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LEADER
2019/2020 COFFEE TABLE EDITION
O
ur Coffee Table Edition is always something we look forward to presenting the green industry and there is always a lot of office hype selecting the portfolios to be presented! We certainly take great care in putting this special edition together each year-and here it is! This is a brag book for our whole industry. It is a culmination of the highest achieving portfolios and biggest projects of the year, highlighting the excellent work our industry has been involved in. We know that 2020 holds so much promise, and, despite the ‘bad spell’ across the construction industry in recent years- we are hopeful! We now have a president committed to economic growth and job creation, which we are sure will mean an increase in investment into South Africa’s construction industry! Our issues will continue to document the industry’s many successes and promote growth well into the 2020 year and beyond. We have many exciting ideas we will be introducing to our offerings in the year to come as well as growing our annual trade show and monthly issues. We look forward to the promise of the year ahead and to growing our reach, contributors and influence throughout Southern Africa. This issue is for you. Well done to all the teams involved in these magnificent projects.
Chanel @ProLandscaperAfrica
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CONTENTS
CONTENTS
coffee table edition PARK SQUARE
01 COMMERCIAL / HEAD QUARTERS
Client: Park Square Architect: MAP Architects Landscape Design: Crisp Landscapes Landscape Contractor: Life Landscapes
EXXARO HEAD OFFICE
Developer: Growthpoint Properties Architect: AMA Architects Landscape Architect: Interdesign Landscape Architects Landscape Contractor: Bidvest Top Turf
LINKING ROSEBANK
Developer: Redefine Properties Architect: Paragon Architects Landscape Architect: Landmark Studios Landscape Contractor: Life Landscapes
THE MARC
Developer: Eris Property Group Architect: Boogertman + Partners Landscape Architect: African Environmental Design Landscape Contractor: Life Landscapes
78 CORLETT DRIVE
Developer: Legaro Properties Architect: Daffonchio Architects Landscape Architect: LEAP Enviro Landscape Contractor: Unique Landscaping CC
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Pro Landscaper Africa | December 2019
2 PYBUS
Developer: Redefine Properties Architect: GLH Architects Landscape Architect: Landmark Studios Landscape Contractor: Greenacres Landscapes
HERTFORD OFFICE PARK (DAM AREA)
Developer: Abland Architect: MWLF Architects Landscape Architect: Connie Pretorius Landscape Design Landscape Contractor: Bidvest Top Turf
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CONTENTS
SOUTHERNMOST TIP OF AFRICA
Client: South African National Parks Board (SANParks) Architect: Stephen Dugmore Landscape Architect: Bernard Oberholzer and Megan Anderson Project team: Agulhas Icon Design Group
SABLE PARK
Developer: Rabie Property Group Architect: dhk Architects Landscape Architect: Planning Partners Landscape Contractor: Interplant Horticulture
WEST COAST FOSSIL PARK
Client: West Coast Fossil Park Board of Trustees Architect: Noero Architects Landscape Architect: OvP Associates Landscape Contractor: Vula Environmental Services
CUMMINS WATERFALL
Developer: Attacq & Zenprop Architect: Empowered Spaces Architects Landscape Architect: Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects Landscape Contractor: Countryline Africa
PWC TWISTING TOWER
Developer: Attacq Architect: LYT Architects Landscape Architect: Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects Landscape Contractor: Greenacres Landscapes
02 PARKS / URBAN & PUBLIC SPACES BATTERY PARK
Developer: V&A Waterfront Architect: dhk Architects Landscape Architect: Planning Partners Landscape Contractor: Contours Landscapes
FRASER STREET
Developer: Eris Property Group Architect: Boogertman + Partners Implementation: Seamless Flooring Systems (Playsafe) www.prolandscaper.co.za
December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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CONTENTS
NORVAL FOUNDATION
Client: The Norval Family Architect: dhk Architects Landscape Contractor: Keith Kirsten Horticulture International
KLIPSPRUIT SPORTS CENTRE
Client: Johannesburg Development Agency Landscape Architect: Iyer Landscape Contractor: Muziwozwane Trading Enterprise
DESMOND TUTU FOUNDATION
Client: Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Architect: theMAAK Landscape Design & Implementation: Hartscapes
OLD GRANARY
Client: City of Cape Town Architect: GAPP Architects and Urban Planners Landscape Architect: Megan Anderson Landscape Architect Landscape Contractor: Peninsula Landscaping and Arid Earth Solutions
ALEXANDRA PARK
Client: Msundzi Muncipality Architect: Iyer Landscape Architect: Iyer Landscape Contractor: Gordon Stewart Landscaping
03 RETAIL/ MALLS THAVHANI MALL
Client: Flanagan & Gerard Architect: MDS Architecture Landscape Contractor: Gauflora
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Pro Landscaper Africa | December 2019
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CONTENTS
FLAMINGO SHOPPING CENTRE
Developer: Nevada Group Architect: Paragon Architects Landscape Architect: COTTONTREE Landscape Contractor: The Source Landscaping
THE WEX 1
Developer: Signatura Properties Architect: Vivid Architects Landscape Architect: Planning Partners Landscape Contractor: Life Landscapes
LYNWOOD BRIDGE
Developer: Attacq Developers Architect: Studio3 Design House Landscape Architect: Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects Landscape Contractor: Greenacres Landscapes
WITKLIPFONTEIN
Client: Xavier Heuyberechts and Carine BwakiraHeuyberechts Architect: GLH Architects
04 SCHOOLS/
ELALENI COASTAL FOREST ESTATE
UNIVERSITIES AND FACILITIES
Developer: North Global Group Properties Architect: Bloc Architects Landscape Architect: Uys and White Landscape Architects Landscape Contractor: River Projects
FUTURE AFRICA
Developer: University of Pretoria Architect: Earthworld Architects Landscape Architect: Insite Landscape Architects Landscape Contractor: University of Pretoria
HATFIELD SQUARE
Developer: Redefine Properties and Respublica Student Living Architect: Paragon Architects Landscape Architect: House of Green Landscape Contractor: Life Landscapes
THE UNIVERSITY OF MPUMALANGA, LOWER CAMPUS
Developer: University of Mpumalanga Architect: Ludwig Hansen Architects + Urban Planners Landscape Architect: kwpCREATE Landscape Contractor: Endemic Developments
05 RESIDENTIAL/ ESTATE/ LODGE
KEURBOOMS COTTAGE
Architect: Silvio Rech + Lesley Carstens Architecture and Interior Architecture Landscape Designer: Franchesca Watson Garden Design Landscape Contractor: Bidvest Top Turf
BOSJES
Architect: Steyn Studio Landscape Architect: cndv landscape architects Landscape Contractor: Interplant Horticulture
BEYOND THE STONE WALL
Architect: SAOTA Landscape Designer: Franchesca Watcson Garden Design Landscape Contractor: Heimo Schulzer Gardens www.prolandscaper.co.za
December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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/01
COMMERCIAL / HEAD QUARTERS
THE MARC SUCCESS HAS A NEW ADDRESS
The MARC is an acronym for this new R3bn precinct's location, which is positioned on Maude And Rivonia Corner. This is a prominent corner in the heart of the commercial node of Sandton. The iconic mixed-use development is grounded by two retail levels, both of which are connected by pedestrian connections to the urban context. This is completed with two office towers rising from the retail podiums. The MARC is a 5-Star and Green Star-rated building, and was proudly developed by Eris Property Group.
PORTFOLIO
which was important to the team for the open accessibility of the site. It was also necessary to introduce a series of stairs, planters and ramps that could seamlessly draw people onto the dining terraces and into the retail facility, and these, in turn, became the backbone of the variety of external spaces that Boogertman + Partners and AED were trying to create. One of the most impressive connections is the grand staircase which rises a total of 8m from the artwork corner. This was articulated with multiple elements, starting with a seated and planted amphitheatre and rising to a series of stairs with seated and planted rest-points on each landing – all serviced by the adjacent coffee shop. The lighting of the externals was conceptualised with Paul Pamboukian Light Design. The emphasis was on the highlighting of people for an intimate, safe space. Other lighting was introduced to the planters, along the walls of the grand stair, and in all the balustrades, for a cohesive and an integrated approach. The team was pleased to implement two water features with Waterscapes, both of which can be experienced from above and below as well as create an atmospheric sound that counteracts car noises. Benches were also introduced along vast portions of the externals to encourage people to linger and enjoy the environment. Here, touches of timber were added for warmth and ergonomic comfort.
Boogertman + Partners was commissioned by Eris Property Group (Pty) ltd to create an offering of new shopping, dining, business and leisure activities in the heart of Sandton. The building was to be a landmark and create a modern and luxurious gathering place. The developer’s intent for the precinct, and particularly the retail facility, was for it to be well-connected to its urban context and allow multiple pedestrian access points as well as large dining terraces on the street. For this, the design of the external works and landscaped terraces was key. Boogertman + Partners worked together with African Environmental Design (AED) on the external works to create a precinct with hard and soft landscaping that is interwoven with the building design. For the various components of
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the mixed-use precinct, there were multiple briefs for the external works which AED connected through a common, indigenous, landscaping language. One element of this brief was for the office towers which needed to have meaningful break-away spaces, where users could enjoy the views over Sandton and immerse themselves in a natural oasis. The other element was for the public aspect of the precinct – being the retail external terraces and entrances. With the links to Maude Street and Rivonia Road, the retail terraces presented a design opportunity. The team had to look at how it could connect both levels of retail to the natural slope of the site. For this, it had the site on its side. Both lower and upper retail levels could be accessed on grade from Maude Street,
For the material palette, the team decided to keep the externals quite simple, using a variety of textures in the use of exposed aggregate seamless floor finishes, in order to highlight certain architectural features as well as African Tapestry granite for all the stairs and copings. The reflective ceiling above the retail dining terraces on Maude Street has captured and mirrored the greenery and bustle of the restaurants below. African Environmental Design’s Sonja Swanepoel explains that it was an extremely complex landscape project to coordinate, but the soft landscaping team from Life Landscapes (specifically, Bongani Mutunda) was absolutely incredible to work with. Overall, the team was pleased with the quantity of landscaping that Eris Property Group was willing to introduce into the development. Boogertman + Partners and African Environmental Design worked hard with the developer to create a precinct that appeared to have a thoughtful approach – one in which the landscaping and building work harmoniously as one. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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PORTFOLIO
SUPPLIERS External contractor Aveng Grinaker-LTA and Trencon (joint venture) Paving Bosun Concrete Paving Bricks – 011 310 1176 Tree grids Bosun Grass Blocks – 011 310 1176 Signage Africa Neon – 011 315 3270 Timber benches Truestyle Hard Landscaping Solutions – 011 768 1305 Granite copings and stairs Marble Classic – 011 392 6700 Exposed aggregate seamless flooring Lafarge Artevia – 011 657 0000 Concrete benches Coreslab – 087 232 2462 Waterfeatures Waterscapes – 011 440 7943 Lighting Regent Lighting Solutions – 011 474 0171 Pro Visual Technologies – 0861 788 324 Irrigation design Controlled Irrigation – 011 608 0767 Product Rain Bird Balustrades Custom made by Steel Studios with integrated light by Pro Visual Technologies Steel Studios – 010 040 3720 Planter wall finishes Versus Paint Specialists – 011 885 3136 Softscaping contractor Life Landscapes – 011 959 1000 Nurseries Klugro Nursery – 082 849 1323 Cycads Unlimited – 012 544 9001 Cycads4U – 011 462 8343 Random Harvest Nursery – 011 957 5354 Siyakula Nursery – 076 639 7949 Just Trees – 021 871 1595 Cussonia paniculatas – 021 871 1595 Ferox – 082 324 8779 CJM Growers – 082 775 1224 Spectacular Open ground Erythrina lysistemon by Green Art was sourced by Tshala Plant Brokers as well as all the Cussonias used. Tshala – 071 683 1177 Planting medium Culterra mix number 4 – 011 300 9913 Images Adam Letch
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Pro Landscaper Africa | December 2019
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PORTFOLIO
ABOUT B O O G E RT M A N + PA RT N E R S
Established in 1982, with offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Kenya, Boogertman + Partners engages in projects throughout Africa, and furthermore, it continually embraces social, economic and functional challenges through human-centred design. It is driven by a dynamic team of directors who share a vision for contextually responsible and innovative design, with a dedicated approach to the building process from project inception to execution. This includes: urban designers, architects and technicians, graphic design and marketing as well as landscape architecture.
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December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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78 CORLETT DRIVE GREEN BUILDING AT ITS BEST
SAPOA AWARD FOR OVERALL GREEN
PORTFOLIO
Size: Total gross floor area 2167m2 Car Park: 1731 m2 Location: 78 Corlett Drive, Birnam, Johannesburg.
Lifestyle and commercial property developer Legaro Properties is responsible for the success of this property, scooping the Green Building Council of Southern Africa’s Award for highest rated green building in 2018 for the development at 78 Corlett Drive, Melrose North, Johannesburg. The brilliant conceptualization and design by Daffonchio & Associates Architects, alongside landscape architecture by LEAP and implementation by Unique Landscapes CC, has solidified this building as an example of environmentally-friendly building design in contemporary South Africa.
T
he building site was a brownfield conversion, which presented a unique set of challenges. This included removing harmful materials suitably before undertaking demolition of the old building, process administration of all waste, and all internal finishing had to comply with strict regulations around volatile compounds. Roger Brookes, projects director at Legaro, says: “Our biggest challenge was soil preservation. It can take up to 500 years to produce 2.5cm of topsoil. All the topsoil removed was therefore relocated on site and utilised in the landscape. We managed to recycle about 90% of the waste from the demolition."
With regards to the landscaping, the client wanted a low maintenance garden, specifically looking for fever trees on the surrounding pavement. The garden also had to be drought tolerant once established. The team endeavoured to incorporate landscaping in as many areas as they could around the base and the edges of the site. They then began trying to reinstate some essential green spaces such as the external office seating areas at the southern end of the building. It will take a number of years to fully develop, but the team has ensured that the fire escape staircase on the south western corner of the building will be fully enclosed with star jasmine creepers. This not only adds a beautiful natural contrast to the architecture of the building, but also ensures that any residential neighbours behind the property would not be disturbed by the staircase. There are also future plans to institute roof garden spaces with cascading plants around the edges. SUPPLIERS Organics: Viewpoint Farming – 011 917 0493 Landscaping stone: J J Maritz & Seun – 011 391 7380
Legaro was the developer and main contractor for the construction and is also the anchor tenant of the multistory building, comprising a gross lettable area of 1,586m2 on a 2,000m2 land parcel.
Plants: CND Nursery - 010 035 5212 Laduma Nursery – 011 425 3169 Dietes Nursery
Daffonchio Architects applied intuitive software to complete light and heat studies, ensuring the building is functional as well as carbon neutral. The architects ensured that the staircase remained a focal piece in the overall interior design, encouraging tenants and visitors to walk up to the second story instead of using the lift. Outside of the building's carbon neutral design, the space features recharging facilities for electric vehicles, full cyclists’ facilities, covered parking, showers and change rooms.
Photographer: Adam Letch
Lighting is energy efficient, only reaching a predetermined maximum energy level. Solar panels and shuttering installations were also included in the design. The shutters play a critical role in maintaining the building’s ambient temperature throughout the seasons. The external landscaping was implemented by Unique Landscaping CC. The restrictions and size of the site posed quite a challenge when it came to installation.
Lighting: Regent Lighting Solutions - 011 474 0171
PLANTING LIST Pavement Acacia xanthophloea Arctotis Kalanchoe sexangularis Freylinia tropica Plectranthus spicatus Hedge along palisade fence Freylinia tropica Long narrow gap between wall and retaining wall Trachelospermum jasminoides Climber up fire escape Trachelospermum jasminoides Smoking section Myrsine africana Screening plant containers upstairs/rooftop Viburnum sinensis
December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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PORTFOLIO
MEET THE TEAM Client Legaro Properties Architects Daffonchio & Associates Architects Candidate architect Robert Dos Santos Landscape architect LEAP Landscaping contractor Unique Landscaping CC
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Pro Landscaper Africa | December 2019
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PARK SQUARE
DE SI GNED W I TH P EO P L E I N MI ND
Park Square is one of Umhlanga's newest business and lifestyle developments and its doors recently. Interfacing beautifully with its surrounds, the development offers a future-forward, peoplecentred destination where the surrounding communities and professionals can shop. Jarryd Murray, MAP Architects Director and co-founder, tells us more about the vision for this space. The exterior of this development was realised with landscape design and installation by Crisp Landscapes and Life Green Group. In 2015 Jarryd Murray and Charles Taylor, director’s at MAP Architects and their team were approached by Nedbank to design a space that would accommodate their KwaZulu-Natal employees. The brief was to create a structure which would allow the easy flow of people through the development but also accommodate a 17,500m² space to house their staff in addition to general commercial and retail space. www.prolandscaper.co.za
Having grown up on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, Jarryd loves the great outdoors and has witnessed the area’s urban transformation over the years. Passionate about creating dynamic urban spaces in our landscape, it’s no wonder that on designing Park Square, he has designed a space that responds perfectly to Durban’s climate and at the same time will be a connected urban landmark on the Umhlanga Ridge. After spending some time pinning down the vision, Jarryd and his team set about conceptualising an off-the-ground design that would see the commercial elements ‘hovering’ above a perfectly activated retail arcade and square which people could use for shopping and simply enjoying the city’s unique, outdoor lifestyle. The idea to create a connected community which would simultaneously be an exceptional business destination for
professionals to work and socialise and a dynamic urban space to activate the local community, was born. The emphasis at Park Square is undoubtedly on transparency. The simple and modular building design features raw concrete slabs, steel beams, generous concrete overhangs and glassed infills. Column placements, exposed ramps and staircases are optimised to allow for easy foot traffic flow throughout the building. “Even though Park Square has them, our brief was for the design to discourage people from using the elevators,” says Jarryd. The development’s 36,000m² commercial element is housed on the perimeter of its upper floors and features its own rooftop which is punctuated with over 100 planters to be filled with indigenous landscaping. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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PORTFOLIO Abundant space to sit and take a break or meet informally is available to effectively take the office outside and into nature for the benefit of workers. “Here professionals can use the outside spaces to relax and unplug. All the offices are just a short walk from each other and this underpins the connected nature of this business community,” says Jarryd. Nedbank’s space features a double volume lobby, a vertical garden and is open to people moving in and around the building. While the development’s western side is open and multi-levelled, the eastern side which faces the CJ Saunders Park, is mostly glass. Jarryd remarks, “We wanted to create something unique on the park side which gives back to the surroundings. By using timeless glass, the beautiful KwaZulu-Natal light reflects off the building in a sensitive and ever-changing manner.”
SUPPLIERS Planters Igneous Concrete - 011 827 7425 Planting & Trees Tongaat Wholesalers - 087 822 1478 Growing Medium Great Forest Trading - 083 441 1568 Photographer: Peter Oravecz
More than 3,500m² in size, the generous open square features an amphitheatre, grassed spaces and substantially-sized planters with Fig trees that will ultimately grow to create a lush and shady canopy over the square. The retail section opens onto the square which means shops and restaurants are easily accessible to the square as an extension of their premises. Linear directional paving channels people through the building’s elements linking with the surrounding buildings and amenities such as the CJ Saunders Park, Gateway Theatre of Shopping and a proposed nearby GO!Durban Integrated Rapid Transport Network stop. The square’s paving is more static and encourages people to stop and use the common break areas like benches and incidental grassy areas. Murray comments, “This space is not overly designed and has been left open, dynamic and versatile for people to use in a way which comes naturally to them.” The retail section, approximately 4,500m2 in size, includes the Retail Arcade, the development’s main artery which seamlessly links the open square on the western side with the CJ Saunders Park on the eastern side. The arcade’s orientation allows you to see the park through the main building. The connection between the two elements is framed by the park’s trees and those on the square to bring natural elements closer. Murray says, “There are no dead ends within the building which reinforces the easy flow of people through the different sections.” Among others, the confirmed tenants include a new concept Spar and Tops Spar, Mike’s Kitchen, Pizza Hut, Armitage Outfitters, Hello Hunny, Seattle Coffee, D’Lishious Shawarma, D’urban
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Pro Landscaper Africa | December 2019
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PORTFOLIO
Burger Co, Postnet, Eazi Laundromat, Eye Gallery, Canvas Grill and Park Square Pharmacy. All of which form part of the tenant mix at the Park Square development. Responding to Durban’s warm, outdoor climate, Park Square’s open design reveals the human activity taking place within the development. The result is a visibly connected, integrated and open community where people can come together in a vibrant, urban space. While final construction continues at great pace to complete the development, Murray concludes, “We look forward to presenting this landmark development to the community as we are sure it will be a place that everyone can enjoy and benefit from.” Crisp Landscapes was approached by MAP Architects who already had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve for the user of the Park Square external spaces. This was to soften the built area and to allow a transparent engagement from the inside of the building to the outside. Since it is a very concrete and open area, natural shaded areas were a must, therefore the Ficus trees were introduced/ specified. In years to come they will grow to create beautiful and sculptural
feature trees, as well as boast incredible shaded areas for the user to escape the Durban heat. Based on their sustainability commitment, the La Lucia Ridge has a strict planting list to adhere to. Because of this, there wasn’t a large variety of plants to choose from. That being said, the team stuck to a very simple design, rather repeating plants and forming clusters to really show off the beauty of one plant type. This allows for a landscape language to be created, complementing the aesthetic of the architecture quite beautifully. Crisp Landscapes also points out that Life Green Group are to be commended on doing great justice to the landscaping and realized the vision beautifully. Life Green Group explains the area where most of the landscaping was to be installed is an urbascape, with pedestrian flow being of paramount importance, whilst also contributing to softening the large areas of the built environment. As such, plant containers of various sizes both in situ, constructed and imported were specified for the job. The mobile planters were sourced from
Igneous Concrete and are provided in a sandstone finish to contrast with the grey palette of the concrete surrounds. The plant material was chosen for its suitability within the busy urbanscape. Being waterwise and robust was imperative, as well as providing greening and softening to the building spaces and the volume in-between. The backbone of the piazza landscaping is made up of 24, large, 4 -5m Ficus bubu trees, sourced from a nearby nursery and trucked in using crane trucks. These trees have a spreading growth habit and are characterized by their yellow/green bark which is especially noticeable in morning and evening light. The trees were pruned and trenches were dug in advance of the transplant. These trees will take about a year to put out their canopies again. The planters were designed with a drainage layer and are planted in a lightweight bark- based media. Underplanting consists of a selection of indigenous species, also chosen for hardiness and tolerance to their concrete surrounds and direct exposure to full afternoon sun. These include Osteospernum, Asparagus, Vygies spp and Buffalo grass for limited areas. Challenges included carting pots and soil up to the top floors of the building and installing the landscape to a rather tight construction deadline.
MEET THE TEAM MAP Architects Jarryd Murray and Charles Taylor Life Green Group: Arthur Cowan Crisp Landscapes: Dené Duvenhage Client Park Square www.parksquare.co.za Hunt PR Project Information Louise Hunt
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December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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Size 2,168m² Timeline November 2018 – March 2019 Cost R3.6 million Location Pretoria
THE CONNEXXION: EXXARO HEAD OFFICE
Developers Growthpoint Properties have completed their R600 million development of Exxaro’s innovative new head office in Pretoria, consolidating Exxaro’s current offices in Pretoria and Johannesburg into a single thriving workspace. This signature building is situated opposite the Centurion Gautrain station in Pretoria and was designed by AMA Architects, with landscape architecture by Interdesign Landscape Architects. Along with this, a green wall and interior planting was implemented by Bidvest ExecuFlora. The building is an innovative green building comprising five storeys of offices atop four levels of structured basement parking.
PORTFOLIO
MEET THE TEAM Developer: Growthpoint Property Architects: AMA Architects Landscape architect: Interdesign Landscape Architects Landscape contractor: Bidvest Top Turf Green wall designer and supplier: Bidvest ExecuFlora Main build contractor: WBHO
I
nterdesign was commissioned by Growthpoint Properties to design a water-wise landscape that adheres to the requirements for a five Green Star rating and takes into consideration the geological challenges of the site. Special focus was placed on visual appeal, as well as sustainability and functionality in terms of biodiversity and reduction of potable water usage. Due to the dolomitic geological conditions of the site, impermeable surfaces were required and the landscape, therefore, comprises largely of built planters. All planters within the site boundary are closed systems that recycle water and prevent water from being siphoned into the ground. The landscape softens the edges of the building and enhances the building, showcasing different colours and textures throughout the seasons through the use of a diverse planting palette. To assist in achieving Green Star rating, the planting palette had to meet a specific set of criteria, comprising of species that are primarily indigenous and water-wise. An automatic drip irrigation system, soil sensors and smart controllers were installed to monitor the moisture of the soil in the planters and reduce or increase water requirements as required. Mulch was installed to contain moisture and reduce water usage for irrigation, a particularly important element which contributed to the project's goal of a five Green Star rating. The material type and quality were selected based on the purpose of its use. The material was ultimately selected to contribute to the architect’s vision of the building.
