Leading Architecture + Design February/March 2022

February / March 2022

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THE CAPITAL MBOMBELA B+P’s take on Lowveld luxury

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Contents

[p22]

“We saw that a tree can be an educational space.”

Landseer Collen, BPAS Architects, CURRO DURBANVILLE [p22]

FIRST DRAFT 10 THE BRIEF Editor’s note and book review.

64 DRAWING BOARD What’s new in the world of architecture and design.

BLUEPRINT

ON SITE

12 CAPITAL HOTEL MBOMBELA The Capital Hotel in Mbombela, designed by Boogertman + Partners, uses the hotel brand's distinctive ‘quiet architecture’ to create the town’s newest go-to destination.

16 THE WINCHESTER GAPP Architects and Urban Designers, working closely with Source IBA, have given a century-old Cape Dutch Revivalist icon in Cape Town a makeover.

22 CURRO DURBANVILLE A new campus in Durbanville, outside Cape Town, designed by BPAS Architects for independent education provider Curro, aims to rewrite the narrative of traditional school architecture.

26 WALLS & CLADDING Clay bricks, fix sheeting, screens and panels.

36 FLOORING From the psychology of colour and ecologically responsible tiles to the latest decorative flooring products.

40 BATHROOMS New showrooms, bathroom accessories, mixers, colours and trends.

52 ENERGY EFFICIENCY Insulation, HVAC, building performance analysis, lighting and more.

74 ALFRED’S LIGHTS The new series of pendant lights from Mash. T Design is a collaborative project that focuses on the longstanding Zulu artisanal practice of telephone wire weaving.

EDITORIAL EDITOR: Graham Wood email: graham.wood@newmedia.co.za SUB EDITOR: Anita van der Merwe LAYOUT & DESIGN: Julia van Schalkwyk PHOTOGRAPHY Unless previously agreed in writing, Leading Architecture + Design owns all rights to all contributions, whether image or text.

SOURCES: Shutterstock, supplied images, editorial staff.

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Supplied ADVERTISING ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE: Johan van Heerden | Cell: 082 887 6627 email: johan.vanheerden@newmedia.co.za

SUBSCRIPTIONS Felicity Garbers email: felicity.garbers@newmedia.co.za

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t he b rie f

Ed’s letter On the cover of this issue is The Winchester (formerly Winchester Mansions), a century-old architectural icon facing the ocean opposite the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town. It’s a wonderful example of how a building can capture our imaginations, engage our fantasies and live in our memories. It’s something that GAPP Architects, who carried out its recent refurbishment, working closely with Source IBA, both respected and exploited in their approach. They refined and emphasised what people imagined the building to be, while actually doing away with what visitors used to edit out mentally. Many couldn’t even tell what had changed after

the refurbishment. “We changed everything!” say the architects.

At the new campus for Curro Durbanville High School by BPAS Architects, the architects asked the learners at the school each to write their name, or a hope or wish, on a brick. Their messages were then hidden in the construction of the walls. The learners' secret ambitions and dreams cement the fabric of the school and give it meaning now.

These are just two examples of how much buildings mean to people, the extent to which they really are made of emotion, imagination and hope as much as brick and mortar. It’s worth remembering from time to time.

Graham

Editor's bookshelf

RSA 365: A collection of 365 drawings of South African architecture

by Shaun Gaylard In 2020, Johannesburg-based architect and artist Shaun Gaylard set out to draw one building per day for 365 days. The idea came about a few years earlier but took time to research and develop. Now, all 365 of Gaylard’s meticulous and precise fine-line drawings are being exhibited at Union House, home to Spier Arts Trust in Cape Town’s CBD, until 14 April. The collection is also being compiled in a coffee table book of the same title, RSA365 , which is available to pre-order from Blankinkdesign.com. The text has been written by Brett McDougall with a number of local and international guest writers. All 365 drawings are available as limited-edition prints at the same web address.

