Leading Architecture & Design December 2016/January 2017

DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

Urban catalysts Designing the future

NEW PRECINCT

The Keyes Art Mile transforms Rosebank CORPORATE SPACE

Sasol’s new Sandton headquarters pushes boundaries GOVERNMENT SPACE

Stats SA makes a graphic statement

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DECEMBER 2016 JANUARY 2017

Experience first, and then aesthetics and tectonics later.

CONTENTS ON SITE

Pierre Swanepoel of StudioMAS, architect

30 DOORS AND WINDOWS

and urban planner of The Trumpet and Keyes Art Mile [p20]

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FIRST DRAFT 06 THE BRIEF Editor’s note and book review.

40 LANDSCAPING

08 INTERNATIONAL The new Port House in Antwerp is one of Zaha Hadid’s first posthumously completed projects, re-envisioning a derelict fire station in Belgium’s port city.

BLUEPRINT 12 STATS SA

48 DRAWING BOARD

The design of the new Pretoria campus for the Department of Statistics by GLH is loaded with symbolic significance.

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

16 THE CHILL PEPPER HOTEL

p08

A new boutique hotel in Nelspruit raises the bar on design-forward hospitality architecture in the fast-growing city.

20 KEYES ART MILE

Landscaping has evolved from merely constituting the green surroundings for buildings to becoming an integral and essential part of architecture.

46 INTERIORS The interior design of MESH Club – in Rosebank’s Trumpet building – by Tristan Du Plessis of Studio A combines the best of local and international design in a brave new member’s club-meets-workspace concept.

58 EVERGREEN Larry Feinberg, executive director of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors, takes a look at how Quantity Surveyors can assist the green revolution.

The striking ‘Trumpet’ building in Johannesburg’s Rosebank by StudioMAS marks the first step in the creation of a new pedestrianised open-air high street.

24 SASOL The curving glass façade of Sasol’s new headquarters in Sandton, designed by Paragon Architects, makes a powerful statement.

EDITORIAL

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CONCEPT to COMPLETION

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THE BRIEF

BY E DI TO R G RAH AM WO O D

ED'S NOTE As this issue was coming together, and I looked at our featured projects, it dawned on me that they all had something in common that I hadn’t realised before. They’re all catalysts for urban transformation.

Perhaps the most obvious one is the Trumpet in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

It is part of the development of a new urban precinct – a pedestrianised open-air high street known as the Keyes Art Mile. It’s an amazing design, which, while architecturally striking, is much more about facilitating an

experience of the area around it than standing as a trophy to be admired.

It is designed less to be looked at and more to encourage people to use the street and give back shared public space that the city’s urban design denied its citizens for so long.

The other Johannesburg project we feature is the new Sasol head office in Sandton. It is surrounded by development, but also marks the beginning of the transformation of that commercial edge of the Sandton CBD into a much more pedestrian friendly precinct, which in future will link together a whole series of blocks and buildings.

The new Stats SA building in Pretoria also marks the beginning of a massive investment, by government, in linking the urban edge with the main CBD with the area severed

from it by the railway line. It’s about extending and connecting different urban areas with the idea of developing the CBD. The Chill Pepper Hotel in Nelspruit, too, has the potential to link nearby government agencies, the new university and surrounding businesses.

It strikes me that the buildings that lead the way into 2017 are as much functional units on their own as they are part of the cities they’re in. It seems our architects and designers (and their clients) take seriously the potential of buildings to transform the life of our cities, and cities of course, are engines of economic growth. It’s a strong note to end the year on, and one that looks forward optimistically to the new year. Here’s to designing our future.

Graham

EDITOR’S >

BOOK REMARKABLE

SHELF HERITAGE HOUSES OF SOUTH AFRICA

The restoration of her family’s historical homestead would inform Nini Bairnsfather Cloete’s deep appreciation for indigenous architecture, interiors and gardens. As the author of Remarkable Gardens of South Africa, she scoured the land for the country’s most extraordinary horticultural

gems. The keenly anticipated Heritage Houses of South Africa sees her once again taking to the country’s vast and varied landscapes, this time in search of its remarkable architectural riches. From a grand sandstone mansion rescued from dilapidation in the scrubby Free State veld, to a romantic Arts & Crafts style double-storey that presides over a half acre of prime real estate in the high

Berea suburb of Durban, Remarkable Heritage Houses of South Africa provides a privileged glimpse inside 20 of the country’s most distinguished, remarkable and treasured private residences.

Predominantly constructed no later than the mid-1950s and chosen for the singular legacy each keeps alive, these are homes that blend architectural integrity with an uncanny sense of place. Some more ‘historic’ than others,

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6 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

they have been sensitively rescued or meticulously preserved, or simply kept current with custodianship that has at all times respected their unique pedigree.

Strikingly captured by distinguished photographer Craig Fraser, they cover the full gamut of locations, architectural genres and interior decorating styles, yet have all been skilfully adapted to meet the demands of modern living.

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INTERNATIONAL

ANT WE RP, B E LG I U M

The New Port House in Antwerp

Since the surprise death of Zaha Hadid in May this year, her legacy has lived on with the launch of a number of new buildings. The new Port House in Antwerp repurposes, renovates and extends a derelict fire station into a new headquarters for the port PHOTOGRAPHY HUFTON + CROW, HELENE BINET

W

hen the former offices of the Port of Antwerp had become too small, the port sought to relocate, seeking new accommodation for about 500 staff. Following the construction of a new fire station with facilities needed to service the expanding port, the old fire station on the Mexico Island site – a listed replica of a Hanseatic residence – became redundant and relied on a change of use to ensure its preservation. This disused fire station had to be integrated into the new port headquarters.

Marc Van Peel, president of the Port of Antwerp, said: “There was only one rule laid down in the architectural competition, namely that the original building had to be preserved. There were no other

requirements imposed”.

Zaha Hadid Architects’ (ZHA) studies of the site’s history and heritage are the foundations of the design. An historic analysis of the old fire station highlighted the role of its originally intended tower – a grand, imposing component of the fire station’s Hanseatic design. Its bold vertical statement, intended to crown the imposing volume of the building below, was never realised.

ZHA’s design involves a new volume that ’floats’ above the old building, respecting each of the old façades and completing the verticality of the original design’s unrealised tower. Like the bow of a ship, the new extension points towards the Scheldt, connecting the building with the river on which

8 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

Antwerp was founded.

Surrounded by water, the new extension’s façade is a glazed surface that ripples like waves and reflects the changing tones and colours of the city’s sky. Triangular facets allow the apparently smooth curves at either end of the building to be formed with flat sheets of glass. While most of the triangular facets are transparent, some are opaque. This calibrated mix ensures sufficient sunlight within the building, while also controlling solar load to guarantee optimal working conditions.

The façade’s rippling quality is generated with flat facets to the south that gradually become more three-dimensional towards to the north. This perception of a transparent volume, cut to give

the new building its sparkling appearance, reinterprets Antwerp’s moniker as the city of diamonds.

The old fire station’s central courtyard has been enclosed with a glass roof and is transformed into the main reception area for the new Port House. From this central atrium, visitors access the historic public reading room and library within the disused fire truck hall which has been carefully restored and preserved.

With constant references to the Scheldt, the city of Antwerp and the dynamics of its port, married with the successful renovation and reuse of a redundant fire station, the new Port House will serve the port well. www.zaha-hadid.com

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Above The graph-like form of the entrance to the new Stats SA building symbolises the department's work gathering, processing and disseminating information Right The drum-shaped wing is wrapped in patterned mesh.

The pattern is derived from a prehistoric stone thought to represent the earliest human records of information

12 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

P ROJ EC T #1 STATS SA , TSHWAN E

Graphic scenes at Stats SA Stats SA’s new Pretoria Campus is as loaded with symbolic power as it is designed to catalyse development of the city’s urban edge PHOTOGRAPHY BARRY GOLDMAN

T

he new campus for the Department of Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) in Salvokop, Tshwane, is designed to reflect and communicate the role and identity of the department to the public. At the same time, it is designed to enable the department to achieve its vision and mission in a practical, functional way. It is at once a statement of intention, and a vehicle by which that intention is to be achieved.

The main building, designed

by the team of GLH & Associates Architects, and delivered on site by GLH in association with Terra Ether Architects, takes the form of a drum and five ‘fingers’ with gentle staggered zig-zag roof designs. The brief for the building emphasised a number of symbolic elements that had to be incorporated into the design.

The form of the roof represents the work of the department. It is derived from the graphs that represent the information that the department gathers, processes

and disseminates.

The brief called for the recognition of the five key data collection and measurement areas in which Stats SA does its work, thus the five fingers layered behind each other. Each one finds its individual identity within the campus with a slightly different angled shape, clad in a varying colour of the same material (see page 54).

The form is designed to blend and connect with the landscape and city around it. The surrounding

hills and ridges of the Tshwane area are also echoed in the graph-like forms of the buildings so that they complement the landscape rather than imposing on it.

The second major symbolic architectural element of the design is the drum at the main entrance, at once marking the site and inviting staff and visitors to gather.