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Lightweight potted planters and lightweight soil were selected for the balconies, while smooth paving was chosen to accommodate wheelchair access. The colour of the paving was specifically selected to complement the building's appearance. Permeable grass block pavers were selected for the floodline area to reduce water runoff and increase infiltration. Indoor planting The indoor planting was influenced by the Green Star requirements for indoor planting, as well as the aesthetic appeal of plants. Complying with the Green Star requirements allows for increased indoor air quality to employees. The placement of the plants was successfully incorporated into the office furniture by the interior architects, dhk. The balcony on level one serves as an overflow area for the cafeteria. Employees are be able to use this space during lunchtime. It can also double up as an event space as well. Moveable outdoor furniture was selected for the balcony area in order to converting the space into its required purpose. Planting palette The following plants were chosen in accordance to, firstly, suitability to the environment (as little natural light is available in some areas) and finally, aesthetic appeal. For the green wall, Asplenium species were used, along with: Peperomia caperata, Philodendron scandens, Dracaena compacta, Philodendron 'Congo', Philodendron selloum, Peperomia obtusifolia, Pilea microphylla and Chlorophytum comosum.
A total of 1,152 plants were used to cover an area of 35m2. Fortuitously, sourcing of interior planting materials was quite painless. For installation, however, as with most projects, planting comes at the very end of the project, and with various delays prior, the planting was installed much later than planned and could only be completed once the plants would not be damaged due to other construction happening. Igneous concrete pots were selected for the balcony due to its durability in the outdoor environment and the fact that it is a lightweight product. The movability of the outdoor furniture was important for this space, as various events at the building require the balcony area to be restructured. The colour of the igneous pots compliment the building and the surrounding materials on the balcony. Low maintenance planting was selected for the pots, since they require hand-watering. Small trees were selected for the pots to reduce the space to a more intimate and human scale, considering the height of the building. The tree species selected do not have aggressive roots, require low watering and do not waste many leaves, making them an ideal pick. Bidvest ExecuFlora were commissioned to install the green wall system, a striking part of the project. The project was exciting for the Bidvest ExecuFlora team as it was something it had never done before – an installation on a convex wall. They elected to use the locally manufactured Vicinity modular green wall system. This system has been considered very effective and has local support, making the whole process run smoothly.
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PORTFOLIO
SUPPLIERS Paving Bosun Brick – 011 310 1176 Lighting subcontractor CA du Toit Product BEKA Schréder – 011 238 0000 Genesis One Lighting – 011 462 0251 Planting Tshala Plant Brokers – 071 683 1177 Modular green wall system Vicinity – 011 321 0196 Compost Culterra – 086 128 5837 Pots and outdoor seating Igneous Concrete – 011 827 7425 Irrigation Mainline Irrigation – 011 444 4454 Product Netafim Rain Bird
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PORTFOLIO
An essential part of the installation was getting the grow lights' specifications correct to ensure sufficient light was provided to the plants at all levels of the green wall. Through a light modelling process, the team specified a total of 21 x 1.5m long LED grow lights to be surface mounted onto the bulkhead above the green wall. These were supplied in three rows of seven strips each. Plants were carefully selected in terms of suitability to the environment. Light conditions were considered as well as aesthetics to ensure a lush, attractive wall of plants. These were preordered and grown six months prior to installation to ensure they were mature and full. This was a key factor due to the slight gaps between the green wall pots produced by the convex shape of the wall. The following plants were used in the custom-built shop fitted planters: Aglaonema 'Silver Queen', Chamaedorea seifrizii, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Dracaena glauca, Ficus benjamina 'Vivian', Monstera deliciosa, Philodendron scandens, Sanseveria trifasciata 'Laurentii', Sanseveria trifasciata, Spathiphyllum and Zamioculcas. Steel cladding and tank covers was used to finish off the green wall installation. A neat and attractive border/frame was carefully placed to set the green wall into. This building is yet another move towards Pretoria becoming Africa’s first green city, and a stellar case of the city taking steps to be a local pioneer for green building practise. ABOUT INTERDESIGN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS INTERDESIGN was established in 1998. It is a 100% womenowned company and a B-BBEE Level 1 contributor. It offers services in all aspects of environmental consulting and landscape architecture. Its objective is to make a positive contribution to the natural and socio-economic environment by creating spaces that promote biodiversity and social cohesion. INTERDESIGN is dedicated to delivering quality work by integrating a creative approach and design with nature. INTERDESIGN believes the best outcomes are achieved through conserving the natural environment, anticipating the needs of the enduser and through close collaboration with the project team.
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LINKING ROSEBANK
MEET THE TEAM Paragon architects: Warren Wesson Landscape architect: Landmark Studios Main contractor: WBHO Paving contractor: Earth Civils Project manager: Betts & Townsend Quantity surveyor: MLC Quantity Surveyors and Construction Consultant
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Location: Rosebank, Johannesburg Landscape size: The ground floor area of intervention is approximately 1,200m² The podium level external area is approximately 680m² Timeline: 24 months to build Cost of entire building: R750 million Client: Redefine Properties Redefine Properties’ new premium development, Rosebank Link, was set to become Rosebank skyline's newest icon upon completion late last year. The predictions were not wrong! Towering an impressive 15 stories-high, the building consists of two basement parking levels, a pedestrian walkway with ground floor retail space, a five-level parkade and eight storeys of rentable office space. Rosebank Link has direct, convenient and safe access to the Gautrain station, The Zone and Rosebank Mall. Rosebank Link has achieved a 4-star Green Star rating. With architecture by Paragon Architects, landscape architecture by Landmark Studios and interior plantscaping by Life Indoors, this building is the epitome of Urban design. This is a Redefine Properties commissioned development, which included the demolition of the old Rosebank Mews Building, to be completely reimagined into Rosebank Link. As a building standing foremost in the centre of a developing public cosmopolitan area, the client wanted a unique iconic approach in connecting all amenities which would respond to the public and neighbours in a new and exciting way. One of those approaches was to raise the building above ground, the introduction of an organic vaulting structure allowed for a thoroughfare for public traffic. At the heart of the building is a multi-storey enclosed, north-facing atrium fashioned to capture the sunlight filtering down into a unique fluid underbelly of the ground-
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floor thoroughfare. This creates a conduit for a combination of water features, green walls and indigenous planting brought to life in executive roof gardens, podium-level gardens, and parkadewall gardens that result in a tranquil oasis within the bustling Rosebank precinct. Landmark Studios describes that the firm was commissioned by Redefine Properties to design the interior streetscape that would encourage movement from Oxford Road and the Rosebank Gautrain Station through to Cradock Square and the various retail elements around it. This space was to incorporate comfortable access across the three metres height difference, and incorporate water features and soft landscaping to soften the building and hard surfaces.
of the whole building. The team’s textures and patterns were unique, and required the assistance of specialist local contractors to help create new moulds and to experiment with new colours to achieve the desired look and feel. The outcome of this specialised and unique paving was extraordinary. Landmark Studios describes that a significant challenge on the project was the sourcing of specimen trees and plants for the ground floor atrium, which would be able to thrive in lowlight conditions. Ficus benjamina were selected from a nursery in Malelane, Mpumalanga, which grows trees for these environments.
The entire ground floor landscape was built off various slabs, therefore, a lot of careful coordination and consideration for levels and services was essential.
Plants that could thrive within the low-light conditions, such as bromeliads, Peace lilies, crotons and Plectranthus species, were also specially selected.
On the podium level, the concept was to retain forms present elsewhere in the building and fit with the landscape language, whilst also adjusting the palette to incorporate more indigenous and water-wise planting.
Given the contemporary forms of the architecture, and the ‘streetscape’ concept for the landscape areas, the need for a unique paving solution was needed. After developing a concept involving a combination of large polygonal pavers and long 600 x 150mm pavers, Smartstone was approached to manufacture custom pavers for the project.
Sourcing Materials The look and feel for the project was that of an open park environment for landscaping. This required the interfacing of materials not typically used for internal commercial architecture. With the assistance of Landmark, Paragon Architects was able to source all of its hardscape and softscape materials locally. One of the key challenges for the team was the souring the pavers, particularly textures and colours which complemented the design intent
On the podium level, a rich selection of succulents and indigenous wild grasses were used to impart the character of an indigenous South Africa landscape. Life Landscapes and Life Indoors at Rosebank Link The client, Redefine Properties, was actively involved in the design process from inception,
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SUPPLIERS: Paving SmartStone’s polygonal paver and custom 600x150 paver – 011 310 1161 Corobrik’s ‘Burgundy’ piazza paver – 011 871 8600 Landscape contractor Indoor trees and planting installation by – Life Landscapes – 011 959 1000 Green wall Life Indoors – 011 959 1000 Water feature Malachite Pools – 082 451 1750 Lighting Regent Lighting Solutions – 011 474 0171 Timber cladding LJ infrastructure and Mowana Timber Projects Exterior planting sourced by Tshala plant brokers – 071 683 1177 Interior planting Tuberflora Nursery – 011 662 1954 Impala Nursery – 084 014 2965 Interior trees MCM Nursery – 013 792 4850 Images Infrastructure photos
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enabling a clear brief and regular tailoring of the scheme to match operational and aesthetic requirements. Given the location of the site, the client’s wish was that the public thoroughfare throughout the building, reflected the quality of the adjacent street, like streetscape, whilst still imparting the contemporary forms present in the building. The appearance of the ‘floating’ walkways is intended to suggest that the walkways through the building are crossing above existing natural vegetation, thereby reinforcing the idea of bringing the outside into the building. Given the nature of the building, many of the constraints related to the coordination of services and the accommodation of slab and other structural requirements. On the ground floor, natural light levels were analysed and taken into consideration from an early stage. The ground floor sits many floors below the roof lights, at the bottom of the narrow thoroughfare created by the northern and southern wings of the building. As such, the plant selections on this level were carefully selected in order to perform and thrive well in these environments. Trees for this level were selected from a specialist nursery in Malelane, where the large Ficus benjamina, Ficus alii and Trichilia emetica specimens were grown under heavy shade to acclimatise them for indoor use.
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ABOUT LANDMARK STUDIOS Landmark Studios is a cutting-edge landscape architectural practice that carries out exceptional work both locally and internationally. Understanding the vision of clients and designing to support these, the Landmark Studios team continually delivers prestigious work, fulfilling and exceeding briefs. Every effort is made to be as environmentally-friendly as possible, to use local materials and indigenous plants and to draw on local knowledge to best design each environment. With a focus on craft design, all hard landscape elements, such as paving, water features and lighting, are designed to specification. Solutions to even the most challenging of needs are met with confidence given Landmark Studio’s proven track record.
A B O U T PA R AG O N A R C H I T E C T S Paragon Architects, established in October 1997, is an internationallyactive African design business, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the originator of the Paragon Group of design businesses, delivering commercial, retail, industrial, interior, residential and educational architecture and space planning to visionary clients in all property sectors. As a Group, its committed to Africa, and believe in the future of its cities. Its roots are here. It's able and agile, and actively participates in the continent’s urban and human development. Paragon is flexible and diverse in its approach to design. Each project is unique and not driven by style, but by lifestyle and a response to user needs. Elegant and efficient planning form the core of its designs. It understands the needs of its clients, and knows how to generate ever new architectural forms in a competitive property market.
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landscape architecture supports life...
Visit our website at www.ilasa.co.za or our Facebook page : InstituteForLandscapeArchitectureSA
2 PYBUS 2 Pybus is an exclusive commercial address in Johannesburg’s most desirable business precinct, Sandton. The location along the intersection of Pybus and Rivonia puts the development strategically near some of the country’s biggest blue chip tenants, as well as in close proximity to transport links like the Sandton Gautrain station and bus network. This building is also 4 Star GBCSA Green Star rated. The project was designed for Redefine Properties by GLH Architects, with the landscape architecture designed by renowned Landmark Studios and implemented by Greenacres Landscapes.
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SUPPLIERS
Site Furniture Igneous Concrete – 011 827 7425 Paving Aveng Infraset – 012 652 0000 Stepping stones SmartStone – 011 310 1176 Compost and topsoil Andriesse Sand – 014 576 1299 Mulch Culterra – 011 300 9913 Planting Bristle Cone Nursery – 012 207 9904 Trees Tshala Plant Brokers – 071 683 1177 Lawn Evergreen Turf – 011 948 7913
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Total landscaped area 2896m² Softscaping: 452m² on the ground floor and 632m² on the podium level Hardscaping: 960m² on the ground floor and 852m² on the podium level Timeline of development 24 months Cost R2.5 million Location Sandton, Johannesburg
2 Pybus completes the legal precinct begun by 90 Rivonia Road, which is adjacent. The narrow plan L-form building is primarily occupied by advocates’ chambers. The nine office floors feature support amenities, including ground floor meeting suites, a coffee shop and entertainment areas. Along with this, there is a beautiful northfacing elevated podium garden and terrace activated by easy indoor-outdoor flow and embraced by the two building wings. The space is supported by six floors of parking. On each corner of the building, terraces offer an outdoor break-out space with great views. The seventh floor boasts a larger terrace for staff and visitor entertaining. The building has a notable presence on the Pybus/Rivonia intersection, where the architecture is articulated to draw visitors in and address the street corner. The strong L-form opens to the angled Pybus frontage, setting up the efficient and flexible modular building against the 90 Rivonia boundary, while presenting the welcoming sweeping vista of the garden as a foreground to the building behind it. Pedestrian access is provided via a shuttle lift in a bold glass element at basement 4 (close to the Rivonia corner). This is amplified by a striking four-volume art piece and shading device, reflecting the position of 2 Pybus within the network of Sandton’s streets. Vehicular access is from the Pybus frontage at the end of the site at basement 5, from where cars can circulate up or down within the parking floors, or through a link tunnel to spill over parking at 90 Rivonia. Redefine Properties commissioned Landmark Studios in 2017 to begin design on this project and to develop landscape design proposals for the podium and ground floor landscapes on site. The brief from Redefine Properties for 2 Pybus was to design a functional contemporary parkland landscape for the tenants on the podium level, in line with the clean architectural facades and finishes. Both the podium and ground floor designs were to be in keeping with
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the Green Star aims and with the objective of creating a unique landscape for future tenants. Given the contemporary building language and facade, the podium landscape was designed as a series of outdoor pods and meeting areas nestled within soft landscaping. Incorporating the theme of a Highveld parkland, planting and lawn mounding, shade trees and an extensive indigenous planting palette were used. This was to complement the functional spaces and provide an aesthetically-pleasing foreground to the occupants of the building above. The incorporation of outdoor pods and meeting areas framed within moulding, while the shade trees and extensive indigenous planting provide a particularly functional space for the occupants, whilst still providing a visually pleasing view for the offices above. On the ground floor streetscape, carefully selected paving and trees of similar form and species to those used on the podium were combined to create a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare past the building. The site itself is approximately 3500m² and is located in the heart of Sandton, sitting on an irregular shaped parcel that captures views through nearby buildings to key landmarks in the area. These views further informed the positioning of the various functional spaces on the podium level. In terms of the podium construction, special care was taken to achieve the natural mounding look the surrounds the meeting pods, with regular coordination and careful programming to ensure that this landscape appeared as natural as possible. Following presentations to the client and consultant team, the various hardscaping finishes were selected to complement the architecture and internal finishes. By selecting an entirely indigenous planting palette, the project was already making great steps towards the goal of a Green Star Level 4 rating. This palette was filtered even further to reduce the softworks reliance on irrigation. Achieving the natural mounding on the podium required careful coordination and special care to ensure that the shaping of the base materials was as organic in form as possible. This base material was selected to be as lightweight as possible, thereby reducing the soil and the weight on the slab below.
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PORTFOLIO
MEET THE TEAM Client Redefine Properties Architects GLH Architects Landscape architect Landmark Studios Contractor Greenacres Landscapes
ABOUT LANDMARK STUDIOS
Landmark Studios is a cutting-edge landscape architectural practice that carries out exceptional and unmatched work internationally. A trusted name in the industry, Landmark Studios is known for its remarkably talented team and commitment to excellence throughout the design process and project execution. Landmark Studios was formed in 1986, by Mark Young, one of three shareholders along with Glenn Wagner and Juan Jacobs. The close relationship between the Landmark Studios team and the developer results in a collaboration par excellence. Understanding the vision and feel of projects and designing to support these, the Landmark Studios team continually delivers classy and prestigious work; fulfilling and exceeding briefs.
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Tshala Pro Landscape Coffe Edition Half Page Ad.pdf
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2019/11/27
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HERTFORD OFFICE PARK:
DAM AREA
P L A N T M AT E R I A L U S E D Trees: Combretum krausii, Dombeia rotundifolia, Dovyalis caffra, Euclea crispa, Noltea Africana Shrub planting Buddleja salviifolia, Carissa macrocarpa, Diospyros lyciodes Groundcover planting Agapanthus nana, Agapanthus praecox, Baleria obtusa, Dietes grandiflora, Hypoestes aristata, Kniphofia praecox, Plumbago capensis, Tecoma capensis lutea Stream area Chlorophytum comosum, Cotyledon orbiculata var. flanaginii, Juncus effusus, Melenis repens Marginal planting to dams Cyperus alternifolius nana, Cyperus prolifer, Juncus effusus, Lobelia anceps, Plantago longissima
WINNER OF THE SALI SHIELD FOR EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPING 2019
PORTFOLIO Location: Waterfall, Midrand Size: 1,434m2 Timeline of development: Nov 2017 - Jan 2018
Hertford Office Park is an Abland development, ideally located on the corner of Allandale and Bekker Road. Hertford Office Park is set to comprise of approximately 70,000m² of rentable office space on completion of the development. The Office Park will have retail aspects and a well-known gym within the next two years. This leading development will be one of Abland's premium precincts in the Midrand area, with A-grade offices being developed in phases to accommodate for smaller and larger users. We specifically look at the Dam area in this article, with design by Connie Pretorius Landscape Design (CPLD) and implementation by Bidvest Top Turf. This phase has won Bidvest Top Turf the 2019 SALI Shield of Excellence which is given to the overall winner of the awards programme. The construction of this project formed a portion of a greater landscape installation on the property in Midrand. The brief Abland commissioned the design and implementation of the communal park-like landscape space within the Hertford Office Park. The earthworks and construction of the dams and stream then began, followed by the pond shell construction, paving, irrigation first fix, top soiling, irrigation second fix and planting. The furniture and ancillary items were installed towards the end of the project. The design of this phase was done by CPLD and executed by Bidvest Top Turf. The client required an attractive green landscaped area which was to be situated between three buildings in the park, and for it to form an extension of the communal green space that surrounds the coffee shop to the east. This node had to host a braai area designed by MWLF Architects and Gerrard Consulting Civil & Structural Engineers with a deck overlooking a water feature, providing access from all surrounding areas with connecting pathways, as well as seating for the staff members of the various tenants to spill out and enjoy the space. The irrigation to the area had to tie in with the existing water saving tank farm system. The site The landscape area, with a natural 2m-fall from west to east, provided the ideal opportunity to construct a dam that connects with the braai and deck area. The weir of this dam formed the overflow to a stream flowing into a dam at a lower level in this green space. The lower dam in this area and the top dam in the coffee shop area are divided by means of a road that crosses the office park from north to south. The dams were designed to create the impression that they form a single dam that runs through, below a low bridge. As the green space at the
coffee shop had already been completed in 2016, this new area that followed during the end of November 2017 and early 2018 saw the dams and streams to either side of the road and ‘bridge’ being treated as two different systems. Sourcing of materials and additional relevant information From the inception of the project, the design intent was to mainly use water wise, indigenous plant material and to ensure that these are well suited to the winter temperatures in the Midrand area. With the dams and stream mainly running through the centre of the landscape space, it was important to find a balance by providing mounding, both planted and in other locations, planted with lawn. The pathways, in turn, meandering around and through the undulating space. The edges of the dams and especially the stream were planted heavily to emphasise the water as a feature in the space and to provide it with a more natural veld-like look and feel in comparison to the rest of the planting. It also highlights the stream when looking at the area from the surrounding buildings. The tank farm located between the dam area and the building to the north of this landscaped space required screening. The tank farm is at a lower level to the natural ground level and has been screened by means of a wire mesh structure. Plant material had to be chosen to cover the mesh and grow relatively quickly in order to visually screen the tanks. The result of this overall space, is a well-used and functioning, colourful and peaceful spill-out area. The developer was a keen participant within the process, with weekly feedback being given following the consultant's meetings which always makes for fantastic communication between all the parties. Bidvest Top Turf indicated that access to the site was challenging as it was surrounded by completed and functioning buildings when construction of the landscape commenced. Multiple services also run beneath the developed area, networking the surrounding buildings together which required suitable planning. The office park's water harvesting system, having to remain functional throughout, was another challenge successfully met. The landscape has settled and has also developed quickly after completion and appears to be a popular place for the office tenants. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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SUPPLIERS Landscaping and water feature (dams and stream) Bidvest Top Turf – 087 286 5625 Irrigation design Controlled Irrigation – 011 608 0767 White sandstone Nicolas Plants – 011 704 5172 Plant material Tshala plant brokers – 071 683 1177 Stainless steel frame and balau wood finish bench Badec Bros – 086 132 2332 Concrete benches Wilson Stone – 011 615 6212 Paving SmartStone – 086 176 2781 Lighting Pathway Lighting Regent Lighting Solutions – 011 474 0171 LED and strip lights at braai area Lighting Innovations – 011 444 1168
ABOUT CONNIE PRETORIUS LANDSCAPE DESIGN (CPLD) CPLD was established in February 2009. It has been the focus of this company to provide clients with a committed and passionate service and input to understand client needs and to research sustainable landscaping possibilities to present innovative long- term solutions. A successful landscaped space is one where there is no urge to single-out only certain items. It is rather the space in its entirety that renders people with a feeling to return to the space.
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One destination, endless possibilities 021 903 0050 | sales@shadowlands.co.za
“Ever since I was a little girl I have been interested in trees. My life now is just trees and… um…and champagne” - Judi Dench
Tel: +27 871 1595 | Fax: +27 872 3136 SALES@JUSTTREES.CO.ZA | WWW.JUSTTREES.CO.ZA
SABLE PARK:
HOME OF DISCOVERY’S REGIONAL TEAM Discovery’s beautiful new regional office’s in Sable Park, Century City have been designed in a contemporary vernacular by the award-winning dhk Architects, these twin buildings front on to Sable Road, providing high visibility and offering uninterrupted panoramic views of Table Mountain and Table Bay. Planning Partners are the landscape architects responsible for its eye-catching indigenous exterior and are involved in much of the design of the surrounding Century City precinct.
SAPOA AWARD FOR COMMERCIAL OFFICE DEVELOPMENTS
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Timeline of development: 7 months Cost: R2 million Size: 2,786m² Scope of landscaping: 1800m² Developers: Rabie Property Group Location: Century City, Cape Town Client’s brief The original brief was for a building without a tenant as, at the time, Discovery had not yet taken occupation of the property – the landscaping needed to be robust and responsive to the architecture. The twin buildings are constructed over a super basement, occupying an area previously under parking for the Ratanga Junction theme park. As part of the client’s ambitions to develop the precinct, Sable Park needed to be an architectural statement, and the landscaping had to compliment the building. It needed to mirror the surrounding Urban Square and Conference Centre planting while striving for its own uniqueness and eye-catching diversity. Rabie Property Group recognised the importance of landscaping and the positive contribution it has made towards the success of their
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developments. Along with this, the brief from the client was very clear – make it look good! The site was identified as a Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) project, as part of the client’s growing portfolio of green buildings, and as such, required additional input and documentation to comply with the accreditation process. The project achieved a 5 Star Green Star rating, and the landscaping was planned in conjunction with Green Star consultants PJCarew Consulting to maximise cooling of facades and greening of built elements in or around pedestrian activity zones. As part of the project's focus on green accreditation, a strictly controlled plant list was the basis of the plant selection, comprising of 99% locally indigenous plant material. Proposed landscaped areas were limited to a narrow strip of landscaping in open ground planters, while the building and its double basement occupied the majority of the site. The project is located along the highly trafficked Sable Road, an arterial road. The visual impact of the parking basement – which protrudes some 3m from the road level in places – needed
special attention. A condition of approval by the City of Cape Town’s Urban Planning department was that the impact of the building and how it relates to the public realm be carefully considered and landscaped. To this end, landscape architects Planning Partners proposed a mixed thicket plant palette, densely planted with small, medium and large plant specimens to ensure quick coverage. This planting took place over localised soil mounds, providing immediate screening. The architectural design of the building in monochromatic tones called for a simple plant palette and one that was able to meet the many challenges of creating shade, shelter and screening in a particularly windy location. Planting using combinations of grey-leafed foliage, coarse textures and winter colours combine to create a landscaped foil to the buildings. Planting Trailing type plants such as Pelargonium peltatum, Arctotis acaulis, Asparagus densiflorus and Dimorphotheca jucunda were used in the perimeter planters to cascade over the building edge. This was to further reduce the impact of the
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SUPPLIERS: Hunter irrigation products Cape Irrigation Systems – 021 975 2262 Stone walls and planters StoneCast – 021 510 3909 Mature trees Just Trees - 021 871 1595 Planting Nonke Plants – 021 887 6972 Shadowlands Nursery – 021 903 0050 New Plant Nursery – 044 889 0055 Compost Reliance Compost – 0861 888 784
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PORTFOLIO
building from the streetscape, and to break harsh lines, creating a natural planting flow. Other planting includes Brachylaena discolor, Osteospermum moniliferum and Tarchonanthus camphoratus to aid in screening and slowing the continuous wind from the otherwise exposed walking and seating areas around the building. Large tree planters were created in the north-facing entrance courts to the two buildings, these were planted with a combination of deciduous trees and their sheltered positions created the perfect home for Nuxia floribunda’s. Habitat Trees supplied three beautiful 1000L Celtis africana trees that were positioned at the entrances for immediate impact.