The drawing subjects range from the Castle of Good Hope, built in 1666, to buildings such as Jewel City, which was completed as recently as 2020. The selection of buildings is based on historical significance and architectural merit, as well as those with which Gaylard shares a personal connection.

A notable achievement was Gaylard’s design for the now minted SA25 gold coin, celebrating 25 years of constitutional democracy. The 24 karat collector’s coin bears an image of the Constitutional Court in his signature style.

All book orders before 28 February 2022 will also include your name listed in the book.

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SUBSCRIPTION: R452.00 for 6 issues (SA postage only, including VAT).

Email: Felicity.Garbers@newmedia.co.za Tel: +27 (0)78 758 6227

10 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

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Project: The Winchester.

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Lowveld luxury

The 'portal', as architect Greg Reid of Boogertman + Partners refers to the façade facing the pool deck, is designed to draw in the eye towards the restaurant and bar, the public areas of the hotel.

12 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

P r o je c t #1 T HE C A P I TA L MB OMBE L A

The Capital Mbombela, a new hotel designed by Boogertman + Partners, sets the template for a new generation of hotel and apartment accommodation for business and leisure in towns and cities across South Africa.

Phot og r aphy: suppl ie d

T

he Capital Mbombela, a new R205m hotel in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, introduces The Capital group’s distinctive model to the Lowveld city. The Capital Hotels and Apartments is known for its innovative combination of hotel rooms and apartment accommodation, combining business and leisure travel with the convenience of hotel accommodation and the comfort of an apartment.

In the case of The Capital Mbombela, as well as various other properties, it also includes conferencing facilities.

“We identified a need for a sophisticated, luxury destination in Mbombela, to meet the needs of local businesspeople, business travellers, leisure seekers, and the local community,” explains Marc Wachsberger, managing director of The Capital Hotels and Apartments. “We have designed and built this hotel with a focus on modern and open design, providing Mbombela and surrounds with the perfect environment to mix and mingle in style.”

The Capital Mbombela was designed by Boogertman + Partners as an iteration of a model the hotel group and architects have been developing for some time. Lead architect Greg Reid says that the model is based on certain core principles that can be repeated, varied and refined for each individual site, rather than having to design from scratch for each new site. It is an approach developed in pursuit of efficiencies in various areas – spatial as well as economic.

Continued next page//

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 13

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The Capital Mbombela includes 100 hotel rooms and 50 apartment-style rooms. Reid points out that the configuration of having hotel rooms adjacent to apartment style suites – which include a kitchen – provides flexibility, especially well suited to businesspeople travelling together in pairs or small groups, as it provides the option of separate bedrooms, with a shared kitchen.

The hotel is divided between two parts, separating the accommodation from the more public areas, which include the restaurant and bar, conferencing facilities, gym, meeting rooms and other front-of-house facilities. (This arrangement allowed the construction of the accommodation and conferencing areas to take place in parallel.

Accommodation, which tends to be modular and repetitive, typically

progresses faster than front-of-house facilities, so hotel operations could begin while the conferencing facility was completed, without inconvenience or disruption.)

The aesthetics of the hotel conforms to the group’s particular brand of clean, quiet architecture in a recognisable palette of greys and neutrals.

The façade of The Capital Mbombela is dominated by the rhythmic intervals

Above: All the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, with views directed by the 'fin wall' design along the façade, which creates a nook in the interior of the rooms, perfect for an armchair.

Right: The elevATE Restaurant and Bar is laid out in a clever seating arrangement with movable room dividers so that it appears cosy when it has fewer patrons, and can 'expand' to accommodate large numbers at big events.

14 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

of windows and balconies, featuring what Reid calls “fin walls”, which are angular balcony walls that alternate in direction. They not only introduce a kind of dynamism to the façade, but also serve to maintain privacy and focus the views from adjacent rooms in different directions. They have the added practical benefit of providing convenient and accessible cavities for various services and systems, including rainwater, HVAC, electrics and so on, and can be variously employed according to the requirement of each individual project.