The drum is a powerful African symbol. It represents the role of the department in communicating knowledge and understanding.

Continued next page

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>>B LU EPRINT

It also resonates with the history of the building’s location, which was known as Timeball Hill and Signal Hill because of its function of signalling the arrival of a mail train into Pretoria Station.

The third key symbol is the geometric pattern of riveted beadwork on the mesh wrapping of the drum, also featured in various other aspects of the building. The pattern is derived from the Tally Stone, an ochre stone 77 000 years old discovered near Stilbaai in the Western Cape in 2002. It has striated man-made marks thought to represent counting and the recording of information among stone age people. The Tally Stone has been adopted by Stats SA to represent their current work, and also to convey an understanding of that work as an extension of an ancient tradition.

+27 (0)12 664 6134 richbutler@cadcon.co.za www.cadcon.co.za

P ROJ EC T #1 STATS SA , TSHWAN E

The drum and fingers sensitively surround a series of historical railway buildings that existed on the site in a circular or laager arrangement. They were restored and linked to each other and the new buildings via a series of paved walkways. The irregular pattern of the paths was derived from archival aerial photographs of the landscape, which showed footpaths etched on the ground.

The walkways were plotted on the

pattern of the footpaths, mapping history onto the landscape.

The campus is knitted into its context in the way that its internal atrium functions similarly to a village street. This internal thoroughfare stretches out visually into the landscape of the site and the city, extending the campus conceptually into its wider location and tying it to the fabric of the city. The campus is seen as a catalyst

Above The pathways between the restored heritage buildings were plotted on historical footpaths found on archival photographs Left The main internal atrium functions as a village street and links the building visually and conceptually to the city beyond

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for the development of a larger precinct, so its integration with the city has a dimension of urban transformation. Its position across the railway lines is a commitment to integrating this area on the urban edge with the CBD. Thus the building’s sleek appearance, conveying Stats SA’s international practice, is married with the soulful rootedness of Africa in a vision of the future of this African city.

PROFESSIONAL TEAM ARCHITECT: GLH-TE Joint Venture PROJECT MANAGER: GLH-TE Project Manager QUANTITY SURVEYOR: RLB Pentad STRUCTURAL & CIVIL ENGINEER: PURE Consulting TRAFFIC ENGINEER: EDS Engineering Design Services MECHANICAL ENGINEER: C3 Climate Control Consulting ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONIC & SECURITY CONSULTANT: One Zero Consulting LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects FIRE CONSULTANT: TWCE Fire Services LIFT AUDITOR: Willem du Toit Lift Auditor CC WET SERVICES: CKR Consulting Engineers ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT: Solid Green HERITAGE ARCHITECT: Jonathan Stone Architect SPACE PLANNER: Paragon Interface INTERIOR DESIGNER: GLHi MAIN CONTRACTOR: WBHO

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The big chill

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PROJ EC T #2 CH I LL PE PPE R H OTE L , N E L SPRU IT

Nelspruit’s new four star hotel, The Chill Pepper, achieves its impact and luxury through sleek restrained design and clever accents rather than layering and opulence

T

he new Chill Pepper Hotel in Nelspruit has sprung up in response to the city’s recent growth, and the subsequent need for a four-star hotel to serve the increasing number businesses and governmental visitors, not to mention the parents of students attending the new University of Mpumalanga, who were seeking upmarket accommodation.

As such, it needed to offer something special – to make a statement to differentiate itself. The hotel operators approached Tasker and Schumann Architects, where Paul Schumann took on the design of the project. He found himself with design-forward clients, but with a difficult, long, narrow site. The

entrance was a panhandle and there was a five metre servitude right across the front of the property.

That, and the need to maximise space, required some creative solutions. “The whole design came about because of the restrictions of the site,” says Schumann. “By being innovative, you can turn restrictions into creative solutions.”

The Chill Pepper Hotel has a total of 73 open plan rooms, a restaurant, bar area, spa, gym and two boardroom facilities.

His solution was in some ways to turn the building inside out. The building covered the entire site. “The parking ended up going beneath the building, so that I could encroach over the parking,” says Schumann.

“That actually gave me the concept of the two atriums, one is closed and one open, with a pool going right across inside the building, so that when you walk it, it hits you: this three-storey volume with a swimming pool.”

The entrance has impact, and the inversion of interior and exterior, and particularly the triple volume, creates a sense of space and visual interest suited to the status of the hotel. Its curtain window brings about a sense of seamless design, and the off-shutter concrete of the entrance ceiling sets up a sense of sleek minimalism. Schumann says he was inspired by the State Theatre and the elegance of its use of raw concrete.

The juxtaposition of the green DuraTurf carpet with the minimalism

softens and brightens the materials.

The operator decided on accent colours to create impact – in the rooms, bright headboards pop out against the cool greys, charcoals and silvers of the rest of the colour scheme. “We had a lot of fun with the colour,” says Schumann.

Despite appearing colourful, the interiors are actually dominated by neutrals. “We concentrated colours in small areas to make it eyecatching, bright and striking,” says Schumann. That and the impact of the DuraTurf, the blue of the pool and accents such as the image of the trees behind the pool, create the impression of brightness.

Again, because of the shape of the site and the building itself, the Continued next page Opposite The hotel building occupies the entire site right up to the five metre servitude at the front Above In the bedrooms' strong accent colours are introduced to the largely neutral colour scheme via the headboards Far left The triple volume internal atrium with indoor swimming pool brings impact to the entrance Left The bathrooms are innovatively arranged to maximise space

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rooms were longer and narrower than usual, too, and the brief included open-plan rooms, which called for additional creative solutions. “I had to be very inventive separating the bath section with the basin on the other side,” says Schumann. He created a screen of mirror and sandblasted glass, which introduced another aspect of accent and novelty to the accommodation through design rather than the

PROJ EC T #2 CH I LL PE PPE R H OTE L , N E L SPRU IT

overuse of materials.

Some of the latest green innovative products were used through the project. The curtain windows are double glazed for thermal and acoustic efficiency.

Heat pumps are used to heat the water. In line with keeping it green, all WC’s flush with 4.5l of water. The supplied basin mixers are cold start mixers which are restricted to six litres of water

per minute. Italtile managed a vast number of products for this project: Tivoli Taps / in-wall cisterns, their Swiss products of perfection: Laufen sanitaryware and varied tiles.

Apart from its creative solution and surprising inversions, what makes this building remarkable is that it achieves most of its impact through design rather than opulence.

PHIL TASKER - 082 372 4035 phil@taskerschumann.co.za PAUL SCHUMANN - 082 789 2938 paul@taskerschumann.co.za

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PROFESSIONAL TEAM ARCHITECT: Tasker and Schumann Architects DEVELOPER: Hans Geldenhuys Trust OWNERS: Theo & Karlien Van der Westhuizen QUANTITY SURVEYORS: Danny Shaw CONTRACTOR: Breet Construction

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>>B LU E P R I NT

The Trumpet in Rosebank, Johannesburg, is a catalytic project setting in motion an urban plan to create a new walkable high street PHOTOGRAPHY JP HANEKOM

The Trumpet T he Trumpet in Rosebank, Johannesburg, marks the first step in the implementation of an urban plan that will see the area around the Everard Read Gallery and Circa transformed into a walkable, open high street. From the galleries, the precinct, dubbed the Keyes Art Mile, will run from the north side of Jellicoe Avenue and all the way up Keyes Avenue. It is planned to develop by degrees, eventually stretching all the way to the Design Quarter on the corner of Jan Smuts and Thyrwitt Avenue.

The Keyes Art Mile has been designed to activate the area’s public space and create a vibrant neighbourhood with paved streets lined with trees and shops. The urban design capitalises on the historic blend of private and public space that characterises of the likes of St Theresa’s School and the Catholic Church further up Keyes Avenue. It essentially aims ‘to create a new high street in Rosebank’, as architect and urban planner Pierre Swanepoel from StudioMAS puts it. Swanepoel was responsible

for the precinct plan as well as for the designs of Circa and the Trumpet.

The two galleries, the Everard Read Gallery, and more recently, Circa, had begun to use art to bring life to the public space around them before the plan was formalised.

Through their connection, they encouraged pedestrian traffic between them. Circa not only brought architectural place-making power and catalytic potential to the corner, but because, as Swanepoel points out, it consists of little more than a gallery of one room – it has no foyer or reception area – it encouraged people to spill out of the gallery and onto the street, activating a little public square on the pavement.

The Trumpet builds on this vision of shared public space. The building itself, although aspects of it have a powerful presence and have been called ‘iconic’, is designed, Swanepoel says, to be entirely subservient to this larger urban vision: ‘how we see the city, the final city’.

Continued next page

20 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

PROJ EC T #3 KE YES ART MILE , ROSEBANK << Left An arcade of street-facing shops includes galleries, design outlets and artisan eateries Below The highly legible Trumpet is designed to signal the counter-intuitively located side entrance to visitors

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>>B LU E P R I NT

Top Angled balcony wings provide views of the precinct and improve surveillance and security Above The tree-lined open high-street at the top of Keyes Avenue Left Light display in the atrium

22 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

PROJ EC T #3 KE YES ART MILE , ROSEBANK <<

Its function is not to be a trophy or artwork, as Swanepoel puts it, but instead is quite simply ‘to bring people here’.