MEET THE TEAM: Architects dhk Architects Landscape architects Planning Partners Project information Alistair Turrell Landscape contractor Interplant Horticulture Project information Bruce de Smidt Irrigation Cape Irrigation Systems Developers Rabie Property Group
To aid ventilation to the first basement, three sides of the building were punctured with louvres at basement level, something which necessitated the incorporation of retaining block walls. These were planted up with fast-growing groundcovers like Asystasia gangetica, Gazania rigens and Helichrysum petiolare. These quickly covered the engineering solution without affecting air flow from the basement. Interplant Horticulture explained that a large portion of the project involved hauling over 500 cubes of Reliance topsoil and compost mix (blended at a ratio of 70:30) to the raised deck planters. All the planters were lined with deck drain to aid in drainage. A further 400 cubes of topsoil was imported to assist with the berm formation along Sable Road, which was skilfully shaped to specification under the Planning Partner’s watchful eye. A special lightweight soil mix was ordered and installed into 34 StoneCast trough planters to green up walkways around the development. Irrigation The landscaping is fed by means of treated effluent recycled irrigation water from the nearby Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works. A centrally located control system is linked to a rain sensor, linked to the building’s management system (BMS). Irrigation for the site was tricky, the landscape installation began before the building's grey water plant was fully functional, so many of the large trees and initial planting areas were hand-watered to guarantee survival. Once the grey water connection was ready, a fully automated Hunter irrigation system was supplied and installed. The grey water system uses treated effluent water supplied by the City of Cape Town’s Potsdam Water Works, via the Century City Property Owners Association. It is then filtered and used throughout the building for irrigation, toilets and any services that can operate using grey water.
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QUALITY PRODUCTS FROM BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
CUMMINS POWER HUB
SAPOA AWARD FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS
PORTFOLIO Total size: Erf 44 000m2 Size of landscape scope of work: 9,900m² Timeline of development: June 2018 to March 2019 Cost: R1.4 million Location: Waterfall City, Midrand
Cummins Power Hub at Waterfall Logistics Precinct is the company’s new South African regional head office and has won the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Property Development Award for Innovative Excellence in 2019's Industrial Developments category. The building is a joint venture with property developer Zenprop Property Holdings and ATTACQ. It was designed by Empowered Spaces Architects, a leading architecture and design practice recognised internationally for delivering contemporary, dynamic and relevant architectural services to a broad range of clients. The landscape architect on this project was Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects (DRLA). Guided by the international design standards laid out by Cummins while also incorporating local adaptations, the building allows for optimal northern exposure for commercial use towards the N1/Allandale interchange. The building overlooks the Mall of Africa and forms part of the industrial district at Waterfall City. The concept behind this mixed-use site was a unique, contemporary design that not only functions with efficiency from a working and operations perspective, but also showcases a visual experience of the iconic offices from various elevations for vehicles on the N1. While every aspect of the facility was guided by Cummins' aforementioned international design standards, the space was taken even further by the team involved in its design, making use of different colours and materials to accentuate the profile of the office and warehouse structures. Sustainable design principles and spatial arrangements were further integrated to allow operational cost containment and enhanced employee productivity. The architectural layout has been optimally and uniquely designed, adopting the 'Cummins Smart Office Concept' (CSO). The Power Hub strategically consolidates and solidifies various business premises in support of the company’s position as Africa’s preferred power solutions provider. The 15,355m2 facility, holding a substantial R350 million investment, houses the Cummins Southern Africa Regional Headquarters, www.prolandscaper.co.za
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the Master Rebuild Centre (MRC), Africa Learning Centre and Gauteng Operations. Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects was contracted to design the landscape of Cummins Power Hub, with the landscaping representing a clear extension of the building and architecture. The project brief in short was to provide a water-wise landscape that incorporated the natural Highveld into the design, softening the surrounding urban landscape. The installation is partly implemented on a cut-and-fill area overlooking the N1 highway. The irregular formed planted landscape and the red Corobrik clay ribbon pavers frame the building, leading pedestrians and visitors alike around the building apron. The indigenous planting and use of raw finishes are a reflection of the immediate environment and lends itself to the notion of a natural setting in an industrial environment. This can be further interpreted with the selection of plants, creating a balance between the formal and informal, and, as a result, producing a setting that is inherent in a designed African landscape. This enforces the sensory familiarity of the project to the native environment with the selection of Highveld-native grass species and shrubs. The landscape should be seen as an extension of the office and warehouse space. The external environment in its whole enhances the visual quality of the corner office space whilst also celebrating the arrival area with the surrounding soft landscape. The application of a designed irrigation system contributes to the water-wise strategies that are put in place, a good example of great modern design practise and landscape architecture. Plants and other landscape materials are locally sourced to ensure availability and adaptability, thus supporting the local economy.
MEET THE TEAM Landscape architects: Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects Landscape technologist: Wim Vunderink Clients: Attacq and Zenprop Property Holdings Project manager: Capex Projects Landscape contractor: Countryline Africa
Earlier this year, the project was awarded a SAPOA Property Development Award for Innovative Excellence. “It is always an honour for one of our developments to be recognised by this prestigious organisation," said Giles Pendleton, chief development officer at Attacq, the developer of Waterfall City and Waterfall Logistics Hub. "At Waterfall, we continuously strive to maintain the very best standards in the development and design of our buildings. This is the fifth consecutive year that an Attacq development wins the coveted award. We are happy to have our efforts recognised."
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PORTFOLIO
SUPPLIERS Paving Infraset – +27 12 652 0000 or (+27) 82 601 5062 Paving Corobrik – 011 871 8600 Irrigation system Controlled Irrigation – 011 608 0767
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ABOUT DRLA Through a holistic design approach and collaboration with other built environment professionals, the team creates memorable spaces and environments, designs that are accountable, site specific, environmentally responsive, and that are constructed on time, within budget but above expectation. DRLA is well positioned to render a personalised and professional service of an exceptional high standard, to all its clients. They specialise in the following fields of landscape architecture: • Public open space development • Urban landscape infrastructure projects • Mix use urban developments • Residential estates • Corporate campuses • Office precincts
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PWC TWISTING TOWER
Developed in Waterfall City, this 26-storey building is set to be the new PwC headquarters, overlooking the Waterfall City Park and Mall of Africa. The first high-rise within the booming precinct, the PwC Tower is owned by Attacq and was developed by Atterbury. This building comprises 40,000m2 of modern offices, designed to house 3,500 PwC employees in an efficient and optimally designed workplace. Designed by LYT Architecture, the tower was constructed in phases due to the unique ‘twist’ design of the structure. It gently contorts, using its height to frame the grand urban park, which forms the green heart of Waterfall City. Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects was responsible for the landscape architecture, with construction being implemented by Greenacres Landscapes.
MEET THE TEAM Client Attacq Architect YT Architects Landscape Architect Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects Landscape Contractor Greenacres Landscapes
PORTFOLIO
Size of development: 9,480m² Size of landscape scope of work: 5,050m² Timeline: February 2017 to February 2018 Cost of landscaping: R5,060,000 Total Building cost: R1.5 billion
T
he PwC Tower was designed to conform to the internationally recognised LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver standard. LEED is a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes and neighbourhoods. Guy Steenekamp, managing director at LYT Architecture, explains: “The brief for the PwC Tower at Waterfall City called for an iconic building form that would be unique to the development, one which would mark the property as a top tier destination for business.” Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects was contracted to create the eye-catching landscape design. The PwC Tower and the surrounding landscape is integrated into the existing precinct and central park, situated in Midrand on the corner of the N1 highway and Allandale Road. Social and interactive spaces are designed in close proximity to the entrances of this highrise 26-storey tower. The landscape, in collaboration with other features of the building, successfully conforms to the Silver Standard LEED Accreditation. The landscape design was presented to the client along with landscape plans, perspectives, material samples for approval. This process provided valuable feedback and brought about the design as it appears currently. With the shortage of water in the country, a water-wise plant palette was created, aiming to emulate the Highveld landscape and soften the hard landscape edges – something Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects says it applies to all projects where appropriate in the face of water scarcity. The use of informal and indigenous soft landscaping evokes natural landscapes despite a more formal city context. Sculptural gabion terraces with stylised grass planting provide the backdrop to the landscaped traffic circle which greets visitors on arrival. These terraces play a crucial part in creating the arrival court at a level approximately 4m above the traffic circle. The arrival court features various built up planters with granite cladding, bespoke seating areas, bicycle racks, bollards and stylised Freylinia planting.
SUPPLIERS
Bespoke sculptural seating (made from wood and Corten steel), manufacturing and installation Truestyle Hard Landscaping Solutions 011 768 1305 Furniture Igneous Concrete 011 827 7425 Bespoke steel furniture, bollards and litter bins WilsonStone 011 616 7129 Paving installation Greenacres Landscapes 014 576 1925 Granite for planter walls Marble Classic 011 974 3588 Mature trees Just Trees 021 871 1595 Paving Bosun 011 310 1176 SmartStone 011 310 1161 WilsonStone 011 616 7129 Planting Bristle Cone Nursery 012 207 9904 Tshala Plant Brokers 071 683 1177 Netafim drip-irrigation system Controlled Irrigation 011 608 0767
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PORTFOLIO
Access to the visitors parking on the ground floor is bordered by hanging gardens on various levels stepping up to the first floor. This consists of dense trailing vegetation, creating a seamless transition to the adjacent central park area. The VIP drop-off area seamlessly integrates with the design of the arrival space, inviting visitors to the entrance of the building. A seating area provides a vantage point overlooking the approach to the development and adjacent areas. The plants and landscape materials are locally sourced to ensure availability and adaptability in its setting. The building stands as an iconic highrise, one that is set to redefine the precinct. ABOUT DRLA Through a holistic design approach and collaboration with other built environment professionals, DRLA creates memorable spaces and environments, designs that are accountable, site specific, environmentally responsive, and that are constructed on time, within budget but above expectation. DRLA is well positioned to render a personalised and professional service of an exceptional high standard to all its clients. DRLA specialises in the following fields of landscape architecture: • Public open space development • Urban landscape infrastructure projects • Mix use urban developments • Residential estates • Corporate campuses • Office precincts
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PARKS / URBAN & PUBLIC SPACES
BATTERY PARK Battery Park is the new 1.2ha urban park situated at a key entranceway to one of Africa’s most visited tourist destinations, the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. This site has been developed as the nucleus of a rather exciting and larger urban vision for the district. dhk Architects completes this inspiring urban park that references the historic Amsterdam Battery. Planning Partners developed the landscaping design with implementation by Contours Landscaping (commercial division).
SAPOA AWARD FOR OVERALL HERITAGE
PORTFOLIO Location: Battery Park, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Client and developer: V&A Waterfront Size: +- 1.2ha Landscaping timeline: 10 months
The site This site includes a park and piazza that effectively conceal a 1,206-bay parking facility, as well as new pedestrian routes to invigorate the precinct with activity. The site is of archaeological importance as it contains the remnants of one of the city’s oldest structures – the coastal fortification of the Amsterdam Battery. This provided a unique opportunity for architecture and urban design firm dhk to pay homage to the historic landmark, whilst incorporating a parking facility and providing spaces for leisure and recreational activities. The project forms part of an urban design framework created by dhk for the V&A’s previously underutilised Canal District that facilitates the reconnection of the historical city centre and De Waterkant to the V&A. The aim was to create a publicly accessible park which lies at the nexus of a multitude of new pedestrian routes, stitching the new district into the surrounding urban fabric, and thereby helping to invigorate the area. The Amsterdam Battery was erected by the Dutch along Cape Town’s coastline in 1784 to defend the city from seaborne and land attacks. In the 1800s, the building was used to house prisoners and was later remodelled and strengthened by the British, but eventually abandoned. In 1905, the battery was largely demolished to make way for railway connections to the port, leaving behind only a small portion of its rear curved walls. The historical remnants are now perched eight metres above the new canal running through the site at a lower level. Following on from the site’s original footprint During construction of Battery Park, archaeological excavations revealed former datums which were used to inform the design. The raised park has been kept at the battery’s original inner courtyard level, whilst planted edges above retail units on the piazza represent the estimated natural ground level that fronted the battery. Various architectural and landscaped elements reflect the structure’s original footprint, like the semi-circular curved pathways, concrete additions to the rear ramparts, splayed canalfacing walls and concrete-clad structures, which give visitors an authentic sense of the battery’s former size. An axial visual connection to Cape Town’s Noon Gun on Signal Hill has also been retained, preserving the site’s historic sightline. The requirement to respect the original inner courtyard datum and create a lower-level piazza resulted in an elevated park with views across
the V&A and CBD, but with the challenge of managing the transition between the two levels. Therefore, a large part of Battery Park’s design concept was manifested in breaking the barrier between the park and piazza and bringing them closer to one another. As a result, the park level has been designed to gradually lower towards the canal edge, providing a closer connection to the piazza, and in turn, the piazza gradually steps down towards the canal. The vision was to create scale between the two levels and provide visual cues to visitors, offering a glimpse of the park while they meander along the canal edge. This was also achieved by means of various soft and hard landscaping elements such as a grand concrete staircase leading from the piazza to the park, sloping and folding walls, and plants to draw the eye to the park above. The elevated park level On the elevated park level, visitors can explore landscaped gardens with trees and stone-clad planters, meandering walkways with built-in benches, a concrete skatepark, basketball court and new pedestrian routes. Throughout the park and piazza, cantilevered steel pergolas scale the design and provide much-needed shade. The lower piazza level The lower piazza level contains 11 boutique retail units that line the splayed canal-facing walls and form an active eastern edge to the new canal pedestrian route. The intention behind the piazza was to activate the canal via a range of water sports and provide a link between the V&A and the CBD, encouraging a pedestrianised environment. Referencing the battery’s original façade, loosely packed stonefilled gabion walls shroud the parking facility and stone-clad planters contain fynbos and waterwise plants. All stone used throughout the park and piazza was excavated from the site during the construction process. These antiquated elements juxtapose contemporary insertions that reference the battery rather than replicate its heritage. The materials The materials' palette includes a selection of hardy materials that suit the robust nature of the park, namely, concrete, stone and steel. Concrete was chosen as a “material of our time” for new structures as it can be clearly distinguished from historic elements, preventing misinterpretation. A precast concrete panel structure, dubbed the interpretation pavilion, has been built to the estimated height of the battery’s original walls, and links the park, piazza and parking facility via internal elevators. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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BEFORE LANDSCAPING
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PORTFOLIO
Planting list • Acmadenia mundiana • Agathosma apiculata • Agathosma capensis • Agathosma ovata • Aloe arborescens • Aloe ferox • Arctotis acaulis 'Pink' • Asparagus densiflorus mazeppa • Athanasia dentata • Blechnum gibbum glabrum • Bulbine frutescens • Carissa macrocarpa 'Green Carpet' • Chasmanthe floribunda • Cineraria saxifraga • Coleonema pulchellum • Cotyledon orbiculata • Crocosmia aurea • Dietes grandiflora • Dymondia • Elegia tectorum • Erica baccans • Erica baueri white •Erica discolor • Erica versicolor • Eriocephalus africanus • Euryops pectinatus • Euryops virgineus • Felicia echinata • Gazania rigens • Helichrysum cymosum • Helichrysum petiolare • Helichrysum teretifolium • Kniphofia praecox • Kniphofia uvaria • Lampranthus hoerleinianus • Lampranthus spectabilis • Leonotis leonurus • Leucospermum cordifolium • Metalasia muricata • Osteospermum moniflora • Pelargonium betulinum • Pelargonium peltatum • Phylica ericoides • Plectranthus neochilus • Plumbago auriculata • Portulacaria afra • Rumohra adiantiformis • Salvia africana-lutea • Searsia crenata • Senecio elegans • Strelitzia reginae • Thamnochortus insignis • Tulbaghia violacea • Watsonia borbonica • Watsonia pyramidata Lawn used on site: • Cynodon transvaalensis Tree list: • Brachylaena discolor • Celtis africana • Ekebergia capensis • Ilex mitis • Sideroxylon inerme • Syzygium guineense • Tarchonanthus camphoratus • Vachellia xanthophloea
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PORTFOLIO
To resemble cannon embrasures, three small openings form part of the structure’s canal-facing wall. Historic cannons from Amsterdam Battery were found scattered throughout the V&A by the Cannon Association of South Africa, and were preserved for the development of the park which are now on display inside the interpretation pavilion. The artefacts sit on top of precast concrete plinths, made to resemble old timber cannon carriages, allowing them to protrude through the embrasures and overlook the canal.
The lawn terraces and embankments within the two remaining walls were formed to respect and roughly portray the original profile, a level portion on the inward side and a symbolic earth berm to illustrate the location and thickness of the original defensive edge.
Director at dhk and lead architect on the project Pierre Swanepoel says: “The intention was to facilitate a new hub of activity within the V&A district whilst being respectful to the heritage of the Amsterdam Battery. Once a place of exclusion and incarceration, it is now a public space designed to support and engage the greater Cape Town community.”
The hard landscape design further responds to the curvature of the remnant walls by creating pathways which run directly adjacent, allowing visitors access to the hewn stone inner walls. This pathway extends as a faceted walkway over the multi-purpose lawn area to indicate the original outline of the demolished structure as a memory line.
Planning Partner’s project landscape architect, Alistair Turrell, explains the brief was to create an urban park on top of a parking garage, and recognise and respect the remnants of the surviving battery rampart walls situated in a key junction and arrival point to the V&A Waterfront. The key goals of this undertaking were to not only highlight the historical significance of this part of Cape Town’s history, but to activate and revitalise this important part of the City and the V&A Waterfront.
An intact British period clay brick channel was uncovered adjacent to the inner walls, these beautiful findings have been celebrated as the edge between the level lawned area and the walls, and also act as conveyors of storm water.
SUPPLIER Nurseries New Plant – 044 889 0055 Nonke Plants – 021 887 6972 Trees SA – 021 842 0003 Just Trees – 021 871 1595 Turin benches and drinking fountain WilsonStone – 021 701 7655 Lighting Regent Lighting Solutions – 021 552 7622 Artificial lawn Belgotex Grass – 033 897 7500 Bera edging BERA – 0834493954 Pavers and cobble edging Revelstone – 021 761 9739 Irrigation Rain Bird Compost Reliance – 086 188 8784 Photographer Dave Southwood and Theo Gutter
The Project is strategically located in a precinct which stitches together the V&A Waterfront and the city of Cape Town and provides a pause point for pedestrians along this major circulation route. It was therefore important to provide a tranquil people-friendly landscaped space to entice visitors to experience and interact with the park space. The surviving battery walls form a fantastic backdrop to the park, the mountain, city scape and Signal Hill completing this vista. The park flows from the historic walls towards the active canal edge. Hard landscape responses The level of the landscaped park was dictated by the one remaining gateway, and the two curved granite gate travellers with steel inserts. The paved park walkways are all set to this level. Paving design was conceptualised and detailed by dhk Architects and materials are sympathetic to the historic context while remaining durable and appropriate.
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PORTFOLIO
MEET THE TEAM: Architects: dhk Architects (Pierre Swanepoel, Martin Lardner-Burke and Theo Gutter) Landscape architect: Planning Partners (Alistair Turrell and Jaco Jordaan) Landscape contractor: Contours Landscapes (commercial division) Irrigation design: Controlled Irrigation
A gun platform was uncovered by the archaeologists and many design ideas were tabled to include this in the landscape. However, being from a very early Dutch period, it was much lower than current levels and in the end it proved impossible to display, and as such, it was documented and covered over, making sure it was left intact. A historic cannon will be informally placed in the position to commemorate the location. Occurring over a parking structure, challenges of soil depth are created, and in response, planters were designed to be raised, thus creating sufficient planting depth. The park has been designed to provide a diverse range of amenity, and has been made with the inclusion of sports facilities situated in the south-eastern section of the park, namely a multipurpose ball sports facility (basketball and five-a-side football) and a skatepark designed by California Skate Parks. A level lawn area provides the canvas for a range of uses, including informal football games, an open air theatre, summer markets, exhibitions and passive recreation. The space provides a welcome respite in this urban node. Soft landscaping responses In the context of the park’s fortified history, it is a lot more ‘green’ than what one would have www.prolandscaper.co.za
found at a military, war machine. The philosophy was to avoid recreating the original, and instead, a lush green landscape on the roof and in pockets along the canal edge was created. The multi-purpose open lawn area is located over the parking structure on the north-west portion of the project. Locally indigenous fynbos shrubs and ground covers are planted in the raised stone walled planters, creating a showcase of the Cape’s beautiful flora. No trees are planted over the ‘slab portion’ of the roof as soil depths do not allow this. Trees form an integral part of any park, without the wonderful shade and other microclimatic improvements, the space will be hostile to any user. Indigenous trees are situated in natural ground areas, beyond the slab, towards the surviving battery walls. A combination of extra-large specimen trees and smaller tree sizes gives a sense of a semiestablished garden. Trees are planted far enough away from the historic remnants to prevent root damage, and will be pruned up to allow clear views of the walls. The symbolic earth berm has been planted with low shrubs and ground covers, which all have non-aggressive roots. On the canal level, raised tree planters with integrated seating along the generous promenade
provide shade and spaces for people to pause, meet and eat. Suspended gabion walls, designed by dhk Architects, form part of the building façade and have been planted with fast-growing creepers which will add a layer of vertical greening.
ABOUT dhk ARCHITECTS: dhk has a firmly established reputation as a design led multi-disciplinary studio which incorporates architecture, urban design, landscape design and interior design. More than 130 people contribute to the success of the company across these disciplines, making dhk one of the largest architectural practices in Sub-Saharan Africa. dhk’s integrated approach to design in the built environment, coupled with innovative solutions, has garnered international recognition with projects spanning four continents and offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
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PORTFOLIO
FRASER STREET REVAMP
REVITALISING JOBURG’S INNER CITY www.prolandscaper.co.za
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PORTFOLIO
Size of the floorscape: 3,000m² Project value: R72 million Location: Johannesburg CBD Client: Eris Properties and FNB
a much smaller granule, as a new range with the same strength and durability had just been released onto the market. The result was a smoother surface, presenting the colours in an even more consistent manner than the larger granules would have done.
The Fraser Street Revamp in Johannesburg's CBD, has delivered on brief. By revitalising the area, the client aims to show their commitment to the inner city. Boogertman + Partners were the team tasked with this important project.
When installing the rubberised flooring, edges are dealt with by using aluminium trims to get a straight and neat edge. Once dry, the edge is removed and the vertical edge of one colour becomes the interfacing edge of the next colour. With the steps, the trims stay on the step noses to protect the step nose against the abrasiveness of foot traffic.
The client required an upgrade of the old Fraser Street to become an upbeat, more attractive and exciting space that would encourage engagement between the precinct, staff and tenants at street level. This upgrade is the first phase of a R100 million commitment to revitalise the precinct and its buildings.
Interesting to note, is that the Melos application is sensitive during the initial few
days after it is placed, and damage occurred onsite by ignorant passers-by who walked over the wet applications. The decision to use a mottled colour allowed for the damaged spots to be mended with minimal to no visual signs of patching. This was also one of the more practical benefits of the product in terms of maintenance. The cleaning of the surface is as easy as hosing it down with medium pressure water. The surface is porous and Boogertman + Partners provided drainage through the edge trims of stormwater grills to accommodate the rain and cleaning water to bleed slowly during the drying process. All in all, a practical surface full of colour and vibrancy was born.
MEET THE TEAM
Though the building was built in the late 80s, due to its neoclassical style, the design concept centered around a modern insertion into a 400- year-old building. This was represented in the sleek new shopfronts, minimal light fittings and urban furniture. Existing plant beds, water features and trees in the precinct were kept and included into a cohesive design and mapping of the space, with a surface application of 3,000m2 of an environmentally-friendly rubberised floor. For this, Plafsafe wet pour EPDM rubber was used.
Client: FNB Holdings
The pattern The design of this intricate pattern was the brainchild of Bob van Bebber (project director) and Margeaux Adams, who developed the floor patterns of the Melos Stone product that was later installed by Seamless Flooring Systems. The team wanted to create colourful, rubberised floor patterns that would guide pedestrians through the directional nature of the patterns. The team also wanted patterns that traverse the length of the space, run up and over planters and stairs, that bring colour and life into a mostly monochromatic space. The colours were chosen to represent the companies that sit under the First Rand Group.
