SCAPE | The Collection | Coffee Table Edition 2024 | Vol. 99

COFFEE TABLE EDITION

Pearl Valley. Architect: Fluid Architects. Interior : Duvenci Interiors Design.

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Redefining the world of umbrellas.

In the vibrant heart of Salt River, Cape Town, in 1999, Cape Umbrellas embarked on a journey that would redefine the world of umbrellas. What began as an import venture, Cape Umbrellas transformed into a local umbrella manufacturing business fueled by a vision for high-quality craftsmanship, employing only five staff.

In 2002, Cape Umbrellas proceeded to manufacture and patent the EasyLift Umbrella, initially known as the ‘powerbrella’, the world’s first and only self-opening umbrella.

Within six months, our unique umbrellas found their way to over four countries, including the esteemed Enea in Switzerland – a partnership we proudly maintain to this day.

The demand surged, and by 2004, our factory moved to larger premises, employing a team of 22 to keep pace with the growing enthusiasm for Cape Umbrellas. A mere factory in 1999 had evolved into a household name.

In 2015, the Van Zyl family moved from Johannesburg and relocated to Cape Town, looking for a business with which they felt the family could connect with, given their experience in the manufacturing industry and love for all things outdoor. Cape Umbrellas changed ownership to the Van Zyl family.

By 2017, Cape Umbrellas growth was meteoric, expanding into Mauritius, Seychelles, Dubai, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas. A state-of-the-art factory in Cape Town, Airport City, became our headquarters, employing in excess of 65 shade gurus and marking a milestone in our African-made legacy.

In 2021, resilience shone through the challenges of Covid. Acquiring a metal fabrication business and unveiling a semi-automated wood processing facility allowed us unprecedented control over quality. The momentum continued into 2022, with Cape Umbrellas setting up offices and warehouses in Jacksonville, United States, and Almere, Netherlands, fortifying our global footprint.

Now, in 2023, Cape Umbrellas stands tall, exporting to over 20 countries, manufacturing 50,000 umbrellas annually, and employing a dedicated team of over 100. Our 6500 sqm facilities in Cape Town echo with innovation, boasting four large UV digital printers to meet diverse client needs. Sustainability is at our core, symbolized by a fully installed solar power system at our headquarters, a testament to our commitment to a brighter and greener future.

From a small importer to a global force, Cape Umbrellas has not just weathered storms but embraced them, crafting a story of resilience, quality, and unwavering dedication – proudly born in Cape Town, South Africa. @capeumbrellas / capeumbrellas.com

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/ LEADER /

Chin Chin, Darling I suppose it's that moment again, where I step back, assess, and somehow try to place the finishing touch not only on a full and amazing year for us at SCAPE but also on a Coffee Table Edition that beckons you with a wink to dust yours off and make some room for the 2024 pièce de résistance to take pride of place for every office visitor, client, and colleague to ogle and admire.

So, get ready for a poetic meander through five chapters of visual delight, sure to transcend the ordinary. Each page is a testament to the detail that defines South Africa's architectural landscape, from church buildings, campuses, and retail, to restaurants, residential, urban, epic big-builds, and everything in-between.

To speak to the wonder that is SCAPE, our pursuit of connection, meaningful interaction, and industry progression is the rhythm our team moves to, and 2024 is going to be a game changer. Expect to be swept off your feet, engaged online, in print, and in person, in a cinematic extravaganza.

This is a curated collection of design excellence, a showstopper featuring our selection of 25 thoughtprovoking projects from across South Africa. Drowning in a sea of submissions, we endured weeks of spirited debates and mental gymnastics to unveil our top projects. Because of this deliberation and careful consideration, this isn't just an issue... oh no; it's a brag book, a standing ovation, a cheers, two thumbs up, an unabashed celebration of industry brilliance.

Chin Chin, Darling, it’s about time we celebrate!

Ed’s Note.

Chanel Besson Editor-in-Chief | Justine Coleman Key Account Manager | Sarah Ternent Designer | Caitin Hancocks Commissioning Editor | Michelle Greeff Communications & Content Manager | Brayden Knoop Media Manager | Reinhardt Pieters Account Manager

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Cover image by Greg Cox

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Chapter 1

Architectural Epics

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32

46

From Contours to Culture

A Better Living Model

One Tower at a Time

Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD)

Conradie Park

Boogertman + Partners PLANDESIGN Paragon Interface The Landscape Studio

dhk Architects and Jakupa Architects and Urban Designers GREENinc

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40

InterSTELLAR

Urban Tides

The SANSA Space Weather Centre AVNA Architects Revive Landscaping

Oceans Mall Umhlanga

Elphick Proome Architecture

Harbour Arch Bentel Associates International Jakupa Architects and Urban Designers

Chapter 2

Poetics of Space

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76

91

Haute on the Heritage Block

That’s (The Good) Life

Artful Abode

Budism Couture

Peerutin Karol

63 Grit and Gold Intelligence Hub HK Studio in collaboration with Trend Group

69 Delicate Dining SIBA - The Restaurant Mobius Interior Architecture Craft of Architecture

Sela Vie Maison Reyjeané

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Freshly Baked La Motte Artisanal Bakery and Garden Café Malherbe Rust Architects Basalt CNDV Landscape Architects

Parama ARRCC OKHA

96 Sublime Satisfaction Vergenoegd Löw The Wine Estate Source IBA Urban Concepts Planning Partners

Chapter 3

Whimsical Living

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Elemental Lense

Into the Wilderness

Great Primary Shapes House

Nima Lodge Sand Cabins

Gregory Katz Architecture Cameron Collective

Stretch Architects Nima Lodge Interiors

Robert Silke & Partners

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Peak Serenity

Sub-terranean Refuge

A Vision on the Vine

The Folly House

Baccō Wine Estate

Common Architecture Lisa Twyman Interiors

CNDV Landscape Architects Anderson Perry Partnership Architects

Flamboyant Futurism The Flamingo

Mountain House Chris van Niekerk Mary Maurel Gardens

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Pockets of Paradise Atrium House Drew Architects Cocoa Bean Interiors EarthArt

Chapter 4 Divine Light

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A Story of a Roof

Sacred Symmetry

Beit Midrash Morasha Synagogue

Doxa Deo Chapel

Metropolis Design Rennie Scurr Adendorf Architects Tarna Klitzner Landscape Architects

Neo Architects

Chapter 5

Campus Chronicles

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Learning to Care Lapalala Wilderness School

The Considered Campus

A Symbol of Opportunity

Local Studio Gordon Kershaw

Stellenbosch University’s Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI)

The Sol Plaatje University Auditorium Building

TERRA+ Landscape Architects Roelof Rabe Architects

URBA Architects and Urban Designers Ludwig Hansen Architects + Urban Designers

178 Engineered for Excellence University of Stellenbosch’s Civil Engineering Department KMH Architects

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Chapter 1

Architectural Epics

From Contours

to Culture

Cultivating the future at the DALRRD

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/ PORTFOLIO /

here does an architect begin when asked to capture the qualities that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) is built on? Integrated development, food security, and sustainable agriculture – this is the mission that the Department strives towards achieving. For Boogertman + Partners, the answer to this challenge lay in using the celebration of our landscape and the determination of our culture to create the winner of the Office Architecture Award at the 2023-2024 African Property Awards, which can house the prosperity of South Africa far into the future.

In the making Investing more than a decade into an evolving brief, Boogertman + Partners were tasked to imagine and realise the new DALRRD head office as more than simply an inanimate building; it needed to be a home for its people and their diverse cultures. Emerging as an aweinspiring structure, the building appropriately finds itself in South Africa’s capital city, Pretoria. It stands confidently as a landmark, claiming space and emphasising the magnitude of the Department’s importance for the future of the country.

A canvas of contours The distinct HQ subtly mimics the curve of its topographical neighbour, the Apies River, while taking cognisance of the need to integrate with the historical features of the site that had to be retained. The setting is a classic depiction of our country’s diverse environment, the bustling city in the foreground and the Magaliesberg mountain range as the exquisite background. As an immediate extension of the focus on agriculture, the site’s gardens are accessible to the public as demonstration gardens for sustainable livelihoods. The gardens feature a selection of local crops, vegetables, and fruits that border the architectural boundary.

These speak of our heritage and the surrounding environment while maintaining biodiversity, which contributes to the building’s wellearned Green Star Rating.

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/ PORTFOLIO /

Binding visual and vision For design inspiration, Boogertman + Partners not only channelled the focus of the Department’s purpose, but also pursued the integration of the beauty of our country's diverse cultural scene.

Exterior nodes and interior forms rise and fall like the curves of the mountain ranges that distinguish our landscape. The dazzling façade is undoubtedly made marvellous by its metallic glimmer and glass surfaces while keeping a link to the terrain with the use of bronze earth tones.. The patterned design that envelopes the bronze façade clearly reflects the natural local landscape, combining the silhouettes of mountain ranges from across our nine provinces. Achieved through a pointillism style, small holes were punched into the aluminium to complete the design, arranged in patterns that represent beadwork, weaving, and basketry. Thus, agronomy is integrated with traditional customs at a monumental scale, exemplifying what the DALRRD strives to achieve – unity that transcends the boundaries of the land.

As a final tie-in between the visual and vision, the interior architecture and design are also simplified to celebrate what is at the heart of the Department. The interior cladding resembles peaks and valleys, ceilings feature geographical topography, the foyer hosts a bold green wall adorned with vertical plants, and vibrant textile patterns that speak of African crafts are integrated onto the wallpaper as a representation for the cultures of the community.

In considering a future where agriculture, landscape, and architecture can collaborate to achieve an inclusive and supportive world of tomorrow, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development head office facilitates future-forward design. In doing so, a department crucial to the life of our landscape (and consequently our people) is able to create an environment where endeavours become successes and every challenge is met with resilient adaptability.

MEET THE TEAM Lead Architect: Boogertman + Partners | Client: WBHO | Main Contractor & Project Manager: DRD D&C Joint Venture (JV between WBHO and Mhlaba Properties) | Architect – Heritage: PLANDESIGN | Architect – Space Planning: Paragon Interface | Landscape Architect: The Landscape Studio | Structural & Civil Engineer: PURE Consulting | Electrical Engineer: RWP | Mechanical, Wet & Electronic Engineer: DTM | Fire Control Engineer: Building Code Consultants | Photographer: Craterhouse 24

www.boogertmanandpartners.com @boogertmanandpartners

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InterSTELLAR

The SANSA Space Weather Centre

/ PORTFOLIO /

A

Location: Hermanus, Western Cape

cosmic contribution to an earthly setting, The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Space Weather Centre is a giant leap, not only for meteorology and climatology, but also for the country.

As one of only five space weather centres in the world, the distinctly interstellar design by AVNA Architects is a beacon of infinite possibilities for the development of space research.

SANSA was established in Hermanus in 1941 as the country’s first magnetic observatory, collecting and reporting space weather data from the southern hemisphere to share with other space agencies worldwide to monitor and track solar flares and storms. When the need arose for a 24-hour space weather centre for forecasters to provide data around the clock, AVNA Architects were commissioned for the voyage. The centre needed to cater for a broad range of purposes and inhabitants, including research and educational facilities, an office, a visitors’ area, and accommodation.

Hermanus was specifically chosen due to the location’s magnetically clean environment. This can only be found away from magnetic disturbances found in cities and near large magnetic rock formations. Hermanus does not have rail infrastructure, which is a common disturbance affecting the measuring instruments.

Mimicking magnetic fields The centre includes a new guest accommodation building to host visiting scientists, an extension of the existing student residence, and a generator and transformer building. The design for the Space Weather Centre, the control hub for the southern hemisphere, was inspired by the brilliant magnetic fields that are observed by its scientists.

These evocative elliptical curves and solar flares informed a unique building typology with shapes and vertical planes that break the building’s façade into portions. While the original brief suggested a simple rectangular building with a basic roof, the architects designed an option that would celebrate the revolutionary work done on the property, which was met with great enthusiasm from the clients.

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/ PORTFOLIO /

The Space Weather Centre also needed to accommodate resident SANSA scientists and staff members, and cater for visits from the public. The building is divided into a public area with a lecture hall and a large foyer for events, as well as a private office area, all of which are distinguished through different colour palettes. Included are four guest bedrooms and bathrooms, two of which are for long-stay visitors. A shared communal kitchen, dining and living area, and two outside seating areas were also added. With a small laundry room for the housekeeping services, the building totals to an overall size of 180 m².

Accentuating architectural details An accessway to the building is led by a polished concrete ramp made from black and white aggregate and crushed abalone shells that glisten in the sunlight. The ramp leads visitors into a dark lobby with a circular glowing orb overhead, before welcoming them into a spacious foyer with circular orange acoustic panels and feature lights suspended from the ceiling. The main control centre is visible through a glass wall, where scientists can be observed monitoring space weather data on a large curved screen.

Smooth plasterwork on the façade, contrasted with rough painted bagged brickwork, accentuates the architectural detail while simultaneously softening the overall look. Because the construction of all buildings within the observatory needed to be non-magnetic, the use of metal and steel products was kept to a minimum. Fibre cement roof sheeting was used to replace standard metal roof sheeting and all roof trusses were carefully designed using timber.

