low odour, is highly washable, mark- and scratchresistant, and much more. It is suitable for high-traffic areas and even for bathrooms and any interior walls, ceilings or furniture that require a matt finish.

FOR AN EYE-PLEASING PALETTE – APPLY THE 60-30-10 PRINCIPLE WHEN CHOOSING PAINT COLOUR When it comes to colours that are on-trend and in-vogue in 2021 – grounded, serene and peaceful tones are the cornerstone of making over and upstyling rooms with paint. With consumers craving simple comforts and a slowed-down lifestyle, the new neutrals are earthy and organic. The colour trio that best represents this is the PPG Be Well palette, which

72 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

celebrates beauty and emulates the optimism and soothing nostalgia felt in nature, and includes Transcend (PPG1079-4), Big Cypress (PPG1062-5) and Misty Aqua (PPG1147-3).

These comfort colours are similar to comfort foods – both offering a certain sense of familiarity and normalcy when facing the unknown. With mindfulness front and centre, this nurturing palette allows consumers to make space for comfort, support, relief and joy.

As a subsidiary of PPG, the world’s leading paint manufacturer, Prominent Paints has access to the latest colour research and, according to the experts, combining the right mix of colours is made easy when using the 60-30-10 principle. Approximately 60% of your room should be the main colour on the walls, approximately 30% of your room should be a feature wall colour in a slightly stronger shade, and approximately 10% should be an accent colour such as trim, or even an inspiring object like a cushion or sofa. www.prominentpaints.co.za

d r aw in g b o a rd

Certified security solutions remove guesswork In the absence of an industrywide recognised, independent testing body for security barriers in South Africa, architects and specifiers may find themselves at a loss as to which products to specify for security-sensitive projects. International thirdparty testing and certification removes the guesswork, providing confidence that the level of security required has been met.

Buildings like embassies, pharmaceutical storage facilities, sports stadiums, and structures housing valuable collections, such as artworks, require aboveaverage protection.

“Trellidor has developed a range of internationally certified sliding security gates for this type of project. These gates are some of the strongest in the world in their design class, and knowing their ability to deter or delay an attacker provides a practical solution for specifiers working on a new project,” said Darryl Wakefield, Trellidor Retail and Commercial Manager.

For over two decades, Trellidor has regularly submitted selected product designs to BRE Global Loss Prevention Certification

Board (LPCB) for testing and certification. BRE Global is based in London and is a highly respected independent, thirdparty certification body. It sets standards that ensure security products, among others, work effectively and deliver on promise.

They test security gates and other products against these standards and award a Certificate of Product Approval with a rating if they pass. These products are then listed in the Redbook of approved product suppliers used by specifiers throughout the world.

Trellidor supplies the market with three approved products: the Trellidor Plus-T900 security grille; the Trellidor Trojan II-T1000 security grille; and the Trellidor Trojan 3 EMESC T3000 security grille, certified to Level 3, the highest achieved by sliding security grilles anywhere in the world.

“These sliding gates have been developed in line with the requirements of high-security contracts around the world. We built in the required level of product strength and practical aspects, such as ease of operation

74 Leading Architecture + Design AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

and workable locking systems,” says Wakefield .

Certified Trellidor products have been installed in transport hubs, embassy staff homes and offices in volatile countries, well-known international retail chain stores, shopping centres and the London Underground rail system. In all these applications, the products were able to meet the high standard of strength and practical operation required.

“We have a highly competent

commercial team available to provide South African professionals with any information and specifications they need on these products, right from the drafting of the project concept. We’re just a phone call away to provide any details on how our products work within building designs. Call me on +27 63 601 4207,” concludes Wakefield. www.trellidor.co.za

THE NEW ESTATE CLEAR GUARD ATTRACTIVE, AFFORDABLE, BARELY THERE The new Estate Clear Guard is designed to makes life easier without blocking your view of the great outdoors. It has a sleek aluminium frame, see-through mesh panel and colour matched hardware. And a multitude of uses at a very affordable price. It blocks out insects, snakes, monkeys and baboons, filters UV rays, and allows fresh air to flow inside, all without compromising on safety.

CONTACT TRELLIDOR TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW ADDITION TO OUR SHUTTER RANGE.