Wet services: WSP
Development partner: Eris Property Group Project managers: Metrum Project Management Quantity surveyors: Vusela Project Management Civil and structural engineer: WSP Electrical engineer: Amandla Consulting Engineering
Flooring: Seamless Flooring Systems Project information: Bob van Bebber Photography: Franz Rabie
The product The Playsafe product used for this flooring is a German EPDM rubber product which is precoloured, and then trowelled in a polyurethane bonding and adhesive bed that provides shear strength, with the colouring being UV stable. The initial size of the granules was 3 - 10mm, but just before the product was shipped, Melos offered
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PORTFOLIO
SUPPLIERS Paint manufacturer: Plascon – 011 951 4500 Street lighting supplier: Regent lighting solutions – 011 474 0171 Wooden decking: Castro wood – 012 460 8216 Mature trees: Ideal Gardening - 083 237 2744 Playsafe flooring: Seamless Flooring Systems – 086 178 2789
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PORTFOLIO
The intricate design and the vertical application of the EPDM rubber in this specific project, combined with the repositioning and modernisation for the shop fronts at street level, creates a new, welcoming vibe and meeting space for all in the precinct. The revitalisation of this space has seen some buy-in into the area, with new shop fronts interfacing the streetscape and refreshed urban space, which now includes 34 retail tenants within the BankCity precinct. Homage has been paid to the extensive use of the classic arch on Fraser Street, where insta-street-grammers post images and public selfies. A large 'Instagram frame' also formalises the role of the precinct. Thanks to this upgrade, The space brings fun back into the city and creates an engaging, urban landscape which is open to all residents and visitors of the inner-city.
ABOUT BOOGERTMAN + PARTNERS Established in 1982, Boogertman + Partners now has offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Durban and Kenya, allowing them engage in projects throughout Africa. It is driven by a dynamic team of directors who share a vision for contextually responsible and innovative design, with a dedicated approach to the building process from project to inception and execution.
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SOUTHERNMOST TIP OF AFRICA: ICON PROJECT In 2005, Bernard Oberholzer prepared landscape proposals for a larger study of the Agulhas Lighthouse Precinct with Setplan for SANParks. Sketch plans for the Southern Tip at the time included an enclosing circular stone wall, compass points and a relief map of Africa. In 2010 an 'Ideas' competition for the Southernmost Tip of Africa was organized by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The 4 winners of the competition were architect Stephen Dugmore, noted land artists Strijdom van der Merwe and Simon Max Bannister, and landscape architect Bernard Oberholzer, whose original competition team included David Jack and Len and Cathy Raymond. The winners were asked to combine their design entries, which led to the formation of the 'Agulhas Icon Design Group' in 2011 with the collaborative task of implementing this project, which won an ILASA Merit of Excellence at the 2019 Awards.
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ILASA MERIT AWARD 2019
Client: South African National Parks Board (SANParks) Completed: 2018 Cost: R3 million (exc. boardwalks) Size: Size: 1000m2 Location: Cape Agulhas, Western Cape
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The design issues: The southern tip of Africa at Agulhas was in the past, poorly defined. The coastline was fairly uniform and many people were unable to locate it or mistook other landforms for the southern tip. The challenge, therefore, was to create an iconic arrival point that marked and celebrated the southern tip of the continent. The design response consisted of three defining elements. These were the creation of a focal space in the form of a paved circle, visually reinforced by stone-packed walls, a large sculpted map of Africa, and the four points of the compass – the combination of which was to orientate the visitor. Another design challenge was to create something that was large enough to be a landmark, without competing with the rugged coastline and the wilderness experience of the landscape. The vision The 2004 Cape Agulhas Tourism Development Framework set out the following vision for the southernmost point:
“to establish the southernmost point as a sustainable icon attraction in the Cape Agulhas region by embracing its physical and spiritual attributes...” The brief The site of the southernmost tip of Africa is spectacularly beautiful, dangerous, desolate and windswept. It is further characterised by its needle-like coastline. The design and construction of an iconic structure to mark the geographical and spiritual significance of the tip of Africa is intended to enhance the status of the area as a prime national and international tourist destination. www.prolandscaper.co.za
The design should seek to represent the deep spiritual significance of the tip of Africa, and establish a centerpiece of universal symbolism to rival other iconic structures worldwide. Design informants included elements contributing to a sense of place, a landmark for the local area, a low-profile horizontal emphasis, a relief map of Africa, the idea of a compass as an orientating device and the incorporation of the existing southernmost point beacon. The statement of intent is contained in the vision and brief for the project – the design response being to create a landmark at the southern tip of Africa which is an iconic and memorable place for both local and overseas visitors. The design process was enriched by combined inspirations of the landscape architect, architect and land artist, resulting in a seamless and cohesive design statement, sometimes through robust debate. Context Legislative context A heritage assessment and an EIA of the project was carried out by independent consultants, which helped to inform the siting and form of the iconic structure and related boardwalks. Planning context A 2004 Strategic Plan for the Agulhas Lighthouse Precinct was prepared by Setplan, with input from landscape architect Bernard Oberholzer, and included guidelines for a southern tip structure with stone walls, map of Africa and compass coordinates. The competition for the design was held in 2010, with the four winners eventually forming the 'Agulhas Icon Design Group'. Environmental context Great care was taken to protect the coastal
vegetation during construction and from being trampled on. This was done by demarcation of the site and introduction of timber boardwalks to confine pedestrian routes. The strike of the sandstone formations in a NW-SE direction is echoed in the paving pattern, along with the equator and the tropics of Africa map. Socio-economic context The site, located in the Agulhas National Park, is free to access and therefore available to all income groups. Besides the employment created for the contractor and his team, the revegetation was done by 11 local workers as part of the Expanded Public Works Programme. Design details The wide timber boardwalk has a raised section to serve as a bench, the intention being to avoid street furniture, like free-standing benches, in the exposed landscape. The steel compass blades have an intentional rust finish to echo the metal shipwrecks along the coast. Plant selection Plant material, mainly succulents, were sourced from the surrounding area to retain the genetic integrity of the local flora, and no plants were purchased or brought in from outside. Plants were restricted to those that could be easily transplanted or grow from unrooted cuttings, and would survive through summer. Water was provided from a tanker during the establishment phase, and after there would be no further irrigation. Natural succession through seeding from the surrounds would result in colonisation by larger shrubby plants over time, helping to soften the low stone walls. Ecosystem services Tourism emphasis Biodiversity and the site's scenic resources and surrounds promote tourism for local economy. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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Ecological value and connectivity The rehabilitation of disturbed areas previously caused by vehicles and trampling has improved the ecological integrity of the coastal corridor. Recreational diversity and educational role The enhancement of the site and surrounds has improved the visitor experience within the Agulhas National Park, and in addition, the Africa map provides enormous educational opportunity. Cultural and physical activities Standing at the southern tip of the continent provides a symbolic and spiritual experience for many, some of whom spontaneously erect small stone cairns with the beach pebbles, while others sit on rocks meditating and gazing across the ocean to Antarctica. There is no doubt that the relief map helps to psychologically situate visitors and remind them of their 'Africaness'. Sustainability and resilience Conservation of resources The construction site was cordoned off by means of shade-cloth fencing to limit disturbance of the coastal vegetation, and environmental control was provided by Parks Board officials. Water conservation has been achieved by using locally adapted plant species, with no irrigation required. Sandstone for the walls was available from a nearby quarry at Bredasdorp helping to reduce transportation costs and energy use. Green practice Besides the heritage and environmental impact assessments, illustrated signs were erected on the building site explaining the project to the public. The southern tip icon forms only the first phase of a longer term environmental vision, which includes the upgrade of the historic lighthouse precinct with additional tourism facilities. The project has a strong bias towards regionalism, with emphasis on local building and plant materials. The low-key design approach was intended to minimise visual intrusion in the scenically rugged coastal environment, and at the same time enhance the experience of nature. Best practice Because of funding provided by the Department of Tourism, a high standard of design and finishes were made possible, turning a very non-descript site into an international destination. Although relatively small in scale, the Southernmost Tip of Africa icon will join the company of several other iconic sites in South Africa, where landscape architects have been involved. www.prolandscaper.co.za
According to the department, employment was provided for 79 local community members, and involved seven small and medium enterprises. It also serves as a catalyst for tourism in the Agulhas-Struisbaai area, and considering the fairly modest budget, provides high value in return.
SUPPLIERS
The map: Explained by Simon Max Bannister – Land Artist:
Timber: Somerset timbers – 021 845 8713
The topography at Agulhas is a battered relict of quartz-rich Cape Fold Mountain sandstone weathered by ceaseless ocean tides. The sharp winds keep all the hardy bush and succulents tightly trimmed to the outlines of the rocky outcrops. On the shoreline, open patches of circular water-worn pebbles cluster around gnarled natural stone statues. The ancient rocks are beautifully marked in colourful lichens that when combined with the ocean mist, create a wild and contemplative scene.
Africa map: Concrete: Alpha Builders – 011 976 3118
The original conception had components of the structure much closer to the water’s edge and more vertical, however, heritage indicators later dictated that the structure had to be located far back from the high tide mark behind a hummock dune, and be limited in height to mitigate visual impact on the landscape. Therefore, the essential concept was to create a form that would, like an old ruin or shipwreck, belong to the landscape and evolve character over time. The southernmost tip of Africa and Agulhas has long drawn visitors and travellers keen to behold the most southerly point of Africa. Agulhas, takes its name from the Portuguese "needle", as passing Portuguese explorers found that on this agonic line, their compass's magnetic variation to true north was zero.
Concrete: PPC cement – 011 386 9000 Stone: Afrimat – 021 917 8840
Steel framework: Devon Sheet Metal – 021 691 5306 Steel compass: Macsteel – 011 871 0000
MEET THE TEAM Project team: Agulhas Icon Design Group Architect: Stephen Dugmore Landscape architect: Bernard Oberholzer, Landscape architect (site supervision): Megan Anderson Land artist (compass needle feature): Strijdom van der Merwe Land artist (Africa map feature): Simon Max Bannister Consulting engineers: Ingerop Consulting Engineers Contractor: Bush Active cc
Picking up on the navigational idea and to simultaneously emphasise the immediacy of the location at a micro scale, and at a macro scale to the continent and planet, cardinal points were introduced into the design. These markers are comprised of thick solid plates of steel linked by further steel strips set into the ground surface, effectively placing the visitor inside a giant compass circle. People from the world over, can easily orientate themselves, feel united in their achievement of reaching this precise destination and begin a new journey from there. The icon is approached along a new timber boardwalk which winds its way westwards from the existing parking area following a natural contour, arriving subtly in the main circular space December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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at the eastern compass plate. The main space is defined spatially by two geometrically formal splayed stone walls to the south, and a series of skewed stonewalls – which follow the angle of the natural stone topography – to the north. These massive walls will, in time, merge with the landscape as vegetation takes a foothold and weathering processes make their marks. On arrival, a giant map of Africa reveals itself as the centerpiece. Eighteen metres from north to south, the raised profile of the African continent is hand sculpted in reinforced concrete and stained with metal powders to achieve the aged oxidized colours and textures that indicate the vegetation and topographic features. The structurally, aged oxidized colours and textures indicate the vegetation and topographic features there. Taking a step onto the map, a visitor’s discovery begins as they identify the mountain ranges and rivers, valleys and planes, places they have been, and all the others still left to explore.
As a sculptor, I wanted to be able to run my hand down the Great Rift Valley, to touch the meanders of the Nile as it makes its snaking journey down to Egypt. In the wind and rain we sculpted colossal mountain ranges and textured thousands of kilometers of forest and desert. We had to exaggerate and interpret the landscape to make the major landforms recognisable. But with reference images from Google and a methodical approach we defined many intricate details. One is able to compare the relative height of Mount Kilimanjaro to Mount Kenya, feel the sheer expanse of the Congolese basin, and understand how the Caprivi, the Okavango Delta, and the Victoria Falls all relate to the Kariba Dam. One can pinpoint Table Mountain, the undulating wake of the cape wineland mountains, and see the harsh thirst of the Tankwa Karoo as the dunes of Namibia roll northward. Apart from the equator and the tropics, we included no man-made boundaries or structures,
as an intentional gesture to envision the continent as a unified form. To see the earth from above, borders disappear and become insignificant in a vast interconnected ecosystem. It is our wish that whilst one's visit might be brief to this site, an enduring feeling of pride and connection to this great land can be held. We should be humbled by the innumerable variety of people and animals that call Africa home. At 34º 50' 00" S, the original cairn has remained for now as a tribute to those who were involved in its making and all the visitors that have previously stood there on those stones. From the southernmost tip of the Africa map, the southern and largest compass plate aligns the landmark structure to the sea and onwards to the southern pole. Standing on the cairn itself, one can gaze south at the linear meeting points of the Indian and Atlantic oceans or face north, aligning with the depths of the great continent of Africa.
ABOUT THE AGULHAS ICON DESIGN GROUP The Agulhas Icon Design Group was formed in 2011. This is a joint practice consisting of the four competition winners, with the specific task of preparing design and construction documentation, as well as supervision for the 'Southernmost Tip of Africa Icon' project.
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Cultivating effective growth
with Greenhouse Technologies Our high quality products, experience and customer-centric approach is what builds better
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WEST COAST FOSSIL PARK
MEET THE TEAM Client: West Coast Fossil Park Board of Trustees Architect: Noero Architects Contractors: Atuba Construction Landscape architect: OvP Associates Project Information: Sarah Thomas Landscape contractors: Vula Environmental Services
PORTFOLIO Photograph by Uno Pereira
ILASA COMMENDATION 2019
Location: R45, Langebaanweg, near Vredenburg, West Coast Value: R2.8 million Size: Vegetation Rehabilitation: 71.8km² Wetland Rehabilitation: 38.6 km² Exhibition Garden: 355m² Total Landscape Area: 110.7 km² Completion date: December 2016 The West Coast Fossil Park is a National Heritage Site situated near Langebaan, in the Western Cape. Here, you can see the fossils of bears, sabre-toothed cats, short-necked giraffes and the many other exotic animals which inhabited the western coast some 5 million years ago. This park is one of the biggest recipients of the National Lottery Commission’s funding programme and has recently opened a new interpretive centre, including a tourist reception, staff offices, a restaurant and museum that focuses on fossils and what the area was like those millions of years ago. With landscape architecture by OvP Associates, the team was asked to contribute to the design plan of new buildings and offerings on site. OvP Associates received an ILASA Commendation at the 2019 Awards of Excellence for this project. The West Coast Fossil Park has its roots in a five million-year-old fossil find, uncovered through phosphate mining 50 years ago and being later designated a National Heritage Site. When the mining potential was exhausted, the land was transferred to a trust in the 1980s. The decision was then made to develop the site as a public amenity while supporting on-going excavations and scientific research. The National Lottery contributed towards the construction of the new interpretive centre which includes a tourist reception, staff offices, a restaurant and a museum where fossils are displayed. Due to the possibility of future fossil discoveries on the site, the choice of a suitable building site was explored exhaustively, with many options assessed. The site selected was on a huge mound of mining sand where the foundations are unlikely to disturb any archaeologically sensitive areas or future fossil beds. Other disturbance areas were selected for the various buildings, which were cut into the landfill mounds with backs dug-in and the fronts extending outwards over the slopes. The buildings and connecting walkways are arranged in a ‘string of beads’ along the mound, and are layered horizontally to emphasize the ‘cutting’ into the site, similar to the way that the ground was excavated for phosphates.
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Nature of the work The team at OvP Associates were appointed from commencement of the project and a multi-disciplinary design team with emphasis on the integration of sensitive environmental and archaeological constraints was assembled to deal with the complexity of the site. The design was an educative and reiterative process; the landscape architect’s role was to explore design options, assist with site selections and evaluate design criteria for the placement of the buildings in the landscape. This was particularly relevant due to the possible and largely unknown position of other archaeological remains. The eventual site selection was considered in terms of minimising the possible visual and archaeological impacts and the relationship of the new buildings to the existing fossil site.
The project was completed during the extended drought period and conditions for planting were not favourable. A combination of climate constraints, poor soils and limited budget prevailed. Consideration of local biodiversity as well as fauna and flora management was undertaken through research and information sourced from scientific data and local expertise.
The entry point to the site, as well as vehicular and pedestrian circulation (including parking areas), were carefully considered at an early stage to break up the scale and reduce the visual impacts. The pathway system from the parking area to the building and from the building to the find site were also carefully planned to optimise the journey and visual experiences.
At the edges of the building (high impact areas), more extensive planting was provided for immediate impact, scale, interest, colour and texture to showcase the diversity of endemic plant species.
Design brief The design brief called for the site to be developed as a world class eco-tourism destination, to reveal and interpret the layers of archaeological history, to carefully consider the site as an archaeological resource where impacts were to be minimised and to maintain the site for on-going research. A special interpretive garden element was required to illustrate a specific ‘snapshot in archaeological time’ and for outdoor environmental and archaeological education. The landscape design sought to maximise the uniqueness of the Strandveld biome, something embraced throughout the design process so as to give full meaning to both the scientific and architectural disciplines and to mitigate the impact of the buildings.
Considering the environment One of the goals of the project was to balance the indoors with the outdoors in terms of environmental impact. The buildings were placed on the existing phosphate mining landfill mounds, something which resulted in a substantial disturbance which needed to be restored after construction.
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The planting strategy The restoration of the large disturbed ‘low impact’ areas was completed through a method of hydro-seeding, with seed harvested from the site and local area. OvP Associates were fortunate to have a specialist contractor based in the area – Vula Environmental – with managing director Deon van Eerden having extensive local botanical knowledge to engage with this process.
The visitors centre garden is a courtyard planted with trees for shade and a lawn for relaxation and visual relief from the harsher surroundings. A terraced courtyard garden was created at the end of the walkway adjacent to the museum. The garden was planted to represent a snapshot in archaeological time which existed up to 2.5 million years ago (during the Pleistocene), around the time of the animals found in the archaeological dig, and was designed in consultation with scientific paleobotanical input from specialist archaeologists. The planting installation was during the recent drought and needed to be carefully phased to meet the project opening in mid-summer. Hydroseeding was executed just before the onset of the rainfall period. Some of the planting was delayed until the onset of cooler weather and the last infill planting was installed when there was a better chance of plant establishment. The landscaping makes use of a fully automated irrigation system which draws water via a booster pump from rainwater harvesting tanks.
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“The establishment within the West Coast Strandveld biome is gradual and the seasonal show of flowering species creates a remarkable floral spectacle.”
Photograph by Uno Pereira
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Photograph by Uno Pereira
SUPPLIERS Compost Reliance Compost – 086 188 8784 Mature trees Trees SA - 021 842 0003 Just Trees - 021 871 1595 Irrigation system Rain Bird Paving C.E.L. Paving – 021 905 5998 Cement PPC – 011 386 9000 Lighting Eagle Lighting – 021 424 4071 Paint Plascon – 021 505 2400
Photograph by Dave Southwood
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Lifestyle College Training Division AgriSeta Funded Training to Green Industry
ALL COURSES OFFERED ARE: • Registered with South African Qualification Authority and Agriculture Sectoral Education and Training Authority (AgriSeta) • Tailormade to suit the requirement of each client • Completed at your premises of choice • Trained on site • Fully administered by Lifestyle College Training THE COURSES: • Vary from a Learnership (8 months course) to short skills courses (few days/weeks) • Are conducted by trainers who are qualified facilitators & assessors We come to you and we complete all the admin involved on your behalf. All you must provide: • Learners • Company details
Lifestyle College Training also offer horticulture courses and advice on horticultural work to companies of all other industries across South Africa. Our trainers are qualified facilitators and assessors who are passionate about imparting their knowledge. Regular training programmes keep our facilitators up to date with new training methodologies and ensure that we set a high standard of training.
Lifestyle College Education Division des
ign Educa ers ting for ove landsc r 26 ape yea rs
Learn a new skill, up skill yourself and your staff or satisfy a new interest. Lifestyle College caters for qualified professionals, the keen gardener, the hobbyist, the newbie enthusiast and for students who are looking for a career change to learn a new skill or to enhance their knowledge base. VARIOUS SHORT COURSES OFFERED • Landscape Design 1 • Horticulture 1 • Irrigation • Computer Aided Design
• Pruning • Fruit and Vegetable Gardening • Lawn Management
Lifestyle College has been educating landscape designers for over 26 years and has experience in personal and professional education in the green industry.
C O L L E G E Lifestyle College at Lifestyle Garden Centre, Cnr. Beyers Naudé Drive & Ysterhout Ave, Randpark Ridge, Randburg • Tel: 011 792 8244 • email: enquiries@lifestylecollege.co.za • www.lifestylecollege.co.za
DESMOND TUTU HIV FOUNDATION
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Size: 1750m² Timeline of landscape development: 5 weeks (completion of build 2019) Location: Sunnydale, Cape Town Client: Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF)
This unique architectural build in the low-income area of Masiphumelele is the brainchild of social architects, theMAAK. This bold new public building was built in partnership with the esteemed Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF) and is the new home for the industry-leading medical work that the organisation conducts in the area. It is an exciting building, breathing life into the area and surrounding community. Hartscapes were the landscape contractors selected to work alongside theMAAK to establish this site, creating a masterclass in public infrastructure. The goal of this project was to create a specialised facility for TB research and testing, using the architecture itself to represent the contribution it would make to the local community. With a perfect balance of striking, welcoming, bold and subtle design features, the jagged building facade aptly addresses both the ambition and prestige of the internationally acclaimed research of DTHF as well as the sensitive human nature of their work. It is on arrival that the new building shows its proudest face. From this angle, the north-facing aluminium facade fins optically compound to form a confident new image for DTHF. Seeing this strong, formal presence as you approach the scheme clearly marks a positive and impressive move forward for the foundation. The angle changes as you move across the site, with the dynamic facade thinning to subtly uncover the inner workings of the facility. These simple geometries and bold form are communicated through the saw-tooth roof on the north and south facades. The roof’s geometry lets soft south daylight into each of the first-floor offices, whilst the light-sensitive lab spaces on the ground floor are sufficiently shaded by the overhanging ‘social landing’ above. The building is sharply angled back so as to publicly address and welcome visitors to the new social forecourt that the building creates. This same move helps the building acknowledge and communicate with the existing facilities on the same site and creates a sense of togetherness. Traversing the programmatic needs of the Client with the communities needs in the area, December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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theMAAK hope that this project in particular, will aid in leading the way to a more progressive approach of implementing more world-class public infrastructure in the context of South African landscapes. The landscaping Hartscapes brief from the client was to create a tranquil, restful place with an abundance of trees as there is no lawn onsite. The goal was to create a way to walk through the garden that was easily accessible to all. Benches were a big must in order to offer moments of repose and places for the staff to sit and relax between busy days of work. The garden also needed to be sustainable and offer a small space for the facility to grow herbs. The garden needed to create a very specific mood – one of peacefulness, where the visitor can hear the sound of water and relax. As the building is geometric and a large
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structure with no lawn space, Hartscapes needed to create a strong visual space to balance the landscape against the building. The response was to design a forested area with an octagonal boardwalk deck, allowing for easy navigation of the abundant trees and garden space. There are seating areas off the boardwalk, set on paving. Each seating area celebrates different planting palettes and each area is themed differently, all looking on to the central water feature. The planting will, in time, screen off areas so the whole boardwalk will not be visible at once and will reveal itself as one walks through it. The water feature needed to be big in order to be viewed from all the areas of the garden. Dee Hart of Hartscapes designed a square pond with seating on the edge to accommodate more visitors to the garden. To create the gentle sound
of water, the water falls out of a squared post with a copper spout on each side. It proved difficult to source a post that would be large enough and one where the water could pour from all four sides. Dee approached Ital Cement to make this element, bespoke for the project. The brothers at Ital Cement were brilliant, and closely working together meant Hartscapes ended up with a fantastic product. The large trees were placed in groups to eventually create forested space that has pockets of open garden. A garden is never manicured and should always be a work in progress. It will grow and evolve into a new mini ecosystem when all the trees have grown and matured, morphing into a meadow garden.
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SUPPLIERS Trees Plant Culture – 021 8813467 Plants Boshoff Nursery – 021 703 2737 Shadowlands Nursery – 021 903 0050 Nonke Plants – 074 143 7792 Irrigation Rain Bird Compost Flandorp Garden Supplies – 082 519 6130 Evidently Green – 071 509 5069 Timber Somerset Timbers – 021 845 8713 Paving Munstone – 083 739 2638 Fountain Ital Cement – 021 510 8181 Photographs Anton Scholtz theMAAK Liesl le Roux Photography Daniel Grebe
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MEET THE TEAM Client: Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Architects: theMAAK Lead architects Ashleigh Killa, Max Melvill Landscape contractor Hartscapes Build contractor Lamont Dumaresq Projects Structural/civil engineers KFD Wilkinson Mechanical/electrical engineers De Villiers & Moore Quantity surveyor Key Quantity Surveying
ABOUT HARTSCAPES Hartscapes' staff are dedicated to designing and working in the environment that they are passionate about. Their secret is their commitment to each garden they create. Each garden is unique and they pride themselves in breathing life into their client's designs, providing a space that is tailored to their needs. You will never see the same garden twice. They are equipped with 20 years’ experience and are visionaries in turning ordinary spaces into flourishing, wellbalanced gardens by merging existing features with intricate and complex designs. They believe that a garden is an integral part of the home. Leaf colour and texture are important components in their design process, along with balance, line, proportion, negative spaces, contrast and borrowed views. Hartscapes are also known for their hardscaping and timber work. Designing and building decks, pergolas, stone walls and paving are just a few skills in their repertoire. Their multidisciplinary approach ensures, huge saving on time and budget as they are able to offer a turnkey service. They ensure a totally transparent approach and understand the value in keeping their clients as an integral part of the process.
