110 Oxford
Commercial Offices
110 Oxford, a new Premium Grade commercialb office building integrated into the heart of the Oxford & Glenhove precinct, is fast becoming the foremost office lifestyle offering in the Rosebank CBD. Simple geometric forms, and rectilinear shapes and elements stand four storeys above ground, above four basement parking levels. The transparency of the building connects the indoor and outdoor spaces with 360-degree views of the residential neighbourhoods and landscaped precinct. Sliding doors and integrated openable windows provide the user with an interactive and passivelycooled environment.
110 Oxford, a new Premium Grade commercialb office building integrated into the heart of the Oxford & Glenhove precinct, is fast becoming the foremost office lifestyle offering in the Rosebank CBD. Simple geometric forms, and rectilinear shapes and elements stand four storeys above ground, above four basement parking levels. The transparency of the building connects the indoor and outdoor spaces with 360-degree views of the residential neighbourhoods and landscaped precinct. Sliding doors and integrated openable windows provide the user with an interactive and passivelycooled environment.
8 Merchant Place, Sandton, Johannesburg
Corporate Office Development
FirstRand’s new 8 Merchant Place building in Sandton provides wellness and lifestyle facilities to improve employees’ work-life balance. The ground floor houses a staff wellness centre, a restaurant and a retail facility; the first floor has a gym, the second has a crèche, and the rooftop features an open entertainment and exercise level with a running track. The building’s organic shape adapts to its surroundings and contrasts with the neighbouring buildings, while the minimal external finishes emphasise its dynamic shape. The design used 3D modelling to visualise the complex slab geometry and co-ordinate services on one federated model.
FirstRand implemented the fitness and wellness programmes as well as subsidised services and refundable incentives for employees to return to the office, resulting in higher employee engagement and satisfaction. The ESD credentials of the building and the implemented occupant health and wellbeing features are testament to FirstRand’s commitment to environmental sustainability and providing best-in-class support services to its employees.
Pick n Pay Super DC - Eastpark Logistic Park
Industrial
Eastport Logistics Park’s new 164 470m2 super distribution centre will qualify for EDGE green building certification, with various ecofriendly elements having been incorporated into the design. For example, the facility features 6 600 PV panels, covering 16 900m2 of available roof space. These will generate 6GWh of electricity per year, preventing 5 900 tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere. The yard hardstands have been designed to collect rainwater and store it in a three-million-litre attenuation pond. The rainwater is filtered to a potable standard before being used at the new refrigeration plant. Excess heat and water from the refrigeration plant are collected, and used to provide a hot-water wash for all P n P fresh produce crates.
Rainwater harvesting will save 90-million litres of water per annum. The design also maximises daylight harvesting. All lights are LED and DALI-enabled, automatically adjusting brightness levels based on the amount of natural light within the facility. Any excess packaging generated at Eastport will be recycled locally, expanding the circular economy and diverting recyclable materials away from landfill. Other recovered materials, such as organic waste, will be composte
Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika
Innovative
D-school Afrika’s objective is to train individuals in the practice of design thinking, and to act as an enabler of innovation and new outcomes in complex sociopolitical and economic contexts. Key design concepts included sustainability; integration with the contextual fabric of the university while also signifying a unique function; spaces and materiality communicating a different kind of learning environment; and seeing collaboration and co-making happen. It was critical that the design process for d-school Afrika – the physical home for design thinking – was collaborative. Targeting a 6-star GBCSA rating required the team to push design innovation in ways that will contribute to greater environmental sustainability outcomes.
Whether it was through detailed thermal, energy, comfort or lighting computer simulation modelling, or through the careful selection of green building materials, the reduction in potable water consumption or the highly innovative glazed roof that balances light ingress with glare and heat ingress, the project team went above and beyond to create the greenest academic building on the continent.
Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort
International
Nestled on the banks of the Zambezi, one of Africa’s longest rivers, and within the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia, the Radisson Blu-operated resort includes a 200-key hotel, a large conference centre, a spa, and sports and Kids Club facilities, making this development a world-class African resort. The architectural footprint has been designed with careful consideration for the existing elephant and hippo corridors, and with utmost respect for the existing established vegetation. The architectural form pays tribute to a modern African style, which is a conscious departure from the Victorian colonial aesthetic that’s typical for Livingstone. Large, mono-pitched roofs float lightly over each facility, reinforcing the design intent to produce a contemporary appearance while providing the necessary shade from the harsh African sun. The facades are composed of steel, local hardwood and locally sourced stone, while the modern stylish interiors are embellished with works by local artists and artisans.