0861 873 554 367

info@trellidor.co.za

Trellidor and The Ultimate Crime Barrier are registered trademarks of Trellicor (Pty) Ltd.

www.trellidor.co.za

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Daikin air purifiers tested effective against coronavirus As a specialist in air-quality management, Daikin sees it as its mission to provide innovative solutions and has been selling air purifiers for over 45 years. Its air purifiers and patented air-purifying technology, which is applied in other Daikin equipment, have long since proven their effectiveness against air pollution, as well as seasonal pollen and viruses.

To reinforce the claim of the effectiveness of its technology, Daikin Europe N.V. entrusted the French laboratory Institut Pasteur de Lille with the testing of its range of air purifiers. It has now been formally proven that the Daikin models eliminate more than 99.98% of the human coronavirus HCoV-229E in 2.5 minutes.

This is an important achievement.

Institut Pasteur de Lille performed the test with the virus HCoV-229E, which is a coronavirus closely related to SARS-CoV-2. For safety reasons, the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself was not used. The fact that the two viruses are of the same family, is a strong indication that Daikin air purifiers are important weapons to reduce virus transmission risk and help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effectiveness of the Daikin air purifiers is achieved through a combination of the highperformance electrostatic HEPA filter, which traps the virus, followed by an intense exposure to Daikin’s patented Flash Streamer technology, which eliminates the virus.

The institute has also tested the air purifiers for effectiveness against H1N1, the virus causing seasonal flu. Under the same test conditions, Institut Pasteur de Lille concludes from its study that the Daikin air purifiers

eliminate more than 99.93% of this H1N1 virus in 2.5 minutes. This demonstrates that these units are also very performant in combatting flu.

AIR PURIFICATION AND VENTILATION ARE KEY TO HEALTHY INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS Daikin air purifiers purify indoor air by circulating it through the unit and letting the air pass a multitude of filters and purifying technologies. Typically the units are used in residential settings, small offices, retail shops, classrooms, medical waiting rooms and doctor cabinets. The airflow of a Daikin air purifier is around 330m3/hour. This means that the air volume of an average room flows through the unit multiple times per hour.

Olivier Luminati, Project Manager at Ventilation and Air Purification, who has worked closely with the Institut Pasteur de Lille on Daikin’s testing project, says, “The test results are great news for society. Just when everybody is preparing for a return to office and normal life, we can create the conditions to do so in a safer way. Daikin’s commitment to healthy indoor environments has resulted in a wide portfolio of air filtration and purification products. We use these technologies in our air conditioning, heating and ventilation solutions, for both small and large building applications.

We can basically help anyone with a need for clean and fresh indoor air to find the right solution.”

Indoor air quality has a big influence on people’s performance and wellbeing. There are many factors that influence air quality, such as PM2.5 particles, allergens, air humidity

and so on. Daikin recognised this challenge a long time ago and launched its first air purifier in Japan in 1975. Anthony Dimou, General Manager of Daikin’s air purifying business in EMEA, says, “The obtained results

by Institut Pasteur de Lille are a breakthrough for us and society. I am confident that Daikin can become the reference company for indoor air quality management in the EMEA region.” www.daikin.co.za

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Eco-Insulation’s professional service for developers Eco-Insulation cellulose fibre thermal insulation is manufactured at an ISO9001:2015 specialised manufacturing plant in Kempton Park. Its mobile installation units have become an increasingly familiar sight at various housing developments – from high-end security estates to low-cost Gap housing.

Since the inception of SANS 10400-XA, Eco-Insulation has become the bulk insulation of choice for a number of high-profile developments, for a variety of reasons.

For Eco-Insulation client Garden Cities NPC (RF), a Cape-based housing developer with a 100-year pedigree, the ultimate goal is ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’. The developer was also one of the first in the country to implement SANS 10400-XA across its projects.

According to Renier Smith, Group Manager, Engineering and Planning for Garden Cities (GC), “We are hoping to create the required awareness with our residents, contractors, suppliers and consultants alike; the latter resulting in a cumulative approach to achieve the zero waste goal.”

The company’s flagship developments are presently Sunningdale, along the West Coast, and Pinehurst, Durbanville, and recently, Greenville in Fisantekraal – the latter inclusive of BNG housing, as well as a wider range of housing and development opportunities.

Accordingly, Eco-Insulation has been the source of SANS 10400-XA-compliant insulation to the Pinelands Development Company (PDC), the construction and development arm of GC, for over eight years, says Richard Ellis, who heads the Cape Town distributorship for Eco-Insulation. PDC has over this period received 1 000 tonnes of EcoInsulation above the ceilings of some 2 600 GCH homes.