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THE OLD GRANARY RENEWED Size: Buildings: Total ground floor area - 1,891m2 Soft: 52m2, Landscaped area total: 687m2 Timeline: Buildings: 2016-2018 Soft landscaping: February 2017-November 2018 Cost: Buildings: R 60million Soft Landscaping and Irrigation: R 250,000.00 Hardscaping: Gapp Architects Location: Cape Town, CBD.
One of Cape Town’s oldest buildings and a national landmark, the Old Granary Building, has undergone a big refurbishment, now housing a permanent installation in honour of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation (D&LTLF). The original building was constructed between 1808 and 1813, and is one of the city’s most important architectural buildings. The refurbishments began in 2016 as part of the city’s commitment to restoring significant historical structures. The vision was to restore the Old Granary’s external façade and rehabilitate the internal spaces carefully in order to preserve the building’s discernible heritage. Gapp Architects and Urban Designers were tasked with the refurbishment of this site, with landscape architecture by Megan Anderson Landscape Architecture and landscape contracting by Peninsula Landscapes.
T
he original building was constructed between 1808 and 1813, and is one of the city’s most important architectural buildings. The refurbishments began in 2016 as part of the city’s commitment to restoring significant historical structures. The vision was to restore the Old Granary’s external façade and rehabilitate the internal spaces carefully in order to preserve the building’s discernible heritage. Gapp Architects and Urban Designers were tasked with the refurbishment of this site, with landscape architecture by Megan Anderson Landscape Architecture and landscape contracting by Peninsula Landscapes.
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GAPP was commissioned by the city of Cape Town to restore the Old Granary for its current use as museum, archive and offices for the Desmond Tutu and Leah Tutu legacy foundation. Given the significance of the building and its architecture, it was important to the client that its historical narrative be relatively undisturbed, preserved and showcased by means of modern intervention.
THE BUILDINGS
The design approach was to do as little as possible, but as much as is required. Materials were carefully selected due to the sensitive nature of the existing building. The majority of the building materials were sourced locally (across the Western Cape) via GAPP and the main building contractor, Edel. One task requiring delicate care was the existing perimeter walls, which were in disrepair. They were required to be buttressed, which was done via a ‘lightweight’ steel portal frame, held in place by a woven fibre fabric that wraps the building externally – imperceptible to the observer. Other such tasks included the preservation and partial restoration of an exposed clay brick/stone façade, which is blanketed by a transparent glazed enclosure.
THE LANDSCAPING
Hard Landscaping: Existing flagstones found on-site during the renovation period were later used as part of the hard landscaping. Recovered slate stone from the site were re-laid onto the natural ground level to mimic the perimeter of a previously demolished prison wall. New paving stones were specifically moulded for this project, the Granary paver, which is an ode to the Klopie brick. Larger concrete pavers were also used, sized to synchronise with the Granary Paver. The brief for the Landscape Architect was to provide soft planting that would complement the design of the building and hard landscaping in the two internal courtyards, taking into account the historic relics in the western courtyard. The western courtyard was of historic importance, as it included a low historic wall that was referenced to the entrance to the Women’s Prison, as well as, until recently, Cape Town’s oldest vine. This northern courtyard became a place of meditation. The historic wall became a seating wall and the surrounds to a planter, into which a Wild Olive (Olea africana subsp. europaea) tree was planted in the inner courtyard. Cape Town’s oldest vine was to be replaced with cuttings which were propagated
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from the second-oldest vine in Cape Town, found at the Bothy in the Company Gardens. These were planted along the north facing wall of this meditation courtyard, near the previously mentioned historic wall. The eastern courtyard transformed into a parking courtyard. Interesting paving patterns required innovative planting, while a white painted north-facing wall had greenery to overcome the glare. Furthermore, the planting had to take cognisance of the micro-climates within the two courtyards, with seasonal variations in sunlight, predominant all year-round shade areas and lack
of air movement. A predominantly indigenous, water-wise plant palette was required with installation going in at the height of the drought. With regards to the softscaping, the vine was propagated from the second oldest vine in Cape Town, from the Bothy at the Company Gardens. The olive tree was sourced from Trees SA - a large 500Lt tree that was installed by Trees SA onsite, and is quite a beautiful attention-demanding element. Arid Earth Solutions designed the self-cleaning Grey Water Irrigation System and provided all of the components. Peninsula landscaping provided all other plant material, as well as the cables for the trellis in the eastern courtyard.
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"GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BUILDING AND ITS ARCHITECTURE, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE CLIENT THAT ITS HISTORICAL NARRATIVE BE RELATIVELY UNDISTURBED, PRESERVED AND SHOWCASED BY MEANS OF MODERN INTERVENTION." IRRIGATION
The irrigation system, installed by Cape Irrigation Systems, runs entirely off a grey water system which was installed by Arid Earth Solutions. Arid Earth Solutions supplied the self-cleaning Grey Flow PS greywater diversion system. Grey water from the building’s hand basins is directly diverted to the garden. The unique patented design which integrates multiple sensors and a self-cleaning mechanism, enables grey water to be reused in a maintenance-free manner while reducing health risks, as well as mosquito and bacteria breeding. Grey water is evenly distributed in the garden via the 6-station rotor valve and the Grey Flow drip pipe. As the system is dependent on grey water being generated by occupants of the building, the initial stages of planting and establishment were challenging as there were no occupants in the building and water needed to be bought and delivered to site. Four marine grade stainless steel tensile cable trellis systems (reaching three-storeys high) consisting of vertical and horizontal cable lines, were installed by Peninsula Landscapes subcontractor, Cable Master. These were positioned on the northern inner walls for the transplanted vines to climb and cascade. MEET THE TEAM Client: City of Cape Town Architect: Gapp Architects and Urban Planners Landscape Architect: Megan Anderson Landscape Architect Landscape Contractor: Peninsula Landscaping - 021 715 7046 Arid Earth Solutions - 087 809 3116 Cape Irrigation System: 021 975 2262
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SUPPLIERS Paving: SmartStone - 021 873 5482 Corobrick - 031 560 3111 Lighting: Regent Lighting Solutions - 021 552 7622 Grey-water System Design: Arid Earth Solutions - 087 809 3116 Irrigation Contractor: Cape Irrigation Systems - 021 975 2262 Product - Hunter Cable Trellis Systems CableMaster - 021 551 6702 Planting: Nonke Plants - 021 887 6972 Garden King Shadowlands - 021 903 0050 Just Trees - 021 871 1595 Trees SA - 021 842 0003 Coating and Waterproofing: Sika South Africa -021 555 0755 Keim Silicate Paints South Africa 021 905 8985 Plascon Wood Finish: ProNature Paints - 021 556 1238
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THE
VO
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SECURE
O F T E C L AY H
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SAVE
SUSTAIN
STYLE
environment-friendly
CK
IN D U S T RY
CLAYBRICK.ORG
Photograph courtesy of Corobrik
PERFECT PAVING FOR GOOD Clay pavers offer a stylish, timeless appeal with impressive sustainability credentials. Ceramic clay pavers are also low maintenance and tough enough to cope with high levels of loading for life. They will never fade in corrosive industrial or coastal environments and the textured finish remains safely slip-resistant in wet or frosty conditions. Go to www.claybrick.org to learn more about this sustainable paving material Promoting Inclusive Sustainable Practices in the South African Clay Brick Sector Switch Africa Green is funded by the European Union
A MULTI-SENSORY CELEBRATION
T H E N O R VA L F O U N DAT I O N
SAPOA AWARD 2019
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Located on the slopes of the Constantiaberg Mountain, the Norval Foundation opened to the public in April 2018. Surrounded by vineyards and residential estates, this is a multi-sensory celebration of art, architecture and landscape. The project provided a unique opportunity for the architects, planners and landscape designers involved to execute a client brief with the aspiration to create a world-class art and cultural centre in an exceptional location that would be open to the public. Designed to international standards, the Norval Foundation is expected to become a significant space for art both in South Africa and globally. The site The site is bounded by Steenberg Road on its northeast boundary, by the vineyards of Steenberg Farm and Silwersteen residential estate on its north western boundary, and by a conservation area on its south eastern boundary. There are various other residential estates in the surrounding area. Access to the site is via Steenberg Road, part of the scenic drive network which carries high volumes of traffic. The original farm dates back to the 17th century and was known as Klein Steenberg. In 1959, a poultry farm was established on the site, but this was eventually closed in 2002 – the foundations of the demolished hen houses were still visible on the site. Various small scale commercial enterprises operated in the farm buildings but were no longer in use by the time the site was acquired by the client in 2011. The site was quite wild when the project started. Numerous snakes were caught and released, and, much to the landscape designer’s frustration, a porcupine continued to visit the site throughout the construction process, eating newly planted bulbs. A pair of spotted eagle owls reside in the oak trees near the original farm house. Wetland ecosystem The site incorporates an incredibly sensitive existing wetland ecosystem that had been historically neglected. The wetland was completely rehabilitated, with invasive species removed and embankments shaped to improve the water course. The wetland and its surrounding buffer zones have been revived and replanted with locally indigenous fynbos, enhanced by other indigenous plants and naturalised species, and has already attracted a multitude of insects and birds onto the site.
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Keith Kirsten explains: “This sensitive wetland site had over many years deteriorated into a wasteland of invader species of plants. The development of this site has brought about renewal and regeneration of the wetland and surrounding buffer zones by removing all alien and invasive plant species. "These areas have been replanted with locally indigenous plants in the wetland area and its surrounding buffer zones and indigenous plants in the adjacent extremities of the property. The adjoining seven residential platforms will be landscaped using the same principles.
leopard toad and, as such, the rehabilitation of this site has been of utmost importance.” In order to allow for the toads’ safe passage, concrete culverts were constructed underneath the road. The slope of embankments were carefully designed to allow the toads to traverse them. Earth ramps were also incorporated on the upper reaches of the estate to allow the toads to move easily to the breeding ponds. Despite these challenges, the extensive wetland rehabilitation programme was well established by the time the art gallery opened.
"Ecology was particularly important – this area plays a vital role in sustaining aquatic biota and in providing essential resources to terrestrial animals. The aim is to preserve this natural ecosystem and its unique species to allow evolutionary processes to continue indefinitely.
Architectural design The Norval Foundation was envisioned by the architects as a modern pavilion for art, set against a dramatic mountain and vineyard landscape. It has been described as "a pure expression of form"; a bold rectangular mass, delineating its heavy walled enclosure and light over-sailing roof.
"The Steenberg area has been identified as a breeding habitat for the endangered western
The building is constrained by the linear site, sitting between a busy road and an existing
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wetland, turning its back to a neighbouring embassy compound. The linear circulation spine is positioned along this edge, with the galleries and public spaces facing the natural landscape, capturing framed views of the wetland, vineyards and mountains beyond. The building sits in an elevated position and shields the wetland, creating a private space for the sculpture park and forming an inhabited threshold between public and private zones. A triple volume atrium establishes a deliberate visual connection between these zones; one urban, the other natural, and provides a physical transition between these contrasting environments. The Norval Foundation is designed be a linear experience. A curved wall that extends into the entrance court draws visitors past the double-volume restaurant, gallery shop and into the generous reception which calmly directs guests to the central atrium that introduces the main galleries.
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SUPPLIERS Project architects dhk Architects Landscaping contractor Keith Kirsten Horticulture International (KKHI) Lighting Regent Lighting Solutions 011 474 0171 Paving Imprint Paving 021 979 0203 Tiling L. Cannata & Sons 021 510 8553 Balau decking Highveld Cape Thatchers 082 559 2122 Imagery: Dave Southwood Information: dhk Architects
A terrace along the length of the building incorporates a timber deck, serving the restaurant and connecting to walkways on either side that lead into the sculpture park. The grounds also include an amphitheatre, children’s playground, and picnic area. The building form is split vertically between the ground floor galleries and public spaces, and the first floor where the more private spaces are found; offices, library, bar, a further gallery space and artist’s residence. Art storage vaults are positioned below ground level, utilising stateof-the-art temperature and humidity control. In addition to 32 parking bays at grade, minibus drop off and a tour bus embayment, there are 124 parking bays below ground, with 8 bays set aside for electric car charging stations. In addition to the rehabilitated wetland and indigenous landscaped sculpture park, sustainability features include solar photovoltaic panels on the roof, a building management system to optimise performance, a grey water purification system, return of stormwater to the
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wetland system, and energy efficient glazing and solar shading on the façade. Natural light to the internal spaces has been maximised, with large full height and clerestory windows throughout, with the exception of certain galleries. The materials palette is 'raw and honest', primarily pre-cast concrete, natural timber, granite and glass, providing contrast with the natural landscape. The architectural design strikes a balance between two motivations: to protect the artwork within, and maximise the views to the outside, in a rational response to the specific context and the functional requirements of the brief.
"The wetland and its surrounding buffer zones have been revived and replanted with locally indigenous fynbos, enhanced by other indigenous plants and naturalised species, and has already attracted a multitude of insects and birds onto the site."
The sculpture park allows visitors an opportunity to witness the rebirth of this valuable site and to be inspired not only by the artworks, but also by the flora and fauna of the Steenberg area.
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KLIPSPRUIT SPORTS CENTRE
A R34-million multi-purpose sports arena has recently been launched in Klipspruit, Soweto, south of Johannesburg – a stone's throw from Soweto’s athletics venue, the Nike Sports Centre and Maponya Mall. It features a basketball-oriented sports area, two outdoor basketball/netball pitches, a children's water pond and other sport and play equipment. This sports complex forms part of the fourth phase of the Nancefield Transit-Oriented Development project, a multi-phased public improvement project. Iyer was responsible for the design of this multi-use facility
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T
he Nancefield Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project aims to develop local infrastructure and connector services, undertaking a range of installations, street upgrades, existing road upgrades and new roads within the precinct. Alongside this is the construction of community facilities in order to support nearby public and private developments. The client, Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), decided to focus any planned interventions on upgraded pavements and lighting, new pedestrian connections, a redeveloped forecourt to the passenger rail station, a community hall, a sporting centre and a recreational park. Some significant landscape architecture projects to come out of the process included upgrading the Mbambisa Park, which was completed in late 2015. This led to the project having a strong, social development focus, and connections between the major focal points within the precinct became increasingly important. When it came to the location of the new sports complex, this had to be considered.
ABOUT IYER Iyer is an innovative design studio specialising in urban planning, urban design, architecture and landscape architecture. They have a proud history of planning sustainable city regions, delivering inspired public spaces and designing buildings with a pulse that remains timeless and true to both people and place. The practice has its roots in the major metropolitan areas of Durban and Johannesburg. The practice, operating from two major centres in South Africa, is involved with a wide range of urban development projects at a range of scales – locally, nationally and internationally. A core aspect of the practice is the interdisciplinary design approach that underpins the conceptualisation and execution of every project. Central to the approach of the practice, is a belief in design as an agent of positive change, and as a key influence in enhancing liveability of cities and regions.
The vision was to transform the vacant and underutilised land parcels, that would be developed, with socially-focused concepts, including higher density housing typologies and supporting social facilities, such as the Klipspruit Sports Centre. A vacant site next to the existing Nike Football Training Centre was chosen for a number of reasons, including the site's proximity to most transport routes within the area. The site itself has a strong relationship with Mofokeng Street on its western side and the extended Mbambisa Park on the other – all connected with a landscaped pedestrian link joined at both ends. This pedestrian link makes the site accessible from either end, something set out but the TOD project. The landscaping brief was centered around supporting the functions and activities of the sports centre, but still being connected to the greater precinct.
"The vision was to transform the vacant and underutilised land parcels that would be developed with higher density housing typologies and supporting social facilities, such as the Klipspruit Sports Centre."
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PORTFOLIO Amenities located within the site include: • A public splash pad • Two outdoor multi-purpose courts • A landscaped courtyard connecting the building to the courts • The landscaped promenade, situated on the northern section of the site. The landscape planting philosophy was to keep plant maintenance to a minimum as this was proving to be a problem on the earlier phases. Hardy water-wise plants were chosen, with tree selection geared towards providing shading in the hot summer months. The trees selected for this purpose were Celtis africana, Olea africana and Combretum erythrophyllum. It was also decided that the
sports complex should have its own unique design pallette, but still be identifiable as part of the previous phases. Most of the planting is situated within planter boxes or beds to help protect from vandalism and potential damage from the highest volumes of visitors expected. The splash pad on site was developed in association with Rocky Waters as the most costeffective way to give the surrounding community access to safe play water. With the City of Joburg having maintenance and operations concerns constructing a swimming pool, it opted for the splash pad as it required less maintenance and could be used without the need of a lifeguard. The surface of the splashpad received a non-slip polyethylene paint coating over a reinforced concrete surface bed.
SUPPLIERS Splash pad Rocky Waters 082 885 0155 Paving Bosun Brick 011 310 1176 SmartStone 010 442 0377 Multi-purpose courts Johannesburg Tennis Courts 082 951 6487 ClearVu Invisible Wall Cochrane 011 593 0400
MEET THE TEAM Main contractor Shomang Construction 011 436 1440 Electrical engineers Mott MacDonald 011 052 1000 Civil engineers NAKO ILISO 012 685 0900 Quantity surveyors Koor Dindar Mothei Quantity Surveyors 011 689 5400 Landscape contractor Muziwozwano Trading Enterprise 081 771 4174
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PORTFOLIO
ALEXANDRA PARK
Client: msunduzi municipality Project size: 16 095 m2 Project value: r4.6 Million Duration: 7 months Location: msunduzi municipality, kwazulu-natal
Iyer designs a promenade, connecting Pietermaritzburg’s renowned Harry Gwala Stadium to its new, neighbouring athletics stadium, providing a unique pedestrian access to both sites. The Harry Gwala Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Home to the Premier League soccer club, Maritzburg United, the stadium has been known and used mainly for football matches. Having been upgraded in preparation for the 2010 World cup, where it was used as the base of the Paraguay team during the tournament, the stadium can be considered to be a significant asset to the city of Pietermaritzburg. To ensure the sustainability and longevity of the Stadium and identifying the significance of the stadium and the emerging sports precinct, the Msunduzi Municipality proposed more upgrades in order to diversify its use. To date the stadium is also used and able to host concerts and various other functions and events. With a new, state-of-the-art athletics stadium having been built next to the Harry Gwala stadium, the space in-between the two stadiums became a key component to ensure the efficient functioning of the overall sports precinct from both an access and aesthetics point of view. The development of a promenade that would connect the two stadiums and provide easy, safe and appealing pedestrian access to the stadiums was therefore proposed. The promenade would allow for a pedestrian connection between Princess Margaret Drive and Princess Elizabeth Drive, as well as a means if integrating the two stadiums to work as one sports precinct, whilst also creating an additional supporting amenity. The clients brief for this project can therefore be summed up as being the development of a safe and appealing promenade that links Princess Margaret Drive and Princess Elizabeth Drive whilst also being a link between the two stadiums and amenity for the overall sports precinct. The Brief also specified that the promenade needed to be accessible to all and an iconic space was to be created to enhance the character of the precinct. A key consideration was that the site needed to maintain pedestrian access to both stadiums. The landscape within the space needed to be as low maintenance as possible and improved safety through design interventions was essential. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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P L A N T L I S T: Agapanthus praecox Aloe chabaudii Aristida junciformis Bulbine frutescens Burchellia bulbalina Cotyledon orbiculata Cussonia spicata Dietes grandiflora Diospyros whyteana Ekerbergia capensis Euclea crispa Gardenia cornuta Grewia occidentalis Plumbago auriculata Watsonia pillansii
BEFORE
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Alexandra Park Promenade can therefore be considered a significant public space for the city of Pietermaritzburg as its upgrade has afforded the overall sports precinct, the ability to host a variety of sporting and recreational activities. Iyer believe in designing spaces by considering how they should be experienced as much as how they should look”. This assertion and perspective is evidenced in the design thinking and overall approach applied in this project. In creating this promenade, the firm saw this as an opportunity introduce organic and sculptural forms, incorporating seating, an outdoor gym, feature lighting and soft landscaping into this important space within the sports precinct. The use of coloured artevia was incorporated to create various diagonal forms that shape and define the multiple green spaces along the promenade. One of the key spaces along the promenade is a large organic shape that accommodates an outdoor gym, allowing the promenade to serve as more than just a movement channel but a public recreational space and amenity in its own right. A low red linear seat which defines the space and follows the diagonal forms, frames the southern edge of the promenade, undulating to meet the surface level as a dynamic form to be used as an informal skating edge. Purpose made column lights were designed for the site and centrally positioned along the promenade. The entrance to the stadium, is an enlarged hardened surface to serve as a place of gathering and forecourt to the stadium. A rich pattern is used to introduce it and better link it, to the broader context. Gordon Stuart Landscaping Company was awarded the contract for the planting of the Alexandra Park Promenade in 2015. An initial
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landscape design was presented by Iyer, along with a detailed brief which needed to be slightly adjusted to accommodate plant availability, plants suited to local conditions and the conditions of the site. Planting commenced in December of 2015 and was finished in January 2016. The installation period was thus quite sensitive on time. The design allowed for massed sweeps of indigenous groundcovers and grasses, hedges and large banks of indigenous shrubs for screening and indigenous trees for shade and height. Plant species were selected for the project that were hardy and gave year-round colour and textural interest to ensure the garden remained attractive to the promenade’s users at all times. Attention was given to combining species in the garden to ensure textural and tactile interest to be visually stimulating. Over the time of the installation of the garden, Maritzburg experienced one of its hallmark hot dry summers. With limited access to water on site and the short installation period that was allowed, this proved to be a massive hurdle to keeping the garden alive and looking good for handover to the client. With massive amounts of compost and Gordon Stuart Landscaping’s high standard of soil preparation prior to planting, the garden not only looked good, but thrived in the excessively hot and humid conditions at the time. The contract allowed for a three-month maintenance period to be completed – which meant that Gordon’s team could ensure that for the critical first few months, the landscpaing would be able to mature in the capable teams good hands!
MEET THE TEAM Iyer Nathan Iyer, Lead Designer & Clive Tsimba, Landscape Architect Main Contractor: Mfiso Contractors cc - 033 398 5460 Comrades - 033 897 8650 Landscape Contractor: Gordon Stewart Landscaping 033 394 3218 Paving Contractor: Kimar Polished Concrete - 031 564 3143 Electrical Engineers: EG Africa Consulting Engineers 033 342 1096
SUPPLIERS Outdoor Gym Equipment: Green Outdoor Gyms - 010 593 7687 Product: Larfage Artevia - 011 657 0000 Product: Regent Lighting Solutions - 011 474 0171 Organic Supplier: Our compost supplier Farmyard Organics (Gromor) - 031 782 0002 ABOUT IYER Iyer is an innovative design studio specialising in urban planning, urban design, architecture and landscape architecture. They have a proud history of planning sustainable city regions, delivering inspired public spaces and designing buildings with a pulse that remains timeless and true to both people and place. The practice has its roots in the major metropolitan areas of Durban and Johannesburg. The practice, operating from two major centres in South Africa, is involved with a wide range of urban development projects at a range of scales – locally, nationally and internationally. A core aspect of the practice is the interdisciplinary design approach that underpins the conceptualisation and execution of every project. Central to the approach of the practice is a belief in design as an agent of positive change, and as a key influence in enhancing liveability of cities and regions.
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/03 RETAIL/ MALLS
THAVHANI MALL
SAPOA AWARD FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENTS
PORTFOLIO
SUPPLIERS Lighting Regent Lighting – 011 474 0171 Optique – 011 440 2517 Flooring LimeGreen – 021 447 2254 Italian Vibes – 011 363 6039 Stained glass/coloured vinyl Aluworx – 011 392 4546
Size 50,000m2 Location Thohoyandou, Limpopo Project timeline 2015 to 2017 Thavhani Mall, located in the centre of Thohoyandou in Northern Limpopo, is a 50,000m2 shopping centre designed by MDS Architecture for clients Flanagan & Gerard, Thavhani Property Investments and Vukile Property Fund. The implementation of its landscape was conducted by Gauflora. The new 50,000m2 regional mall introduced the biggest selection of shopping and leisure retail in the region, with almost 140 stores being offered up to shoppers. The mall was enthusiastically received by local shoppers and neighbours from surrounding towns and villages. Local customers came out in numbers to experience the all-new world-class shopping centre, which is now right on their doorstep. The opening of Thavhani Mall realises the dream of local businessman Khosi Ramovha, of Thavhani Property Investments, who says he had the vision for a regional mall in Thohoyandou some eight years ago. Donald McGillivray, partner at MDS Architecture, says that Thavhani Mall is the focal point of the large mixed-use urban precinct mega development (named Thavhani City) which is currently being developed on a 27ha site. “The Thavhani City Precinct is likely to create a new
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city centre for Thohoyandou. The shopping centre design incorporates an option for a further 20,000m2 extension as part of Phase 2 of the existing shopping centre,” Donald stated. The building is located on a prominent site on the junction of the R524 and is accessible by well-established roads across the surrounding rural areas. The entrances to the mall feature high volume canopies held up by abstract structures. These evoke the language of the Baobab tree and are mindful of the concepts of pause and gathering under a shaded tree. Bright and cheerful colouring has been incorporated into an eye-catching glass entrance lobby, referencing the colourful vernacular artwork and fabrics endemic to the area. Donald explains: “Wind lobbies coming off each entrance have coloured vinyl, creating a lingering glow in the evening. During the day, colour glows into the mall, created by incoming sunlight, surrounding the entrances.” The interior The interior of this mall features double volume spaces. Donald says: “Openings have been created in the floors to allow the abstract trees to push through to the upper level from below, and clerestorey windows bathe the building with natural light.”
