KING DAVID MEDIA CENTRE

Project Description

The existing library at this highschool in Johannesburg was simple two storey brickwork structure with staff administration rooms on the ground floor and the library on the first floor. The recent expansion and student increase in the adjoining primary school indicated the future need for upgraded facilities of the highschool and to this end, the school requested a design to turn the existing library space, providing books and films, into a 21st century modern learning facility complete with blended learning spaces, multi-media and maker facilities and laboratories.

Development Data Project Role

Total Floor Area: 632m²

Height: 2 Storeys

Coverage: 318m²

Project Value: R15 million

£750 000

Design architect from inception and planning through design development to tender stages.

Existing building analysis, internal circulation and layout proposals, external facade design and material selection, client meetings.

This library was envisioned to become the learning and activity heart of the school. Initial planning sought to create a sequence of required spaces that enhanced connections to the building surroundings. A sports field lay to the east whilst adjacent buildings cascaded down the sloped site. This permitted on grade access to the upper level on one side of the building together with the existing stair access. Program requirements saw a much larger area needed, so the auditorium and maker spaces were cantilevered on the sports field side to provide covered seating areas for events. The western edge of the building overlooked the student drop off/pickup location so a safe waiting room and full glazed facade edge was installed, mainly due to heavy tree shading alongside. The south edge was expanded with cantilevering, glazed group working pods that permitted softer natural light. The sunnier northern side saw the development of soft seating reading areas with the enclosed multi-media and computer spaces retained along the more protected southern edge. The roof structure required the most attention, structural repair, insulation and acoustic treatment. A series of tapering, raking acoustic panels were developed to accommodate existing supports and services.

University Of Mpumalanga

Design development and visualisations on Building 9 on the university campus based in Nelspruit, South Africa. This project comprised lecture halls and large auditoriums for the campus students with a ground floor student centre and outdoor covered multifunctional space with first floor administration and staff rooms.

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Commercial offices fitout completed for the Investec Property Fund in the Investec Bank head offices building in Johannesburg, South Africa. Done in association with O’Sullivan Interior Designers, the author was responsible for the internal detail design and visualisation work required for client approval.

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An external strip mall development in Lobatse, Botswana with a connected transport interchange hub. Taken from inception through sketch planning, design development and tender estimate stage, handed over for construction phase by local architect of record.

Several iterations of this design were required to achieve the budget and logistics concerns of getting certain materials to site. As part of the development agreement with the local council, a connecting transport interchange hub was required to be built to provide facilities for local traders and restrooms for those travelling the longer distances between Botswana and South Africa.