“Experience first, and then aesthetics and tectonics later,” says Swanepoel.

Rather than ‘stacking everything [parking, retail, offices, etc.] on top of each other’, the design locates the parking across Jellicoe Avenue, so visitors enter the building on foot from the street.

Counter-intuitively, the entrance to the Trumpet is not where one would expect to find the traditional ‘front’ of the building, but to the side.

The entrance has been placed there so that it opens onto the square that Circa first created, preserving and building on what

Swanepoel considers one of the most precious existing aspects of the precinct.

Because the entrance to the building is not where visitors might expect it to be, Swanepoel says, the entrance had to be ‘highly legible’. “If you are going to shift your entrance onto the side of the building, then you have to do what a cathedral does,” he says. “You have to really celebrate it.” The large, funnel-shaped opening, with stairs sweeping up to it, clearly signals ‘enter here’.

“As far as the building is concerned, it was really simple,” says Swanepoel. He describes it as essentially a ‘block’. Below it is a filling station on the Jan Smuts Avenue side. It includes an arcade of shops facing the street on Keyes Avenue and

an impressive new restaurant, Marble on the roof, which has spectacular views towards the Magaliesberg. The retail mix is driven by art, design and small, independent operations rather than big brands. It includes new galleries and exhibition spaces showcasing local and international art and design, cafés, artisan eateries, a shared workspace/member’s club (see page 46) and a boutique butchery.

What might be seen as architectural flourishes – the angles jutting out beyond the façade on the Jan Smuts Avenue side – Swanepoel says, are another attempt to integrate the building with the public realm beyond it. If the front of the building were flat, he points

out, the view from inside would be limited. “The façade would obscure your view of the city,” he says. “As soon as you come to that balcony, it opens up. The intention was to create places of observation and surveillance.

The more we can allow people to observe activity, the safer we can make this part of Rosebank.”

As a catalytic project, the Trumpet is not intended to be final or definitive in any way. It’s meant to be built on; added to. “Each [new building along the Keyes Art Mile] will have its own identity and character,” says Swanepoel. This diversity will bring variety and visual interest to the streetscape, building on the potential started

by The Trumpet, and becoming, finally, a new high street sewn into the urban fabric of the city.

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Corporate jewel The curving glass façade of Sasol’s new headquarters on Katherine Street in Sandton marries the conceptual with the practical PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

T

he new crystalline building on Katherine Street in Sandton, Johannesburg, for multinational petrochemical company Sasol, is designed to bring together up to 7 500 staff members who previously occupied 14 separate buildings spread across various areas in Johannesburg, concentrated in Rosebank, but also including Randburg and Bryanston.

Paragon Architects’ brief was to design the new corporate headquarters not only to embody the values of the organisation, but also to unify its corporate structure, ensuring a large building of 68 000m2 could be accommodated and well connected.

It also had to resolve the challenges presented by the site, which is on a curving edge of Katherine Street.

Paragon’s design interprets the company logo, a central sphere

with six orbiting bodies, as a built form. The logo is re-envisioned as a serpentine shape that appears as a curving, floating glass box hovering above an indigenous parkland. The shape generated an interconnected space that was easily accommodated on the site.

Paragon’s spokesperson Hugh Fraser describes it as, “The conceptual married with the practical.”

Internally, it is designed as a central core of circulation and services that tie the building together, linked by a series of bridges.

The fluid and interactive glass façades presents a sleek surface, its 10 storey mass presenting a powerful public presence. Less apparent from the outside is the fact that the building’s winding shape is essentially broken down into three wings. Project architect Jose Ferreira points out that this

24 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

structure minimises the depth of the building, creating atriums that supply natural daylight to a large percent of the office spaces.

This in turn contributes to a comfortable, healthy and productive working environment, and also meets the lighting requirement of a large portion of the tenant area for the year. More natural daylight is brought in with two dramatic skylights articulated with acoustic baffles.

The contemporary workplace design allows for free movement both vertically and horizontally throughout the building. The concept of open, transparent and remote work spaces is extended to embody the mores of Sasol to include interactive facilities such as restaurants, canteens, art galleries and coffee shops.

Continued next page

PROJ EC T # 4 SASOL , SANDTON <<

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seven biomes, including wetlands, grasslands forests and savannah areas, that celebrate and showcase carefully selected indigenous trees and shrubs known for their bird and butterfly attracting characters.”

Ferreira points out that the gardens also create outdoor pause and rest areas for staff. Fraser adds that the planting is designed to shade the building’s glass façade. “Where heat gain is higher on lower levels, planting gets thicker,” he says. The 5 Star Green Star design of the building includes rainwater

The seamless curvilinear façade has been made using five different types of glass, some of which have not been used in South Africa before, and include over 2 000 panels. The glass façades were carefully engineered to ensure that this 5 Star Green Star design satisfied the necessary performance requirements. The façade patterning was generated using heat gain and environmental analysis to reduce energy consumption and maximise user comfort levels.

Fraser points out that the landscaping around the building was very important to the Sasol Group, given its commitment to the conservation of natural habitats and environments. The seamless sculptural volume thus nestles softly on a carefully landscaped greened zone. The landscaping extends the organic and flowing lines of the architecture, designed not only to beautify the building’s exterior, but also to create views looking out. “It has been Xeriscaped so that it requires less watering,” Fraser says. “It also consists of

harvesting and storage for use in toilet and urinal flushing and landscape irrigation.

Fraser says that it was important for Paragon Architects to push boundaries in the design of this iconic S-shaped floating glass structure, as it sits atop its nine-metre-high podium. He adds, however, that it marks the beginning of a urban transformation along the boundary of the commercial edge of Sandton, leading the way in opening up the next new precinct on Katherine Street.

Previous page The curvilinear glass façade is an architectual interpretation of the Sasol logo Below and left Five different types of glass were used to satisfy the efficiency and performance requirements of the building

:

PROFESSIONAL TEAM DEVELOPER: Alchemy, Greg Sacks, Arthur Davies ARCHITECTS: Paragon Architects, Anthony Orelowitz, Tershia Habbitts, Jose Ferreira INTERIORS: Paragon Interiors, Claire D’Adorante and Dale Friedman STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS: Sotiralis, Andries Denner, Stefan Bothé MECHANICAL: Adaptive Resources, Carel Schaap FIRE: TWCE, Andre Steyn, Zach Masinga, Trevor Williams ELECTRICAL: Quad Africa, Roger De Souza PLUMBING: Izazi, Trinesh Chaka QS: Pentad, Frans de Jager, Gillian Healey TP: Gavin Williams LANDSCAPE: Insite, Karen James, Ferdie Häefele PJC: Green Consultants, Paul Carew, Alison CAPEX: Project managers, Stuart Walls, Peter Laurence PURE CONSULTING: Façade Engineers, Sean Couzyn, Warren Wessen SAFETY OFFICER: Cairnmead, Chris Lourens ACCOUSTIC CONSULTANT: Ivan Lin KITCHEN CONSULTANT: Dewar Hastings AVENG GRINAKER LTA: Vincent Wiggins, Reon Govender, Richard Amm

26 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

DWFCOLL 9017/1

Time takes a toll on most things, not stainless steel

Offering finishes from mirror to brown patina, in stainless steel you’ll find beauty, strength and versatility.

So you’ll know that stainless steel doesn’t have to be bright to be brilliant.

Stainless Steel. It’s Simply Brilliant.

Call 011 883 0119 or see sassda.co.za. Your complete stainless information source.

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STAI N LESS STE E L

STAINLESS STEEL AND LEED LEADERS IN ARCHITECTURE

BY GARY i. CRAWFORD, SOUTHERN AFRICA STAINLESS STEEL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

Sustainability choices can touch every aspect of our daily life and increasingly influence architectural design, construction and product manufacturing. When comparative analyses are done, stainless steel is consistently one of the most environmentally friendly materials used today, contributing to a sustainable world in buildings, construction, transportation, healthcare, power, water supply and food.

Stainless steel is a green product. It is 100% recyclable.

That is, if it ever gets to be recycled. The almost one hundred year old stainless steel roof cladding on the Chrysler Building in New York shows no signs of giving up the ghost.

So, it is a fitting partner for green building certification standards BREEAM and LEED. It makes sense for the world’s most watched construction site, the World Trade Center, to make the stainless steel – LEED connection. In fact, New York City’s current building boom is producing dozens of LEED compliant examples where stainless steel is very visible in its use ... where durability concerns influence decision making.

The One, Three and Seven World Trade Center buildings and the National September 11 Museum entrance all have Type 316L exteriors, as will other projects around the site.

LEED-rated One World Trade Center opened in 2014. Its 541m height coincides with the year the Declaration of Independence was signed, and makes it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Type 316L stainless steel supports the podium’s glass fins, accents the glass tower’s façade corners

(a proprietary ‘laser’ finish), and also forms the 6-ton spire.

The Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners Three World Trade Center will be completed in 2018. The 80-storey, 329m building will be clad with Type 316L in a proprietary ‘Linen’ finish, and has been precertified to LEED Gold.

One hundred and fifty metric tons of stainless steel was used for the construction of the building podium. A further 400 metric tons of decorative ‘Linen’ surface finish stainless steel will be supplied for exterior cladding.

The ‘Linen’ texture generates particularly soft light reflections, extremely homogenous colour gradients and an attractive sheen in sunlight.

Located at 250 Greenwich Street, Seven World Trade Center sits on 1.5 acres of land just north of the historic 16-acre World Trade Center campus.

The rebirth of Seven World Trade Center was significant to Lower Manhattan in many ways. The original building was destroyed on September 11, 2001, and the new 52-storey building is the first permanent structure to rise from the World Trade Center site. It was also the first LEED skyscraper in New York and was awarded the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold status.

28 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

While changing the name of the building was debated following 9/11, it was retained to acknowledge its history and to commemorate those lost in the terrorist attacks.

Environmental graphics pay respect the past while creating a strong new legacy. They were also needed to integrate with the enormous electrical substation that takes up the first 10 storeys, surrounded by a stainless steel grille wall.

Pentagram Design conceived a symbolic 20m ‘7’ that faces the World Trade Center site and is formed by extensions of portions of the stainless steel grille. Both monumental and subtle, it changes with the sun’s position and the time of day.

Inside the lobby, a large light installation features glowing text moving across wide glass panels, and a stainless steel and stone floor pattern is also based on the number seven.

Although it is the smallest building in the complex, the National September 11 Memorial Museum entry pavilion needed a very special finish for the Type 316L rain screen. A subtle rhythm was created by alternating #4, #3, #4 with glass bead, #3 with glass bead and a custom satin finish.

Designed by Spanish

architect Santiago Calatrava, the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York City suggests a bird taking flight. Enormous wing-like structures rise high above a transit and retail complex. The third largest transportation centre in the city, the Transportation Hub is expected to serve more than 200 000 commuters daily.

Connecting PATH train service and 11 subway lines in one mega-station, much of the hub’s activity takes place below ground. On the floor above, light floods a vast open mezzanine – the Oculus, named for a long, central skylight overhead. It is designed to open automatically every September 11. The landmark centrepiece utilises nearly 400 tons of LDX 2101 lean duplex stainless steel, offering an exceptional combination of strength, corrosion resistance and low life-cycle costs.

Another NYC example is at 6I5 West 57th. Designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) and nearing completion, the 709unit building faces the Hudson River. The Durst Organisation carefully vetted the materials and all aspects of construction with consideration of their impact on the environment.

Type 316L was selected for both the façade and the custom structural sections supporting the cleaning system because of the building’s deicing salt exposure adjoining the Joe DiMaggio Highway.

So, whether you call it ‘The Big Apple’ or ‘The City That Never Sleeps,’ New York is leading the way in showing that for aesthetic and structural purposes stainless steel is ‘simply brilliant.’ www.sassda.co.za

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Comfort in living spaces

DOO RS & WI N DOWS

with high performance insulation products

NEW SHUTTERS BRIDGE GAP BETWEEN DESIGN AND SECURITY

ISOVER manufactures high performance, energy efficient glasswool, mineralwool and EPS insulation products for residential, non-residential and technical applications

0860 476 837 www.isover.co.za Sustainable insulation solutions

30 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

Trellidor has launched a new addition to their lifestyle security range that bridges the gap between attractive design and functional security. Trellidor Security Shutter is an aluminium louvre-style shutter with purpose-designed strengthening features that lift it into the security barrier realm.

These noticeably uncluttered shutters replace blinds, curtains and burglar proofing with one streamlined, multi-purpose product. Its louvres provide excellent rain run-off, substantially reduced light penetration and improved airflow.

As it is primarily a security barrier, every single louvre in a Trellidor Security Shutter contains a threaded internal steel bar along the entire length of the louvre to

make it as strong as possible under attack.

Units are fitted with a patented Trellidor locking system with unique key and serial number.

Trellidor Security Shutter joins the manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other lifestyle ranges, Trellidor Clear Guard security shutters; Trellidor Rollerstyle automated shutters; and Trellidor Polycarbonate Bar seethrough burglar bars.

These can be custommade for doors as well as windows.

Trellidor offers a turnkey security service, from specification to measuring to manufacturing and installation and after-sales warranty implementation through a network of professionally certified franchises in South Africa and abroad. www.trellidor.co.za

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DORMA & KABA MERGE For more than 150 years Dorma and Kaba have stood for security, sustainability and reliability. The merger of these two strong brands has created a new top three company in the global market of access and security solutions.

This merger is a smart step towards smarter access solutions – offering many advantages for customers and partners, for their buildings and building projects.

Together as one, we offer a diverse, broad portfolio of products, solutions and services relating to doors and secure access to buildings and rooms.

It includes door-locking systems from cylinders or locks all the way to fully connected electronic access solutions, physical access

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and automatic door systems as well as a comprehensive range of door hinges, fittings, door closers and stoppers, not to mention key blanks and key-cutting machines. This extensive range is complemented by products for time and enterprise data recording, high security and hotel locks, horizontal sliding walls and movable partitions – all from one single source.

Quality and innovation have always been an important success factor – both for Dorma and for Kaba.

Dormakaba is striving to become the industry leader in innovation, always with the goal to provide reliable access and security solutions. www.dorma.com/za

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MAXIFLEX DOOR SYSTEMS FOR KYALAMIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S REFURBISHMENT In the past year, the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit has undergone a dramatic transformation, with extensive refurbishments and upgrades to the facility.

Kyalami is now the only current racing facility on the African continent that has been certified as a grade two racetrack, conforming to stringent international safety and quality standards.

Along with the racetrack came the refurbishment of the pit complex. The pit building has been completely revamped and is now an international convention centre, including world class facilities for all year-round conferencing, exhibitions, trade shows, product launches, private functions and activities.

Maxiflex Door Systems was the chosen supplier for the doors all along the pit lane, as well as the glazed doors for the new Launch Area, which is a private VIP area

situated in the pits and has been specially adapted to accommodate dynamic vehicle launches with direct access to the pit lane and the track.

Crawford sectional doors were chosen for the pits, which is a huge upgrade from the old roller shutter doors that were used in the old building.

The Crawford sectional doors create an impressive visual impact with the doors being an aluminium grey colour to match the rest of the building. The doors are reliable and easy to operate, and in case of power failure there is a manual override, which is counterbalanced with a standard step-handle and pull-down cord for ease of operation.

The windows are an aluminium framed section with 4mm safety glass. These windows allow more natural light into the building when it is required for the doors to be closed. The Crawford glazed

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sectional doors that were used for the Launch Area were chosen for their clear visibility. Even if the doors are closed visitors will be able to see what is happening inside or outside during an event.

As the track at the pit lane runs at a gradient, with a difference of 1.2m from one side of the building to the other, the Maxiflex installers had to create a customised solution with on-site modifications so that visually all doors appear to be the same height.

Crawford sectional doors are designed and manufactured to European standards of quality and safety and are aesthetically pleasing, safe to operate and built to last. The 42mm thick insulated panels are solid and sturdy ensuring a wellinsulated and reliable door which is a necessity when the doors will be operated during busy events in an area where there will be a lot of movement by people and vehicles. www.maxiďŹ&#x201A;ex.co.za

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SOL PLAATJE UNIVERSITY – FINALIST IN SAISC STEEL AWARDS 2016

The Annual Steel Awards which are hosted by the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) in partnership with BSi Steel aim to showcase projects that demonstrate innovation and excellence in the use of structural steel in their designs. The Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley was entered into the Commercial Architectural Category by Savage & Dodd Architects with Structural Engineers THS & Associates and Trencon Construction.

The execution of the sunshading solution was provided

by RVI’s Architectural Solutions Division in the form of wind driven louvres and bespoke multi-coloured vertical louvres which were designed with Savage & Dodd Architects who wanted RVI to provide a new concept wind driven louvre. Although not the final winner, the project was one of only seven finalists in this category.

The wind driven louvre solution provides natural ventilation into the complex by moving with the wind and consists of various shapes incorporated into the louvre

system. With the inclusion of a bottom layer of multi-colour Perspex plates the design augments the visual aesthetic of the building by projecting multi-colour images onto the floor. The support structure for the louvres is constructed with painted mild steel beams and all the wind driven mechanisms from power coated aluminium.

The compact laminate louvres were conceptualised

by RVI together with Savage & Dodd Architects to achieve the fascinating multi-colour design which makes use

36 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

of natural light to create kaleidoscopic hues within the space. The bespoke vertical louvre system was also constructed from painted mild steel beams with all the vertical panels routed from multi-colour compact laminate boards imported from the Netherlands. The environmental considerations for the building contributed to the selection of these boards which are made from recycled materials.

In addition their robust construction, easy maintenance and elegance

made them the perfect choice for this solution.