Rather than punch windows, Boogertman + Partners chose floor-toceiling glass windows, which bring an added element of luxury to the rooms.

Room dimensions were dictated by the constant pursuit of efficiency, which nonetheless occasionally results in other luxurious details. For example, the corridors at The Capital Mbombela are a generous 1.8m in width rather than 1.2m, as a result of the parking grid beneath the accommodation, and the architects found a way to include glass “shopfront” windows to allow natural light into the corridors, too.

The “portal”, as Reid refers to the prism-shaped front façade of the conferencing centre and restaurant area, has a more distinctive identity and a richer, more tactile material palette than the accommodation wing. A grey face brick was selected to harmonise with The Capital’s universal colour palette, warmed and softened with timber around

P r o je c t #1 T HE C A P I TA L MB OMBE L A

The hotel is divided into two mains parts: the five-storey accommodation wing, recognisable by its distinctive rhythm of alternating 'fin walls' and windows, and a lower front-of-house section where the restaurant and conferencing facilities are located.

Consulting Engineers Tel: +27 (0)11 608 5000 Email: gauteng@rwp.co.za www.rwp.co.za

Specialised Fire Technology (Pty) Ltd 257 Smit Street, Fairland, 2195 Tel: +27 (0)11 476 7420 Fax: +27 (0)11 476 7486

Left The apartment suites include kitchen and dining areas for home-away-fromhome convenience in the context of a slick hotel.

the pool deck. The trumpetshaped front façade draws in the eye, making a focal point of the restaurant and providing the hotel with a prominent and instantly recognisable public presence.

Conferencing rooms are located above the restaurant and bar area, which occupy the ground floor. The restaurant –

which needs to be able to accommodate in the region of 200 seats when the hotel and conference facilities are at capacity – follows an ingenious flexible layout with clever modular seating arrangement and moveable partitions that still allow a sense of intimacy and cosiness between big events.

The elevATE Restaurant and Bar, with their rust accents, metallic sparkle of brass fitting, timber details and splash of colour at the bar, have proved a popular destination with locals as well as visitors. Queues for tables frequently form outside the restaurant on busy weekend evenings, demonstrating the appetite for similar offerings in towns and cities outside of the major centres, and providing scope for future variation on the architectural model developed for The Capital group.

Professional Team Architect: Boogertman + Partners Structural Engineer: Endecon Ubuntu HVAC Engineer: Q-Mech Consulting Engineers Electrical Engineer: RWP Taemane Consulting Engineers Wet Engineer: Wills Franklin Pretorius Consulting Engineers Fire Engineer: Specialised Fire Technology Quantity Surveyor: Oudmayer & Associates Safety Officer: Total Safety Development Manager: Construct Capital Main Contractor: iKotwe Construction Earthworks Contractor: Joubert en Seuns Landscapers: Carrie Latimer Landscape Design

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C A P I T A L Tel: +27 (0)10 599 0290 Email: info@cc.co.za www.cc.co.za

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 15

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GRANDE DAME Rejuvenated

GAPP Architects and Urban Designers, working closely with Source Interior

Architecture, have given a century-old Cape Dutch Revivalist icon in Cape Town a makeover, leaving it looking more modern and more itself than ever.

Phot og r aphy: suppl ie d

16 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

E

P r o je c t #2 t he w in c he s t e r

The sea-facing façade of the refurbished hotel keeps its distinctive Cape Dutch Revival gables intact and has refined the fenestration to recapture some of its original rhythm.

A sleek steel and glass roof now replaces the vintage canvas awning at the entrance, revealing charming Art Deco detailing.

T

he Winchester (formerly The Winchester Mansions Hotel) was one of the very few remaining examples of Cape Revival architecture in Sea Point. Many of its neighbours date back to the 1960s and 70s when the area was substantially redeveloped, but the much-loved heritage building has maintained its prominent position on the Sea Point Promenade for more than a century.