The SANSA Space Weather Centre is an architectural achievement that goes beyond serving a structural purpose; it facilitates scientific research and education that is imperative to the future of this essential industry. With a world of potential at its feet, not even gravity can keep this build from fostering astronomical advancement.

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MEET THE TEAM Architect: AVNA Architects | Technical: Jaco Voges and Justine Alexander | Project Manager & Principal Agent: Schoonraad Architects | Quantity Surveyor: Farrow Laing Quantity Surveyors | Engineering Consultant: NWE Consulting Engineers | Contractor: Edge to Edge | Landscape Designer: Revive Landscaping | Photographer: Dawid Theron Photography 31

www.avna.co.za

A Better

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Living Model Realising Conradie Park

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Location: Pinelands, Cape Town

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/ PORTFOLIO /

nce a medical centre opened in 1938, the location on Moringa Way between Thornton and Pinelands has been known for many things: a government-owned military hospital, a leading centre for the treatment of Spinal Neurodegenerative Disease, and a site that stood derelict for more than 15 years. Today, this 2023 CIFA Award-winning innovation in urban living proudly claims this space, a game-changing better living model, made possible by dhk Architects and Jakupa Architects and Urban Designers.

An urban village The brief for this noble endeavour was to develop an innovative model for rolling out high density, integrated residential communities. In response, the architecture of Conradie Park departs from the prevailing suburban typology of the surrounding neighbourhoods. It proposes a new typology of high-density living that is appropriate to its inner-city location, creating opportunities for people with diverse incomes to live closer to public spaces, schools, and work opportunities.

To conceptualise the design for the site’s new chapter, dhk Architects was commissioned in a joint venture with Jakupa Architects and Urban Designers. The team was responsible for the urban design framework, architecture, public open spaces, landscaping, streets and pedestrian walkways, courtyards, parks, and squares. The Conradie Better Living Model is one of seven provincial Game Changer projects instituted to improve the lives of citizens in the province, therefore providing sufficient affordable housing was a planning pre-requisite. The project combines different housing tenures, with social rental, subsidised First Home Finance/FLISP housing, and affordable market accommodation present on the same site, to foster a socio-economically diverse community.

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The neighbourhood is not a gated estate, but rather a contiguous public-private campus that includes two schools, various creches, a convenience retail centre, a gym, and extensive pet-friendly parks. The space has been conceived as an urban village, with its own character and identity, while still retaining its connection with the wider city.

The development features red brick four-storey perimeter housing blocks set on pleasantly landscaped grounds for open air activities. As an interesting contrast to the new buildings, the site also features older structures from the first half of the 20th century. The architectural scale and spatial effect create a common visual language, which strikes one as more urban district/suburb than housing estate, and a congenial even-handedness in the distribution of smaller, medium, and larger units caters to a hierarchy of public, semi-public, and private functions. No visual or other coding differentiation is made to indicate the exact income level of residents, ensuring mixed housing of a democratic kind.

A public network The Conradie Park concept integrates urban design into the overall architectural vision. The buildings sit within a continuous public realm network of streets, squares, parks, and piazzas, with generous tree-lined sidewalks and a linear park called Grande Park. Spread across around 30 erven, in single 36

or multiple building configurations, buildings range from 13 metres up to 25 metres in height. The streetscape and walkways connect the public spaces together, creating an integrated overall network. A perimeter block forms a traditional design component to create protected space and facilitate greater surveillance, while strong public edges contrast the softer, landscaped private courtyards.

The urban design is robust, formed as a grid pattern of streets and perimeter blocks, with a consistent and legible high-quality public realm network. Small block sizes with a fine-grain network of streets and pedestrian walkways facilitate pedestrian permeability. The grid orientation aligns to the geometry of the canal and proposed linear park along the southeast boundary of the site, creating a well-defined park edge. This layout, rotated at 45 degrees to the north/south and east/west axis, also maximises solar orientation for most apartments.

Conradie Park serves as a multi-faceted space within its community, catering to a range of socio-economic backgrounds and providing diverse opportunity for its inhabitants. This kind of integration may well become a benchmark for projected socially-integrated urban environments planned across South Africa.

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/ PORTFOLIO /

Lighting Eagle Lighting | Paint Olympia Paints | Bricks Cabrico | Roof sheeting Scheltema | Ironmongery Contract Hardware | Doors SDA Joinery | Tiles Tile Africa | Cement PPC Cement

MEET THE TEAM Urban Designers: dhk Architects & Jakupa Architects and Urban Designers | Architects: dhk Architects & Jakupa Architects and Urban Designers | Landscapers: GreenInc & dhk Architects | Developer: Concor, for the Western Cape Government | Photographer: Sean Gibson 38

www.jakupa.co.za @jakupa_architects

www.dhk.co.za @dhkarchitects

Conradie Park, Cape Town.Photo courtesy of Concor.

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Urban

Tides

Riding the waves to Oceans Mall Umhlanga

Location: Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal

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/ PORTFOLIO /

hen the Oceans Mall project was initiated, the goal was to create more than just a mall. The developers, Oceans Umhlanga, saw the opportunity for a functional and beneficial expansion, and renowned firm Elphick Proome Architecture, who would go on to win a SAPOA 2023 Property Development Award for Mixed-Use Development, proved to be the perfect team for the job. As part of a mixed-use development, the build not only needed to consider its fellow builds, but also those who would inhabit and visit them, calling for a multi-faceted design process.

The mammoth mall covers 28 000 m² on a site spanning more than 200 000 m² in KwaZulu-Natal. Located between Ridge Road and Lagoon Drive, the centre occupies an excellent location at the entry to the ‘village’ of Umhlanga. Benefitting from prime exposure and significant frontages onto these roads, a link is created between access points and communities through a conscious effort to integrate the mall into the urban environment.

Local integration The fully integrated mixed-use scheme and highly active edges are indicators of this dedication to connecting the space to the surrounding context and local conditions, rejecting the typical solid, rectangular box structure traditionally built over the past 25 years. An added plinth is comprised of two retail and four parking levels, and three freestanding towers stand above it: the hotel, hotel apartments, and two residential towers. The development connects with Lagoon Drive through the use of restaurants and terraces for outdoor seating, with the piazza generating a new, inviting public space in the village. The team made sure that the views to the North and West were respected and the importance of the land and sea breezes acknowledged; the site would benefit from sunshine and daylight throughout the day, and the effects of the building’s shadows could be minimised.

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'The lines of the shopfronts, the tiling, and the feature ceiling recesses all combine to create soft flowing, organic forms and surfaces reminiscent of the ebb and flow of the tides.'

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/ PORTFOLIO /

Emulating the ocean In response to the precinct’s namesake, the architectural treatment and interiors respond with soft flowing curvilinear movements. The lines of the shopfronts, the tiling, and the feature ceiling recesses all combine to create soft flowing, organic forms and surfaces reminiscent of the ebb and flow of the tides. This, along with the fresh white palette and spacious layout, make the interior a symbol of the vastness and clarity of the ocean. Outside, the façades also look to the sea for inspiration, emulating the blues and whites of the majestic water and the multiple layers and levels of the ocean’s reefs.

To incorporate a green building approach, the HVAC installation system consists of a high efficiency centrifugal and screw type water-cooled plant. The combination of this type of plant provides one of the best coefficients of performance, resulting in low running costs. Optimising efficiency further, the plant and its processes are controlled by a computerised building management system.

With careful consideration for internal and external function, visuals, and responsibility to the community, Elphick Proome Architecture went beyond expectation in designing a place that truly embodies the potential of mixed-use space.

MEET THE TEAM Architect: Elphick Proome Architecture | Project Manager: Betts Townsend Taylor | Contractor: WBHO | Land Surveyor: LD Baker and Associates | Civil & Structural Engineer: Sutherland Engineers | Electrical Engineer: JW & Associates Electrical Engineers | Mechanical Engineer: RPPKZN Consulting Engineers | Photographer: Maxine Elphick Photography 44

www.eparch.co.za @elphick.proome.architecture

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One Tower at a

Time

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Raising Harbour Arch

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Photography courtesy of Amdec Group

/ PORTFOLIO /

A

Location: Foreshore, Cape Town City Centre

farsighted feat that holds the future of the city in thought, Harbour Arch is Bentel Associates International’s dynamic new development at the entryway of Cape Town’s CBD, which has won an array of awards, including Mixed-Use Architecture for South Africa at the African and Arabian Property Awards. As a work in progress that guarantees to improve modern urban living, the first of six towers to form part of the precinct is only but a hint at what is to come.

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/ PORTFOLIO /

Urban contemporary To fulfil the goal of creating a transformative addition to the Foreshore District in Cape Town, a world class mixed-use development was envisioned by Bentel Associates for Amdec Group. With the goal of being contemporary, urban, and pedestrian friendly, the development follows a phased process which, once complete, will total 200 000 m² made up of functional areas and six mixed-use buildings. Bringing each phase together, the precinct stands as the gateway into Cape Town where people can live, work, and socialise, accommodating both locals and tourists due to its close proximity to some of the city’s best attractions.

At the city’s gates The site is located at the joining point between the N1 and N2 freeways that lead into the CBD. Its position makes the precinct a gateway to the bustling streets, offering the opportunity to become a welcoming landmark, but due to the nature of the location, the task comes with particular urban design guidelines. Specifications arose regarding architectural elements that need to go down to the ground floor and setbacks on the ground floor layout to create public space. As a solution to these, an ingenious plan of action produced a 7-storey plinth on which each mixed-use tower would stand, with an eighth floor housing a central park.

Within the first to seventh floors, a structured parking lot offers cyclical spaces for the whole development, made to flow easily with ramps in and out of the structure which link to the existing road structure of the precinct. The pedestrian interface on an urban scale is of the highest importance, which inspired the inclusion of retail facilities and restaurants on the ground floor surrounding a public piazza. This piazza becomes a convergence space for all the pedestrian routes crossing the site. Three streets dissect the site and ground floor of the building in an east-west direction; Martin Hammerschlag Way, Louis Gardner Street, and Jack Craig Street. The resulting active edge along the streets promotes the urban environment to be used to its fullest potential, encouraging a pedestrian culture through the ease of access.

Innovative conservation In addition to the immediate service this precinct provides to the city, the design’s consideration extends to the future of the city and its people, too. With a focus on sustainability and energy conservation, double glazing on the building envelope and special performance glass on the façades cater to high levels of solar insolation and heightened noise from the neighbouring freeways’ traffic. A Building Management System (BMS) also monitors and optimises water and electricity usage, along with the assistance of an HVAC plant with a chilled water ring main.

Despite its multi-use appeal and ongoing development that lies ahead, the precinct maintains a clean and sophisticated appearance.

The simplicity of the white and blue façade, and neat geometrical lines and shapes reveal that diverse doesn’t have to be complicated. As the project continues to develop, an impactful contribution to urban living is certainly on the rise.

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SUPPLIERS Curtain wall system World of Windows | Aluminium composite panels Façade Solutions | Ironmongery dormakaba | Exterior paint Dulux | Interior paint Kansai Plascon | Interior tiles Stiles, Remake | Vinyl timber floor planks Contiflooring | Joinery Top Living Kitchens | Waterproofing Haefele Waterproofing | Sanware Lixil Africa | Post tensioning Amsteele Systems | Shower trays Marblecast | HVAC Two Oceans Air Conditioning | Lifts Schindler | Custom planters Igneous Concrete

MEET THE TEAM Architect: Bentel Associates International | Contractor: WBHO | Developer: Amdec Group | Urban Designer: Jakupa Architects and Urban Designers 50

www.bentel.net

Chapter 2

Poetics of Space

Haute on the

Her it

age Blo ck

Budism Couture’s enchanting atelier

/ PORTFOLIO /

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Location: Heritage Square, Cape Town City Centre

n exquisite presentation of architectural sophistication – that is what the house of Budism Couture contributes to Bree Street’s Heritage Square. Entrusted to the divine hands of the team at the renowned Peerutin Karol Architects, the once-tired office space was renewed to exude the elegance of the high-end fashion brand. To unfold the ins and outs of what this transformative process entailed, the minds behind the magic shared their process in making their mark on a street lined with significance.

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/ PORTFOLIO /

‘All the levels in the building are connected by the focal point of the interior design concept — a spiralling staircase that extends like a pathway to the fashion heavens.’

A home for haute couture Budism Couture is a leading haute couture atelier that crafts exquisite fashion, and when they found themselves in need of a new studio, a humble building on Bree Street stood out with unassuming potential. What would become their Maison @ 88 was a heritage building that had led many lives before being chosen for this esteemed opportunity. To meet the brief, the team needed to achieve two goals: adapt the existing structure while simultaneously preserving design characteristics that honour the site’s heritage.

Building on Bree Street Located in the heart of the Cape Town CBD, the site forms part of the Heritage Square Precinct on Bree Street.