By manufacturing a sample set of the wind driven louvres and conducting preliminary testing, RVI were able to execute the installation without any setbacks despite the labour intensive process involved.

RVI were honoured to contribute to this unique design with Savage & Dodd Architects and are proud to have achieved the finalist placement in the SAISC Awards for 2016. www.rvi-group.com

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3A Composites sales South Africa Lynn Smith Mobile: +27 (0) 82 450 8994 EMail: lynn.smith@display.3AComposites.com www.display.3AComposites.com WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017 37

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V-TECH MARINE PLY GARAGE DOORS Van Acht’s V-Tech garage door range has been specifically designed to withstand the harsh Highveld climate. Marine ply has been used as an engineering material in the marine and aviation industries since World War 2. Marine Ply is highly resistant to fungal attacks and can withstand extended exposure to moisture hence the name ‘Marine’. It is often used in the construction of boats and docks. Much of it’s strength is due to the strong Weather and Boil Proof (WBP) glue that is used between the ply. Marine Ply

should not be confused with chip-board. Marine ply is made from hardwood that is cut into several layers (ply) that are pressure bonded together with their adjacent layers having their grain at 90º angles to each other for greater strength.

Manufacturing marine ply is a time consuming and expensive process that has been perfected over the last 60 years to produce a product that will outperform and outlast virtually any solid wood. Garage doors are more often than not directly exposed to the elements and it is for this reason that we

have chosen a material that is highly resistant to cracking, warping, shrinkage, rotting and twisting. Marine ply is also environmentally friendly due to its nature as carbon sink and its allowance for the optimisation of wood.

Van Acht also uses polycarbonate on all its garage doors due its being very lightweight.

This minimises the strain on garage door hardware making your hardware and motor last longer. Originally created by aerospace industry. Polycarbonate is a synthetic composition that was originally invented

in the process of creating strong gear for astronauts.

Specifically, the polycarbonate created was intended for astronaut visors.

Polycarbonate is widely accepted for its durability.

In addition to sunglass lenses, polycarbonate is used to make airplane windows, bulletproof windows, and police riot shields. Polycarbonate is about 10 times stronger than glass or regular plastic and it also outperforms the FDA’s basic requirements for impact resistance, exceeding standard figures by more than 40 times. vanacht.co.za

uPVC WINDOWS & DOORS Tel: 011 708 2488 / 7868

sales@vanacht.co.za

38 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

www.vanacht.co.za

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COROBRIK’S FACE BRICKS AND PAVERS ENHANCE THE GREEN ASPECTS OF MENLYN MAINE CENTRAL SQUARE Developed on principles of sustainability, the 65 000m2 Menlyn Maine Central Square is a mixed-use project that forms the heart of the Menlyn Maine precinct situated in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria.

The R1.8b Central Square development, co-owned by Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd and the Government Employees Pension Fund (represented by the Public Investment Corporation SOC Limited), is set to be Africa’s first green rated city precinct. This mixed-use development will consist of 30 000m2 of retail shopping, business premises and 14 500m2 of commercial office space, as well as a 4-star, 240-room hotel, 4 500m2 Virgin Active Classic Collection Health Club and a 2 500m2 Bounce Trampoline Park.

“A variety of Corobrik’s face bricks and clay pavers were selected for the construction of a large portion of the Central Square development which demonstrates the product’s real value in terms of sustainability and aesthetics,” said Corobrik’s commercial director, Musa Shangase. “Fired clay is robust, extremely durable and meets all the requirements for healthy living. In addition, its colour-fast properties offset carbon debt associated with future maintenance as well as

the costs that accompany such maintenance.”

Shangase also noted that clay’s natural thermal properties further added to the development’s sustainability rating by largely reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling mechanisms.

“We are very excited that Corobrik was chosen for such a unique and groundbreaking development which is of a very high architectural standard. It sets the standard for the latest, best practice environmental sustainability in construction while providing residents with user-friendly public spaces, fulfilling all shopping, leisure and entertainment needs,” he said.

Construction of the development – which is contracted to WBHO – began in November 2013 with the official opening set for 21 September 2016.

The property developers focused on four major areas to create sustainable buildings, which are energy and water consumption as well as transportation and waste management.

“All the current buildings within Menlyn Maine are 4-star, green-rated buildings with the exception of Nedbank which has a 5-star rating,” explained Henk Boogertman, architectural

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director of Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd. “Central Square has officially been rated as a 4-star mixed-use building and Menlyn Maine precinct will apply for a Green Star rating for the precinct as a whole. In the absence of a South African rating tool, the American LEED Neighbourhood Development (ND) rating will be pursued.

This will make Menlyn Maine the first Green-Star rated precinct of its kind in Africa.”

Some of the sustainable initiatives implemented include energy-saving lighting and HVAC systems, ground and rainwater harvesting, refuse recycling and waste management. A pedestrianfriendly design with the emphasis on public transport also contributes to less combustion pollution due to less dependence on privately owned cars.

These materials include a number of Corobrik’s products including 216 000 Onyx Satin face bricks, 290 000 65mm Nutmeg pavers, 10 000 Piazza Nutmeg pavers, 68 000 Piazza Onyx pavers as well as Country Meadow pavers.

Explaining the incorporation of Corobrik’s range in the construction, Boogertman said the Onyx face bricks were used extensively for all external walls on the ground level as

well as some feature walls while Country Meadow pavers were used in the main piazza, external walkways and other paved areas.

“The architectural colour scheme was conceived as a mixture of three main materials; roof and side cladding, made up of Rheinzink - which is charcoal grey - and black onyx bricks which offset the beige-coloured limestone cladding for the walls,” said Boogertman.

He said all three of these base elements used for the external facades are accredited, sustainable products.

“These materials add a unique combination with other rich colours and natural materials which enhance the boutique-style luxury mall that we have envisaged architecturally,” he said.

“The new urbanism principles of an integrated design approach, which Menlyn Maine adopted from the onset, have, at its essence, a green agenda, not just for the individual buildings, but the precinct as a whole. It will ultimately develop into a new, decentralised city centre with an emphasis on working, living, shopping and leisure complemented with exceptional entertainment facilities comparable to international standards.”

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A BUILT-IN BRAAI COMPLETES THE LANDSCAPE

EVERGREEN GARDEN Ideal for pool decks, weddings or conference venues, rooftop gardens and courtyards or to add a touch of green to dull, boring areas, DuraTurf artificial grass from Belgotex Floors is popping up in places where natural grass wouldn’t be seen dead! From restaurants and gyms, to kids play centres, pause areas and even trendy rooftop putting greens or driving ranges, DuraTurf adds colour and comfort to any hospitality environment without the upkeep.

DuraTurf is the perfect alternative for an evergreen lawn all year round. Ideal for play zones or pause areas, landscaped gardens or difficult-to-cultivate places where real grass just won’t grow, DuraTurf provides a manicured, low-maintenance solution. Simply brush with a hard-bristled garden broom to keep the grass looking lush and lovely and your guests guessing!

Manufactured locally with expert advice and after-sales service, DuraTurf adds a touch of green to corporate, residential or commercial installations in sand or non-sand infill varieties.

With the look and feel of natural grass in various shades of green and textures that are so real you won’t tell the difference, DuraTurf is colourfast and UV-resistant so won’t fade in the glorious South African sunshine. The non-slip, shock-absorbent and allergy-free grass can be simply laid for year-round beauty that will last up to seven years.

Anywhere you can think of, DuraTurf offers a perfectly manicured lawn for just about any hospitality, commercial or leisure sporting environment. www.duraturfsa.co.za

NEW FUNCTIONAL SOLAR RANGE FROM EUROLUX Eurolux’s new Functional Solar lighting range offers a variety of outdoor light fittings in various shapes, sizes and styles.

They are all fitted with the latest in solar lighting technology for longer-lasting light. In fact, the lamp in each of these fixtures has a 50 000-hour lifetime expectancy. Manufactured from aluminium, aluminium alloy, ABS, or a combination of these, the fixtures are all extremely durable and resistant to the elements, including wind and rain. Eurolux’s Functional Solar range comprises of 10 different light fittings, from floodlights to wall lights and mini pole lights.

42 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

Since fire was controlled for heat and cooking about 900 000 years ago, people have socially gathered around it. In the evolution process, women used to do the cooking, and men started the fire. Since the late 1600s roles changed. Men make the fire and braai the meat, while women complain about them standing around the fire.

First a braai was done using open flames, then a crude grid was made that was placed over a spade or a wheelbarrow until the freestanding braai was developed. That eventually evolved into the built-in braai that has become so popular among South Africans.

Today’s built-in braais come in numerous sizes and designs and these are seen as an extension of a home’s entertainment requirement. Simple braais with a grid, charcoal tray, light fitting and flues is still the most basic arrangement.

Built-in braais with a charcoal starter are handy and can also be used as a comfort fire. Some built-in braais can also be used as a spit braai or a loose rotisserie can be added to enhance the braai experience.

In our hectic lifestyles, gas braais have become more popular.

As soon as the decision is made to braai, the meat can be on the table in half an hour. This is especially convenient during the week, when the weather is perfect for outdoor meals.