A pixelated, non-linear leaf floor pattern has been beautifully incorporated into the floor of the mall, as if to create the illusion that the abstract trees have shed their leaves. The black and white colour scheme is a classic design palette, aiming to stand the test of time and bringing a contemporary feel to the shopping centre. The somewhat restricted palette is accented with earthy blues, browns and greens and vibrant splashes of orange, yellow, blue and red, which all aid in uplifting the monochromatic scheme through the mall furniture. Thavhani Mall, unlike many other malls, does not include a dedicated food court. Instead, focused food offerings are clustered around the entrances which create gathering spaces and public encounters. A common sight during peak times in Limpopo are queues at banking ATMs. In Limpopo, the banking outlets tend to be used somewhat differently than in many of South Africa’s urban areas. Because of this, MDS Architects had to make provisions in their design concept. This was achieved by placing the ATM’s on the exterior of the building – a distinctive feature of Thavhani Mall’s design. The design accounts for shaded outside areas as well as screening from the elements to accommodate the needs of the locals. Three pad sites were incorporated into the Thavhani Mall precinct, including two drive-through restaurants and a petrol station. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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MEET THE TEAM Clients Flanagan & Gerard Thavhani Property Investment (Pty) Ltd Vukile Property Fund Limited Architect MDS Architecture Main building contractor WBHO Construction Quantity surveyor Norval Wentzel Steinberg Structural and civil engineer L&S Consulting Electrical engineer Taemane Consulting Engineers Mechanical engineers Q-Mech Consulting Engineers Fire consultant Specialised Fire Technology Wet services consultant Kyle & Associates Landscaping consultant/implementation Gauflora
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ABOUT MDS ARCHITECTURE MDS Architecture is an award-winning practice that has designed buildings that attract the business, the people and the activity that lead to a sustained performance. With a proud reputation spanning over 60 years, the practice is renowned for its skill in the sectors of hospitality and leisure, retail developments, offices, residential buildings and interiors.
FLAMINGO SHOPPING CENTRE
MEET THE TEAM Developer: Nevada Group Main contractor: Nevada Construction Architect: Paragon Architects Landscape architect: COTTONTREE Landscape contractor: The Source Landscaping SAPOA AWARD FOR RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS
PORTFOLIO
Landscaping timeline: 4 months Landscaping Cost: 1.4 million Size: 745m2 with additional upgrades across the road verges, 458m2 in the area, as well as the signature roundabout 380m2 Location: Modderfontein, Johannesburg
Flamingo Shopping Centre in Modderfontein, Johannesburg can be easily distinguished by its unique concrete ribbon undulating across its façade. Located at 36 Queens Street in Modderfontein, Flamingo Shopping Centre is situated adjacent to a forest, overlooking a lake and wetland. The shopping centre forms part of a larger neighbourhood development encompassing an outdoor park with new restaurants and recreational facilities. Paragon Architects were responsible for this design, being refined during the design development and construction phases, resulting in a unique and elegant solution compared to that of conventional strip-mall architecture. COTTONTREE Landscape Architecture was responsible for the Landscape design of this development. Flamingo Shopping Centre recently won the SAPOA's 2019 Property Development Award for Innovative Excellence for a Small Regional Mall.
C
irculation and the location of different types of shops is a critical factor in stripmall design, both for shoppers and tenants. Foot traffic between the anchor tenants, restaurants, and the circulation cores provides opportunities for smaller shops. Therefore, strip-mall design has to strike a careful balance between the need for different-sized shops. Architecture and interior architecture company Paragon was able to achieve this at the Flamingo Shopping Centre. “The challenging nature of this project has allowed us to showcase our ability to be highly flexible and to accommodate different client requirements, which applies across our entire range of projects,” Paragon Architect's Preetya Bhikha comments. “The Flamingo Shopping Centre has been an interesting experience due to its constantlychanging design. By making use of the different skills our team members have brought to the project, we rose to this challenge. Through close collaboration with our client and contractor, we have been able to develop unique design solutions to problems encountered onsite,” Bhikha highlights. The Paragon team included partner Henning Rasmuss, together with Architect Preetya Bhikha.
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PORTFOLIO
The developer, Nevada Group, included directors Peter and Vasili Manelis, who also represented the main constructor contractor for this project. The design brief called for a three-storey convenience centre with onsite parking, with the shopping centre servicing the neighbouring suburbs. The project was architecturally challenging because of the different design changes initiated throughout the three-year construction period. During the initial construction phase, the client increased the scope to accommodate offices, restaurants, and a medical centre. However, as Paragon had planned to futureproof the building to accommodate possible additions, these new building elements were absorbed easily within the main design.
interest and colour for Nevada Group. The developer was committed and had a lot of input, having also invested quite a bit in the neighbouring precinct to set the tone for the Flamingo Shopping Centre. With the beautiful setting and views towards Modderfontein lake, it was planned to make the most of the views, especially towards sunset. The area has quite a bit of established Oak, Pine and London Plane trees. The trees planted in the parking lot were all large, indigenous Combretum that were planted with layers of evergreen, mostly indigenous shrubs and groundcovers around them – all playing their part in setting the tone for this development.
In addition, Paragon refined the different elements of the design together with the client, both for aesthetic and efficiency purposes.
The team also decided to plant fruit trees closer to the shops, so the beautiful lemon and lime trees were planted in custom-made traditional pots with a vintage finish.
The landscape architect’s role The manicured soft landscaped areas for the Flamingo shopping centre included the walkway planters, interior planting, parking area, retaining walls and the climbers. The brief for the Flamingo Shopping Centre landscape was to develop a manicured, evergreen palette with year-round
For colour, the team added Gaura lindheimeri 'pink butterfly bush', Polygala myrtifolia 'September bush' and begonias in the pots around the fruit trees. There are also Hemerocallis 'daylilies' at the entrances. For the restaurant dividers, they planted Sansevieria in custom-build large, white framed pots.
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For the evergreens, the structure of the planting included Duranta, Viburnum, Freylinia and asparagus to form an evergreen backdrop, as well as Portelucaria in the retaining blocks. The bulk of the landscape was immaculately implemented by The Source Landscapes, a local landscape contractor. As with any retail development, there is a lot of pressure around opening day, and team needed to meet strict deadlines to complete the project on time. As the developers were building and contracting directly, the project management on site was very hands on, and challenges could be addressed quickly which allowed changes to be implemented without delays. The team decided to blend silk climbers with the natural plants for an instant effect. These plant beds were interplanted with some smaller hedges and colour to blend it really well. Overall, the unique and innovative design, coupled with the landscape, has resulted in a remarkable project, worthy of its many design and engineering accolades.
PROGRESS ON SITE
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SUPPLIERS Implementation The Source Landscaping - 076 490 9284 Large tree supplier: Suntrees – 011 462 1872 Decorative plants: Distinctive Design – 066 220 6819 Furniture and planters: Allsorted Designs – 011 462 1131 Irrigation: Hunter Controllers – 021 975 5578 Rain Bird Nozzles - 011 608 0767 Cement: Metier Mixed Concrete – 031 716 3600 Compost: Viewpoint farming – 011 917 0493 Shrubbery: Kazimingi Nursery – 079 871 8829 Hillcrest Nursery – 011 458 6016 Plantworld – 082 805 0910 Pots and bins: Allsorted Designs - 011 462 1131
ABOUT COTTONTREE COTTONTREE is a land and playscape design firm that started in 2012, with a focus on sustainable value and quality. It is focused on effective and simple aesthetical solutions to create responsible landscape projects. Its project scale ranges from urban design to detail planting plans. Our clients include private and public trades, with recreational, commercial and residential design work. Balancing aesthetics, environmental and practical aspects to achieve the best feasible value is its goal. The team has over 20 years’ experience (national and international) in the design and build industry, and has also won an international design award and local ILSASA awards. Its motto is ‘playing outside’ and they love to collaborate with talented designers and contractors to shape their environments.
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C E L E B R AT I N G
30 YEARS
OF EXCELLENCE I N T H E I N D U S T RY
Design | Landscaping | Maintenance Water Features | Hard Landscaping | Irrigation +27 14 576 1925 | info@greenacreslandscapes.co.za | www.greenacreslandscapes.co.za
Likhutsa Nursery is a thriving wholesale and retail nursery that propagates ornamental bedding plants, shrubs, groundcovers and trees, as well indigenous and exotic plant types. We are well versed in all aspects of our trade and take pride in providing all clients with our knowledge and plant information. Y16B Yaverland Road, White River, 1240, Mpumalanga MR Thabethe: 083 689 9581 | 013 751 3030 www.likhutsa-co-za9.webnode.com
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LYNNWOOD BRIDGE RETAIL CENTRE
Part of the exciting Lynnwood Bridge precinct is a retail centre that offers visitors an experience like no other in Pretoria. With its unique tenant mix, Lynnwood Bridge ensures visitors and customers return time and again. Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects (DRLA) was appointed by Attacq Developers for the landscape planning during the refurbishment of the Lynnwood Bridge Retail Centre, which has recently been completed. This development is situated in Lynnwood, Pretoria on the corner of the N1 Highway and Lynnwood Road. Greenacres Landscapes, who were sub-contracted to implement the design, won a SALI Gold Award for their landscape construction on this project.
PORTFOLIO
T
he brief from this client was to provide a successful landscape design that would integrate the various elements throughout the existing retail centre in order to enhance the sense of place for visitors and tenants alike. The existing planters and plant palette had to be re-envisaged and new seating were to be provided. The finishes selected throughout the development were purposefully selected to not only compliment the architecture of the surrounding buildings, but to also unify the spaces in-between them. The paving used throughout the development is the Chestnut from Bosun with ground finish framed with SmartStone Cosmopolitan cobble. This seamlessly integrates with the specified tile finish adjacent to the shopfronts by the architects. Seating areas needed to be integrated into the existing built-up planters. These planters were tiled to the specification and detail provided by the architects. Bespoke concrete seating with a terrazzo inlay was designed by DRLA and Gallo Precast was tasked with the manufacturing and installation
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thereof. These seating areas are accentuated and demarcated by using a polished Artevia concrete. The existing water feature, with its signature sculpture of a donkey by artist Angus Taylor, was also refurbished. The design entailed replacing the existing Artevia concrete water feature surface with granite tiles placed on Buzon pedestals. Greenacres Landscapes assisted with the mechanical design and installation of the water feature while Marble Classic provided the granite tiles to detail design and specification. The plant palette within the built-up planters was envisioned to be a floral arrangement, adding colour and texture to the development. The palette consisted of a mix of Agapanthus nana, Helichrysum cymosum, Elegia tectorum, Felicia amelloides, Strelitzia reginae, Strelitzia 'Mandela’s Gold', Asparagus sp. and Plectranthus sp. Multi-stem Olea europaea trees were used to complete the picture. When it came to irrigating the site, drip irrigation, rain sensors and soil moisture additives were incorporated in the design and construction of the project in order to reduce the water requirements of the soft landscape installation. Greenacres Landscapes began by installing new www.prolandscaper.co.za
PORTFOLIO
pavers in the piazza area. The team then needed to demolish the old planter boxes and then rebuild and install new precast benches with cranes and block and tackles. The polished Artevia was placed in the front of all benches. Once all of the planting had been removed, XXL-size Olea open ground trees were brought in by hand and planted onsite to set the scene. Greenacres installed the new drip irrigation system as well as the water feature. Inside the water feature, new lights were also installed using FX luminaire lights, a new product that can change up to 30,000 colours from an app installed on a smartphone. Some of the challenges of this project included the working hours in which Greenacres could implement the design – the majority of this needing to take place at night between 10pm and 7am. Another noteworthy challenge was that
the mall couldn’t close during this period and it was “business as usual”, so precision, discreetness and a professional manner were imperative. All of the tiles that the team removed needed to be replaced that same night as no hoarding was allowed in certain areas, and the site needed to be ready for customers and visitors as the mall opened the following day. Cleaning of the site was a constant job so that there were no negative influences on the shopping experience or safety hazards. Putting the customers and visitors first was the team’s priority, which was achieved effortlessly. As with many projects that pose challenges, the reward is always great and Greenacres are to be commended on achieving a Gold Award at the SALI Awards of Excellence for the precision and meticulous nature of this multifaceted build. This all shows in the final product and brings the DRLA design to life.
SUPPLIERS Bespoke sculptural concrete seating, manufacturing and installation: Gallo Precast - 012 546 6067 Bespoke steel dustbins: Truestyle Hard Landscape Solutions 011 768 1305 Paving: Lafarge Artevia - 011 657 0000 Artevia concrete paving installation: Willem Scholtz - 081 438 4347 Paving installation: Greenacres Landscapes Water feature: Greenacres Landscapes Pool spa & filtration supplies: Pool Spa and Filtration Supply - 011 793 1381 Water feature installation: Greenacres Landscapes Granite for water features: Marble Classic - 011 974 3588 Furniture: Igneous Concrete - 011 827 7425 Big trees: Greenacres Landscapes Planting: Bristle Cone Nursery - 012 207 9904 Random Harvest Nursery - 011 957 5354 Irrigation: Rain Bird - 021 761 9919 Electrical engineers: BC Electrical Engineers FX Luminaire Products: TurfManzi Irrigation - 011 793 1381 Paving: Bosun - 011 310 1176 SmartStone - 011 310 1161
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PORTFOLIO
"Putting the customers and visitors first was the team's priority, which was achieved effortlessly"
MEET THE TEAM Developer: Attacq Landscape architects: Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects Project landscape architect: Tiaan Laker Main contractor: Beurden Construction Architects: Studio3 Design House Landscape contractor: Greenacres Landscapes
ABOUT DANIEL REBEL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS Through a holistic design approach and collaboration with other built environment professionals, DRLA creates memorable spaces and environments, designs that are accountable, site specific, environmentally responsive, and that are constructed on time, within budget but above expectation. DRLA is well positioned to render a personalised and professional service of an exceptional high standard, to all its clients. They specialise in the following fields of landscape architecture: • Public open space development • Urban landscape infrastructure projects • Mix use urban developments • Residential estates • Corporate campuses • Office precincts
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TE R R A by Laurie Wiid van Heerden
Future Africa Campus
Cosmos Circle Park
Katjiepiering Park
Leeubekkie Park
Noordgesig Plaza & Colin Drive Intersection
Microzone Trading 980cc is a multifaceted company supplying imported and custom design products of the highest quality for Plantwises' client offerings. We custom design, manufacture, import and supply the green industry with:
CUSTOM MADE PLAY EQUIPMENT Swings | Slides | Seesaws | Jungle gyms | Rubber Matting Roundabouts | Custom made fences | Park Furniture Tswellepele Plants cc t/a Microzone Trading 980 cc excelled at this years SALI Awards of Excellence bringing home 5 Gold Awards in Specialised Landscape Construction, A Double Gold Award in Environmental Landscaping Work and a Silver and 3 Gold Awards in Landscape Construction with Design by Others. Their work was praised by the National Judge's with particular reference to Future Africa Campus where it was said that "This is a ground-breaking project in terms of plant selection, water conservation, sustainability and suitability of material to SA! The quality of the construction is exceptional and innovation in the approach can be commended." Regarding the Parks, it was said that these were displays of project excellence and a perfect example of using small spaces and putting them to good use. Brilliant installations, revamping of old equipment, use of colour and steel and concrete work done to the highest standards. Meticulously installed paving and construction work with rubber surfacing.
011 665 2819 | microzonetrading980@gmail.com | www.microzonetrading980.co.za Tswellapele Plants CC t/a Plantwise | jenneth@plantwise.co.za | www.plantwise.co.za
/04 SCHOOLS/ UNIVERSITIES AND FACILITIES
FUTURE AFRICA Situated in the Experimental Farm area of the University of Pretoria’s Hillcrest Campus, right in the heart of South Africa’s capital, the new Future Africa Innovation Campus has been imagined and installed. It will be the place where Africa’s leading scientists and scholars from across the world and from a variety disciplines will come together to leverage the benefits of transdisciplinary research to address the grand challenges that face Africa and the world. Insite Landscape Architects have excelled with the design of this node, which now holds quite a bit of significance to its visitors.
ILASA COMMENDATION 2019
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I
t is imperative to note that Future Africa’s goal as a landscape is to improve and redefine life in urban environments by diversifying existing city landscape norms. This was the phrase that guided Insite’s design plan. The concept The landscape of Future Africa is focused on the ability of the urban landscape to provide food for both fauna and people. By doing so, it aims to highlight not only the potential that South African plants have, but also the potential that plants across all of Africa can provide. The Future Africa landscape provides a living and functional testament of a predominantly indigenous landscape as food resource, and how this resource can be utilised. Plant species that were planted at Future Africa have been carefully selected with these ideas in mind. The future urbanization of Africa calls for a change that responds to the continent's prevalent issues, such as the scarcity of water and food resources. By diversifying the plant species selection whilst complementing the existing site vegetation and landscape features of a site, the industry can capitalise on existing indigenous or heritage natural resources. Future Africa is a landscape that strives to find the perfect balance between productiveness and other demands, stemming from a human-centric design. The desired outcome is a resilient landscape that would be able to withstand changes in future. Future Africa looks to integrate people in the development of this landscape, building resilience and facilitating its growth in the years to come. Sustainable features The team decided on utilising predominantly trees, shrubs, groundcovers and aquatic plants which are edible or have some part in their make-up that can be harvested. Insite collaborated with Jason Sampson, the senior curator of the Manie van der Schijff Botanical Gardens of the University of Pretoria, who assisted with plant palettes and species selections. Large cycads were moved from the university’s Experimental Farm nursery and incorporated into an arid zone display garden. The plant palette was designed to respond to many different climatic zones given the proximity of buildings to each other, creating predominantly shady zones and then sunny zones that are exposed to the harsh climate against the northern face of Strubenkop. Specific, intentionally positioned trees provide privacy for the housing units closer to public areas and pedestrian routes.
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Many of the plants planted last year were recently ready to be harvested and so have been with great success. The pond The 1000m³ attenuation pond designed as a prominent part of the landscape, creates an exciting arrival feature when entering the Future Africa Innovation Campus. The attenuation pond, which is topped up with stormwater and an existing borehole on site, supplies irrigation water to the entire 13,000m² landscape. The quality of the water in the attenuation pond is regulated by maintaining a sufficient balance of nutrients in the pond through a variety of aquatic plants. Systems have been put in place to ensure the aeration of the pond, which increases dissolved oxygen levels to sustain fish and beneficial bacteria. These systems include two-meterhigh weirs situated above the bottom basin, a fountain water as well as water circulation systems throughout the pond, bottom basin and the stormwater channels. Algae and unwanted debris will be minimised and controlled through the presence of specific species of fish. The channels, designed in collaboration with the civil engineers, catch stormwater throughout the site from paving, as well as any landscape water run-off. The channels are seen as a prominent feature of the design, hoping to educate and provoke curiosity towards the exposed sustainable systems. They have been lined with blue (one of the university’s motif colours) mosaic tiles and Corobrik clay bricks to further add interest and attention to detail. The overall water drainage design consists mainly of surface runoff, looking to ensure the maximum use of all water runoff on site rather than entering the municipal stormwater systems. Detailed paving levels extending further than the parameters of the channels allow for even more water to enter channels by maximising the catchment area. Over 1,000 detailed paving levels and coordinate points guaranteed pleasant walking surfaces and cambers that allow comfortable wheelchair access and use. The levels also allowed for the mediating of large differences in building levels throughout the site, which is located against Strubenkop. Ramps were incorporated into the design to allow for universal access across the site. A paving pattern was created where two different bonds have been combined to create interesting
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SUPPLIERS Architects Earthworld Architects – 012 346 5400 Clay paving (Ironstone) Corobrik – 010 248 6000 Wet-cast grass blocks SmartStone – 086 176 2781 Mosaic tiles Douglas Jones – 086 166 7242 Pluvia manholes Vanstone - 012 541 2056 Planting and soft landscaping Plantwise – 011 953 4540 Irrigation design/Rain Bird system Controlled Irrigation – 011 608 0767 Furniture (litter bins, benches, drinking fountains, planters) Gallo Precast – 012 546 6067 Tree rings and inlet grids Plantwise/MicroZone Trading 980 011 953 4540 Attenuation pond (pump and pipework) Plantwise – 011 953 4540 Water feature (submersible pump) EBARA Pumps South Africa – 011 466 1844 Handrails Metal Inc – 012 348 0698 Pond liner Water Brothers – 079 885 5558 SoilSaver and Bidim Kaytech – 031 717 2300 Submersible borehole pumps Grundfos – 010 248 6000 Various products TAL - 011 206 9700 Photography Anita Janeke Photography
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patterns, and to aid in the continuation of paving lines. The use of one type of paver throughout the site unifies the different areas of the design. Various landscape elements and buildings were designed around existing trees. These include large avocado trees, citrus orchards and many other indigenous trees. Within the conference centre in particular, one will find an existing large Bolusanthus speciosus (tree wisteria) which has been retained and serves as a feature tree within the reception of the building. It has been enclosed and is displayed through a glass facade for fantastic aesthetic impact. Materials Custom outdoor furniture includes drinking fountains, litter bins and inlet grids. The galvanised steel inlet grids consist of custom designed, flowing, interwoven patterns to resemble the soft lines used in the design of the landscape. This again ties into the overall aesthetic of the space and draws the landscape design together.
In cooperation with plant growers, Dr Johan Wentzel and Ivan van der Walt, plants were selected consisting of native and near native species of the Tshwane region. These native plant patch areas are growing in typical urban conditions of small areas that are fairly isolated. The aim of the project is to clarify the degree to which selection and combination of native species can lead to the development of low risk planting palettes with pre-identified survival, sense of place, maintenance and biodiversity outcomes. A group of honours students and two post graduate research students will start work on the project for monitoring in 2019. Several indicators will be monitored to further research on landscape biodiversity planning and design. Insite has said that it is proud to have this biodiversity garden research project as a feature of the landscape.
The edges of the site against Strubenkop were rehabilitated with a veld grass mix consisting of thirty-four different species that naturally occur in the area. The mix includes a number of pioneer species that are very important for soil stabilization and weed control. Design challenges One of the mentionable design challenges for Insite was that the site would be dissected by a fire truck route. The fire truck route was cleverly integrated into the landscape through the use of grass blocks and pathways in the final design. This allowed for maximum access to all buildings in case of an emergency. Large grass blocks covered in veld grass now run through the entire site. The layer works throughout the route, as underneath the grass blocks. Normal clay pavers were also specified by the civil engineers to withstand the weight of a fire truck. Insite liaised and identified an area for Dr Ida Breed’s biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Tshwane research programme. Dr Ida Breed, from the department of architecture at the University of Pretoria, will be managing the programme which monitors the survival of native plant palettes in urban contexts, while exploring to what extent these native plants contribute to biodiversity, sense of place and food production. The programme has been implemented in a 200m2 native plant patch as part of the Future Africa Innovation Campus.
ABOUT INSITE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
Insite is a landscape architectural practice with world class experience in creating inspirational, dynamic and authentically engaging spaces within a local and international portfolio. They believe that landscape design creativity adds value to any project and therefore the team strives to implement innovative solutions. Insite are a creative ideas company, passionate about landscape architecture and conservation, with the ability to deliver excellent service within the entire spectrum of landscape architecture. Insite have a proven track record in the delivery of multiple prestigious projects nationwide and internationally.