Over 200 years old, the original two-storey building had been remodelled and repurposed time and again since its original construction. On the other hand, the rest of the precinct had been largely preserved to retain the irreplaceable heritage, leaving room for the building’s remaining original characteristics to be protected.

Fashionable functionality To achieve this feat, Peerutin Karol had to maintain the integrity of the building while incorporating the glamour of the Budism Couture brand. The key element chosen to be retained was the original façade, which was then adapted with a new reinforced concrete structure to support two additional floors, topped off with a Mansardstyle ‘roof’. This roof form is distinctly different to the existing envelope, but houses both additional floors in a single roof profile, creating the impression that it is one composition with two parts – the masonry ground and first floors, as well as the lightweight roof which subtly contains the second and third floors.

Housed within the architecture, each floor is dedicated to various essential functions that cater for the whole team, such as studio space, a dining spot, an entertainment area, reception, and client liaison space. To draw the levels in the building together is the fascinating focal point of the interior design concept — a spiralling staircase that extends like a pathway to the fashion heavens.

Despite ample inspiration, the process was no simple endeavour. The project required several iterations, a spread of construction material options, and multiple design templates, before arriving at the winning result – a reinforced concrete staircase by Phase 3 Construction and a bent steel sheet balustrade by IB Mans of TGS Concepts. Proving well worth the efforts, the final product is a flawless staircase and balustrade that flow skyward and stand with grace at the centre of the studio.

Complementing the classic, clean aesthetic of the rest of the Maison, a final feature piece welcomes clients into the abode; a custom-designed and hand-made wrought iron and glass front door, with metal flora fixed onto the gate that were forged by a craftsman in the United States. From a redundant red to a porcelain palace, the reimagining of a forgotten build by Peerutin Karol tells a story of the power of a refurb. With a clear vision, a beautiful brand, and a team equipped with proactive imagination, even the buildings of past centuries can have a fairytale ending.

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/ PORTFOLIO /

SUPPLIERS Guest bathroom Armani | Glazing & mirrors Aluglass | Blinds AC Screens & Shutters | Metal roof Rheinzink | Spiral staircase balustrade TGS Concepts | Paint Paintsmiths | Lighting Lights by Linea | Main gate Ferro Classics | Hardwood flooring Hakwood | Plugs & switches Legrand

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/ PORTFOLIO /

MEET THE TEAM Architect: Peerutin Karol | Contractor: Phase 3 Construction | Heritage Specialist: Dr Steve Townsend | Photographer: Adam Letch 60

www.peerutinkarol.com @peerutinkarol

IB ANT

AC

TERIAL

With a legacy spanning over four decades, OWA has established a prominent presence in Sub-Saharan Africa, distinguished by our revered quality and diverse product range, which includes: • • • • •

Acoustic ceilings Timber acoustic wall and ceiling cladding Metal acoustic ceilings Acoustic canopy and baffle ceilings and walls Drywall, ceiling boards and general partition materials

Over the years, we have been fortunate to participate in many prestigious projects throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. This is a testament to our customer-focused orientation and dedication to providing high-quality solutions in acoustic design.

OWA prides itself on being at the forefront of the latest trends, technologies, and environmental requirements on a global scale.

We are committed to driving innovation and the best practices into the market for the benefit of the Sub-Saharan region.

OWA’s proven ability to deliver a quality product and service at a fair price has resulted in the OWA brand being synonymous with excellence, consistency, reliability, and trust throughout the industry – something we are extremely proud of. We value the relationships that have been forged with architects, interior designers, quantity surveyors, subcontractors, and developers, and we look forward to collaborating as a responsible and ethical participant in the industry well into the future.

JOHANNESBURG OWA Southern Africa 19th Fourth Street, Wynberg 2090 Tel 011 786 5762 | sales@owa.co.za www.owa.co.za

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DURBAN OWA Southern Africa 22 Brickworks Way, Briardene, 4051 Tel 031 564 8726 | sales@owa.co.za www.owa.co.za

Grit and Gold

In the Hub of Intelligence

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/ PORTFOLIO /

I

Location: Rosebank, Johannesburg

ntroducing a dazzling new head office spanning over 3 000 m², experts in experiential design HK Studio dreamed up a space that marries functionality and narrative. Renowned for its prowess in office design and fit-out, Trend Group joined in collaboration to introduce this dynamic space in Rosebank's emerging Oxford Parks precinct for an international management consultant.

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MEET THE TEAM www.hkstudio.co.za @_hkstudio_

Interior Designers: HK Studio in collaboration with Trend Group | Photographer: Elsa Young 65

www.trendgroup.co.za @trendgroup_global

/ PORTFOLIO /

This collaborative effort aimed to go beyond conventional office design, seamlessly integrating corporate functionality with a captivating narrative that mirrors the dynamic essence of Johannesburg. The layout, intricately devised to accommodate flexible solutions, aligns seamlessly with the everevolving demands of a hybrid work model.

The project commenced with a compelling directive: create an office space that exceeded expectations, transforming it into more than just a place of work, providing comfort and convenience that would be unmatched by home setups. The brief redefined the concept of the modern office post-pandemic, necessitating a fresh perspective on returning to physical workplaces in an era marked by uncertainty.

Inspiration for the design narrative draws deeply from Johannesburg's history, founded on ambition and the allure of gold. The journey through the office itself is an unfolding experience, drawing from the essence of luxury and retail spaces and with an emphasis on thoughtful choices. It begins with a deeply sophisticated entry that exudes gravitas, featuring a neutral base palette and mining imagery, embellished with brass details. It anchors the image of the city in one’s mind as a landmark, a place of dynamism and hard work. Progressing through the space, surprise elements and exoticism are gradually revealed through various design choices such as the wallpaper, furniture, and artwork, creating an unfolding adventure and a sense of curiosity.

To maintain global consistency while preserving local identity, certain elements such as desks and carpets were imported. However, the project team prioritised local sourcing, with approximately 80 % of furnishings and fittings crafted locally, showcasing the best of African design through meticulous detail. Collaboration with local artists, furniture makers, and galleries resulted in unique furniture pieces and artworks, with contributions from Johannesburg-based artists like Justin Dingwall and Seth Pimentel.

The central staircase in the entrance area is a masterpiece in metal and wood with a tree at the centre, symbolising the grit and gold of the city, as well as the fusion of African and global excellence. Similarly, the bench in the adjacent double-volume area creates a beautiful and interesting conversation piece.

The result is an utterly bespoke space that is reflective of both the company and the city's identities. The design, born from thoughtful collaboration and research, celebrates ambition, authenticity, and inclusivity while showcasing excellence. It strikes a balance between being strong and serious, and infused with a touch of playfulness, the result is a space that meets the practical and personal well-being needs of an inspired corporate environment.

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SUPPLIERS Wall tiles Wolkberg | Flooring Chilewich, Interface, Belgotex, | Acoustic windows & doors JEB Group | Furnishings Houtlander, Anatomy Design, Mash T Studio, Alifurn, Acre Studio, Arrange Studio, James Mudge, Kino, Dokter and Misses, Douglas and Douglas, Ergoform, Herman Miller Chairs | Staircase brass cladding Make Furniture

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info@stiles.co.za

www.stiles.co.za

Cape Town (Paarden Eiland) 021 510 8310 | Paarl 087 094 3227 | Somerset West 021 879 5657 Rustenburg 014 495 3040 | Pretoria (Menlyn Maine) 021 880 4737 | Centurion 012 884 0084 George 044 871 3222 | Mossel Bay 044 695 1800 | Knysna 044 382 2090 West Coast 022 880 0310 | Durban 031 263 1192

Delicate

Dining

A taste of SIBA — The Restaurant

Location: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

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T

he 5-star SIBA – The Restaurant is a bespoke dining space located within the Table Bay Hotel at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Evoking a delicately local atmosphere in the famous harbour surroundings, the recreation of inspired South African chef Siba Mtongana’s restaurant was a design project fit for only one team – the marvellous Mobius Interior Architecture.

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/ PORTFOLIO /

SUPPLIERS Custom steel screen Simon Bebe Designs | Built-in bench fabrics Casamance, Home Fabrics | Feature round brass and beaded pendants Samantha Foaden | Tables Moorgas & Sons | Marble table tops Marble Gallery | Conservatory chairs Louw Roets | Extra-length sofa upholstery Casamance, Hertex | Terrazzo floor tiles Lovric | Marble floor tiles WOMAG | Granite floor tiles Continua | Planters Vorster & Braye | Sheer curtains Best Blinds, Home Fabrics | Dining room wallpaper Hertex

Striving for light and bright Led by Victoria Wood, Mobius Interior Architecture was entrusted with a precious project for the Table Bay Hotel – take an existing restaurant and re-interpret it. This was to be executed in collaboration with Craft of Architecture’s adding an extension to include a new outdoor terrace. With the restaurant set in a hotel, it was important for the team to make the most of the construction components off-site and only assemble in-situ where possible to avoid any disruption to hotel guests during the fit-out.

Existing restaurant and hotel circulation routes also had to be considered and complimented by new design, acknowledging the existing façade and profiles of the building. Key drivers of the renovation included longevity and maintenance in terms of the close proximity to the ocean, as well as high thermal efficiency and economic viability.

The existing terrace was transformed into a dining room by implementing a glass structure. The space was made intimate by enclosing it with large windows, adding articulations to suit the exterior of the hotel building. The conservatory style façade with modular steel frames allows natural light to infiltrate the space while placing emphasis on the beautiful views of Table Mountain and the harbour in front of the restaurant. Using this light-and-bright approach spoke to the client’s brief of creating a more delicate space that uplifts and excites.

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Locally inspired Inspired by the current decorative stone tiles and dominant mahogany furniture, a new material palette was woven into the existing, turning it into a more vibrant and social dining space. The unique SIBA branding brought a circular theme into the restaurant which inspired the overall style and was incorporated in custom lighting design, joinery details, ceiling layouts, and table décor. Rooting the space in the context of its location, the design was influenced by local materials, manufacturers, and designers, which were highlighted throughout the restaurant.

Hand-made terrazzo tiles from a local studio are used in the new dining room to complement the existing floors inside. Dining chairs were selected from Cape Town-based manufacturer and designer, Louw Roets. The society chair has a solid ebony wood frame and premium cognac leather seating that ties into the rich mahogany joinery palette of the existing space. A mild steel screen with custom designed pattern was locally manufactured and painted with a hand-applied artist technique. For the main feature above the banquet seating area, handcrafted beaded and roped circular lights with brass details were sourced from award-winning KZN artist, Sam Foaden, tying in to the recurring circular theme that captures the entire space.

Bringing a timeless style to a contemporary dining experience, the carefully curated SIBA – The Restaurant is a culinary space which does justice to the flair and flavour of a local icon’s celebrated brand.

Elevating the restaurant through delicate design, Mobius Interior Architecture created an environment that is nothing short of a feast for the eyes and the soul.

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MEET THE TEAM Interior Architect & Designer: Mobius Interior Architecture | Renovations & Alterations Architect: Craft of Architecture | Photographer: Inge Prins 73

www.mobiusstudio.co.za @mobius_interior_architecture

'Rooting the space in the context of its location, the design was influenced by local materials, manufacturers, and designers, which were highlighted throughout the restaurant.'

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Count the textures of the city The colors of Urban Crush.

COSENTINO SOUTH AFRICA Address: 9 Gerhardus Road, Elandsfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 1406 Postal Address: same as above Tel: 010 500 2131 Email: Info.za@Cosentino.com

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Celebrating Sela Vie 76

That’s

(The Good)

Life

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Location: Val de Vie Estate, Paarl

F

rom under the shade of exquisite parasols on the restaurant terrace, an aura of excellence is tangible at a very special spot on the Val de Vie Estate in Paarl. Known for its chic appeal and decadent dining experiences, Sela Vie is the latest in must-see restaurants in the Cape.

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/ PORTFOLIO /

MEET THE TEAM

www.maisonreyjeane.com @maisonreyjeane

Interior Designer: Maison Reyjeané | Photographer: Elsa Young 79

/ PORTFOLIO /

Birthed from the genius of entrepreneur Henrik Persson Ekdahl, Sela Vie is a delectable addition to the Val de Vie Estate in Paarl. After relocating to Cape Town with his family, Ekdahl wanted to open a space that created more job opportunities for the local community and showed support to two dynamic female entrepreneurs. The space needed to allow guests to have a joyous time with their loved ones while engaging in a celebration of everything that makes life good. To achieve the desired total transformation from its previous establishment, Ekdahl appointed Reyjeané of Maison Reyjeané to tackle the overhaul.

Interior designer Reyjeané says of Ekdahl, ‘He gave me total creative freedom to create an environment that was elegant, serene, and upmarket but still incredibly warm and welcoming.’

The one very specific request was a pleasure to accommodate – to appoint local artisans to manufacture everything. Features like the plaster wall act as stand-out additions to the space, hand-made by a team of wonderful artisans from Plaster Art and Pudlo SA. This allowed for a juxtaposition between an element that looks aged and old in a new, contemporary space.

