MSS Ngezi

NEW DEVELOPMENTS FOR NGEZI MHONDORO – Zimbabwe’s fastest growing town

text by Michael Nott | photos by Structure and Design | plans and renders by Studio 5 Ngezi in the Mhondoro district is one of the fastest growing towns in Zimbabwe. Development is supported by Zimplats Mining and the Mhondoro-Ngezi Rural District Council. It’s one of the few places in Zimbabwe where services like water and electricity are generally reliable. According to a report in the Sunday Mail of 22 February 2022, “At a time when most of the country’s municipalities are reeling from a combination of dwindling finances and managerial incompetence, Mhondoro-Ngezi Rural District Council has emerged as the silver lining to a dark cloud with their model urban settlement that will rank among the best development projects ever undertaken … in the Zimbabwean economy.” There are low levels of unemployment and there are good, affordable housing options for the town’s population of mine workers, civil servants, NGO employees, shopkeepers and general labourers.

Specialist in building construction and renovations

CONSTRUCTION OF - O ce Blocks, Cluster Houses - Warehouses & Schools

Property developer giant Old Mutual has recognised the potential for growth in the area and invested in the development of a commercial and industrial site which will eventually include 15 warehouse and factory units. The development will create an urban industrial park providing facilities for manufacturing, processing and distribution companies – as well as providing significant employment opportunities for the community. Other Old Mutual developments in the area include a shopping mall and a regional hospital. A new lodge has also recently opened in the vicinity of the local suburb of Turf Town for visiting business people. In addition there’s been extensive development in new housing options.

Local architectural firm Studio 5 has designed a master plan for the industrial park and have already completed the first unit. The industrial park is situated on 15 hectares of land opposite Wanganui High School. Development includes the supply of road networks, water and sewer reticulation and electricity and internet connections. The first unit is 2,500 sq. metres and the next unit is expected to be much larger at around 9,000 sq. metres. Each unit will be individually designed to suit the different occupiers’ needs. Studio 5 has also set out to create a unique modernist architectural language for future development in the area, setting the bar for design very high.

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The first unit is an office and factory/ warehouse for Mining Support Services (MSS) for metal packaging and fabrications. The project started in April 2020 and was completed in February this year with some delays caused by the pandemic shutdown. Studio 5 acted as the lead consultants with Promanint International as quantity surveyors, Sandent Trading t/a Alice Contractors as the main contractors and Arup as the engineers.

electrical & mechanical design & installations

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The warehouse/factory space is approximately 2,000 sq. metres with a single span roof so there are no internal supporting columns. The roof is 6.4 metres high at the wall plate and extends to 11 high metres at the apex. The roof was installed by Grid Transmission. It’s Chromadek with skylights and clad in Alububble for insulation and interestingly, although Ngezi is quite hot in summer, the architects have not included whirlybirds for ventilation. Instead there are louvered panels in angled roof sections which allow for natural air circulation. The floor is a power float slab strong enough to accommodate fairly heavy machinery and the walls are brick up to height off 3.5 metres above which is Chromadek cladding up to roof height. There are two roller shutter doors and three sliding doors allowing access for larger vehicles for deliveries and loading. There’s a separate, secure internal storage space and a gantry crane for moving heavy equipment and goods.

But the project is much more than a simple working space warehouse/factory. There’s a two storey office section attached to the front of the warehouse which has an imposing, distinct and modern façade. The front of the building incorporates extensive glazing, with solar shield glass for temperature control, in an asymmetrical design. On the left is a slatted steel shutter to filter the interior light and there’s a slatted portico framing the entrance. On the right hand side, on the ground floor, are long, narrow high windows providing natural light for the changing rooms and ablutions. One of the windows has an architrave in a vivid orange colour which contrast with the predominantly white and grey exterior. On the first floor there’s a cantilevered balcony which can be accessed from the boardroom and one of the offices. There’s an emergency fire exit steel staircase on the right hand side with a slatted metal partition on the front and an orange brick wall on the side.

Inside the ground floor has a reception and waiting area, the change rooms, paraplegic friendly ablutions, a large kitchen, an office and a storeroom. A cast concrete staircase, also clad in tiles, leads up to the first floor. On the first floor is a generous boardroom, three more private offices as well as a large open plan office, a smaller kitchenette, ablutions and a storeroom. The floors throughout are pale ceramic tiles with suspended ceilings above. The building is orientated on a north east axis and the extensive glazing on the façade means all the interior spaces get loads of natural light.

Studio 5 Architects is a Zimbabwean architectural company based on five principles: 1. INCLUSIVITY 2. SUSTAINABILITY 3. MODERNISM 4. INNOVATION 5. INTEGRITY. Founded in 2015 Studio 5 offers a full turnkey service that includes architecture, design feasibility, project management, interior and landscape design services. Their range of projects encompasses commercial structures, restoration projects, institutional buildings for schools and universities, residential designs, industrial buildings, health care facilities, churches and interior designs. Just a few of their recent clients include University of Zimbabwe, Gwanda State University, MUAST (Marondera University), NOIC (National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe) property giant Old Mutual, Cell Insurance, Smartvest, Glow Petroleum and NMBZ Holdings Limited.

Studio 5 is situated at 5 Chalfont Road, Greencroft. Email: info@studio5architects.com or admin@studio5architects.com Call: 0783 934 290, 0719 690 587, 0772 807 122, 0242 332 987

MINING SUPPORT SERVICE (MSS) - NGEZI

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