Outdoor cooking is a relatively new concept, even though this method has been available for a period of time. Full meals can be prepared in one sitting, without having to stand around the braai watching the meat until it needs to be turned. Meat, fish, bread, pasta, the list is endless, and provides more time to watch the game, be with the family or mingle with guests. www.fireplacewarehouse.co.za

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Find a supplier www.terraforce.com

Tel: 021 465 1907

GREEN AND FUNCTIONAL HARD LANDSCAPING FOR SILVERSTAR CASINO In 2013, the Silverstar Casino entertainment complex was expanded to include an amphitheatre, The Dome, on its western side. The attractive structure, designed and built by Otto Wijnberger of In2Structures, has been equipped with a basic lighting rig, stage and PA system, making it a suitable selfsustained venue for smaller shows hosted by Silverstar.

The site is situated against a hill backing up against the Roodekrans ridge, which required the earthworks to be cut to create platforms which needed to be retained. The Terraforce retaining wall system was chosen, with a round face finish, which is easily planted and gives the wall a more natural look and feel.

The system is also cost-effective,

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plantable and easily constructed to uniform concave curvatures.

The walls reach up to 6.5m in height and the fill behind is reinforced with geofabric and additional wide channels above the wall control the storm water from the hill above.

The indigenous trees, grasses and shrubs together with the foreground paving all complement and soften the structural retaining wall particularly well, while the red soils used for the backfill and for filling the blocks have stained the grey blocks, resulting in a colour mix that blends in with the surrounding environment.

The finished wall and additional landscaping provide a beautiful background setting for day and night entertainment. www.terraforce.com

We are South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading suppliers and installers of combustion stoves, gas fireplaces and braais. With over 350 models to choose from, we will satisfy every need the discerning and well-informed client may require.

For informed decisions, contact us on: 011-794-6000 | info@fireplacewarehouse.co.za www.fireplacewarehouse.co.za WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017 45

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I NTE RI O RS

MESH CLUB Mesh is a members-only business and lifestyle space in the Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank designed by Tristan Du Plessis of Studio A. Mesh aims to create common ground for young aspiring creatives that are paving their way to success as well as the more established heads of business in Johannesburg. The space boasts high-level meeting spaces, luxury hot desking for members, cinema and exclusive offices. Mesh also has its own exclusive cocktail and wine bar overlooking a western view of Johannesburg which is open to the public from 4pm, but is limited to 100 people at a time.

According to Tristan Du Plessis of Studio A the brief was to turn the 1000m2 empty shell into a multi-functional dynamic business lounge that was appealing to both the aspirational young entrepreneur as well as the established

businessman or woman.

The focus was to create an environment which created a common space of inspiration for this varied group of members.

The aesthetic is a contemporary blend of luxury and industrial elements.

Juxtaposition was the common thread in the design, hanging Pierneef and Maggie Laubser pieces across the way from a concrete Skullboy mural, using rust finish school style chairs from Diesel/Moroso and Custom Cassina ultra high grade leather couches in the same space are examples of this juxtaposition which is laced throughout the design.

Art was a big driver of the creative process â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the bar area was planned to be adorned with pink custom furniture pieces as a nod of the hat to the pink highveld sunset hues in the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Pierneef painting, concludes Du Plessis.

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ALT 92W Lodestar Floodlight Natural White 50 000 hours

Ivela 27W Ground Light Warm White 50 000 hours

Ivela 22W High Bay Natural White 50 000 hours

ELT LED Modules 3000K, 4000K & 5700K 50 000 hours

SG Outdoor Coastal Quality 5 Year Warranty

Ivela 3W Footlight Warm White 50 000 hours

EUROLUX PROJECT SOLUTIONS

Enhance your commercial and industrial environments Eurolux Project Solutions offers a variety of energy efficient lighting solutions. Recent projects include Caxton Publishing House, Namibia Breweries, Hyundai Showroom, the River Club, the renowned Hotel Verde: The greenest hotel in Africa; as well as the Agulhas Marine research vessel.

Eurolux offers a comprehensive lighting design and specification solution to its customers – all completed by a qualified lighting engineer.

• • •

A project begins with the initial site inspection and customer briefings.

A detailed lighting design, with full 3D simulation and energy efficiency report, to comply with SANS and OHS, is then presented to the client.

Detailed cost-of-ownership and lifecycle cost analysis is presented to the client, thus allowing for informed easy decision making.

Cape Town: 9 Racecourse Road Milnerton 7441 South Africa Tel: +27 (0)21 528 8400

Johannesburg: 10 Milkyway Avenue Linbro Business Park Sandton 2065 South Africa Tel: +27 (0)11 608 2970

Email: admin@eurolux.co.za Web: www.eurolux.co.za

www.eurolux.co.za WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017 47

DRAWING BOARD

KITCHEN TRENDS RAMÓ N CASADÓ , D ESIGN D IR ECTO R/CO - OW N E R, B ULT HAUP | LIVING K ITCH E N S

In two contrasting ways, the trend for absolutely high-end finishes converge on the importance of tactile sensations in the kitchen/ living area – in both wood and elegant aluminium.

At bulthaup what’s been most popular is oak, natural or our ‘structured’ wood and in various colours. We’re doing a lot of dark structured oak (see photo) also, which provides a rich and dark ambience. South Africans want to see the essence of the timber, and our structured wood products lend themselves perfectly to this.

Engineered solid oak and solid walnut are also very popular and are two of our most exclusive doors as they are the only ones on the market that are guaranteed not to bow or warp.

In our Cape Town and

Johannesburg showrooms, we’re also seeing extraordinary interest in having the interiors of cabinets, pocket doors and drawers being veneer and solid wood, which provides a refined feel and a higher level of finish to the design. Not only does this add warmth to the overall look but it means that the interiors are beautiful and integrated into the overall design rather than being something meant to be hidden. So whether cabinet doors are open or closed, the same high level of finish is always present.

Additionally, bulthaup also has some very unique woods such as a swamp oak that was pulled out of the Danube having been deposited there thousands of years ago. These very exclusive wood products are the ultimate in ‘reclaimed timber’,

having absolutely unique finishes and deliver a phenomenal accent to a modern kitchen.

Aluminium is one of the most modern and versatile materials which we use for the fronts of our b3 system. As well as the classic shades of natural aluminium, bulthaup offers the dark grey and bronze aluminium, which changes and shifts colour with a beautiful translucent quality, depending on the light. This material also combines in perfect harmony with other bulthaup materials such as

stainless steel and stone.

Finally, to complement these luxury finishes, people increasingly want to pair their kitchen furniture with the very high end in appliances. This is why in South Africa bulthaup and Gaggenau, which produces an extraordinary series of ovens, hobs and refrigerators with professional standards for domestic kitchens are partnering to create a perfect synergy between kitchen furniture and appliances.

POLYFLOR SPEARHEADS INDUSTRY’S FIRST VINYL FLOORS RECYCLING DRIVE

Polyflor South Africa is proud to announce that it has launched the first official recycling programme specifically aimed at the local vinyl flooring industry.

According to Polyflor SA CEO, Tandy Coleman, the need for an official recycling initiative has been a long time coming and is in line with one of the key objectives of the South African Vinyls Association’s (SAVA) Product Stewardship Programme – of which Polyflor SA is a member.

“The vinyl flooring market has seen tremendous growth in recent years and there has not yet been

an official programme set in place for the recycling of off-cuts from installations,” Coleman said.

Polyflor UK was one of the founding members of Recofloor – the vinyl take-back scheme that started in Europe in 2009 and collects postconsumer vinyl flooring for recycling into new flooring.

This initiative recycled a record amount of 508 tonnes of postconsumer waste vinyl flooring last year alone – enough to cover 23 football fields – and continues to grow from strength to strength.

According to Coleman, used vinyl floors are currently not being

48 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

recycled owing to the fact that glue and screed are also attached to the floors after they have been removed. “There is currently no technology available in South Africa that can separate glue residue from the vinyl for recycling, but in the meanwhile we believe it is important to make a difference where we can. Every piece of offcut that we can recycle will help to alleviate the strain on the country’s landfills and natural resources,” Coleman said.

Polyflor contractors will be given specially branded bags for them to place their off-cuts in and returned to the company’s head office, where it will be weighed and recorded before it is collected by recyclers.

“We have arranged with the major recyclers of vinyl around the country to collect the material from

our premises for recycling into a wide variety of products, including traffic management products and gum boots,” she said.

Commenting on this recycling initiative, SAVA’s CEO Delanie Bezuidenhout said they welcomed any pro-active steps taken by industry members to take responsibility for their own waste.

“We have made a firm commitment to increase responsibility and sustainability within the PVC industry as a whole. However, one of the key challenges outlined within this product stewardship programme has been the commitment to increase recycling. We are proud of Polyflor for taking the lead in such an important industry action,” Bezuidenhout concluded. www.polyflor.co.za

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>> D RAWI N G BOARD

TAL GIVES EXPERT INPUT AT UPMARKET KYALAMI ESTATE Riverbend Estate, located 5km from Waterfall City, Johannesburg, is considered the fastest-growing development node in the Southern Hemisphere. A key feature of the sectional title units available are upmarket finishes, which is where TAL products have played a critical role.