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HATFIELD SQUARE
LIVE, WORK, PLAY
PORTFOLIO Located directly outside the University of Pretoria, Hatfield Square is in a prime position to succeed as a mixed-use student accommodation development. The final phase, completed at the end of 2018, saw a total of 2 200 beds for accommodation. The overall development offers residential and retail components, and serves as a flagship, mixed-use precinct that resonates strongly with the live, work and play theme that echoes across Respublica residences. With architecture by Paragon Architects and Landscape Architecture by House of Green, Hatfield Square is a perfect example of urban living, in the bustle of Pretoria. The Brief The building is owned and managed by Respublica Student Living (RSL). Respublica is SA’s first dedicated student accommodation operator to secure an investment from a public listed REIT through its joint venture with Redefine Properties (Ltd), namely Respublica Student Living (RSL). The student housing development provides 2200 beds to students in the Hatfield, Pretoria area. The scale of the building has been broken into 4 interlinking blocks or 'neighbourhoods'. This design not only ensures that each unit has maximum access to views and light but also has the added benefit of promoting individual communities with their own amenities and shared spaces within the larger scheme. Each 'neighbourhood' has its own vertical circulation, male & female ablutions and various common spaces (studies, recreational rooms and common kitchens). The ground floor of the development houses 3500sqm of retail, with a mix of restaurant and line shop tenants. Basements provide a total of 815 parking bays (for students and retail visitors). Rooftops: Because of the 2200 bed capacity, the site needed to provide as much indoor as outdoor space to accommodate the resident’s needs. To achieve this, the team cleverly took to the building’s roof-tops to maximise the outdoor offerings. Ground level landscaping was sparse in this precinct, so the team interpreted the surrounds, to provide as much variety in terms of space as possible (socialising, studying, meditating, playing). This space is also a safe area for the occupants to use and provides unobstructed pedestrian flow. The scheme has been designed as 4 interlinking buildings. Pulling the programme apart, not only ensures that each room has maximum access to light and views but also has the added benefit of reducing the grand scale and promoting communities within a larger whole. Each building is considered a neighbourhood with access to its own amenities and shared spaces. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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Mixture of unit types allow choice for students, dependant on their situation and affordability. Facades are built from AAC Blocks (a new product on the market of which Hatfield was at a stage using 100% of the local production); Facades were finished in a Terraco applied finish of varying monochrome colours and textures, with only pops of the 'neighbourhood' colours to individualise each building. The development has been well received. To date there is a shortage of student beds in the TUKS/ Pretoria environment. New facilities, exciting designs and variety of choice are elements which are attracting the student market to Hatfield Square. The building is fully-equipped with back-up water and electricity supply services in the event of such shortages. The Materials Used Facebrick and timber was predominantly used throughout the landscaping to juxtapose the monochromatic applied finish of the faรงade and bring a natural feel to the spaces. Hatfield Square is an exciting development
which stands out in its surroundings. Retail offerings and variety of accommodation choice have added to the user and visitor satisfaction. Student Facilities such as: access to retail offerings of the doorstep, ample basement parking, shared ablutions, study centres, study/ multifunctional rooms, common kitchens and lounges, recreational areas, computer rooms, laundries and a rooftop gym are some of the facilities available, as well as access to swimming pool and courtyards. Free Wi-Fi throughout the development, weekly servicing of units and 24 hour security are all included in the rent. Although not a green star building, the services and orientation of the facility have been designed for maximum sustainable/ environmental savings. Sourcing Materials All residential brickwork was built from AAC Blocks; Facades were finished in a Terraco applied finish of varying colours and textures. Facades on monochrome with only pops of the 'neighbourhood' colours to individualise each building. Facebrick and timber were predominantly used throughout the landscaping, bringing a natural feel to the spaces.
MEET THE TEAM Architects: Paragon Architects Landscape Architects: House of Green Landscape Contractors: Life Landscapes Pretoria Project Managers: Betts Townsend Project Managers Quantity Surveyors: MATLA QS Civil Engineers: EDS Structural Engineers Mechanical & Wet Services: Ingplan Mechanical Electrical Engineers: Ingplan Principal Contractors: G.D.Irons Construction (Pty) ltd Fire Consultants: Ingplan Mechanical
PORTFOLIO
SUPPLIERS: Decking & seating: BVM Projects - 072 719 5800 Product: NewTechWood® - 011 463 7775 Seating: Timbermax - 082 386 4707 Water Feature: Hard Landscaping Enterprises - 083 263 5656 Irrigation Design: Mainline Irrigation - 011 444 4454 Product: Hunter Irrigation Artificial lawn and Sports court: Installation: Africa United - 082 822 4788 Product Belgotex Sport & Belgotex Grass 011 380 9300 Bollard Lighting: Lighting Innovations - 011 444 1168
Softscaping Life Landscapes describe that the client requested continuous colour, playing around with leaves and shapes, colour and flowers. Steel trees were utilized for height and depth because all landscaping was done on suspended concrete slabs and in planters. A number of fun usable spaces needed to be created for student living and entertainment; this would be with limited depth for planting due to engineering constraints. The project had to be done in different phases: Phase 1a started in October 2016. Phase 1b was completed in June 2017. Phase 2a started in October 2017 and Phase 2b was completed in August 2018. Life Landscapes was responsible for all of the soft landscaping, including the irrigation, water feature, steel trees, artificial lawn and the sports court. Regular meetings with the client ensured that the design was suitable for the variety of spaces required. Obstacles faced during the construction: As is the case for most developments, it is always tricky to work around other constructions and contractors and Life
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Landscapes explain that they could only work in areas available to them at a specific time. There were different levels and floors from ground floor to the building's roof top and in many instances, material had to be carried up the staircase as this would be the only means of access to a specific level. The team used the main contractor’s crane to lift materials to higher floors but it was not readily available and thus, Life Landscapes had to work before or after normal working hours as the other contractors had to use it during the day. There were some nights that the team worked shifts from 18h00 till 06h00 trying to get planting medium to higher levels before the normal work shift would start for the team. Some construction detailing had to be amended on site due to various on site conditions. Construction time was very limited, especially nearing the end of the project, and we had to carry plants and material up the scaffolding staircase. It is always difficult navigating developments with differences in heights, but the outcome of this Urban space has made everything worthwhile for all teams involved on the project.
LED Striplights on Steel Trees: OPG Lighting - 012 348 5351 Canopy Lighting: JCS Lighting - 018 468 2957
A B O U T PA R AG O N A R C H I T E C T S Paragon Architects, established in October 1997, is an internationally-active African design business, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the originator of the Paragon Group of design businesses, delivering commercial, retail, industrial, interior, residential and educational architecture and space planning to visionary clients in all property sectors. As a Group we are committed to Africa, and believe in the future of its cities. Our roots are here. We have much to offer. We are able and agile, and actively participate in the continent’s urban and human development. Paragon is flexible and diverse in its approach to design. Each project is unique and is not driven by style, but by lifestyle and a response to user needs. Elegant and efficient planning form the core of our designs. We understand the needs of our clients, and know how to generate ever new architectural forms in a competitive property market.
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Growing Health
Africa United is a turn key sports solution company specialising in: multi courts | combi courts | synthetic turf | cricket nets | football pitches | steel fabrication | custom children's play areas and equipment
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FLORICULTURE WHOLESALE GROWERS Wholesale Growers of a variety of quality plants for the Retail - Landscape and Export market. Deliveries to all provinces. 0814645147 / 0834956962 orders@floriculturegrowers.co.za Plot 130 West Road , Cnr of West and North, Mnandi
THE GREENER SIDE OF LIFE Hannes van Zyl l 083-457-3292
PORTFOLIO
THE UNIVERSITY I OF MPUMALANGA, LOWER CAMPUS
RESIDENTIAL, DINING AND STUDENT SUPPORT BUILDING A new university serving the Mpumalanga province has been imagined, with the help of the team at kwpCREATE designing phase two of this development’s 15-year plan to promote a positive environmental, socio-behavioral and aesthetic space the students and staff can be proud to call theirs.
n a campus-wide intervention, extensive research was conducted by the DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training) in order to establish a new university that would serve the Mpumalanga province. This resulted in a phased, 15-year implementation plan, with project management from the University of Mpumalanga, as well as design guidelines provided by Ludwig Hansen Architects + Urban Designers, to guide and manage the spatial planning process. The strategic plan formulated for the University of Mpumalanga set out to achieve the provision of a variety of educational and recreational facilities for approximately 15,000 students by 2028. kwpCREATE Landscape Architects’ involvement started at the beginning of the second phase of the University of Mpumalanga’s development during 2018, following the successful implementation of the phase one landscaping, undertaken by Insite Landscape Architects over the previous three years.
PORTFOLIO The overall brief directed at the landscape architects comprises of the planning, designing and reviewing of the construction of outdoor and public spaces within the built precinct, ensuring positive environmental, socio-behavioral and aesthetic outcomes. Ludwig Hansen Architects + Urban Designers (LHA+UD) provided the overall campus vision plan within which we, the landscape architects, could work and develop an appropriate context for the proposed building. kwpCREATE refined this design on a detailed level and worked closely with Norse Contractors and Endemic Developments during installation.
The University of Mpumalanga began the construction of the Residential, Dining and Student Support Building mid-2017, and was officially completed at the end of August 2019. Approaching this building, one is automatically led into the courtyards, where a strong sense of respect for the existing, endemic Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) trees is experienced. The buildings, ordered around these large, existing trees provide courtyards of varying scales for the enjoyment of the students who live and dine within this building. Both built-in and loose seating can be found in the external spaces, where an adequate number
of trees were planted to respond to the hot climate of the area. Additionally, water drinking fountains were installed to similarly provide a refreshing experience for the residents. Ample lawn areas were introduced towards the southern edge of the building as an informal spill out space – the movement of students in this area guided by pre-cast concrete stepping stones. Extensive research was undertaken to compile a plant palette that consisted of indigenous and many endemic species in response to the character and climate of the surroundings. The Mpumalanga forest biome was studied as a point of inspiration, guiding plant selection for the main external courtyard which is envisioned to
A B O U T K W P C R E AT E kwpCREATE is a full range creative studio working in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, interior design and project management. The practice was started in 1950 and the fourth generation of directors are still actively involved in the practice. We are a company operating on a business basis to accept, identify, design and document technically viable urban design, buildings, landscapes and environmental projects. The studio combines young innovation with years of experience.
resemble a ‘forest’ in due time. Approximately 40 different species were chosen and composed in various plant mixes to bring forth different textures, colours, levels and sensory experiences throughout the landscaped areas. The landscape infiltrated the building in a subtle manner, where an internal atrium allowed for the introduction of internal planting, however, the challenge remained to choose an indigenous South African tree for a dimly lit internal area. The Tree fuchsia (Halleria lucida) was the final choice. Not only was there a need to respond climatically in terms of plant selection, but a decision was taken to similarly respond to the existing material palette used throughout the university. As
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prescribed by LHA+UD, the Federale Stene, Plum Satin face brick is the dominant material choice throughout the new additions to the university. This was carried into the landscape through the introduction of brick seating walls and external steps. The rest of the paving responded to that which had been used and specified on the campus to date. The undulating levels and steep nature of the site provided design challenges with regards to protecting the existing trees, managing storm water and drainage, achieving levelled-paved surfaces and ensuring universal access despite large level differences. Gabions, constructed on site, were introduced along the road-side of the
building, dealing with a 3.5m level difference. The gabions allowed us to terrace this area, and the planting here was inspired by the grassland vegetation unit as it is situated in an open, exposed zone. The grasslands equally form an important part of the Mpumalanga region. Conclusion Since the students started at the beginning of September, the external spaces seem to have been used and enjoyed, and the relationship between the architecture and the landscape strengthen as the vegetation begins to grow into the space allocated. Endemic Developments will continue to maintain and nurture the grounds over the next year.
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PORTFOLIO
MEET THE TEAM Landscape architects: kwpCREATE Urban designer: Ludwig Hansen Architects + Urban Designers Architects: Ludwig Hansen Architects + Urban Designers Main contractor: Norse Contractors Landscape contractor: Endemic Developments Civil engineer: Delta BEC Consultants Project manager: University of Mpumalanga/GladAfrica
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SUPPLIERS Precast products and concrete pavers Style Decor 012 376 2454 Nutmeg clay paver Corobrik 031 560 3111 Venetian paver (charcoal) Bosun 010 001 8398 Precast concrete drinking fountains Wilson Stone 011 615 6212 Precast Turin Quartz bench Wilson Stone Precast concrete pavers Spectacular Concrete 013 758 2040 Lightin: PLP Lighting Engineers 013 741 4499 Regent Lighting Solutions 011 474 0171 Irrigation Controlled Irrigation 011 608 0767 Product: Rain Bird
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RESIDENTIAL/ ESTATE/ LODGE
KEURBOOMS COTTAGE Keurbooms Cottage is a modern beach home that creatively crystallizes the fluctuating coastal line as a fluid reference for its organically curved form. The building transcends the schedule of accommodation and enters the realm of liveable sculpture which, in turn, becomes a platform for viewing the dynamic surrounding environment. Keurbooms Cottage is an architectural intersection between the sea, sky, vegetation and wind. This home is a collaboration of great design, thoughtful landscaping and new frontiers, with architecture by Silvio Rech + Lesley Carstens Architecture, landscape design by Franchesca Watson and installation by Bidvest Top Turf, a noted winner of multiple SALI awards.
PORTFOLIO Size of landscaped area 9000m2 Property size 11.2 hectares Timeline of landscape 9 months Cost R620,000
The client’s brief to Silvio Rech + Lesley Carstens Architecture (SRLC) was to create an iconic piece of millennium architecture that celebrates futuristic houses and celebrates forms found in nature. Architecture The concrete ‘exoskeleton’ floats freely over the extremely diverse indigenous Cape fynbos – of which 9,000 species exist in the area – and the surrounding low forest setting up a further dialogue with the surrounding landscape. Glimpses of indigenous antelopes in the surrounding vegetation and breaching whales at sea become part of the experience. The ‘dual’ veranda, one on the seaward side and the other on landward side, of the transparent lounge allow for two outdoor living opportunities that respond to the notorious cape wind deviations. The large tracks of glass moving organically under the exoskeleton facilitates an ever-changing environmental experience. The roof acts as both a functional and aesthetic device, collecting and channelling rainwater. The collected water is led to a man-made reflection pond at the bottom of the dune. The roof is also augmented to accommodate a solar farm further holistically integrating the building into its surrounding environment. The project's singular colour palette generates heavenly spaces, drawing reference from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Housed within the curved concrete exoskeleton is the organic schedule of accommodation. The master bedroom occupies level 2 and orientates itself to the picturesque view of the bay. The public lounge, family room, wraparound veranda and bedrooms occupy the ground floor and are seamlessly connected to the surrounding environment by a sweeping ramp. The basement of the building comprises of a series of spaces that house automobiles, laundries, art racks, plant rooms and a production kitchen. The house manifests itself as an original piece of millennial beach architecture, inspired by both nature and past futuristic houses. Positioning on site The SRLC team felt positioning was a critical consideration; part of the site is a natural coastal forest. They positioned the building on the backside of the second dune from the ocean. This was ideal as the forest runs down the valley between the first and second dunes. This was an important step in the coastal conservation. Connecting the house to the beach is a 150m long organic timber walkway with minimal impact to the forest. The team had to ensure that the walkway touches lightly and allows indigenous animals free movement in the valley below. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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On the walk to the beach platform, the viewer can enjoy the surrounding fauna and flora without directly interfering with it. The architectural sculptural slopes are directly influenced by two concepts: •
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The rolling waves at sea. The architectural roofs have a wave-like form that connects one to this undulating energy. The rolling landscape. The architecture is located in an eroded dip, while the roofs were also partly influenced by the shape of the nearby mounds.
The building basements were painted in a walking stick green so as to blend with nature when creepers grow up them. This has the benefit of connecting/rooting the architecture, as well as disguising some of the schedule and creating a perfect platform for the sculptural wave, much like the architecture found on the ground and first floors. The choice of natural balau decking (which would in time bleach and blend with the landscape), hard grass block surfaces which allow vegetation to grow through and disappearing glass balustrades all speak to the project's endemic concept of connecting architecture to landscape. The design Franchesca Watson, the designer of this enchanting garden, explained that the plot comprises a broad band of land all the way from Keurbooms Beach, across the dune system and low-lying land behind the dunes up to the first hills of Keurbooms. In terms of Franchesca’s brief from the client, the idea was to create a garden that in some way complimented the strong style and aesthetic of the house, but also acknowledged the unique site and ecosystem. The client particularly wanted the garden to have curvaceous water bodies and berms to echo the shapes in the architecture. Much of the plant material was grown by the Green Futures Nursery and College, based on the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. This project forms part of the Grootbos Foundation, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the conservation of the Cape Floral Kingdom and the upliftment of the communities within. Plant material selected was either that of local species, or species adapted to the particular site conditions. The entire project was undertaken
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in strict collaboration with local nature conservation authorities. The area that the main gardens were established on had been ploughed as a field some time before the client bought the property. The areas surrounding this field had some patches of original natural plants and a good quantity of invasive plants, which were removed section by section, allowing regeneration slowly of the natural plants. On the field, plans were made for the lake, the driveway and lawns, tennis court and bermed areas, and a pavilion with the same architectural character as the house. As the property starts to change level at the dune system and all the way to the beach, the rich local vegetation was pristine and mature, and great care was taken to preserve this. The property exists in a low rainfall area and the water used for the lake is taken from well points on the property. The garden is irrigated from the lake and, at certain times, the level of irrigation possible is severely limited. The garden has thus developed slowly but has proved sustainable. A vertical planted wall was also created by Bidvert Top Turf using a wall system from Maccaferri. Bidvest Top Turf’s brief from Franchesca was to create an indigenous, informal and water-wise garden, suitable for the fairly sensitive primary dune location. The brief also required a large built dam for the storage and reticulation of irrigation water during the establishment stage. Alongside this, a tennis court and grass block driveway was to be flanked with mature trees. Pro Landscaper speaks to Sean Privett, conservation director of the Grootbos Foundation and owner of Fynbos Ecoscapes, where he explains the planting brief from Franchesca, as well as the planting palette included on this site. “My brief from Franchesca was to develop a planting list that would complement the natural environment and ultimately provide a well-balanced mix of naturally occurring species to the area. The home was built on a stabilised dune, meaning that the plants needed to be alkaline tolerant and adapted to coastal conditions.
SUPPLIERS: Decking G&K Mouldings – 044 882 1011 Furniture Jireh Custom Interiors – 044 533 1560 Green wall system Maccaferri Organics ProGrow – 076 379 3706 General fill Quarry Co Grass blocks Mobicast – 044 878 0322 GCL lining Kaytech – 041 453 0755 Grass Grass Master - 041 585 2629 Plant hire DenRon - 044 533 0884 Well points Akwasol - 021 552 8783 Tennis court Cape Courts & Civils - 041 453 3688 Dam air lift system Aqua Pools Rain Bird irrigation system Stewart & Lloyds – 021 761 9919 Planting Reitz Tree Care Charles Reitz – 082 424 0055 Planting contractor Fynbos Ecoscapes Sean Privett – 082 4111 008 Plants grown by Grootbos Foundation Project's Green Futures College – 028 384 8043 Trees Trees SA – 021 842 0003
"Prior to developing the plant list, I visited the site to determine what species grew naturally in the area and, in collaboration with Franchesca, developed a list of plants that would fulfil the various requirements of the landscape plan."
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MEET THE TEAM Architects Silvio Rech + Lesley Carstens Lead architect Takura Changwa Landscape designer Franchesca Watson Landscape contractor Bidvest Top Turf Main building contractor Semper Prima Builders
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THE WEX 1 The Wex 1 comprises 183 Private Apartments, a boutique hotel of 34 rooms branded the Stock Exchange and 3000sqm of Retail space. It was commissioned by Signatura Properties, with a full construction cost of R240million and an intense build period of 18months from start on site to occupation. Vivid Architect’s and Planning Partners brought Signatura’s vision to life, kick-starting the urban renewal in Woodstock’s commercial corridor of Albert Road.
PORTFOLIO
The Brief This project was a ground breaker in the Woodstock area which combines residential, hotel and retail spaces in a vibrant and diverse urban environment. Located strategically close to the Woodstock train station and on the busy Albert Road meant that pedestrian circulation around the building was a priority and the hard landscaping needed to be sufficiently robust and complementary to the architectural style. There are 3 major landscape components to this scheme being the street, the courtyards, and an amenity pool deck overlooking train station with majestic harbor views. The finishes match the design concept, with primarily robust grey & black finishes to the street landscaping, softened with the green planting and the burst of colour provided by Vivid Architect’s bespoke yellow WOODSTOCK bike rack, which is a piece of urban art. Vivid Architect’s also designed the polished concrete and timber seating cubes, installed on the sidewalk, which can be arranged in any way.
MEET THE TEAM Project Landscape Architects Planning Partners - Alistair Turrell Project Architects Vivid Architects - Paolo Viotti, Charles Louw, Ian Bennie, Kean Peace & Jaco Jordaan Landscape Contractor: Interplant Horticulture - 021 447 1369
The courtyards are framed vertically with the flowing white lines of the balcony walkways, comprising beautiful natural timber decking to floor, seats, and tree planter designs. The planting was carefully chosen with Planning Partners to provide deciduous trees that would keep the space dynamic by changing with the seasons, and express the verticality by engaging the user on the high levels. The exterior pool deck has also been designed with soft architectural curves and finishes with water, timber, and the green of clever planting to create an intimate space, fully wind protected, while taking maximum advantage of the excellent city views. The 4th Floor atria spaces and pool deck would be occupied by a wide range of visitors and residents and so needed to be comfortable ‘people spaces’ constructed over concrete decks. The planting of trees to create a human scale to the sidewalk environment along Albert Road was problematic due to a multitude of existing municipal civil services which criss-crossed the sidewalk space. The solution was to plant Water Pear (Syzigium guineense) trees into extra-large concrete pots, placed within open ground planting zones which were planted with tough plant species for the urban environment. The large pots can be relocated to make way for future repairs or the installation of new infrastructure should this be required. A fully automated irrigation system was installed to ensure the success of the new landscaping, while being mindful of water conservation and so non-potable water is used for all irrigation purposes. www.prolandscaper.co.za
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SUPPLIERS: Electrical Contractors: Solution Station Consulting Engineers 021 532 5069 Building Façade: Etherington Aluminium - 021 981 9667 Product Bellco LED Lighting (Pool Terrace Area) 021 440 7100 Province Lighting (Common Walkway Area) 021 464 4661 Timber decking: Decks4Life CC - 021 762 4752 Large pots: StoneCast - 021 510 3909 Paving: Revelstone (Jura cobbles) - 021 761 9739 Corobrik (Onyx piazza pavers) 021 888 2300 Planting: Nonke Plants - 021 887 6972 Shadowlands Wholesale Nursery 021 903 0050 Mature Trees: Prime Trees - 071 581 5751 Irrigation: Cape Irrigation Systems - 021 975 2262 Product: Hunter
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Planting within the 4th Floor atria spaces was concentrated in large structured concrete tree planters which were timber clad to match the timber deck flooring. Celtis sinensis trees were selected for the atria which receives plenty of natural light. Underplanting of shade-tolerant groundcovers completes the planters. Free-standing timber-clad troughs were lined with plastic crates and planted with a combination of groundcovers and climbers to grow over the integrated trellis frame above. These troughs added further layers of vertical greening and formed intimate seating nodes within the atria. The pool deck is a key entertainment space which leads off a central lounge and dining space and is also overlooked by the private gymnasium. Bold planting of Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ and the tropical looking Monstera deliciosa are set off against the signature black
brickwork and yellow aluminium vertical fins of the building. The selection of paving materials for the sidewalk along Albert Road was guided by the architecture where-for example-use of the Jura cobble from Revelstone both externally and within the internal colonnade creates a seamless transition between the two spaces. Detail banding using Corobrik’s ‘Onyx’ pavers as banding echoes the rhythm of the architectural columns on the street edge. Vivid Architect’s explains that,
“As with many of our projects we worked seamlessly with Planning Partners to create livable landscapes which ensure the architecture sits correctly in the urban fabric and is experienced as intended.”
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PORTFOLIO
A B O U T P L A N N I N G PA RT N E R S "
With an extensive portfolio of completed projects locally and internationally we aim to provide added value to every project as part of a collaboration. Our track record over 40 years has delivered restored cultural and historical gardens, commercial and institutional Landscape Master Planning, detailed design and implementation as well as landscape management and inputs into Environmental Planning and management. Our team of 12 comprises 5 Professional Landscape Architects, Landscape and Architectural Technicians and Horticulturalists.
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SAPOA AWARD FOR INNOVATION
WITKLIPFONTEIN ECO LODGE
PORTFOLIO Client: Xavier Huyberechts and Carine Bwakira-Huyberechts Architects: GLH Architects Building size: 500m2 Vegetable garden surface area: 900m2 Timeline of Development: 3 years Location: Witklipfontein Farm, Schoemansdrift Road, Vredefort Dome Witklipfontein is a unique, eco-friendly accommodation on a private game farm, located at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Vredefort Dome. Winner of the Innovative Award at the 2019 SAPOA Awards for Innovative Excellence, nature is intrinsic to its design success.
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itklipfontein is one of the original farms of the Vredefort Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a place of nature and simplicity that instils a sense of wellbeing. With 215 hectares of diverse scenery, the farm is of breath-taking beauty and tranquility, with plains, hills, a kloof, a spruit and dams. The Huyberechts family acquired the property in 2013, driven by their dream for a farm in Africa and a desire of going back to nature and the essentials of life. Since then, they have worked tirelessly at adding to this Eden of nature, creating a decent workers house, a generous vegetable garden and the picturesque lodge. The space thrives with the rhythm of the contrasting seasons; Witklipfontein sees viridescent summers with occasional welcoming rain, while winters are dry and yellow with stark light and crisp temperatures. When approaching the lodge from the south, the visitor walks downhill into a crevasse flanked by two stone walls. At the bottom of the stairs, a large glass door gives access to the lodge. The entrance lobby overlooks the plains to the North and separates the two parts of Witklipfontein – the living areas to the west and the sleeping areas to the east. To the west of the living areas, a large patio offers an external entertainment area overlooking the plains and the natural swimming pools.
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traditional vernacular building techniques with modern minimalistic design. Overlooking the plains, the large fully openable glass windows blur the boundaries between the inside of the house and the surrounding nature, allowing for a unique bush living experience. The architects aimed to use vernacular building techniques that are more respectful of the environment whilst also re-interpreting them in a very modern way. Many of these techniques have been forgotten in lieu of simpler cementbased building techniques. As there were no builders using such an approach, the team decided to embark on an adventure to build the house themselves with the help of a few unskilled farm laborers, teaching them the building techniques they wanted to implement along the way. This method of building uses cheaper labor but for a longer period. Many of the laborers have now left with the newly acquired building skills that will allow them to further themselves. Rocks Being on a mountainous farm, rocks are found in abundance. Moreover, previous use of the plains of the farm for tobacco plantation led the previous farmers to remove the rocks from the fields and pile them up. The large stone piles were ready for the team to pick up and use for the construction of stone walls and foundations. Rammed earth walls Earth walls throughout the lodge were erected by compacting 90mm layers of damp soil down to 30mm in a formwork. The process is slow but well worth it – the horizontal layering of the walls are eye-catching and work to create a warm and natural atmosphere. Earth bags The 'sandbag walls' technique used at the lodge was actually developed by NASA to build structures on other planets. The only material that would have to be brought in are the bags that get filled with local material, going from sand to clay soils. The principle is simply to superimpose bands of soil-filled bags that get gradually compacted layer after layer.