The resulting feel is that the wall is an original feature of the building and the only thing left remaining in the space, with a new restaurant built around it.

Another focal point is the stone and wooden clad fireplace – an exquisite addition to the key pieces of furniture, striking light features above the bar. Finally, the entrance to the restaurant is made impactful by a Murano Glass chandelier and accompanying candelabra custom made for Maison Reyjeané. With its muted colour palette, splashes of red hues throughout the design choices create an energy reminiscent of the zest for life that inspired Sela Vie. Celebrating life, good food, and community, Sela Vie is a symbol of the best there is to offer. Beautifully crafted by Maison Reyjeané, a seat at this table will make the saying ‘that’s life’ the most positive it has ever been.

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SUPPLIERS Plaster wall Pudlo SA | Stone & wooden clad fireplace De Ville Joinery, Continua | Furniture Moorgas & Sons, Bofred | Light feature Mema Design | Steel works Makit Kustoms | Chandelier Murano Glass | Candelabra Okra Candle | Bread mural Baard & Co. 81

Photography by Riaan West

Freshly La Motte Artisanal Bakery and Garden Café

Baked

tepping onto La Motte Estate, tradition welcomes each guest, inviting them into the restored heritage sites that characterise this comforting haven in the iconic winelands of Franschhoek.

Celebrating the expertly crafted wine, patisserie, and culture that await each guest, the buildings speak the loudest, carrying stories from centuries gone by. Looking to honour this history and spread the invitation to locals and visitors alike, Malherbe Rust Architects accepted the challenge with enthusiasm when owner Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg and her family asked them to bring the goal of expansion to realisation.

Photography by Mickey Hoyle

Location: Franschhoek, Cape Winelands

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/ PORTFOLIO /

Repurposing Jonkershuis La Motte’s owners approached the journey of a revamp with a vision to further the estate’s award-winning site in the spirit of sharing their family’s fondest memories of an enriched life on the farm. Recalling a dynamic history of growing up in a holistic lifestyle, the goal was to repurpose Jonkershuis – originally built in 1752 – which in recent years served the purpose of guest accommodation. The requested transformation proposed to Malherbe Rust Architects required redesigning within the obligatory regulations applicable to historic buildings while creating a working bakery, as well as a kitchen, storage space, and scullery for the new café operations.

Inside the heritage The historical ‘werf’ of La Motte Estate is a proposed grade II heritage site in the Western Cape and was declared a national monument in 1975. Looking to revive the lesser-known historic farmyard and buildings, the first phase of the redevelopment envisaged the re-establishing of some of the daily activities that would have been associated with the historic mill by introducing an artisanal bakery as a warm and inviting space. The essence of the concept was that of an outside wood-fired oven reminiscent of a ‘komyntjie’, along with a light glass and steel structure, echoing the same width and length of the old building in order to maintain elements of the original design structure.

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Countertops WOMAG | Concrete Melt Wahl | Maplette flooring Corcoleum | Stone walls Stone Age | Steel Triomf Staalwerke | Glazing Sunflex SA | Poplar beams & ceilings Thatchscapes | Lighting Eagle Lighting | Waterproofing Sika | Ironmongery Vintage Metals | Interior paint Plascon | Joinery Pierre Cronje | Garden furniture Haldane Martin, Pedersen + Lennard

Photography by Riaan West

SUPPLIERS

86 Photography by Riaan West

'Malherbe Rust Architects found the sweet spot in the amalgamation of old and new, historical and modern, nostalgic and visionary.’

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/ PORTFOLIO /

The first phase of the future The La Motte Artisanal Bakery and Garden Café project was the first phase of the larger site development plan for the wine estate, which aims to keep transforming the estate into an inspired space of solace. After the demolition of the modern addition and removal of plaster on the inside of the historic building, site preparation followed and it took a determined but successful 4-month construction period until practical completion was achieved.

The woodfired bread oven – the essential contribution to the new bakery – was custom designed and produced in France before being sent to the site as a classic yet modern upgraded feature for the confection that would place this bakery on the map. Although minor adjustments had to be made to accommodate the final design and technical specifications, the result is a worthy highlight of the estate and its delectable produce. The solid form of the oven made it possible to anchor the bakery visually at the one end, with a low stone wall defining the site’s boundary. The old house and new addition are coupled with a light glass link and two courtyard spaces which furthers the effortless connection between spaces.

By holding onto Jonkershuis’s traditional aura of a farm abode, but still implementing updated technology in subtle and natural ways, Malherbe Rust Architects found the sweet spot in the amalgamation of old and new, historical and modern, nostalgic and visionary. With a bright future ahead, La Motte’s refreshed site continues the legacy of the farm while pursuing its potential to the fullest.

www.mrarch.co.za @malherberustarchitects

Photography by Riaan West

MEET THE TEAM Architect: Malherbe Rust Architects | Interior Designer: Basalt | Landscape Architect: CNDV Landscape Architects | Landscape Installer: DDS Projects | Contractor: CSV Construction | Quantity Surveyor: OAQS | Structural & Civil Engineer: De Villiers Hulme | Mechanical Engineer: Consult C | Electrical Engineer: DMCE 88

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Artful

Abode

Crafting a Canvas for African Collections 91

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/ PORTFOLIO /

Cape Town dream pied-à-terre if there ever was one, Parama is nestled near the V&A Waterfront's Silo Precinct. The home began as a blank canvas for the owner's burgeoning collection of South African and African art - a dream opportunity for design studios ARRCC and OKHA. Anchored by the iconic Zeitz MOCAA, the precinct exudes artistic and architectural significance, a combination that shapes the character of the district and subsequently this artful abode.

Contextual design inspiration: Marinas and mountains Noteworthy cultural and geographical landmarks, including marina views and the imposing Devil's Peak (part of Table Mountain), influenced ARRCC and OKHA's approach to the interiors. These contextual prompts played a pivotal role in shaping the design narrative.

Minimalism redefined: A unified inner shell In response to the client's strictly minimalistic brief, ARRCC opted for a unified inner shell rather than separate rooms. Integrated cabinetry conceals storage, presenting sleek, uncluttered surfaces throughout the apartment. This design choice allowed for variations in scale and volume, subtly defining distinct areas within the larger open-plan space.

Sculpting spaces: Kitchen, dining, and lounge Clearly defined volumes, such as the champagne aluminium-clad kitchen, seamlessly integrate into the larger white interior. Similar approaches extend to dining and lounge areas, with distinct materials maintaining a monolithic appearance. Transitional spaces act as aesthetic 'palate cleansers,' employing variations in materials, texture, and pattern.

Implied connectivity: Running lines in design

Location: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

In the pursuit of a thematic motif within minimalism, ARRCC introduced running lines into joinery and lighting design. These lines, stopping short of connecting, create a sense of implied connectivity between spaces and elements of the interior architecture.

SUPPLIERS Switches Lumen8 | Lighting Marset, GUBI, Floss, Lesbo Table Lamp Artemide | Furniture OKHA, Cassina | Outdoor furniture OKHA | Sanware Exquisite Bathrooms, Newform | Cabinetry Kitchinc | Flooring Bestwoood | Countertops WOMAG, bulthaup | Lounge feature light fitting manufactured by All Designs, designed by ARRCC & OKHA | Dining chair drinks podium, drinks cabinet & coffee table OKHA custom | Light fixtures One to One, Martin Doller | Artwork Mongezi Ncaphayi, Pierre Vermeulen, Lakin Ogunbanwo, Edoardo Villa, Paul Edmunds | Granite Sculpture Michele Mathison 92

/ PORTFOLIO /

MEET THE TEAM Interior Design: ARRCC | Interior Decor: OKHA | Photographer: Neil Vosloo | Adapted by text from: Graham Wood 94

www.arrcc.com @_arrcc

/ PORTFOLIO /

Metaphorical illumination: Custom light fittings The custom-designed light fitting in the living area serves as a metaphor for the overall design approach. High-tech industrial detailing contrasts with natural, organic walnut blocks, adding a layer of sensory and emotional richness without compromising refined functionality.

Sculptural furnishings: Form and function While the interior architecture carves into space, the furnishings focus on creating sculptural forms. Custom pieces, like the monolithic limestone coffee table, anchor and articulate the spatial experience.

Warmth in elemental materiality and detailing adds sensory richness without detracting from minimalism's clean, calm character.

Serenity in simplicity: Limited material palette Maintaining serenity through a deceptively simple material palette, the apartment reveals its satisfying depth over time. From ribbed marble finishes to chamfered edges, a sensory layering complements the clean, minimalistic aesthetic.

Symbolic detailing: Bespoke cabinets and artful minimalism The bespoke drinks cabinet, akin to the feature light fitting, symbolises the apartment's design philosophy. Asymmetrical doors juxtapose minimalist mirrored surfaces with heavily hand-worked, pitted, and patinated metal. This complexity enhances the nature of minimalism, revealing its intricacy through interaction.

Gallery-like ambiance: Balancing expression and comfort The restrained design creates a gallery-like quality, allowing art to express itself fully while maintaining comfort and livability. Although the apartment appears as a self-contained unit, it remains open to its context, embracing the sparkling lights of the marina and the broader artistic identity of the precinct.

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Sublime Satisfaction Vergenoegd Löw The Wine Estate 96

/ PORTFOLIO /

Location: Stellenbosch Farms, Western Cape

A

s one of the first farms allocated by the VOC, the rich heritage of Vergenoegd Löw The Wine Estate in the Stellenbosch Farms is no ordinary setting. Its history of being a working farm, along with its unmatched magical scenery, make it a site that deserved the most sensitive design approach; an approach that was made for the team of designers at Source Interior Brand Architecture.

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Radical reinvention Source IBA set about mapping a journey of discovery and engagement that would present the property as the incredible farm that it is to a new generation of guests – a journey that is still ongoing today across the 38 000 m² of the property, including the homestead, Werf, Die Geuwels, and Clara's Barn. Even to frequent visitors it had to present a radically reinvented journey guided by the core principle that this is first and foremost a proud working farm, not an attraction. The team sought to radically but respectfully elevate the farm to its former glory, never losing the focus that it is a working farm with a once-famous wine cellar. Attracting a sensitive, curious, and wine-centric guest, the overarching intent was to evoke the feelings of comfort, effortless but considered hospitality, and a sense of ‘leaving it all behind’.

Bold and brave With a firm vision of the total reinvention, buildings were renovated one at a time allowing each to establish its own identity within a larger overall sentiment. In lieu of signage, large interventions attract guests to specific farm destinations. One of the most significant is the ‘corkscrew’ green tunnel that delivers guests from the parking space onto the werf. Most of the spaces feature deliberately humble and unadorned schemes to celebrate the beauty of imperfect historic walls and honour the unpretentious agricultural setting. As a surprise the duck room is moody, bold, brave, and thoroughly modern to reinforce that whilst history is at the core of the farm, it is now a decidedly modern operation with innovative offerings.

A heritage of significance Due to its age and significance, Heritage Western Cape kept a very close eye on all planned interventions and while some concepts were denied, the reasoning kickstarted far more sensitive interventions.

While there is a joy of inheriting generations of space, storytelling, and random ‘stuff’, this can often suffocate new owners. The perspective was thus changed to recognise that we are not merely ‘the keeper’ of what was, we are also writing a valuable part of its history. Source IBA knew it was their duty to thoughtfully reinvent and respectfully reflect their own milieu as part of the ever-evolving story. Original furniture and artefacts were badly stored all over the farm in sweltering attics, dusty pockets of space in barns, and the like. So, while the intention was to use found elements it was often almost impossible to make them usable again.

Source IBA meticulously crafted a core material palette that could seamlessly flow through all the venues on the farm. This blend incorporated warm timber accents, sleek black elements, textured woven details, plush grey upholstery, timeworn rusted metal, white handmade tiles, and an artful infusion of patterns and colours.

This core material group was then implemented in varying ratios throughout each venue to create the spectacular effect found today on the Vergenoegd Löw Wine Estate.

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SUPPLIERS Signage BitterSuite | Statement corkscrew Craig Thomas | Furniture & custom furniture James Mudge, Gregor Jenkin, Brisago, Southern Hospitality, Dark Horse, The Collection Studio, Cane Time | Floral installations Belinda Soboil | Custom joinery and case goods Furniture Factory | Custom rugs Artlab, The Collection Studio | Joinery Local joiners from Macassar, Blackwood Shopfitting | Custom picnic blankets and cushions Pure Design Products | All framed artwork C&G Fine Art | Installation art Rose Waddilove Gelderblom | Custom wallpaper artwork Cara Saven | Objet & lighting Cecil & Boyd, Weylandts

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MEET THE TEAM Interior Designer: Source IBA | Architect: Urban Concepts | Landscape Architect: Planning Partners | Photographer: Sean Gibson 100

www.sourceiba.co.za @sourceiba

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Chapter 3

Whimsical Living

Elemental

Lense

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Great Primary Shapes House 105

Location: Northern suburbs, Johannesburg

/ PORTFOLIO /

W

hen architecture and the mathematical elements collide, the outcome could either be a confusing construction or an ingenious creation. Entrusted to the hands of architect Gregory Katz, it is no surprise that the result for the residence of Kelly-Ann Myles and Julie Parker was the latter — a brilliantly complex design that explores the crossover between disciplines.