The carefully selected materials allow for various layers and textures to shine, providing the building with a sense of identity and craftsmanship. Undulating perforated metal screens ensure that the structures thoughtfully blend with the sensitive environment of the Zambezi River and indigenous bush. The resort architecture has been sensibly concealed within existing vegetation, and relates well to the height of the tree canopies, harmoniously blending with the surroundings. The large trees have been respectfully incorporated into the resort. The building forms are fragmented, lovingly “wrapping around” the tree trunks to create a happy coexistence of both the building and the nature.
Oceans Umhlanga
Mixed - Use
The design approach creates a plinth comprising two retail levels and four parking levels to make up the level difference between Ridge Road and Lagoon Drive, and allow for the development of three freestanding towers above it. It also recognises the outlook from the properties to the west, land and sea breezes, the need for daylight throughout the day, and the aim to minimise the effects of building shadows. The three towers include a hotel (and hotel apartments) to the south, and two residential towers to the north. The development is a fully integrated mixed-use scheme, creating highly active edges that connect the space to the context.
The scheme rejects the typical rectangular box that’s been traditional over the past 25 years. The architectural treatment and interiors respond with soft, flowing curved lines. The entrances, and the spaces above them, are extensively glazed, admitting natural light and facilitating views out. Vertical circulation courts feature backlit fabric ceilings, giving the impression of naturally toplit spaces. The tiling and the ceiling recesses combine to create soft flowing forms reminiscent of the ebb and flow of the tides.
Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital
Other
Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital, commonly known as Dr Pixley Memorial Hospital, is a healthcare centre located near the Bridge City Mall in KwaZulu-Natal. The hospital is named after Pixley ka Isaka Seme, a well-known political figure and a founding member of the African National Congress. The district-level facility offers a variety of medical services to the surrounding community, providing inpatient and outpatient treatments, as well as emergency care, general medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and other specialist departments.
The establishment of the hospital has alleviated the pressure on the overburdened Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital and Addington Hospital. Dr Pixley Memorial Hospital is critical in providing healthcare services to the people of Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu and other surrounding communities. It is staffed by a committed team of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff, who collaborate to ensure patients’ wellbeing and care.
Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika
Overall Award
D-school Afrika’s objective is to train individuals in the practice of design thinking, and to act as an enabler of innovation and new outcomes in complex sociopolitical and economic contexts. Key design concepts included sustainability; integration with the contextual fabric of the university while also signifying a unique function; spaces and materiality communicating a different kind of learning environment; and seeing collaboration and co-making happen. It was critical that the design process for d-school Afrika – the physical home for design thinking – was collaborative. Targeting a 6-star GBCSA rating required the team to push design innovation in ways that will contribute to greater environmental sustainability outcomes.
Whether it was through detailed thermal, energy, comfort or lighting computer simulation modelling, or through the careful selection of green building materials, the reduction in potable water consumption or the highly innovative glazed roof that balances light ingress with glare and heat ingress, the project team went above and beyond to create the greenest academic building on the continent.
Peak Studios
Overall Heritage Award
Located in Observatory, Cape Town, Peak Studios student accommodation houses 563 students in a new nine-storey building. The development repurposes an existing heritage building to serve the surrounding UCT and CPUT campuses. Taking inspiration from the existing building that faces Main Street, the new addition, although much taller, interprets the geometry through a contemporary lens. The existing building houses offices, communal areas, a gym, a laundry and study areas, and ties into the new residential building seamlessly on the ground floor.
From the main circulation and gym area, the space spills out onto an interior courtyard, extending the space for exercise and relaxation to the outside. Hugging this larger green area, the new building creates a variety of safe, inspiring interior and exterior spaces for studying, gathering and living
Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika
Overall Transformation Award
D-school Afrika’s objective is to train individuals in the practice of design thinking, and to act as an enabler of innovation and new outcomes in complex sociopolitical and economic contexts. Key design concepts included sustainability; integration with the contextual fabric of the university while also signifying a unique function; spaces and materiality communicating a different kind of learning environment; and seeing collaboration and co-making happen. It was critical that the design process for d-school Afrika – the physical home for design thinking – was collaborative. Targeting a 6-star GBCSA rating required the team to push design innovation in ways that will contribute to greater environmental sustainability outcomes.