“Cellulose fibre insulation solution aligns with our core approach to reduce, reuse and recycle,” confirms Smith. Eco-Insulation is made from 85% recycled newsprint waste, with an enviably low carbon/energy footprint.

“The PDC relationship began with the onset of SANS10400-XA when our client required a turnkey insulation service that came with a warranty of compliance and 100%

coverage in the roof space.

“The weakness of many blanket insulation solutions is their inability to provide 100% coverage of the ceiling. Often contractors/installers neglect to ensure the ceiling is fully covered with no air gaps in the corners or under trusses. These gaps are significant and cause heat to escape (winter) or enter (summer), due to a product not being professionally installed as it is difficult to reach into those places.

These installations are not efficient and continue to leak heat out of or

into the house below, depending on the season. Eco-Insulation is not like this. We guarantee 100% coverage of your ceiling,” says Ellis.

Above all, SHEQ considerations prevail. Eco-Insulation is a product that installers like to work with since it is safe on the hands, eyes and throat and is VOC-free. The householder rests easy, knowing that the product is certified at SABS, is fire-rated under SANS 428 and is stable in the roof. www.eco-insulation.co.za

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www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 77

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Sharing the PPC Africa sustainability model The rapidly changing business environment has shown companies that they should put contributing to the improvement of the socioeconomic circumstances of the communities in which they operate at the core of their values.

While these contributions help to enhance their reputation, it shows that they are locally relevant and responsive to the needs of their communities, and contribute positively to the morale of their employees.

PPC Africa recognises this and would like to shed light on its sustainability model and the impact it has been making in the countries in which it has a presence.

PPC Africa operates 11 cement factories and has been an integral part of the development of the continent. Through CSI, PPC aims to assist, benefit and empower marginalised individuals and communities, using a strong developmental approach. PPC’s CSI philosophy is guided by their approach to sustainability, with a focus on environment, social development and governance.

PPC Africa pursues opportunities to empower communities through social investment underpinned by their real approach, where their interventions should be relevant; add value to affected stakeholders and promote community health, safety and security; empowering, in that we must make a noticeable difference, bridging socio-economic gaps while protecting and preserving local cultural heritage; actualised, in that it must be realistic and achievable; and lasting, sustainable and maintainable.

Therefore, PPC settled on five key strategic pillars in its African markets: Education, Health, Enterprise development (with special focus on women and youth), Environmental protection and Sustainable infrastructure development.

Over several articles, PPC aims to showcase how it has been true to

these principles in its businesses in Zimbabwe, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Zimbabwe is a natural starting point because PPC has been a significant part of the growth of the country for over 125 years. PPC Zimbabwe has produced cement for many of Zimbabwe’s iconic landmarks, such as Victoria Falls, Kariba Dam, Harare International Airport, the NRZ Building, Lake Mutirikwi and many construction projects to date.

PPC Zimbabwe has several initiatives in the country, cognisant of the fact that Zimbabwe’s Human Development Index value over the years has been low. Published annually by the United Nations, the index is a composite measure that measures life expectancy, educational attainment and income level.

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, PPC Zimbabwe took on the challenge to be part of health and disaster mitigation by undertaking several interventions. PPC Zimbabwe donated 500 bags of cement for the renovation of a COVID-19 isolation and treatment centre at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo. The company established a similar facility at Gwanda Provincial Hospital, renovating the old Eye Unit and

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designating it an isolation centre for COVID-19 that would serve the greater community in the province.

The company also assisted in the incinerator’s repair at the hospital, which is an essential piece of equipment for waste disposal.

As part of COVID-19 disaster mitigation activities, PPC partnered with the municipality of Gwanda in disinfecting the town against COVID-19. In response to the growing demand for the local manufacture and supply of personal protective equipment (PPEs), PPC helped a university to develop and distribute hand sanitisers.

In 2018, Cyclone Idai hit parts of Zimbabwe, and the disaster left a trail of destruction that swept away homes, damaged infrastructure and led to the loss of life. PPC Zimbabwe donated 90 tons of cement towards the rehabilitation of homes of the victims.

The company built and equipped a solar-powered science and computer lab at Sojini Secondary School in rural Matabeleland North.

The project is significant because of the low pass rate and uptake of science subjects by pupils in the province.