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SUPPLIERS Entrance: Cork pendant lights WiiD Design Dining room: Chairs Louw Roets

/ PORTFOLIO /

Challenging tradition The design takes on a transformative journey, creating a labyrinth of geometric shapes, commencing with a triangle and culminating in a circle.

The goal was to produce a design that would challenge conventional ideas of the traditional house, and who better than Gregory Katz to realise this idea.

‘I presented [the clients] with three options: one in the form of a cube, another as a rectangle, and the third as a hybrid combining elements from both,’ recalls Greg. When Myles and Parker struggled to select a single option, he sketched a rudimentary, yet distinct, digital diagram, combining multiple shapes such as triangles, hexagons, cubes, and circles. Resonating with the clients instantly, they were inspired to push the concept further, suggesting trapezoid windows, which would incite debate and revision throughout the process.

Nestled near the Chinese Nettle Located in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, the property captured the hearts of the owners because of its majestic Chinese Nettle tree, which channelled a sense of simple beauty and contemporariness. The plot covers a considerable 1 600 m², with the house occupying a mere 275 m², leaving ample space for the garden, pool, and entertainment area.

Inviting exploration and delight The concept for Greg’s adventurous undertaking originated from a book that fascinated him—Euclid's Elements. ‘As I delved into the book, I became captivated by the idea of creating a structure where the exterior of each shape is composed of different materials, while the interior materials remain consistent, thereby unifying the spaces,’ he elaborates. ‘Since the design unfolded from the outside in, it became one of the most unconstrained projects I've ever undertaken, devoid of any fixed formulas or constraints.’

Further inspiration is attributed to Greg’s earlier experiences with renowned architects such as Zvi Hecker, known for his emphasis on geometry and asymmetry, and Daniel Liebeskind, renowned for his deconstructive and fragmented style. He shares, ‘Working alongside visionaries like Zvi and Daniel teaches you to embrace bravery, boldness, and independent thinking.’ The Great Primary Shapes House embodies that sentiment and stands as a demonstration of uniqueness, courage, boldness, and sheer excitement.

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SUPPLIERS Patio: Sofa Urbanative | Armchair & lounger Weylandts | Swing chair Studio Sterling | Ceramic side table Custom designed by Cameron Collective | Concrete side table in coral Wolkberg Casting Studio

MEET THE TEAM Architect: Gregory Katz Architecture | Interior Designer: Cameron Collective | Contractor: Kintro Construction | Photography: Elsa Young, Frank Features 109

www.gregorykatz.co.za @gregorykatzarch

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The outcome is a four-bedroom dwelling that not only exceeds its functional purpose but also offers a joyful and stimulating environment. The interconnected living spaces create seamless cohesion, with the outdoors strategically accompanied by the trapezoid windows. The architect’s intent was to invite exploration and delight in every corner, captivating the imagination with its progressive metamorphosis. Part of the house's distinctive charm lies in the fact that the façade wows without paint or decoration; each shape possesses and facilitates its own unique identity and distinctive character.

Tackling tricky tapering The triangular entryway was not initially part of the design, but was incorporated to accommodate the double volume hall and staircase. Incorporating a staircase within the A-frame structure was especially challenging, as the triangular shape tapers as it ascends, making the space easily cluttered. So, Greg experimented with angling the staircase on the floor plan and discovered that by aligning it just right, it could climb at the perfect 3D angle, following the contour of the wall. This non-axial placement also allowed space for the entrance door at the base of the stairs, adding a fascinating association and harmony between floor plan and section.

For the interior, the clients wanted a space that was special and unique, while still being comfortable, functional, and unfussy. Not looking for a lot of décor, Cameron Collective ensured that each piece was thoughtfully selected or custom designed. To create small bursts of excitement among the desired muted feel, pops of colour like an emerald fireplace were added. The result is a holistic environment where the furniture, artwork, and architecture all complement each other and allow enough room for each element to sing.

For a duo that needed a freethinking, stimulating residence, the Great Primary Shapes House could not have been a better product of Gregory Katz’s inspired vision. Meticulously executed, the geometry of the house is a testament to the prolific possibilities of great architecture.

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SUPPLIERS Vinyl flooring FloorworX | Timber doors Amoretti | Concrete AfriSam Readymix, Penetron | Tiles Union Tiles, Wolkberg Casting Studio |

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Living room: Curved sofa Custom designed by Cameron Collective | Lounge chair & footstool Custom designed by Cameron Collective | Tripod side table with terrazzo top Custom designed by Cameron Collective | Table lamp Arrange Studio | Metal tripod coffee table Custom designed

by Cameron Collective | Curved wood bench Houtlander | Rug Custom made by Yudu | Sweep ottoman Custom designed by Cameron Collective

Peak

Serenity The simple life of Mountain House

Location: Steenberg Ridge, Cape Town

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short way down the inclines of Cape Town’s Steenberg Mountains, an obscure home sits calmly among the local flora. Integrated as part of the landscape, Chris van Niekerk’s CIFA 2023 Awardwinning creation is a haven that boasts a sense of sophisticated minimalism while sporting an earthy, slightly rugged feel – an elegant contribution to the natural environment. Stepping towards serenity, life in Mountain House is all about simplicity...

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‘Stepping towards serenity, life in Mountain House is all about simplicity...’

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Exploring the landscape A luxury not afforded as often as most architects and designers would like, the project began with a widely open brief, offering generous freedom for creative exploration. Chris van Niekerk was awarded the project by clients who wanted more than just a home between countries; they wanted a space to co-exist with the mountainscape of one of the most incredible cities in the world.

Life among the mountain Situated on a landscape spanning 4 000 m², Mountain House forms part of the earth with two levels that slot seamlessly into the elevation. Surrounding the house, marks of previous construction decorate the Steenberg site, a sign of past ventures that had come before this project was conceived. In respect to what had been built before, the plans for the project acknowledged these remnants and avoided where possible further disruption on the site in the hope of preserving history rather than erasing it.

Natural site, considered design To follow the freedom granted by the clients, Van Niekerk kept his designs simply distinct, with three key sections that stand out. Laid out in the shape of a ‘U’, the structure caters for multiple factors: resident privacy, weather adaptation, spacing, views, and solar direction. The first part of the U consists of a guest bedroom and study, the structure peeking out from a garden wall that merges with the landscape, and a swimming pool resting next to it. The second part prioritises refuge from the elements and comfort as a terrace-style in- and outdoor combination living area, offering views of False Bay and the surrounding mountains. Finally, the kitchen and living area form the third part of the structure, accompanied by the main bedroom.

The sometimes jagged, sometimes geometric qualities of the design imitate the rocky mountain surrounds with a touch of elegance that matches that of its setting. A clean finish and simplified material palette contribute to its natural integration without disappearing into the background.

In keeping with the theme of respecting surroundings while introducing a new structure, the vegetation was restored from previous damage and indigenous flora from the area were reintroduced, providing a water-wise solution to an area sensitive to drought. As these plants flourish, the structure and landscape will blend further to achieve the goal of architect and client.

The significance of Mountain House is achieved through no small feat; natural and man-made environments co-exist without extravagant styles or overt efforts. By opting for a muted colour palette of light greys, an interesting yet uncomplicated structure, and the serenity of blended interior and exterior, this build pursues its goals with a straightforward dedication.

In doing so, the residents are given the ultimate dwelling near the blue above that projects the idea: sometimes the most valuable experiences are the ones with the simplest, most natural approach.

MEET THE TEAM Design & Project Architect: Chris van Niekerk | Structural Engineer: Inovic Structural Design | Mechanical Engineer: Jo Lubbe & Associates | Landscape Architect: Mary Maurel Gardens | Main Contractor: Eurodev Projects | Photographer: Greg Cox

www.cvn.co.za @cvnarch

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SUPPLIERS Interior furniture MŪVEK | Lime plaster Afrimat | Granite floor tiles Mazista | Kitchen bulthaup | Sanware Catalano, Geberit, IB Rubinetti | Lighting & electrics LedsC4, Foscarini, Astro, Wever & Ducre, Legrand

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Under the African Sun at Atrium House

Photography by Jamie Thom

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he story of Atrium House began with an invitation from a well-known client to view their newly-purchased land, after having left their home in a gated community for something bigger and better—the kind of dream that grows as each family does. Eager to assess a potential new challenge, the team at Drew Architects headed to the site in Benoni to find a stretch of opportunity that would be awarded the PIA 2023 Award for Architecture. Dating back to the 90s, the building and its property had caught the eyes of their new owners and now needed to be renovated, or so they thought...

Photography by Jamie Thom

Location: Benoni, Gauteng

Pieces of a puzzle The site itself was beautiful, fairly level with a few mature trees around the perimeter. Unfortunately, the featured home – a Tuscan-style building in the very centre of a roughly 3 000 m² site – was a poor example of Tuscan architecture, and the magnitude of the site’s scale was disturbed by the small pockets of landscaping around the perimeter of the house that remained. The home had been built against an existing swimming pool that seemed to have existed for much longer than the house itself and which was designed in a contrasting shape. All the pieces of the puzzle didn’t quite fit together cohesively, and the client wanted to renovate the existing house to make place for a spacious garden. However, once the team had done an evaluation of the site and measured up the existing house, it was clear that the building’s positioning right in the middle of the site undermined the client’s ability to leverage the scale of the garden.

The family who now called this property home were looking for more space and freedom in the form of a ‘contemporary dream home’; a simple but striking, modern, family-orientated home intimately connected to nature. Wanting nothing radical nor conventional, Drew Architects listened to the client’s needs by opting for a measured approach that still pushed the boundaries where possible.

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Photography by Jamie Thom

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Photography by Josh Chisholm

'Wanting nothing radical nor conventional, Drew Architects listened to the client’s needs by opting for a measured approach that still pushed the boundaries where possible.'

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With the focus largely on the land that surrounded the house, a key requirement for the garden was to cater for the children, making it a vast open space not dominated by play equipment. It also had to be appealing to the adults by providing a manicured green oasis. Inside, the living space needed to be unique and special but not at the expense of practicality or delivering a warm family home. The relationship between building and property that followed was organised into four distinctly proportioned spaces: entrance, vehicle area, the children’s garden, and the adult’s garden.

The transitions between these external spaces are carefully considered and orchestrated seamlessly by the unified approach to architecture and landscaping. The green rooms/ atriums/ courtyards incorporated into the plan provide more intimate encounters with nature whilst moving through the home, contrasting the vast experience of nature as a result of the size of site. These atriums also provide relief and soften the architecture, create opportunities for feature trees, provide visual separation as required, or act as sun traps during morning coffee sessions.

A complete composition At the request for a comparatively small first versus ground floor, the ‘mushroom’ feature column was designed to support the proportions.

Similarly, the request for a home cinema was used creatively as an opportunity to introduce a curved and textured off-shutter concrete, ‘geared concrete’, feature wall, which together with the feature column and the bold first floor building form complete the composition on arrival.

The home demonstrates a balanced approach to creatively meeting client needs with aspirational but also approachable architecture, implementing a clever organisation of the site, honesty, consistency and restraint in materiality, and a series of architectural features born out of constraints. The interior design, together with the landscape design, intentionally reinforce the architectural vision and successfully achieve a family sanctuary under the African sun.

Photography by Josh Chisholm

MEET THE TEAM Architect: Drew Architects | Contractor: Vestim Construction | Structural Engineer: V&H Consulting | Interior Designer: Cocoa Bean Interiors | Landscape Designer: EarthArt | Surveyor: Survcor

Photography by Josh Chisholm

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www.studiodrew.co.za @drewarchitects

Photography by Josh Chisholm

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Nima Lodge’s Sand Cabins

Into the

Wilderness

Location: Hoekwil, Wilderness

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W

hen you hear ‘sand’ you might not think of a place of luxury, relaxation, and luscious greenery.

Luckily, the Sand Cabins at Nima Lodge defy the usual associations, taking their name inspiration only from the style and shape of sand dunes. An escape to Nima Lodge’s enchanting Sand Cabins, designed by Stretch Architects, offers a trio of timber hideouts in the heart of the Garden Route–the cosy seaside town of Wilderness.

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MEET THE TEAM Architect: Stretch Architects | Interior Designer: Nima Lodge Interiors | Contractor: Knysna Timber Homes | Photographer: Chris Joubert, CJ Chandler 131

www.stretcharchitects.com @stretch_architects

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The cabins’ location is a peaceful plot known as Nima Lodge, which offers private self-catering accommodation. Setting the perfect scene for a getaway, views of wooded hills surround the property. To complement this setting, Stretch Architects were tasked to design three petite sanctuaries that encompass the mood that permeates the fresh coastal air.