Tucked into the mountain, under 5m of soil, the Dome – an indoor cave-style room with earthy walls, wooden flooring and luxury seating – offers the coolest place in the house. A central oculus allows the sunlight to enter the space and travel along the walls during the day.
The most common shapes produced with sandbag walls are domes, but more rectilinear structures can also be achieved. This technique is very fast and requires little labour. The shape of the dome is set out thanks to two chains that define the curvature of the Dome.
The ground carpet of the hill is designed to have just been lifted a little to slip the house under it. The architecture is a unique combination of
Green roof The roof is made of a steel structure, with pine timber purlins covered with two layers of plywood. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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This structure is waterproofed with two layers of bituminous waterproofing layers, a stone drainage layer, a geotextile and 40cm of soil. This depth of soil is necessary for plants to be able to grow on a soil in such an arid and sunstruck area like the Vredefort Dome.
were utilized on the roof and LED lighting was chosen, one of many energy-saving inclusions.
Services and energy The house is fully off the grid, as are the energy services. The team made this decision due to the remoteness of the site, but also decided to redirect the capital costs, bringing municipal services on to the site instead. The additional costs were minimal and will be recouped on municipal service costs in the months ahead.
Water Water is pumped from a 60m deep borehole, reaching purity levels of 96%, which is often much better quality than any city or even bottled water. The water is stored in water tanks high up on the mountain to provide for adequate water pressure in the house. The hot water is produced by solar panels heating the water of a geyser. A small solar powered pump circulates the water in the system and allows for the geyser to be placed below the solar panels, reducing its aesthetic impact.
Electricity The first thing to do when looking at an off-the-grid electrical plant is to assess your needs for the project and to create an electrical load budget, something which needs to be reduced to a minimum. Photovoltaic solar panels
Natural swimming pool The architects aimed to have a natural swimming pool with a variety of experiences for the user. This included the beach area on the house side, where young children can paddle in the shallow water, and the rim flow on the northern section
where one can lie down in the water and observe animals roaming the plains. Alongside these are a rocky area on the west and a more traditional edge along the south for kids to dive from. A large daybed and the Boma adjacent to the pool will ensure a variety of different relaxing scenarios. From the moment the pools were filled with water, the local bird poplation has thrived, enjoying the shallow planted areas where they can wash and bristle their wings. The natural swimming pool is made up of 3 ponds, two filtration ponds and one swimming pond. The water circulates from the top filtration pond by cascading softly down rocks in the main swimming pool. From there, the water rim flows over to the lower filtration pond. Both filtration ponds have a deep bedding of gravel over the water circulation pipes as well as large planting beds that will break down all the nutrients in the water and keep it clean.
SUPPLIERS Electric, plumbing and sewage systems Malvern Electric Solar power system Battery Centre Potchefstroom Engineering PURE Consulting Granite VT Marble & Granite Roof waterproofing a.b.e. Construction Chemicals Pool EPDM Water Brothers Wood SA Pine Vegetable Garden Maintained by DorothĂŠe Dehon (interior designer) Seeds Livingseeds
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Permaculture vegetable garden Designed and maintained by Dorothée Dehon (interior designer) Defined by a large beautiful Acacia in the centre and hearty fruit trees on the perimeter, the mandala design of the vegetable garden allows for ideal shade coverage on the crops below throughout the day. Over 100 species of heirloom vegetables, medicinal herbs and edible flowers thrive in the life rich soil, organically grown with permaculture principles. Companion planting is used to repel pests and attract beneficial insects by intercropping plants that “get along” with each other. Dorothée explains: “I like to say that I am a lazy gardener even though I spend a lot of time in the garden, but I only do what needs to be done. For instance, I leave most of the plants to self-seed and then I simply move what needs to be moved to a place that suits my design better. Most of the time, the plants just grow where they belong. I haven’t sown lettuces in 4 years, I just leave a few plants to bolt and then I move the bunch of seedlings so that it grows in the shade. "The nice thing with companion planting is that you never lose your whole harvest due to pests because the insects get confused. When they find a delicious cabbage and eat it all, they won’t find another right next to the first one – they might have a marigold which repels most pests, then a swiss chard, then a potato, some thyme, and if they don’t come across a deadly predator while searching for their preferred crop, they’ll soon decide to fly much further to find a monoculture field. The beds have a thick layer of mulch to avoid too many weeds growing everywhere – we never put a foot on a bed so they stay soft and uncompacted, and I can work bare hands and dig without any tool.” The design of the garden creates a maze where you can simply have a walk and enjoy the colours, smells and views or turn your harvest into a treasure hunt. A garden tag describes the plant mix on each bed to help the guests find their way through the edible jungle. It is a place where you can not only go and pick your veggies for supper but a place where you can meditate, discover, observe, try and taste around, nibble on a leaf, snack on a cherry tomato and chose the colours of your plate.
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ELALENI COASTAL FOREST ESTATE KwaZulu-Natal’s latest estate development on the North Coast – Elaleni Coastal Forest Estate – is premised on an ethos of sustainability and natual living. This is a North Global Group Properties (Pty) Ltd Development, with design by Landscape Architects Uys & White and construction by North Global Group. This estate’s unique focus is on encouraging giving back whatever is taken from nature, with an overriding environmental conscience that seeks the use of sustainable building products.
PORTFOLIO Size: 50ha Coastal Forest Estate. The Estate includes an 18ha seasonal swamp forest that hosts Wild Frangipani (Voacanga thouarsii) as well as the protected Swamp Fig (Ficus trichopoda). Timeline of Development: 4 years Cost: R100 million. Location: Kwa-Zulu Natal
The estate is home to a number of bird species that are unique to the area, including the Broadbill, Pygmy Kingfisher, and Buff Spotted Flufftail, as well as the Swamp Fig, Natal Strangling Fig and Raffia Palm. So maintaining this habitat was seen as paramount and protection of this exquisite heritage needed to take precedence. Every aspect of the estate incorporates the natural elements where possible, encouraging engagement with the untouched environment and giving back whatever is taken from nature. With a strong environmental conscience, the developers aim to become guardians of our globe. The brief clearly outlined that the design and implementation had to minimise the impact on natural surrounds and to achieve a design that integrates with the coastal forest. With this in mind, specific elements needed to be used and taken into account. The client wanted a high profile, emotional entrance to the estate. So, to achieve this, the design needed to direct the vehicles over a contemporary look of old-time causeway with water on both sides and connect strips of water in-between. MEET THE TEAM Property Developers: North Global Group Properties (Pty) Ltd Architects (gatehouse): Bloc Architects - 031 566 3320 Landscape Architects: Uys and White Landscape Architects 032 947 2401 Landscape Contractor: River Projects - 079 368 0141 Building works: North Global Construction - 032 525 4477 Civil works: Westwood Plant Hire - 032 815 1155 Civil Engineers: Monoblock - 032 947 0716
To reduce the vehicular speed, islands of palm clusters have been planted to divide the road into visual spaces. Once speed is reduced, one experiences a gallery of 2m tall bonsai trees exhibited on podiums in reflective water. Planters on the building’s first level, planted with waving grasses and beach creepers trail down to create a curtain of green for office privacy and sun protection. The next point of the brief was to create roads and driveways that do not conform to the ordinary standard of roads. The road servitudes were already zoned and registered when the team began. The newly designed roads however, do not follow the normal character of a road but rather appear as a mix of clay bricks, concrete and granite to change the traditional aesthetic into a reference of different expression, creating the perception of special spaces and natural pathways. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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SUPPLIERS Clay paving: Corobrick - 031 560 3111 Concrete Cobbles: Monoblock - 032 947 0716 Granite Cobbles: Union Tiles - 032 946 0384 Soft Landscape: River Projects - 079 368 1041 Planting: Hardscapes Nursery - 079 368 1041 Irrigation: Product: Netafim Timber works: River Projects Supplier: Vimar Timber 031 464 0929 Gabion works: River Projects Signage: Rainbow Signs - 082 451 1860 Circle Feature: Alifab Metal Fabricators - 033 386 9291 Suds: Bera- Grass Fix Eco+ - 083 449 3954 Photography: Chris Allen Photography
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PORTFOLIO Special connections within the estate consist of safari roads, meandering golf cart paths and manicured lawn open spaces. Stormwater control The stormwater along the main road is controlled within swales positioned between the ingress and egress roads. A meandering pedestrian boardwalk was then built over the swales to hide the swales underneath them. The forest The previous boardwalk was reinstated with a 700m raised boardwalk which meanders over the swamp forest floor. In addition, the old dilapidated jetties were also transformed into sturdy circular jetties with seating incorporated at the edge of one of the dams. The circle The beautiful structural element, designed to capture the visitors intrigue, is inspired by the succession of the different tree species in one of a few swamp forests still existing along the North Coast. Similar to human lifecycles, the diverse tree species in the forest also have different lifespans. The trees’ lifecycles interact with the neighbouring trees and thus affect each other. In nature and in a new forest, trees in succession from pioneer trees to climax trees take more than 70 years. Therefore, the structure has 3 rings, each interacting differently from horizontal to angled lines supporting the delicate and rather poetic balance found in nature. The trees in the forest resemble living generators, exchanging carbon to oxygen, the most important element for all living creatures. To promote succession, the team has made provision to house a series of solar PV panels to generate the power for the landscape lighting in the area. The rings are made out of aluminium magnesium alloy. The external diameter is 12m, and the internal ring is set at a 10m diameter. These rings are at 15 and 40-degree angles respectively, with the inner circle facing North to achieve maximum solar exposure into the internal PV panels. The rings will be planted with trailing species, a combination of pioneer and climax creepers which will green the circles and celebrate the forest. The bottom hedge will be planted with majority being Spekboom. Spekboom is significant as it delivers per volume the highest carbon oxygen exchange in nature. www.prolandscaper.co.za
ABOUT UYS & WHITE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
Uys & White has been fortunate to be exposed to prestigious national and international projects. Our interest lies in landscape urban planning projects. Lucas Uys was previously appointed (for 3 years) as the president of the UAE's internal landscape architect and exposed to more than 3000 projects varying from desert projects to luxury palace developments and Head-of-State government buildings. We were involved in Egypt, in a resort hotel development on the Red Sea which consists of a lagoon, a marina, Arabian villages, entertainment nodes, conference centre, and a Mediterranean city of courtyards. We were also involved in the Intercontinental Hotel and village of 100 units on the cliffs in Dakar, Senegal. Further projects in Africa include hotels in Addis Ababa, University Campuses in Ghana and Kenya as well as boutique hotels in Mauritius. With over 40 years’ experience, Uys & White Landscape Architects is mostly involved in luxury residential, boutique and mega residential estates. December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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BEYOND THE STONE WALL
This SAOTA designed family home sits just below Lion’s Head; with views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, the city of Cape Town and the mountains of the Boland and the winelands in the distance. This home has been designed to encapsulate light and the landscaping, subtly echoes the indigenous surrounds and thoughtful architecture throughout. This landscape design is by the renowned Franchesca Watson with installation by Heimo Schulzer Gardens.
PORTFOLIO Size: 75 m2 Cost: R800 000 Timeline: 12 months Location: Cape Town
The architecture is shaped to take in as much of the surrounding as is possible. The strongest gesture is the inverted pyramid roof which creates a clerestory window around the upper level. It allows the building to open up, capturing views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head that would otherwise have been lost. This has also opened up views of the sky, bringing the sun and moon into the home, heightening the connection to nature and its cycles. The house presents a stone wall, built in a traditional Cape way, to the busy city street that it sits on, revealing very little about its interior. At night, the inverted pyramid roof glows, creating a giant lightbox, which adds to the intrigue. One enters the house through the large metal front door, which sits between the house proper and the stone wall, then into a small entrance lobby which is connected to a courtyard garden. From this restrained quiet space, a few steps take you up into the living space with its cinematic bold views over the city. The house is arranged on three levels. The top level has the strongest views and holds most of the living spaces; the open-plan kitchen, dining room and lounge. The family’s work and bedroom spaces are on the mid-level with the garage, gym, cinema and guest room on the lower level.
challenging. The large trees and rocks were craned onto the terraces and into the indoor courtyard over several days. The soils, organics and plant materials had to be carried in bags through and around the house, making the project highly labour intensive. It was a challenge for all the contractors to work together in a small space while at the same time protecting each other's workmanship. No effort was spared to achieve a flawless outcome for the garden. Every feature stone was turned until it was absolutely perfectly positioned. Franchesca Watson describes the planting palette chosen and used throughout the house. Indigenous trees, Nuxia floribundas have been used to give scale and screening and connect with the greater landscape on this project. The semi-shade underplanting consists of grasses, bulbs and strappy plants such as Chlorophytum bowkerii. In the other landscaped space, the terrace of the living-room: trees are a grove of Dombeya rotundifolia and a feature Schotia brachypetala. Both species being chosen to attract birds. Large boulders add texture to a mixed planting of grasses, agathosmas, selagos and selected succulent ground covers. Steps float above a semi shade planting of ferns, ground orchids, Agapanthus and Liriope to add to the aesthetic.
Each level has its own set of gardens and courtyards. These gardens extend from the mountain surface down against the house, screening the neighbouring buildings and intensifying the relationship with nature; allowing light and air into spaces that would otherwise be dark and isolated.
The green spaces throughout the house are an elegant echo to the beautiful architecture.
The dark exterior breaks down the mass of the building, pushing it into the background. Internally, colours are muted and the use of a washed oak gives the spaces warmth. The sophisticated spaces were furnished using OKHA furniture.
Project Team: Greg Truen, Dov Goldring & Jaco Bruwer, Ian Cox and Puja Patel
Heimo Schulzer Gardens advise that due to the steep gradient of the property, the building consists of several levels. From an installation perspective, the garden was treated as a series of rooftop gardens as none of the plating (with the exception of the vegetable garden situated at the bottom of the property) is situated on ground level.
MEET THE TEAM Architects: SAOTA
Structural Engineers: Moroff & Kühne Consulting Engineers Quantity Surveyor: SBDS Quantity Surveyors Main Contractor: Gossow & Harding Construction Pty (Ltd) Interior Décor: OKHA Landscaping: Franchesca Watson Garden Designer Landscaping Installation: Heimo Schulzer Gardens Photography: Adam Letch & Micky Hoyle
The various levels and compact nature of this property’s layout made accessibility very December 2019 | Pro Landscaper Africa
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SUPPLIERS Paving: Eurotiles Mosaic Pool Tiles: Douglas Jones - 086 166 7242 Supplier: Italcotto- 021 425 4192 Decking: Master Decks - 021 704 0124 Lighting: Province Lighting - 021 464 4661 Irrigation Product: Rain Bird Hunter Planting: Arnelia Farms - 022 723 1022 Benzaan Nursery - 082 779 4010 Bloemendal Nursery - 021 572 7908 Cape Garden Centre - 021 988 4137 Elands Nursery - 041 955 5671 Exotic Plants - 084 400 8400 Fairholme - 021 848 9738 Ferndale Nursery - 021 794 5175 Fridhem Farm Nurseries - 082 804 2241 Good Hope Garden Nursery - 060 509 4288 Habitat Mature Tree Nursery - 021 855 4400 Induli Wholesale Nursery - 021 785 3581 Little Orchard Nursery - 060 919 3939 Milkwoods Wholesale Nursery - 021 572 5851 New Plant - 044 889 0055 Nonke Plants - 021 887 6972 Pink Geranium - 021 884 4313 Plant Collectors - 031 464 9909 Samgro Wholesale Nursery - 021 873 4377 San Michelle Farms - 021 572 3930 Seven Rivers Nursery - 083 327 6816 Shadowlands Wholesale Nursery - 021 903 0050 St Omer Farm - 021 868 3641 Shire Wild Bulb Nursery - 043 683 2452 Top Crop Nursery - 033 569 1333 West coast Flora - 021 572 2205 West Coast Nursery Western Cape Seedlings - 021 286 2711
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ROOS WHOLESALE NURSERY Roos Wholesale Nursery is a Quality Plant Supplier to the Retail and Landscaping Markets. Contact: Gerrie 082 410 7219 | Office: Elsie 011 956 6939 accounts@roosnursery.co.za
THE CAPE DECKING SPECIALISTS Master Decks is the Timber Decking specialist, having serviced architects, developers, builders and home owners in Cape Town and surrounds for 28 years. Master Decks has the infrastructure to deal with any size project both residential or commercial and our expertise lies in our ability to assist with the design and specifications for any project. Master Decks are proudly gracing the lifestyles of Hotels, Restaurants, National Parks, Apartment blocks and countless homes across the region. Master Decks is committed to the protection of our environment and endeavours to use suppliers who can ensure that their timber is from a renewable source.
021 704 0124 | www.decks.co.za | info@masterdecks.co.za
We specialise in all landscaping, gabions, small civils, decking, paving and the transplant and relocating of trees
Contact Us: 021 850 0102 info@crazyconcepts.co.za www.crazyconcepts.co.za
Hennie: 079 368 0141 | Hentie: 073 539 4433 hennieriverpro@gmail.com
BOSJES At the foot of the Waaihoek mountain, situated in the beautiful Breede valley, lies the perfect hide away, Bosjes. Here you will feast your eyes on one of the most striking contemporary chapels in South Africa with architecture mimicking a white bird in flight (Psalm 36:7). You can also be certain that the landscaped area ties in quite perfectly to this stunning design with strong biblical reference & symbolism. cndv landscape architects create a memorable garden which compliments the architecture, natural landscape and surroundings in a heavenly manner.
ILASA MERIT AWARD 2019
ILASA TROPHY AWARD 2019: JUST TREES AWARD
ILASA TROPHY AWARD 2019: TSHALA AWARD
PORTFOLIO
vast and varied landscape as they explore, experience, rest and contemplate. The chapel landscape relates via axes to the existing historic graveyard on site, as well as via a long axis through the farm up to the old manor house precinct. The chapel landscape relates subtly to references from the Bible, with its lush gardens, water features and ancient plant species. Water as a sacred and linking element is used throughout the design. A large pond reflects the chapel, and four streams link to the central apple tree of the Lush garden. One moves through the large gushing ‘parting of the seas’ water feature, complete with papyrus reeds and water lilies. Biblical references are subtle but moving through the site is likely to touch even the most incongruous of visitor. A brisk walk up the manmade ‘Dry mountain’ is enough to take your breath away, if the views from the top don’t do it! You may even find a reference to the hanging gardens of Babylon within the sunken secret tea garden. Size: Total Landscape Area: +- 3.4 Ha Timeline: Initial Proposals - July 2012 Completion – August 2017
The Brief: The Client’s brief was to create a landscape using predominantly indigenous tree and plant species with strong but understated ties to historical- and biblical references. Bosjes is situated within the winelands of the Breede Valley between Worcester and Ceres. Magnificent mountain ranges surround the farm. These mountains were the inspiration for the iconic chapel. cndv landscape architects were responsible for all of the external design, with Tanya de Villiers conceptualising the layout, and Herman de Lange developing the design and taking the project to completion. A plant search and rescue was conducted prior to the commencement of construction with several plant species, endemic to the area, being propagated and re-introduced as part of the overall plant palette. Plants noted in the Bible were specifically sourced for the project such as Olives, Citrus, Pomegranates, Cypress trees, Thorn Trees, Ficus trees, Willow trees grapes, Papyrus, Buxus, Salvia, Irises and roses to name a few. The landscape design creates individual but interconnected “rooms,” each forming a distinctive landscape space with a unique atmosphere. Visitors become lost within this
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Further up the hill, The Bosjes Kombuis (a bistro style restaurant), historic Manor House & new Guest Suites the landscape design relates much more to a Cape farm “werf” style. The primary focus of the “werf” space is a formal circular water element with linear trough mimicking a traditional “leivore”. Large existing trees add a layer of historic presence to the “werf” space. The external entertainment/multi-functional spaces consist of a large level lawn area with scattered large trees. The booking of large trees at Just Trees, was initiated in 2013 with a total of 540 trees kept and maintained by the nursery until the site was ready for the commencement of planting in July 2015. 126 mature fruit bearing Olive trees were planted on site and adds to the crop for the production of estate olive oil. Other fruit bearing trees include almonds, pistachios, honey locusts, citrus and pomegranates. Hard landscape surfaces have clean uncluttered lines, using natural materials in the classic tradition of Cape rural place making. Colours and finishes include white, off white, natural timber and muted earth tones, all as per the guiding principles set by the appointed Heritage Consultants.
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SUPPLIERS Main Contractor: Longworth @ Faul - 021 862 2120 Lighting: Faradays - 0861 10 6226 Landscape Contractor: Interplant Horticulture - 083 261 7513 Various Plants: New Plant - 044 889 0055 Irrigation Contractor: CiS (Cape irrigation Systems) 021 975 2262 Lighting: Regent Lighting Solutions - 011 474 0171 Irrigation Designer & Supplier: Controlled Irrigation - 021 551 0355 Large Tree Supplier: Just Trees - 021 871 1595 Natural Stone Supplier & Contractor: Stone Age Construction - 021 875 5604 Water Element Pumps & Reticulation: Koi Louis - 083 378 4615 Landscape Timber Works - 083 459 5114 Decking: Envirodeck - 021 706 1099
These materials are used in both the chapel and manor house precincts to link the spaces. The blue slate used in the landscape was sourced from the northern parts of South Africa and speaks to the historic use of slate in the Western Cape. The packed stone blend used to clad the landscape walls, gatehouse and Bistro building, was specifically sourced to match the colours of the surrounding mountain backdrop. Discreet and integrated landscape lighting design adds a new dimension to the landscape and a memorable night time experience. The combination of landscape lighting and the play of shadows as well as reflections in the water features add another dimension to the lush landscape. A bespoke set of landscape elements and signage was purpose-designed for the development by the landscape architects, using natural timber and anodised aluminium.
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PORTFOLIO
ABOUT CNDV LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS cndv landscape architects is a vibrant Cape Town based firm committed to innovative design excellence in the fields of landscape architecture, industrial and product design. The original firm was formed in 1988 and has a 29 year track record in the industry. cndv landscape architects remains one of South Africa’s foremost design firms and is considered a specialist in the field of landscape architecture, embracing a full range of expertise and boasting a team of highly competent professional-, technical- and administrative staff. In addition to excellence in design the firm is passionately committed to: • • •
taking pride, thinking differently and planning for success nurturing a creative and fun office environment the successful transformation of the South African society
The firm has been involved in many projects in and around South Africa and abroad for both public and private clients. We enjoy working in a team and contributing to creating better environments for people.
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WHO ARE WE? We and our employees are engaged in the sale, and/ or renovation, and/ or servicing, and/ or assembly during repair of Small Plant and Equipment, for example: lawn and garden tools and equipment small farming tools and equipment small mining and construction tools equipment workshop tools and equipment cleaning tools and equipment small forestry equipment IN FAIR DEALINGS... We seek competitive advantages through superior performance never through unethical or illegal business practices. Each employee should endeavour to respect the rights of and deal fairly with our customers, suppliers, competitors and employees. To maintain our valuable reputation, compliance with all quality processes and safety requirements.
IN OUR ENVIRONMENT... As member of the LMA/OPPASA we will endeavour to follow all applicable environmental laws and regulations.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE As member we will not undertake or continue with any service which we are not competent to carry out unless competent advice and assistance is ob-
tained as to enable us to satisfactorily perform such services. We accept our responsibility to keep ourselves updated with the latest training, technology and work practices. DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT The diversity of our employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment based on race, colour, religion, sex, national origin or any other protected class. CONFIDENTIALITY We have an obligation to respect the confidentiality of information acquired about employers, suppliers and customers whether business related or not. The duty of confidentiality continues even after the end of a business relationship IN GENERAL... To be honest and lawfull when advertising products and services and to display the official logo and certification of the Association for as long as I am a member in good standing.
OUR MEMBERS: Allcut Power Products | Boland Mowers | Construction and Cutting | Deltool | Eikestad Enviro Chainsaws | G P Lawnmowers CC | Haigs Mower Services | Kevkor | Klipfontein Grassnyers Klose Distributors CC | Lawnmower and Repair Centre | Lawnmower Mecca Bellville | Lawnmower Mecca Tableview Lawnmower Sales and Service | Livingstones Garden Warehouse | Lumber and Lawn | Mowers Durbanville Mowtown Lawnmowers | Mr Greenfinger | Mr Lawnmower Services | Ndzi Nga Maintenance and Services Pietermaritzburg Power Products | Power Mowers | Rudamans | Secunda Turf and Industrial | T L Appliances and Lawnmowers (Pty) Ltd | The Lawnmower Doctor | Umgeni Lawnmowers Umvoti Repairs | Ziki’s Power Products
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O&M CAPE TOWN 96521/E
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