PPC Zimbabwe also provides practical, on-the-job training for undergraduate students in PPC communities and the country. In

their quest to create employment and support income-generating activities, PPC Zimbabwe has established and is supporting sewing factories at the Bulawayo and Colleen Bawn Factories for women’s empowerment. Both factories, currently closed for lockdown, are ready to produce work suits and other requirements.

Another project of note that has benefitted communities near our factories is the Mutare Road rehabilitation. The company repaired the access road to the Msasa factory in Harare from Mutare road.

In the communities in which it has operations, PPC Zimbabwe will work to respect the human rights, dignity, aspirations and culture of the indigenous people.

PPC Zimbabwe has committed to protect their cultural heritage from any adverse effects of its activities. The company built four houses for families affected by our limestone-crushing operations at Shamva village. PPC also drilled and equipped one community borehole for the same families and the community at large.

Read more about PPC’s sustainability efforts of creating a better life for our stakeholders here: https://www.ppc.africa/ sustainability/environment/

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Little effort, to make your home unique Paralline aluminium façade cladding effortlessly combines contemporary design with elegant aesthetics and sustainable solutions. The new product line allows architects and other professionals to create oneof-a-kind homes and buildings with a limited set of profiles. Paralline builds on over 50 years of experience in the production of aluminium joinery, and is available in a range of styles for a variety of applications.

YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALUMINIUM JOINERY SOLUTIONS Reynaers Aluminium is the professional one-stop shop for all aluminium façade and joinery solutions. From windows and doors to decorative features like Paralline – whatever you need, your dedicated contact person is at your disposal throughout the entire project and offers professional advice and support for our entire product range.

ENDLESS DESIGN OPTIONS Paralline can be seamlessly connected to or combined with any element of the building’s façade – including windows and doors. Use the profiles horizontally or vertically, in subtle or more pronounced depth variations, or in a combination of various styles for

a unique look – the design options are close to endless. Moreover, all profiles are available in a number of highquality powder coats.

EFFORTLESS CALCULATION AND INSTALLATION The Paralline range is fully integrated into our trusted Reynapro system for fast and correct calculations and quotes.

Besides this, Paralline frames can be pre-assembled for easy and fast on-site installation and alignment – even by one single installer.

For the homeowner, this means predictability in cost and timings.

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS Paralline is your perfect partner in crime to boost the sustainability of your building or renovation project. An insulation layer can be installed behind the Paralline façade cladding for optimal energy efficiency. When installed in overlap with our windows or doors, Paralline acts as a sunblind, so cooling the building requires less energy. Next to the insulation benefits, the system is also easy to disassemble and recycle, and thus provides an answer to the increasing demand for circular façade solutions.

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EASE OF FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION Paralline can be installed with a clever substructure for both horizontal or vertical cladding variants, which means it can be done by a single installer. It also enables fast alignment of the façade cladding, even with imperfections in the construction of the building. The finished Paralline cladding will always be perfectly aligned.

Last but not least, Paralline can also be assembled in the shop as prefab elements, making the installation onsite even faster – especially useful when producing ribbon windows.

GET IN TOUCH Interested or looking for more in-depth technical information?

Contact a Reynaers representative for more information or visit the Reynaers website. www.reynaers.co.za

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Compact bathroom solutions In small bathrooms, it is important to make the best use of space. For example, you can create storage space at the washing area in the form of drawers. Furniture washbasins, in combination with a wall-mounted washbasin, also provide plenty of storage space not only in the drawer, but also on the ceramic. Additional storage space can be used by taking advantage of the height of the room with tall cabinets.

To visually enlarge the bathroom, wall-hung furniture looks more airy. To create the illusion of space, if the small bathroom has a window, a mirror can be placed opposite.

The reflected light makes the room visually brighter and also more spacious. Glossy surfaces on furniture, in combination with intelligent room design, can also influence the feeling of space.

Glossy furniture fronts reflect light and add depth and a sense of spaciousness even to bathrooms with smaller floor plans.

The choice of intelligent product combinations also plays an important role. Instead of choosing a toilet and bidet separately, a shower toilet, the combination of both, can be installed. The SensoWash® Starck f shower toilet, for example, not only saves a lot of space but also offers maximum convenience. Convenient to

operate by remote control, freely configurable via the SensoWash app, both variants impress with a minimalist design.