A timber collaboration Wilderness and the greater Knysna area have a rich history of timber construction, which influenced the use of timber in the foundations, with the cabins being built on timber poles (reducing the use of concrete and steel as foundations), creating the effect of floating above the landscape. To accommodate this prioritising of timber, the perfect contractor was essential. Enter Knysna Timber Homes, whose knowledge and experience greatly aided the project’s success and proved the importance of collaboration.

To further honour the area’s timber heritage, Stretch Architects decided to include locally sourced materials in the construction of the cabins, such as South African pine, which has a low travel carbon footprint.

The shape of the Sand Cabins is inspired by the desire to create a quiet space for guests, and privacy was a big factor in determining the footprint of the cabins. The V shape of the design serves three key purposes: it frames and embraces the endless views and sun towards the north; it shelters the cabin and deck from the wind while also promoting privacy between the units; and it makes you feel secure and immersed in your own world.

To create a sense of mystery at the entrance to the cabins, the front door is tucked in between the bathroom tower and the bedroom platform, and is purposely designed to be weighted, emphasising the feeling of safety and retreat. Upon approaching the cabin, guests see nothing but a series of curved timber walls with no windows in them. However, once you enter, the opposite appears before you... The solidity of the front wall is replaced by the transparency of the back, allowing the breathtaking panoramas to present themselves.

In step with nature Nima Lodge is designed to celebrate the rituals of everyday life.

At its core, the three Sand Cabins are shaped by the multiple attempts to best marry the incredible natural surroundings with the rhythms of sleeping, reading, bathing, cooking, and so forth.

From the sunken bath to the toilet tower (with one of the best views imaginable), every element brings a touch of ease. The bed, which is raised and elevated above all the other spaces, expresses this concept the best. Despite the cabin’s small square meterage, by creating multiple level changes through ‘stepping each activity to the next’, Stretch Architects created a volume where everything feels like a journey and each space becomes its own little world.

These undulating havens are the perfect balance of sustainable design and beauty, bringing an air of modern luxury to the raw sophistication of the natural world. With comfort at the fore of every contoured slope, the rhythm of this verdant land is the only lullaby you’ll need in the wilderness.

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Sub-terranean

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Refuge

The allure of The Folly

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Location: North Coast, KwaZulu-Natal

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steep climb to the top of a hill on the KZN North Coast is the path that leads to The Folly.

Unassuming and alluring, this sub-terranean refuge is an extension to a family home that embodies a lifestyle striving towards splendid otium. Despite the challenges that awaited them, such as limited access and the inability to take machinery up onto the hill during construction (to name but a few), Common Architecture applied an unwavering dedication to take what might have seemed ridiculous and turn it into something marvelous. It is no wonder that this intriguing project won the SAIA KZN Award for Architecture and the President's Award.

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'Restrained architectural elements and a subdued brutalist-inspired aesthetic enhance its allure, offering an intriguing and immersive experience for those who inhabit it.'

com mon

MEET THE TEAM Architect: Common Architecture | Interior Designer: Lisa Twyman Interiors | Photographer: Stephanie Veldman Photography 137

www.commonarchitecture.com @commonarch

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A hidden haven After seven years in their house in Dunkirk Estate, the family that calls this site home was looking to create an additional annex behind their house, envisioning a studio, cellar, and party venue.

The objective was to create a tranquil haven, a silent enclave to cultivate creativity. The notion of unseen elegance defines The Folly’s discreet integration within its surroundings. Restrained architectural elements and a subdued brutalist-inspired aesthetic enhance its allure, offering an intriguing and immersive experience for those who inhabit it, and achieving a captivating presence that harmonises with its context without imposing on it.

Crafting elemental harmony The choice of materials for The Folly follows a philosophy of simplicity. Concrete, with its robustness and durability, forms the foundation of the sturdy walls and ceiling. Timber adds warmth and organicity, adding a touch of inviting comfort. Steel elements punctuate the space, lending a sophisticated flair to the space.

Chromatic patterns integrate seamlessly with the surroundings, embracing the greens of nature. This essential selection of materials and colours underwent meticulous consideration–resulting in a composition that seeks to enhance the serenity and beauty of the space.

The site plays a pivotal role in the design process, serving as both a backdrop and a source of inspiration for the architecture.

It was crucial to honour and respect the significance of the space throughout the entire design journey. The concept hence revolves around preserving the distinctive experience of sitting on the hill that the owners cherished. Rather than overpowering or erasing this sensation, the architecture aims to delicately enhance and amplify it. This specific requirement became the focal point, guiding the architectural vision and ensuring a seamless integration with the surrounding environment.

A versatile shelter The Folly offers a versatile haven adapting to the needs of the owners. Its spaces are designed to be transformed or reconfigured, accommodating various activities and fulfilling diverse needs–from ceramic workshops to cellar spaces and music chambers. The design incorporates fluid and modular elements that can be adjusted to suit individual preferences and changing needs. The Folly effortlessly accommodates its owners’ unique lifestyle and passions.

The commitment to environmental preservation and the cherished hilltop experience underscores the reverence for the space and its surroundings–the true owners in every architectural project, if you like. The Folly is not just a structure; it’s an immersive domestic space which delicately invites us to transform our daily lives and cultivate intimacy and leisure. It serves as a sanctuary for the soul, providing a gentle push towards artistic exploration far from the confusion of the urban environment. It stands as a symbol of the profound impact architecture can have, inspiring and uplifting lives.

SUPPLIERS Polished concrete Limeworks | Wine cellar steel work Evco Steel | Bricks Corobrik

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Flamboyant Futurism

In Fresnaye

Under the wings of The Flamingo

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curvaceous nine-storey building in Fresnaye, The Flamingo is a striking fusion of twentieth-century avant-garde and coastal-city modernism. Designed by Robert Silke & Partners for Signatura, the structure is sculpted to frame its scenic surroundings, replete with nautical porthole windows capturing Lion’s Head and the hustle and bustle of Sea Point’s vibrant streets.

As the architectural firm behind celebrated builds The Onyx and Tuynhuys, Robert Silke & Partners is known for their statements, producing sculptural buildings that transcend the ascetic functionalism of the developer norm. A far cry from your typical grey montage, the firm’s portfolio is truly iconic, which is why it was a no-brainer for Signatura to approach Robert Silke to design a new feature in Sea Point.

Tropical modernism The development’s main goal was to be able to offer modern, exciting, fully self-catering micro-apartments, predominantly for holiday rentals and the Airbnb market. The Flamingo’s quirky name is a deliberate reference to the upbeat tropical modernism that marries serious European design of the 1920s and 1930s with the flamboyant grandeur of the great coastal resort cities of Miami, Rio de Janeiro, and Honolulu.

The Flamingo sports five perfectly identical silos built using square bricks and plaster, the cylindrical shapes becoming a defining feature of the development. Wedged in between dated flats and commercial premises, the site is wide and shallow. As a result, from the first floor through to the eighth, every apartment shares the same panoramic views, with a focus on either dramatic views across Fresnaye, the slopes of Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, or sights of the Atlantic Ocean. To maximise the blue sky and sunlight above the mountain silhouettes, The Flamingo’s sliding doors generously stretch all the way from floor to ceiling to capture the mountain views, whilst the balconies are architecturally staggered away from the next apartment to promote personal privacy.

Micro living The studio apartments cleverly harness smart design solutions to optimise every square metre of space (at 25 m², calling it ‘micro living’ would be an understatement), while the handful of one-bedroom apartments are corner units, each with their own individual design quirks and idiosyncrasies.

A nautical design theme can be seen throughout, from gantries to silos and decks. Some units even sport super-sized circular porthole windows framing Lion’s Head, while other windows featuring frameless corners facing the sea.

Location: Fresnaye, Cape Town 142

SUPPLIERS Windows & doors World of Windows | Furniture Weylandts | Sanware Flush Bathrooms | Joinery Malco | Countertops Caesarstone | Paint Plascon | Appliances SMEG South Africa | HVAC Maclaren South Africa

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Reflecting space and light The apartments have been designed to maximise space and light, and feature quirky internal curves that mirror the rippling flamingo-shaped rhythm of the façade. Gleaming solid white floors (tilted at a quirky 45-degree angle) are a sophisticated and understated design feature which meld seamlessly into the warm white walls and matte white joinery. Along with elegant black metal handles, edgings, and trims the details cleverly project the ample natural light around the rooms.

The bright white floors extend right into the bathrooms, where traditional ‘Johnsons White’ small-format wall-tiles evoke the feel of clean and sophisticated metropolitan apartments. As a remarkable and unprecedented standard feature, The Flamingo’s kitchens offer the subtle ostentation of solid Sardo granite countertops, which fold-up and wrap into matching granite splashbacks. All of this sophisticated monochromatic restraint is joyfully juxtaposed against a pastel flamingopink feature wall in honour of the residence’s namesake.

The building’s public spaces are well-finished and compact, with solid stone floors in all lift lobbies, as well as the main entrance lobby.

What’s more, there’s a dramatic and generous rooftop sundowner terrace for the enjoyment of all who call this pearly giant home. An ultra-modern living solution to the bustle of the Mother City, The Flamingo gathers its residents under its wings to offer a seaside-city experience built for citizens of the future.

www.robertsilke.com @robertlaszlosilke

MEET THE TEAM Architect: Robert Silke & Partners | Developer: Signatura | Contractor: Alpha Omega | Quantity Surveyor: Kahts & Sparks | Structural Engineer: S&T Consulting | Interior Designer: Robert Silke & Partners | Interior Decoration, Furniture, & Styling: Weylandt Studio | Mechanical, Electrical, Drainage, & Fire Engineers: Solution Station | Photographers: Wayne Muller, Paris Brummer, Veloz Photos 144

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A Vision on the Vine Baccō Wine Estate

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learing the dust of a dilapidated horse farm’s memory, a reimagining of Baccō Estate emerges with a new lease on life. A remarkable transformation, the plot has evolved into a burgeoning wine estate with a distinct Italian flair.

MEET THE TEAM Landscape Architect: CNDV Landscape Architects | Landscape Contractor: VIP Gardens | Cellar Architect: Anderson Perry Partnership Architects | Photographer: CNDV Landscape Architects, Baccō Estate 148

www.cndv.biz @cndvlandscapearchitects

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SUPPLIERS Trees Just Trees | Pond & water elements Water in Motion

When the farm was acquired by the visionary client several years ago, it faced the challenge of alien vegetation, primarily the invasive Port Jackson willow. Tasked with the monumental redesign, CNDV Landscape Architects embarked on a journey to salvage the neglected expanse. Unlike many projects, Baccō presented a near-clean slate for CNDV, offering only a few constraints such as contours, drainage lines, existing buildings, and sparse trees. The team, armed with a vision and guided by the unique elements of the land, set out to create a truly extraordinary design.

The entrance, strategically placed opposite an existing counterpart, played a pivotal role in shaping the design, alongside the stream that bisects the property. Soil tests paved the way for the optimal placement of vineyards and diverse grape varieties, forming the foundation for the initial concepts. CNDV meticulously organised the landscape into a slightly formal design, incorporating windbreaks, roads, and visual axes to structure the farm in an orderly manner.

The rejuvenation of the existing stream into a wide, informal natural habitat using indigenous plants and trees further underscores the commitment to preserving the farm's ecological balance. Italian cypresses and poplars, strategically planted in phases, also create axes and windbreaks that add character to the landscape. Finally, the vineyards form the backbone of Baccō, with additional crops slated for planting in the coming years.

A significant milestone in this transformation was the completion of the wine cellar, tasting room, and restaurant, complemented by the initial phase of the gardens. The careful selection of mature olives and 1 000-litre cork oak trees adds a touch of sophistication to the surroundings. Embracing indigenous flora, a detailed planting plan was employed featuring a diverse palette of plants in a reserved colour scheme; low-growing shrubs and ground covers, adorned with white, blue, mauve, indigo, and purple flowers, work to create a harmonious balance with the more muted olives and cork oaks.

To guide visitors through the landscape, dark gravel pathways contrasted with red brick edgings are laid out strategically, and water features in the backdrop soothe the bustle of the dust road. The spacious outdoor area with gravel and lawn provides ample room for large gatherings and outdoor functions, ensuring that Baccō is not just a wine estate but a versatile haven for various occasions.

As the estate continues to mature, future phases promise to bring additional vineyards, crops, and evolving built forms, enriching the landscape and solidifying its place as a beacon of agricultural and architectural innovation in Paarl. This handywork by CNDV Landscape Architects relays the transformative power of thoughtful design and unwavering dedication to preserving the essence of the land.

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Chapter 4

Divine Light

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The restoration of the Beit Midrash Morasha Synagogue

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Location: Sea Point, Cape Town

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n a small Sea Point street near the natural marvels of Cape Town’s mountains, a monument of faith humbly presents itself to the suburb. Following many decades of service and an unfortunate event in 2018, the Beit Midrash Morasha Synagogue was awaiting restoration when the congregation found a solution in the expertise of Metropolis Design, the firm which would earn the rehabilitated synagogue a 2023 CIFA Award.

‘To cast a play on light and shadow from above, a simple lantern in the centre of the ceiling has a captivating floating Star of David motif.’

