AFRICA LY T A R C H I T E C T U R E
A South African standard-bearer in architectural design
LY T
2
A R C H I T E C T U R E
WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM
C
O
N
S
T
R
U
C
T
I
O
N
AFRICA
An Award-Winning Agenda
LYT Architecture continues to set new standards in South Africa thanks to a string of recently completed projects which have been recognised with numerous awards Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Eddie Clinton
WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM
3
L Y T
A R C H I T E C T U R E
T
here are thousands of architects and architectural practices earning their keep across South Africa. The South African Council for the Architectural Profession alone represents the interests of more than 10,000 registered architectural candidates and professionals, helping to drive positive transformation of the industry. A bustling, crowded space with stiff competition to secure projects in a domestic construction industry which has stuttered in recent years, architects must increasingly showcase why they are the right people for the job.
A GAMBLE PAYS OFF In April 2017 the Time Square casino complex in Pretoria was unveiled to the public, a Sun International project that LYT heavily contributed to the design of. The development in Pretoria consists of a casino, 8,000seat arena and 238-room hotel and was estimated to have cost around R4 billion. The casion is the second largest in the whole of South Africa after the GrandWest in Cape Town, with 2,000 slot machines and 60 tables.
One of the best ways of doing this is scooping awards. From sustainable credentials to memorable facades, building design awards cover almost every aspect of a project and can place an architectural practice on the map. For Johannesburg-, Port Elizabethand Lagos-based LYT Architecture, 2018 was another year of awardwinning execution of projects. Created in 2012 by the combination of TPS.P Architects and Facets Interior, LYT is a single entity carrying more than 50 years of professional practice and expertise. This includes Managing Director Guy Steenekamp, a graduate from the University of Witwatersrand who initially joined the firm in its previous guise in 1985. He then returned to the company in 1996 having worked on several major commercial projects, specialising in high rise, high technology and latterly leisure related developments. LYT’s extensive portfolio across much of the continent includes commercial, industrial, retail, educational, residential, hotel and
In April 2018 the hotel side of the scheme opened its doors, offering three-star value to five-star luxury all housed under one roof, joining the dining, retail and entertainment options that are also part of the landmark project. Work on new design approaches is ongoing
4
WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM
leisure projects as well as numerous developments for the mining industry. However, it is in home nation South Africa where much of its standout work has taken place. Last year PwC’s Waterfall Towers won the Corporate Developments category at the SAPOA Property Development Awards for Innovative Excellence. Based in Waterfall City, the building was designed by LYT Architecture and constructed in phases due to the unique twist design of the structure, taking 36 months to complete after earthworks began in early 2015. The project cost around R1.5 billion and is made up of 40,000 square metres of modern offices housing 3,500 PwC employees. Due to its positioning and height, it forms the tallest structure on the corridor between the central business districts of Sandton and Pretoria/Tshwane. This is one of many SAPOA awards the company has won over the years. For example, in 2008 it received the awards for best development in South Africa and best office complex in South Africa for the Turbine Square project.
C
O
N
S
T
R
U
C
T
I
O
N
LYT is a company that carries more than 50 years of professional practice and expertise
The latter was won again a year later, the 1 Sandton Drive development scooping the accoldade this time. In the realm of interior design, a project with Balwin Properties picked up an International Property Award for the Best Leisure Interior South Africa in 2018. This was for the Polofields development, also in Waterfall. A brand-new estate complete with luxury two- and three-bedroom apartments, Polofields also contains a signature Lifestyle Centre featuring among other things a wellness spa, swimming pools, restaurants, executive lounge, gym, roof terrace and convenience store. While LYT’s South African portfolio continues to be recognised by prestigous industry bodies, the company is also looking to build on this success in other countries both in Africa and further afield.
It has dedicated Director-level contacts for the UAE and Middle East, Nigeria, and the UK and Europe alongside its Sub-Saharan and South African managers. With its strong cohort of experienced architects ready to impart their knowledge in an ever-expanding network around the world, LYT appears well set to deliver even more quality and potentially award-winning developments.
WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM
5
www.outlookpublishing.com