The shape of the bathtub can also help create the illusion of space. In addition to an attractive design, compact exterior dimensions and a variety of models such as backto-wall or corner versions, Duravit bathtubs offer flexibility in space planning. For example, the glossy Happy D.2 Plus acrylic bathtubs, optionally with seamless acrylic cladding in Graphite Supermatt or White, are the visual highlight in any bathroom.

To save space, Shower + Bath can also be used as a multifunctional product offering maximum comfort and attractive design. Shower + Bath combines modern bathroom design and optimal use of space in one product. As a shower, highquality bathtub, seat and shelf, the new shower and bath combination offers several functions in one – a great space advantage, even in small bathrooms, and more design freedom in bathroom planning. Optionally, the fixed shower enclosure is mirrored, which is then a practical full-length mirror that makes even small rooms appear larger.

When choosing suitable tiles, it is advisable to use them sparingly, so that they give the room more

spaciousness, because free wall surfaces look more airy. Light pastel shades or light wood fit just as well, they make the ‘mini bathroom’ look friendly and, depending on the shade, more spacious and open.

Choose soft tones that visually fade into the background. Choose tiles that are colour-coordinated with the furniture, so that the overall impression is more coherent and harmonious.

The same goes for the decoration – used purposefully and discreetly, the bathroom will not look oppressive. Starck T accessories will

impress with their high-quality and well-proportioned design language, which is unobtrusive thanks to the concealed fastening system.

Invest in colour-coordinated bathroom textiles, such as towels in various sizes, as well as rugs or bathmats. Colour accents on individual items distract from the confines of the room. Choose decorative items from the same colour family so everything looks uniform. Plants will bring a refreshing look to the bathroom. www.duravit.com

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f e at ure d d e s i g n

South African social distancing solutions achieve success internationally For the foreseeable future, social distancing will remain on the menu for the restaurant trade. The challenge this presents for sitdown establishments who want to create superlative experiences for diners while adhering to health and safety regulations, calls for innovative thinking.

Nando’s Design Programme Creative Director and the founder of Studio Lee Lynch, Tracy Lynch, perceived that social distancing requirements presented an opportunity to engage with designers to find solutions. So, at the start of the global coronavirus lockdowns in 2020, she started working on a series of screens and furniture accessories that would not only serve to make social distancing a bit more intuitive, but would also provide as enriching an aesthetic experience as possible.

These designs were included in the Nando’s Portal to Africa and made available to purchase by over 2 500 Nando’s restaurants across the globe.

Thus far, the project has

been incredibly well received in the international arena. This is especially the case in the United Kingdom (UK), with over 7 000 social distancing products having been sold there to date, amounting to a total spend of R7 456 827,82. It also received a Bronze Loerie at the 2020 Loerie Awards in South Africa.

The first range that emerged from Lynch’s design process is a range of ‘table-blocker’ screens used to create distance when customers are sharing a table, or to completely block off certain areas. These screens are festooned with lively patterns drawn from the motifs created by the 10 finalists of the 2018 Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) Talent Search competition.

“To make it more interactive and to bring home the Nando’s experience, I created an opportunity to showcase our Nando’s Hot Young Designers’ patterns. This way, the young designers also get to earn a licensing fee for the use of their work,” Lynch explains.

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And when the screens are not emblazoned with bold patterns, they showcase artworks created by artists who are part of the Spier Arts Creative Block project. “At the same time as we are practising social distancing by creating a practical solution, we’re also supporting creativity and showcasing beauty,” Lynch expands.

Because there are many instances where restaurant patrons might find themselves not observing the necessary distancing, the table-blocker screens were soon joined by an entire collection of social distancing products,

including bollards for queues, contact-free hand sanitising units with foot pedals, and seatstoppers that clearly indicate which restaurant seats can’t be utilised. From the moment customers walk in until they leave, this array of solutions takes a holistic look at the restaurant space, considering all aspects of the experience, such as conscious and careful ways of using condiment stations, through to queuing and paying at the cashier.

The full catalogue of social distancing items was created together with South African designers such as Dokter and Misses, Pedersen and Lennard, and The Urbanative. Happily, the new range is available both to Nando’s restaurants, and to any other establishments who are interested in purchasing these sensitive and attractive solutions to ensure the safety of their customers.

The Social Distancing range brings South African ingenuity, creativity and design thinking a bit closer to restaurant patrons around the world, as they keep the necessary distance from each other. https://clout-sadesign.co.za/ designing-the-new-normal/

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