Porcelain tiles were selected for the wall and floor tiling. As porcelain tiles have very low water absorption rates and extremely high body densities, and are thus classified as ‘vitrified’, an adhesive system with far stronger bonding characteristics than a conventional (standard-setting)

cementitious adhesive is required to ensure a good bond.

Furthermore, rapid- or quick-setting high-strength adhesives, such as TAL Goldstar 6 or TAL Goldstar 12, are also recommended, as standard-setting adhesives will take far longer to cure when used with vitrified tiles. TAL Goldstar 12 was selected for this project.

TAL’s expert input included recommendations for tiling to the waterproofing system specified by the developer for the bath surrounds, which incorporate an in-bath shower, as well as for the external balconies. After perusal of the data sheets, it was established

that this system comprised a crystalline waterproofing compound over-coated with a high-density fibre-enhanced topical coating.

“As we were unfamiliar with this particular system, on-site testing was conducted to ensure compatibility of our tile adhesives with the waterproofing compound. It was established that, by priming the waterproofed substrate with coat of TAL Keycoat slurry, an excellent

bond was achieved onto the waterproofed substrate,” notes TAL technical representative Schalk Pelzer.

Central Developments control manager Ilse Oosthuysen is full of praise, for the hands-on service offered by Pelzer and the entire TAL technical team.

“The proof is all in the quality and suitability of the products at the end of the day, and we have had no issues with these,” she concludes. www.tal.co.za

BATHROOM TRENDS BY KOHLER trend is in sync with a designer’s conscious decision on the overall look and feel of the bathroom space. Closely associated with this trend is a distinct need to have a holistic approach with thought-provoking pieces that are exceptionally unique and rare.

A

C

B

A. Nomadic & Authentic Designs With ongoing evolution the world has truly become a nomadic world with change being the only constant. Inspired by global encounters and travel there has been substantial interest in the market for artisanal pieces infused with personality, character and a splash of colour or earmarked by a beautiful pattern. This

50 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

B. Statement Spaces Driven by creating an experience the bathroom is more than just a space. A bathroom is a sensory experience waiting to be unlocked, to trigger a passion deep inside a user that is unique and true to your identity. This space is tailored to make an impact and a statement so bold and strong that it leaves a lasting impression.

C. Technology There is a big movement to include an intelligent toilet into your bathroom space that offers cutting edge technology without

losing sight of the comfort features users desire. Veil Intelligent Toilet Wall Hung has just been launched in South Africa, with its clean, refined design lines and concealed tank, the Veil toilet offers smart toilet functionality with minimal interruption to the overall bathroom space.

A sensor automatically opens and closes the seat cover as users approach and depart from the toilet, Veil’s remote control is designed to comfortably fit into the user’s hand for one-touch control from its full menu of cleansing features including adjustable water temperature, nozzle position and function type, heated seat, dryer, deodorizer, night light and flush control. For enhanced hygiene, the bidet nozzle is self-cleaning and uses sterilized water.

Visit @kohlerafrica on Instagram for more inspiration

THIS IS NOT A SHOPPING CENTRE. ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A PLACE WHERE MEMORIES ARE MADE.

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017 51

>> D RAWI N G BOARD

PACALTSDORP BRIDGE WINS COVETED SAICE-SAFCEC AWARD THE PRESTIGIOUS ANNUAL

SAICE-SAFCEC Awards gala event for the Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievements for 2015/2016 was recently held at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park and attended by industry leaders and dignitaries from across South Africa.

The awards recognise international and technical excellence, as well as community-based projects and annually honour individuals and projects of excellence. It provides recognition to well-engineered civil projects which find answers to challenging problems. The Pacaltsdorp Pedestrian Bridge won the Vital Engineering 2016 Award for Structural Engineering.

The team behind this unique structure were, SMEC South Africa, COA Architecture & Design and Civils 2000.

The professional team behind the architectural design of Pacaltsdorp Bridge

COA (Craft of Architecture) were thrilled to receive the news. John van Wyk from COA comments, “We are delighted with this award.

The bridge engineer specialist from SMEC, John Anderson, envisioned the original ribbon concept which we embraced and is evident in the structure and detailing.

It was a pleasure to work with the team and to have this project recognised”.

The new pedestrian bridge over the N2 between Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp which was opened to Residents of Pacaltsdorp in March 2015, were overjoyed when the bridge was finally fully accessible. Designed using innovative technology with a sophisticated self-anchored stress-ribbon arch bridge structure required highly skilled structural carpenters and left little room for construction error.

The 65 metre-long

52 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

continuous four-span self-anchored footbridge enables pedestrians from the Pacaltsdorp township access to work opportunities in George and surrounds. For the team it was a challenge to create a design that attracted pedestrians towards the bridge, and away from the highway.

The building of the pedestrian bridge to accommodate the community of Pacaltsdorp is a positive

step towards the George Council’s priority of actively improving pedestrian safety along the N2.

The pedestrian bridge and interchange at Pacaltsdorp on the N2 is an exceptional example of a successful partnership between three public institutions - SANRAL, the Western Cape Government and the George Municipality working to the benefit of the citizens of South Africa. www.coasite.com

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>> D RAWI N G BOARD

GRS CREATES UNIQUE SOLUTION FOR NEW STATS SA HQ The new R1.4 billion Pretoria offices for Stats SA has been designed to house in the region of 3 000 employees.

The spectacular new headquarters was designed by GLH & Associate Architects, by architects Marius Botha and Leon Fourie. The architects turned to Global Roofing Solutions, one of the largest metal roofing manufacturers in South Africa, for their roofing needs.

The sheeting profile that was considered by the architect was the Brownbuilt standing seam, which was first launched in 1964 and was the first concealed fix roofing profile in South Africa at the time. The

architects wanted a profile with a contemporary yet retro feel. They were able to achieve this with the slim shadow lines and wide broad pans of the Brownbuilt sheeting. A particular challenge was the extensive bespoke flashing that was required to integrate the many windows with the sheeting. Roofing Installer Tate & Nicholson (RJ Southey), nevertheless accomplished the task excellently.

The material used was the Chromadek colour coated steel in standard colours, Dove Grey, Dark Dolphin and Charcoal, which offer excellent performance and superb life expectancy. A particular

challenge was the array of solar panels (photovoltaic panels) that was especially designed for the building. GRS had to create a bespoke solar clamp specifically suited to fit on the Brownbuilt profile to allow seamless integration between the roof sheeting and the solar panels.

Another first was the

inclusion of walkways to allow access to the solar panels, which helped to eliminate unecessary foot traffic and thus reduced possible damage to the roof during the maintenance of the solar system. The walkways also make use of the purpose-built Brownbuilt Solar Clamp. www.globalroofs.co.za

RENICO AWARDED PHASE 2 OF STEYN CITY PARKLAND RESIDENCE

Renico Earthworks & Civils has been awarded a R280 million contract for the construction of internal services in Phase 2 of Steyn City Parkland Residence.

The development lies on the last piece of land on the urban edge of the ‘new north’ and, at 2 000 acres, will be the largest parkland residence in South Africa.

Steyn City aims to be not only the biggest lifestyle development in the country but also the best, with its sights firmly set on becoming the most desirable residential lifestyle resort in the country. It is well on its way to achieving this objective, having recently been named the fourth best estate in South Africa according to New World Health.

54 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

Estates were ranked according to factors such as security, activities and facilities on offer, housing design and spacing, views, appeal and potential for resale and price growth. Steyn City’s fourth place is even more impressive given that the top three estates are well established developments boasting coastal locations.

Phase 1 of the development is well underway, with 93 apartments and 19 clusters already completed and a further 60 clusters being built off plan. In addition, six show homes have been completed and 220 freehold stands have been released and sold. Construction has already commenced on more than a quarter of these stands, and the first homeowners have taken occupation.

Renico Earthworks & Civils

will officially commence with the internal services in the last quarter of 2016. The project is expected to take 20 months to complete.

The scope of work includes building approximately 18km of internal roads with surfacing and kerbs; stormwater structures and junction boxes; water, irrigation and sewerage systems; sub-soil drains; sleeves; electrical internal services; gas internal systems; bulk earthworks and temporary fencing.

“We are delighted to be appointed for the Phase 2 internal bulk services of Steyn City. This prestigious lifestyle resort has become a byword for quality and attention to detail; an ethos which matches our own,” says Nico Louw, managing director of Renico Earthworks & Civils. www.renicoplant.co.za

>> D RAWI N G BOARD A cement based grout suitable for lling wall and oor tile joints.

Available in a range of colours.

RESISTAN CK

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CRA

MAGNET SUPPLIES ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING

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Magnet has supplied a range of light fittings to the newly refurbished Q’Dos fashion outlet at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Umhlanga.

“The design objectives of this prestigious project required special lighting to create an enchanting ambience in the shop and to accentuate the distinct styles, textures and colours of the exclusive Q’Dos clothing collection,” says Kaylen Reddy, Magnet’s lighting solutions engineer.