Whether it was through detailed thermal, energy, comfort or lighting computer simulation modelling, or through the careful selection of green building materials, the reduction in potable water consumption or the highly innovative glazed roof that balances light ingress with glare and heat ingress, the project team went above and beyond to create the greenest academic building on the continent.
Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital
Overall Transformation Award
Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital, commonly known as Dr Pixley Memorial Hospital, is a healthcare centre located near the Bridge City Mall in KwaZulu-Natal. The hospital is named after Pixley ka Isaka Seme, a well-known political figure and a founding member of the African National Congress. The district-level facility offers a variety of medical services to the surrounding community, providing inpatient and outpatient treatments, as well as emergency care, general medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and other specialist departments.
ccDr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital, commonly known as Dr Pixley Memorial Hospital, is a healthcare centre located near the Bridge City Mall in KwaZulu-Natal. The hospital is named after Pixley ka Isaka Seme, a well-known political figure and a founding member of the African National Congress. The district-level facility offers a variety of medical services to the surrounding community, providing inpatient and outpatient treatments, as well as emergency care, general medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and other specialist departments.
Boardwalk Mall
Refurbishment
The refurbishment of Boardwalk Mall aimed to remain cognisant of integrating into the existing architecture, and of creating a streetscape that has developed over time. There are several pedestrian access points to the building as well as to the rest of the new offerings, which serves to integrate the precinct into the urban landscape. There is also direct access from the shopping centre to the beachfront promenade. The contemporary interpretation was achieved with elements such as the shape of the roof and an aesthetic of a refurbished dockside building.
The mall is curved, evoking waves and encouraging exploration beyond what is immediately visible to the eye. One of the unique attractions is the multifunctional, open, 2 500m2 Sunpark arena at the heart of the precinct, which includes a large screen, a landscaped children’s play area and access for the transportation of equipment for large events.
Ellipse Waterfall
Residential
ricolt and Attacq had a vision to devise an iconic architectural landmark that would leave a lasting impression in a leading, world-class city. The result – Ellipse Waterfall – is an iconic high-rise luxury apartment development in the heart of Waterfall City, spread across four gleaming, glass-fronted towers. Featuring breathtaking architectural design, each apartment boasts modern finishes, ecofriendly features, airy interiors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer unparalleled views of the Gauteng skyline. The buildings’ shape takes inspiration from an ellipse (a mathematical term for a curved plane surrounding two focal points).
Inspired by their mathematical origins, each tower is named after some of the world’s most celebrated scientists – Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, Giovanni Cassini and Galileo Galilei. Each of the towers has an identical footprint, but their heights differ: “Newton” has 10 storeys, “Kepler” has 11, “Cassini” has 16 and “Galileo” has 12. Upon completion, the four towers will house 648 luxury apartments.
Merino Mall
Retail
erino Mall is taking pride of place as Ermelo’s newest landmark, with designs that celebrate Ermelo, Mpumalanga and their residents. In addition to the shopping and entertainment options it offers, it is already serving as an exciting and inviting gathering point for the broader community.
The original showground barn structures were used as inspiration and became a key design feature in the building, with the barn shape becoming a distinct visual reference. While the architecture and design features pay tribute to the site’s history, the centre is contemporary, with clean lines softened by various elements
Apex Studios
Student Accommodation
The location of a student housing residence should ensure not only ease of access to safe transport to campus, but also a surrounding area that’s well suited to a student lifestyle. The idea behind Apex Studios was to create an environment that allows for a community to develop, where students feel at home in their units, and where communal spaces nurture learning, collaboration and innovation. This particular site is in a bustling part of Johannesburg, directly opposite Wits University’s main campus.
The development houses 901 students over 13 floors in a new residential building, which consists of a variety of unit types, each with a private bathroom and kitchen, that lend themselves to apartment-style living. There is an existing heritage building on site, which has been restored externally and extensively refurbished inside to house unique common spaces, such as a study centre, lounge areas, a games room and a gym.