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In good faith Following a devastating fire in 2018, the opportunity for a fresh start presented itself for the richly significant synagogue on Arthur’s Road, Sea Point. The project posed a conservation challenge that Metropolis was confident to accept: innovate and shift the inherent meaning of a site without disturbing the layers of association embedded within its history.

Metropolis proceeded by adopting a strategy to preserve and maintain the existing interior and exterior envelopes, as well as classic period details, while simultaneously adding new isolated contemporary design elements which would engage with what was being preserved.

A space for change The Beit Midrash Morasha Synagogue building was constructed in 1925 as a Dutch Reformed Church, and by 1954 it was converted to a synagogue, maintaining the build but adding several new features in a Moderne/Art Deco style (as opposed to the original Cape Dutch Revival design that no longer suited the purpose of the space).

Despite council regulations prohibiting any additions being made to the synagogue envelope and requiring that the new roof did not exceed the extent of the existing roof, there were several possibilities for change which would enhance the synagogue’s appearance and functionality. The scope of work consisted of a new sanctuary roof, preserving the façades, new interiors, a new staircase to link the ladies’ gallery to the foyer, and reducing the size of the ladies’ gallery to create a new youth room on the top floor.

SUPPLIERS Sanware Your Space | Flooring Gorgeous Floors, Dynamic Flooring | Lighting GS Lighting | Ceilings Allum Projects | Seating Khanda Seating | Joinery HG Holiday | Aluminium screens Tilt Screens | Roofing Levenbach Roofing | Marble WOMAG | HVAC Airvent | Stained glass windows Art Glassworld

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MEET THE TEAM Architect: Metropolis Design | Heritage Architect: Rennie Scurr Adendorf Architects | Quantity Surveyor: Shevel & Simpson Quantity Surveyors | Structural Engineer: Hulme & Associates | Electrical Engineer: Lewis & Kroon | Mechanical Engineer: Jo Lubbe | Contractor: Status Africa | Lighting Consultant: GS Lighting | Landscape Architect: Tarna Klitzner Landscape Architects | Photographer: Paris Brummer 157

www.metropolisdesign.co.za @metropolis_design_

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Befitting simplicity A key opportunity for revival in the project was found in the work on the roof, where more specific Jewish symbolism could be incorporated into the synagogue. An octagonal roof, detached from the walls by a continuous band of fixed glazing, was placed over the original cruciform plan. As a result, a new geometry is enforced, providing much-needed natural light that entirely transforms the character of the sanctuary as a place of worship. The original silhouette of the sanctuary from the outside was not significantly altered, adhering to the requirements of the process. To cast a play on light and shadow from above, a simple lantern in the centre of the ceiling has a captivating floating Star of David motif.

The aron kodesh, a focus of a type of synagogue ritual, had a much-loved copper surround, which was damaged in the fire. After much negotiation regarding the Jewish halachic requirements, a design was decided upon with the kind of simplicity that befits an aniconic religion: two silvery marble tablets with artistic calligraphy representing the ten commandments were placed on either side of the ark. The memory of the old copper ark surrounds was preserved in two adjacent wall panels. Other abstract Jewish motifs were further applied onto screens, balustrades, and furniture. The mechitzah was interpreted as a vertically sliding device fixed to the seating, making it possible to obtain different congregation sizes depending on the occasion. One feature which was kept as found, on the advice of an acoustic engineer, was the timber flooring, as it contributes a resonant effect on amplifying communal singing. The shortening of the synagogue’s upper gallery and the addition of absorbent ceilings at the rear of the synagogue also reduced the echo for the individual voice.

Altogether a mixture of bold imagination, restraint, and sensitivity to diverse concerns was essential to give a dated heritage building timeless worth for both the present and future. Once witnessed, the spectacular synagogue offers its story for those around and within it, ensuring they will never be alone on their journey.

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Where Minimalism meets Majesty

Symmetry

Sacred

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Few spaces are as sacred and intimate as a chapel.

estled in an urban fabric, between a leafy, low-rise residential suburb and towering apartment buildings, a small, pristine white chapel emerges as a simplified multifunctional sanctuary. This space reinvents and complements the need for solitude in prayer and meditation. Far from prophesying the church of the future, the concept of minimalism underscores the essence of the space, paying homage to early Christian buildings with a simple yet significant genus loci. The focus lies on the sensory experience of a contemporary space, transcending mere materiality.The Chapel finds its home on the Doxa Deo Campus in Brooklyn, Pretoria.

The guiding force The building footprint's form was guided by the narrow space between a single-storey administrative building and the processional entrance adjacent to the main church building. Responding to the site, the plan took shape as the sacred number seven and its mirrored representation, later unfolding into a curved design that establishes two points: a beginning (Alpha) at the entrance and an end (Omega) at the cross behind the altar. Symbolic elements and materials, such as light, water, timber, and white, were introduced. While subtle references to Christianity persist, these symbols remain open to interpretation, allowing the space to unfold and speak for itself.

A majestic Leopard tree already graces the entrance courtyard, evolving into a new olive tree landscape, extending the sanctuary provided by the Chapel—the Olive Garden.

The structure To accentuate the Chapel's airy appearance, a clad light steel frame structure became the obvious building system. This choice allowed the curved walls and roof panels to seemingly float on different planes, ushering natural light into the space. The combination of smooth and textured walls adds depth to the relatively small façade. The dramatic, pointed roof cantilever accentuates the point of entry.

Grand entrance A water fountain in the entrance courtyard cascades into a flowing stream, framing the curved façade. The cantilevered structure appears to hover over the water, its sound muting the city noises. A bridge to the entrance courtyard serves as a transitional element into the space of meditation and spirituality.

The contrast of space and materiality The interior deliberately contrasts the clean, white (holy) exterior. Flush timber panelling and slats create a warm, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere for silent prayer and meditation. The curved form and slatted wall panels contribute to a pleasant acoustic value and a muted atmosphere.

Location: Brooklyn, Pretoria 162

MEET THE TEAM Architect: Neo Architects | Main Contractor: Ohlhorst Africa LBS (Pty) Ltd | Photographer: Paris Brummer 163

www.neoarchitects.co.za @neo_architects

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Let there be light Narrow fenestration and skylight slots in the chapel's envelope allow natural light to permeate the space. Opaque skylights, mirroring the building's shape, subtly reveal the substructure. The ever-changing patterns resulting from the sun's movement bestow a unique character upon this space, inviting appreciation in its evolving essence.

Comfort The building's ventilation relies on thermal convection. Windows on the southern façade, at floor level, draw cool air over flowing water, expelling warm air through windows on the opposite side beneath the roof. This process creates a natural airflow. The walls, with superior insulation properties, ensure precise climate control. Solar studies indicate a heat gain factor during winter months, enhancing the interior's warmth.

Flexibility Chapel benches are mobile, fostering a flexible interior that adapts to varying uses and future needs. With a conventional layout accommodating up to 40 people, the space remains versatile.

Beacon of light Illuminated at night, the chapel remains accessible 24/7 while preserving its internal solitude. The natural light qualities of the fenestration transform subtly, revealing the illuminated interior after dark.

Strategically placed strip lights along the façade turn it into an urban anchor, seamlessly integrating it into its surroundings.

SUPPLIERS Electrical fitting Hi-Tech Lighting | Internal wooden cladding Titan Shop Fitters | Windows & doors Advanced Fenestration | External cladding system Terraco

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CONSTRUCT THE WORLD BEYOND THE EXPECTED

Waterproofing

Sealing and Bonding

Flooring

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Student environments should be conducive to open collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking.

Comfort and ergonomics are key in student motivation and higher engagement. Which is why it is important to offer comfortable functional seating that creates a unique learning environment.

Extremely versatile, functional two and three seat seating systems with writing boards. An elegant

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Chapter 5

Campus Chronicles

to Care

Teaching for tomorrow at Lapalala Wilderness School

Learning

Location: Vaalwater, Limpopo

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n an expedition to plant a seed of value for diversity in the youth of today and tomorrow, Lapalala Wilderness School is an educational institution passionate about ecoconsciousness and biodiversity. With part of that journey deeply rooted in the building that houses the pursuit, architecture firm Local Studio found themselves in the fortunate position to bring this eco-marvel to fruition. In doing so, they were able to inspire a new generation of environmentally-conscious youth, earning the building a Net Zero Carbon status and Merit Award from SAIA Limpopo region.

A function for the future The goal for the school was two-fold: Firstly, the design needed to display the potential that lies within sustainable design by including an array of self-sustaining features and achieving a commendable Net Zero Carbon rating. The build also needed a design that made it practical to serve as a dynamic hub for environmental education, empowering students to become active participants in conservation.

Humble beginnings Originally established in 1981, the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve is a recognised UNESCO biosphere reserve. Situated within the Waterberg region of South Africa, the reserve spans approximately 48 000 hectares of pristine land. The original school, which was launched in 1985 in a humble farmhouse within the reserve, has offered education programmes to visiting schools with a focus on biodiversity and conservation education.

After an introduction of predator species to the Lapalala Wilderness reserve, new educational, dining, and administration facilities, as well as residential accommodation, became a pressing priority.

And so, a new location was discovered – a reserve in a rehabilitated bushveld alongside the Palala River, offering not only a new beginning but also the opportunity to evolve to a new level.

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/ PORTFOLIO /

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SUPPLIERS Solar plant installation 1Energy | Thermodynamic hot water heating units Energie | Bio-Mite wastewater treatment plant Calcamite | Walkway hardwood canopy installation Intex Timbercraft | Paving Corobrik | Tiles Italtile and Ceramic Foundation | Aluminium doors & windows PG Glass Silverlakes | Lighting Rebel Lighting | Signage Büro Comrie | Doors The Door Group | Gas installation The Gas Specialist | Polished concrete floors Concrete Grinding Specialists | Furniture Pedersen + Lennard, Houtlander, Dokter and Misses, Neil Grantham Studio, RAW Modular Furniture Design, Ashanti

/ PORTFOLIO /

A natural education Right from the project's inception, the core concept of going ‘off-grid' was an integral part of the school's vision. With a curriculum centred around conservation, ecology, and the safeguarding of wildlife and natural resources, it was crucial for the campus to embody these principles in its design and construction.

Setting itself apart from traditional educational settings, the Lapalala Wilderness School embraces a design that seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor spaces. The educational, dining, and administration buildings are thoughtfully arranged around inviting courtyard areas. These outdoor breakout spaces provide comfortable and shaded settings for teaching. Amidst the library and offices, a Boma serves as a storytelling and stargazing space, where students gather around a crackling fire at night. These dynamic outdoor spaces not only meet educational needs but also exemplify Local Studio's enduring commitment to pioneering innovative public spaces in rural communities across South Africa.

Meticulous materials, outside and in A standout effort is undeniably found in the project’s thoughtful selection of materials.

Incorporating self-excavated rammed earth, rock, timber with concrete and masonry structures, and clay brick pavers in the same striking red hues as the iron-rich rammed earth, works to unite the conscious environment.

For Local Studio, interior and exterior held equal importance to create a holistic experience and enduring environment. Meticulous attention to detail was dedicated to elements such as the sealed laminated rafters, exposed plywood ceilings, and polished concrete floors, tinged with a subtle pink hue derived from the aggregate sourced from on-site excavations. Customdesigned furniture pieces in collaboration with a group of South African designers together with a selection of hardwood and steel furniture were purposefully chosen to encourage selfsustainability as they can be maintained by the school's workshop staff.

Lapalala Wilderness School's commitment to environmental responsibility is honoured by this sustainable and engaging build by Local Studio. An example to schools across the country, this project embodies the unwavering accountability institutions should be striving towards.

Despite universal challenges, Lapalala Wilderness School is proof of what determination and inspiration can achieve.

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/ PORTFOLIO /

MEET THE TEAM Architect & Principal Agent: Local Studio | Quantity Surveyor: Aestumo Avium | Structural Engineer: The Structural Workshop | Civil Engineer: Earthworkshop | Main Contractor: Mike Buyskes Construction | Civil & Plumbing Works: MLM-Ben’s | Electrical Works: Bosveld Elektries | Landscaper: Gordon Kershaw | Photographers: Dirk Jacobs and Sean Gibson 175

www.localstudio.co.za @local_studio

'An example to schools across the country, this project embodies the unwavering accountability institutions should be striving towards.’

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A landscape that is correctly hydrozoned can save between 30% and 38% water.

• High water use zone (3 drop) This hydrozone should be kept as small as possible. These plants will need frequent watering throughout the year. Plant 3 drop plants, such as annuals and spring-flowering bulbs, in containers.

• Medium water use zone (2 drop)

Is your landscape hydrozoned?

Keep this hydrozone relatively small, as these plants will need more water than that is received as rainfall in your area. Many popular exotic garden plants are considered 2 drop.

• Low water use zone (1 drop) This hydrozone can be as large as you like. 1 drop plants will thrive mainly on the rainfall received and may only need a little extra water in dry months. Plants suitable for this zone are often indigenous plants.