“The installation encompassed the selection of four different types of light fittings, with high luminous flux, to perfectly suit the area illumination of this environment.

These fittings include downlights, recessed and surface ceiling lights, as well as strip lights.

“SLV fittings – with the latest design and LED technologies – were selected to create the perfect lighting effect. The SLV SUPROS range consists of three downlights, one surface-mounted rotatable downlight, a recessed downlight and a pendant option, which was not used in this design.”

This energy efficient lighting range has been designed with the flexibility for personal styling. Integrated and wide flooding reflectors can be exchanged with reflectors with smaller beam angles, without the need for any tools.

LED solutions and dimmable products with retrofit lamps, as well as devices with integrated dimmable LEDs are also available.

SLV’s technical and decorative interior and exterior lighting devices, are available in South Africa exclusively from Magnet. The company supports this comprehensive product range with a technical advisory, installation and maintenance service.

Glenn Rogers, Partners in Design, interior designers for this project, had this to say, “From our first meeting at the Magnet showroom, Kaylen Reddy approached each lighting challenge with ingenuity and a thorough technical assessment. We were impressed with his attention to detail and professional attitude throughout. The finished interior of Q’Dos certainly reflects the quality of lighting design and quality fittings required.”

2-8mm joints

wall & oor

CRA

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interior/exterior

FOR MORE INFO

0860 000 TAL(825) | www.tal.co.za

Visit our Youtube page for grouting how-to videos

TAL, and TAL Wall & Floor are registered trademarks of NORCROS SA (Pty) Ltd.

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017 55

>> D RAWI N G BOARD

NEW SA FACTORY LAUNCHES EKO TECHNOLOGY Ceramic Industries’ advanced new Gryphon factory is set to produce white-bodied glazed porcelain tiles in large-size formats. The company already has a reputation as an innovator in the industry and the new factory will help build on this.

“We were very proud to partner with SACMI and SYSTEM, the world leaders in equipment design, when establishing Gryphon,” says CEO Lance Foxcroft.

Among the innovations adopted in the new factory are the latest generation EKO kilns. This kiln uses waste energy to pre-heat combustion air, ensuring complete combustion to minimise gas consumption and emissions. The design also recovers waste energy to preheat spray drier combustion air, further reducing emissions. “The tiles made at Gryphon require more intensive and careful control of processes, while

using higher forming pressures and firing temperatures. We’re constantly looking to innovate and reduce the carbon footprint of our factories,” says Foxcroft.

To ensure consistently high quality, the latest generation Qualitron imaging machine inspects each tile electronically using three high-resolution cameras to identify visible defects and correct shading.

Every tile is also put through a tough mechanical test in a dunting machine. Infrared and laser sensors monitor tile dimensions ensuring sizing and planarity meet strict specifications. The entire process is monitored through an integrated electronic Management Information System that gives quality and production information in real time.

The result is stronger, harder

tiles with more scratch- and wear-resistant glaze, which Ceramic Industries believes will give customers a high-quality local alternative to Italian and Spanish imports. Gryphon’s first phase is already operational, and by the time all phases are completed, the plant is expected to produce 8.5 million square metres per year. www.ceramic.co.za

DESIGN FRATERNITY FLOORED BY KBAC EXPO KBAC Flooring recently staged an exceptionally successful Flooring Expo attended by over 250 top interior designers, architects, and facility managers at The Country Club Johannesburg.

Neil Duncan, chief financial officer of KBAC Flooring, says interest in this year’s Expo, ‘Prepare to be Floored’, was intense - right from the outset.

“The feedback from both attendees and exhibitors has been very positive, and the stands were generally regarded as the most creative and spectacular yet seen at a KBAC expo.”

KBAC itself had four stands at the expo promoting its three top overseas flooring suppliers, Interface, ege and Bolon, as well as its own new Vanguard luxury vinyl tiles. KBAC suppliers, Interface, ege and Bolon, are all global leaders in sustainable flooring and so, with the growing emphasis on Green Star specifications, designers and architects were keen to learn more about the benefits of specifying such

exceptionally eco-friendly flooring.

Lesley Fidrmuc, KBAC Flooring’s Interface consultant, says Interface’s international sustainability reputation, and growing popularity among South Africa’s top designers, kept KBAC very busy on the Interface stand. “Although we promoted the full Interface range, there was strong interest in Interface’s new World of Woven skinny plank collection which has classic woolen textures from all over the world–such as tweeds and bespoke woven patterns – as inspiration,” Lesley stated.

KBAC’s Hannetjie Smit was a busy lady on the ege stand where the major Danish producer’s latest range, designed by acclaimed UK designer, Tom Dixon, was on display. Dixon has managed almost the impossible: to extract beauty from London’s ‘Industrial Landscapes’ and his moody B&W flooring designs for ege have even ended up on the ceilings of trendy restaurants in the UK. KBAC also handles local

56 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

distribution for the Swedish vinyl flooring designer and producer, Bolon, and on this stand, KBAC’s sales director, Brandon Park, and his colleagues also encountered strong interest from eco-designers.

No wonder: Bolon Green, the manufacturer’s environmental improvement programme, complies with leading global environmental standards such as GreenTag, FloorScore, and BREEAM.

Finally, KBAC also showcased a new addition to its own LVT brand: The Vanguard Collection. A vanguard plank (made from virgin vinyl free of the health hazards of recycled PVC) is now also available in a stunning parquet format, which is enjoying a global revival. The Vanguard Parquet stand attracted strong interest from both the commercial and domestic property market. www.kbacflooring.co.za

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Keep a low profile Compact VRV IV heat pumps for residential and light commercial applications.

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For more information visit www.daikin.co.za and find your nearest installer via our dealer locator.

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017 57

>>EVE RG R E EN

Quantity surveyors go green How quantity surveyors can assist the green revolution

BY LA R RY F E I N BE R G, E XECUTI V E D IR ECTO R, ASSO C I ATI O N O F SO U T H AFR I CAN Q UAN TI TY S URV EYO R S (ASAQS)

T

he Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) recently conducted a study on how best to address South Africa’s environmental challenge.

In terms of its study findings, SA’s Green Star ratings increased, with an average cost premium for a four star Green Star SA rated building 5.5% and 6.6% for a five star Green Star SA rated building.

Interestingly, there was a slight difference in the average cost in three major economic hubs, and a correlation between the cost premium and penetration.

Penetration was found to be slightly higher in the Western Cape (46%) versus Gauteng (41.8%), and KZN (40.4%), while the average cost premium in the Western Cape was at 6.9%, 6.0% in Gauteng and 4.5% in KZN. According to Manfred Braune, chief technical officer of the GBCSA, the study was undertaken to analyse the actual cost premium of building Green in South Africa and to challenge the belief that Green buildings cost much more than conventional buildings.

“South Africa has seen

58 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017

exponential growth in certified Green buildings, from the first Green Star SA building in 2009 to 165th in June 2016. Despite this there are many more buildings that could go Green but are not doing so,” Braune said.

By using a professionally qualified and experienced Quantity Surveyor (QS), preferably a member of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors, a building owner will be given an accurate projection of the costs involved in a Green building construction project, or the conversion of a traditional building to a Green building, as well as having a highly effective cost strategist in the team to help lower costs through ideas, substitutions and experienced advice. This will certainly lead to increased certainty that the building phase will be finished on

time and within budget, ensuring that value for money is attained by the client and a value added to the project through a unique blend of construction knowledge, advice on strategic and cost planning, and the procurement of construction products and services.

If, as a building owner or construction company, you are looking at the viability of a future project, a QS can look at the demographics of the project and advise on its feasibility – before any substantial costs are incurred.

In drawing up plans, a QS will give an accurate determination of the materials needed and the costs involved, including labour for each aspect of the construction project.

And, if required, and in order to reduce costs wherever possible, and permissible, an analysis of the specifications can be carried out.

This circumspect analysis can be equally applied in the evaluation of tenders and tender submissions.

It’s here, within the context of a construction project, that the value of a quantity surveyor has been highlighted. In addition, the importance of Green buildings has also been highlighted. We know that Green buildings, or what we alternatively refer to as sustainable design, is a best practice in increasing the efficiency of a building and its use of energy, water and materials, as well as to reduce building impact on human health and the environment over the entire life cycle of the building. This is known as ‘value engineering’, and quantity surveyors are the people to help in making this become a reality – saving you time and money in the process.

WWW.LEADINGARCHITECTURE.CO.ZA DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017 59

Inspired Design.

Distinguished Landmarks.

Alania is always true to design intent and has earned an enviable reputation for uncompromising quality, leading technology and exceptional turn around times. Make an astute choice, choose Alania to implement your projects down to the last detail.

• Façade Cladding • Column Cladding • Louvres / Sunscreens • Signage & Corporate ID Johannesburg • Durban • Cape Town Tel: (+2711) 683 1774, Fax: (+2711) 683 1775 or visit on www.alania.co.za 60 LEADINGARCHITECTURE & DESIGN DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017