• Very low water use zone (0 drop) You may make this hydrozone as large as possible. Plants that are categorized in this zone are often established local indigenous plants, shrubs, and succulents. A very low water use area may also include permeable paving and hard landscaping.

www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise logo FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON WATER WISE, PLEASE CONTACT US ON: 0860 10 10 60

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Engineered for

Excellence

University of Stellenbosch’s Civil Engineering Department 179

Location: Stellenbosch, Cape Town

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e-energising the environment in which the engineers of the future are moulded, Stellenbosch University’s Engineering Department embarked on a structural journey of transformation alongside the architectural expertise of KMH Architects. With one phase already under their belt, it was time to take the project to the next level.

Phase 1 of the Civil Engineering Department building refurbishment project was completed in the form of the new Pavement and Geotechnical Research Laboratory. The laboratory became the new home for all the harsh crushing, vibrating, and testing of large-scale concrete, bitumen, and asphalt, along with their academic staff and students. The building sits on the north-east corner of the site, which formerly served as on-campus student parking. This side of the engineering campus not only has spectacular views of the Jonkershoek and Stellenbosch mountain ranges, but is also the side of the campus where most pedestrians from student housing enter the building complex and filter through to the rest of university campus. The building has provided a successful new space for the faculty and activated the previously deserted ‘rear end’ of the site whilst denoting it as a major gateway to the complex and broader pedestrian ground-level thoroughfare.

An edge of refinement The building’s hard-wearing industrial style has been skillfully incorporated into the construction and finish while simultaneously maintaining an edge of refinement and detail which are essential parts of a considered and thoughtful architectural intervention. Phase 1 sets the scene perfectly for the expansion of the project into Phase 2.

The remainder of the Civil Engineering Department temporarily relocated following the first phase, moving into the Decanting Building to allow the commencement of Phase 2. The aim of Phase 2 is to reconfigure the freed-up space in the existing building with six new state-of-the-art lecture theatres of different capacities, as well as new teaching, research, student, and administrative facilities. The services integrated align with the current technology and climate change impact, but can adapt over the life cycle of the building. The new sun screening applied to the existing elevations also adds to energy efficiency while giving the building a strong new identity.

Fostering bright potential The considered and detailed design approach used in Phase 1 is diligently continued throughout Phase 2, complemented by the interior finishes which bring colour, identity, and freshness to the new spaces. While the exterior may seem simple, the interior’s structured use of pattern and repetition reflect the intellectual atmosphere of the building. As a bright space that fosters even brighter potential, this project by KMH is another addition to the firm’s incredible trajectory of housing the genius of our upcoming generations.

SUPPLIERS Ceilings & drywalls Saint Gobain Gyproc | Flooring Tile House, Ceregran, FloorworX | Lighting Regent Lighting Solutions | Paint Plascon | Aluminium fins Cape Coastal Façades | Acoustic panels & wall cladding OWA | Wallpaper ArtLab | Lecture theatre seating & desks Rodlin Design 180

MEET THE TEAM Architect: KMH Architects | Consultants: AL&A, ARQS, Edifice Consulting Engineers, SMEC, BVI, TRIOCON, STAC, Transport Telematics Africa, Safe Working Practice | Photographer: Nicki Priem, Mad Little Badger 181

www.kmh.co.za @kmh_architects

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The Considered

Campus

Stellenbosch University’s Biomedical Research Institute 183

Location: Paarl, Western Cape

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T

he latest addition to the University of Stellenbosch’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Science campus, the BMRI, or Biomedical Research Institute, forms part of the university’s legacy of fostering excellent medical professionals. To accompany the new building designed by Roelof Rabe Argitekte, the landscape needed to accommodate these future professionals in an uplifting way – a job made for the considerate work done by TERRA+ Landscape Architects.

The BMRI aids the expansion of research and teaching activities in the fields of bio-informatics, genomics, clinical anatomy, cardiovascular physiology, neurobiology, advanced surgical sciences, and bio-banking. To promote this noble endeavour, a contemporary, harmonious landscape was necessary.

More importantly, an outdoor space was needed to offer a significant reprise from the intense campus lifestyle.

As an area where the majority of social interaction takes place, TERRA+ concentrated on promoting positive outdoor space that can be enjoyed by all. Their approach acknowledged that every visitor to these spaces holds significance; even the chickens that reside on campus were thought of as users.

Integrated connection In realising the concept, the following areas were the focus: East entrance, West entrance, the park, the Dean’s garden, atrium, courtyard, and parking lot – all the spaces in-between the new BMRI building. The team was responsible for the layout of the space and the design and detailing of the hard-landscaping elements such as pergolas and paving. Consideration was given

to allowing the outside to permeate the inside with echoes of the paving patterns reflected in the floor patterns of the atrium space, strengthening the integrated connection.

To prioritise an indigenous environment, the planting palette included endemic species where possible and the rich fynbos floral kingdom of the Western Cape. The diversity of the fynbos biome provides seasonal change and interest which contributes to the sense of place and identity. The selection of water-wise plants also contributes resilience to the climatic changes typical of the context.

Creating positive spaces The team considered the essential role of trees in creating positive spaces between buildings and their ability to improve the micro climate of spaces

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MEET THE TEAM Landscape Designer: TERRA+ Landscape Architects | Building Architects: Roelof Rabe Argitekte | Main Contractor: WBHO | Landscape Contractor: Life Landscapes | Client: Stellenbosch University | Project Manager: Henry Fagan Consulting Engineers & Project Managers | Civil & Structural Engineers: Ekcon Consulting Engineers | Photographer: David Savage, Southland Photography 185

www.terraplus.co.za @terra_plus

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by reducing glaring light, cooling through evapotranspiration, and improving air quality, all the while reducing noise levels through the absorption of sound in the foliage. To further enhance the enjoyment of outdoor spaces, pergolas were designed for the park, Dean's garden and courtyard areas to provide shade and a respite from the imposing building structures. Finally, in an effort to prevent erosion and improve the management of stormwater drainage in the parking lot, several swales were incorporated into the parking area's design.

By designing a landscape that boosts the spirits of students and staff (and nature) on the BMRI campus grounds, TERRA+ plays an essential role in one of the most important contributions any team could make – facilitating greatness in an industry that holds the future of human well-being in its palms.

SUPPLIERS Paving Ubuntu Concrete Works | Copings Capecast | SUDS BERA Gravel Fix® | Pergolas WBHO

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/ SALI AWARDS /

THE SALI HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP IS AWARDED TO KEN BURGESS Burgess Landscapes has been a long-time member of SALI KZN, enjoying plenty of prestige and renown in the industry. Therefore, it gives us great pleasure to bestow the SALI Honorary Life Membership award upon Mr Ken Burgess.

PROFESSIONAL, AFFORDABLE, SUSTAINABLE, QUALIT Y

SALI acknowledges the contributions made by individuals who have served our organisation, its interest, and the industry at large, and we would like to celebrate one such individual. Ken Burgess was introduced to the nursery industry in 1973 when he was approached to assist with running his family's business, Burgess Florist and Nurserymen.

For 15 years, Ken Burgess managed the nursery in Westville, where he was responsible for both the production and sales. It was during that time that Ken Burgess started a landscaping department, which eventually grew into one of the largest in KwaZulu-Natal, enabling him to leave the family business to start Burgess Landscapes. Today, this venture is a SALI award-winning business operating in South Africa, Angola, and Mauritius.

Trophy Award - Best Landscape Construction With Design Trophy Award - Best Interior Plantscaping Town Lodge Umhlanga

By Others - KwaDukuza People’s Park.

Ken Burgess is one of the founding members of the South African Landscapers Institute and has been involved with SALI from 1984 to 2018. He was SALI National Chairman in 1989 and 1990, and has served SALI and the green industry at large with commitment and dedication, even beyond the call of duty, for 32 years.

HORTICULTURE, SPORTS FIELDS, LANDSCAPING, IRRIGATION, MAINTENANCE, CIVILS Marcus Govender - 071 609 7337 | info@conmargroup.co.za | Gauteng | KwaZulu-Natal | Eastern Cape

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TEL: +27 871 1595

FAX: +27 872 3136

SALES@JUSTTREES.CO.ZA WWW.JUSTTREES.CO.ZA

SPORTURF, THE OFFICIAL PARTNERS FOR GRASSMAX SOUTHERN AFRICA, HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW HYBRID SYSTEM OF THE NEW WORLD CLASS PLAYING SURFACE FOR LOFTUS VERSFELD BLUE BULLS RUGBY AND SUNDOWNS FC.

PLUS! THE COMPLETION OF THE LARGEST SINGLE SYNTHETICS SPORTS SURFACES CONTRACT EVER DONE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA WITH OVER 40000M2 OF WORLD CLASS SPORTS SURFACES AT SOL PLAATJE UNIVERSITY.

A Symbol of

Opportunity

The Sol Plaatje University Auditorium Building

Location: Labram, Kimberley

A

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gripping design that towers the Sol Plaatje University campus in the Northern Cape, the Auditorium Building combines bold and subtle, bright and neutral to provide an academic environment that is both supportive and stimulating.

Awarded for their innovation, and earning the esteemed title as winner in the category of Completed Buildings for Higher Education and Research at the World Architecture Festival, URBA Architects and Urban Designers claimed the honour of building a space that could elevate a campus on the first new institution of higher learning since 1994. Offering a chance to construct a symbol of democracy, inclusivity, growth, and opportunity, the university opened the space up to be curated with care for the students of the future.

The winning design

When an open design competition was launched that called for culturally and environmentally appropriate responses within a tightly controlled framework, URBA Architects and Urban Designers garnered their forward-thinking ideas to submit a proposal that would win the auditorium building commission. The building was allocated a spot on the new university campus, designed by Ludwig Hansen Architects + Urban Designers, that stood as a beacon of potential in the mining town of Kimberley.

The resourceful, solid, and abstract design of the building mirrors the domestic vernacular of the region, where even the smallest solid structures, typically made of stacked stone, shield users from the harsh climate by providing cool interiors. The design is able to facilitate an environment that allows students to continue with the important task of learning despite an array of extremes in the area’s weather, reducing the distraction and fatigue so easily brought by relentlessly high temperatures.

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‘Among these neutral hues, bursts of yellow brighten the space in critical places, not only drawing the eye’s attention to the comfort of seats and windows, but also providing relief to students and staff alike from the harsher colours that dominate the interior.’

MEET THE TEAM Architect: URBA Architects and Urban Designers (Henri and Amálie Comrie) | Client: Sol Plaatje University | Urban Designer: Ludwig Hansen Architects + Urban Designers | Main Contractor: Qualicon Construction | Project Manager: AECOM | Structural, Electrical, Civil, and Fire Engineer: Aurecon | Quantity Surveyor: LimCo QS, Arbitration & Project Management | Photographer: Paris Brummer 192

www.urba.co.za

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Managing space and light In a (successful) attempt to invite natural light into the building and to guide the movement of students as they navigate it, external openings of varying sizes are carved into the classic red, solid brick envelope. On its southern façade, the bold treatment of the sheer, vertical brick plane acts as a headboard that holds the shortest end of a much-needed shaded court which casts welcomed comfort. The other buildings that frame the court present a more permeable interface within a balanced space.

The hollowing out of the minimalist brick mass within the total envelope provided opportunities for the plastic articulation of space and for the controlled use of natural light. The three-dimensional sculpting of the interior provides a variety of pause and breakaway spaces located at different, yet visually connected levels. This is encouraged by the contrasting forms, with clean-cut lines of walls and walkways standing out against the curves and smoothed edges of passages and benches.

SUPPLIERS Brick Corobrik | Ironmongery Ironmongery Warehouse, dormakaba | Steel Central Industries | Aluminium & glazing Glasfit | Joinery & partitions Craucor Joinery | Lifts KONE | Lighting Regent Lighting Solutions | Signage Identisea | Paint Paintsmiths | Flooring Mazista | Tiling Union Tiles | Off-shutter concrete Lafarge South Africa | Fixed static seating Rodlin Design | Artificial sports fields Sporturf

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/ PORTFOLIO /

A play of hues While the envelope of the building is made of flush-jointed clay brick, the interior is made of rendered white walls and off-shutter concrete to allow for the infusion of spaces with natural light that migrates through them, creating moods linked to seasons and the time of day. The fine-grained, 20 mm-thick, black Indian limestone on the floor flows into the curves and can be cut along the perimeter to fit the shape like a carpet, without any skirtings. Among these neutral hues, bursts of yellow brighten the space in critical places, not only drawing the eye’s attention to the comfort of seats and windows, but also providing relief to students and staff alike from the harsher colours that dominate the interior.

The design carefully considers its surroundings and inhabitants, implementing advantageous elements in every area of the build. The resulting structure is a simplistic sanctuary for education and a symbol of the success fostered on the Sol Plaatje University Campus, both currently and to come.

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it’s the product that counts!

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Landscaping Irrigation Maintenance

www.countryline.co.za 2023 SALI Awards of Excellence: 3 Double Golds | 1 Gold & Silver |1 Silver & Gold | 1 Double Silver | 3 Silver & Bronze | 1 Silver