Winchester Mansions was built in 1922 and was originally an apartment block. It was converted into

a hotel in 1958. Although it has been altered and added to over the years, it retained a good deal of its charm and stood as an architectural landmark in the area.

It was also a well-loved destination for locals and tourists, partly owing to its high visibility from the bustling promenade, and partly on account of its central courtyard restaurant and bar (previously a parking court) and front terrace. As Andrew Flint of GAPP Architects and Urban Designers – who recently completed a R90m renovation and upgrade of

The Winchester – describes it, it was also a “place of memory within the city” (or “social significance” as the heritage report has it) for many people, including hotel customers.

Beyond the heritage protections to which it was subject, the sensitivities of guests and the broader public, as well as the sentimental attachment of the hotel owners to the building, had to be taken into account in the refurbishment of the building, which began in 2018.

Part of the hotel’s distinctive character and sense of romance derived from its idiosyncratic

variety of rooms and quirky details – not to mention the vast, brightly coloured bougainvillea that dominated the threestorey façades on the inner courtyard – which any such project would have to be careful not to compromise.

Mardré Meyer, creative director at Source Interior Brand Architecture (IBA) – who guided the rebranding of the hotel and was also involved in the interior design of the guest rooms and public spaces, working closely with GAPP – notes Continued next page//

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 17

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that the hotel is distinctive in the way it evokes nostalgic fantasies among its guests of the glamorous travel of yesteryear.

The renovation and upgrade was originally prompted by the need for an infrastructure upgrade, particularly relating to the plumbing and bathrooms.

Many exterior walls and corridors had untidy exposed drainage and plumbing pipes, and the upgrade presented an opportunity to relocate and conceal many of them.

Further investigation led to the discovery of more architectural challenges, such as the need to upgrade haphazardly installed HVAC systems and electrics and make other alterations.

Certain staircases needed to be closed off and new ones added to meet fire-safety compliance laws. The owners and architects became aware that the building “was starting to show increasing signs of decay and dilapidation”, prompting

a more extensive proposal to refurbish the whole building.

The scope of the work thus expanded to include not just the hotel-room bathrooms, but the rooms themselves.

Some of them, particularly the front, sea-facing rooms on the first floor, could be reconfigured to align with the distinctive arched windows along the front façade, as they had been clumsily positioned before.

The terraces, once open balconies, had long ago been enclosed and incorporated into the hotel rooms, but this alteration could be improved. The reception area, courtyard and terrace were subsumed in the scope of work, too, as were other necessary structural repairs.

Jaco Kotze, contracts director at GVK, contractors on the project, points out that a significant portion of the third-floor slab and ground-floor reception areas needed to be strengthened.

“Demolition required extensive stabilisation and back propping to maintain

structural integrity while work was in progress,” he says. Water tanks, previously concealed behind a simple screen, were relocated beneath the courtyard.

GVK’s Patrick Miles adds, “Possibly one of our biggest challenges was to ensure the survival of the existing bougainvillea in the courtyard during construction. The vines and leaves were periodically cleaned and nurtured during the period. The courtyard received a fresh new look, with new hexagon

porcelain tiles making for an impressive finish. The existing water feature was removed from site during construction and reinstalled on completion.”

GAPP and Source IBA were deft in balancing the necessary practical improvements with their approach to the heritage and sensitivity to the character of the building. Much of the extensive architectural work is of the invisible sort. The ceilings in the corridors, for example, were dropped to accommodate and conceal

This page and opposite: The extensive refurbishment also allowed The Winchester Hotel’s sea-facing rooms to better capitalise on their remarkable views across the Atlantic Ocean to Robben Island.

These soughtafter rooms have been entirely reconfigured to create spacious sea-facing suites, including a signature Executive Suite with a private ocean-facing terrace.

18 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

P r o je c t #2 t he w in c he s t e r

HVAC ducting, services and pipes, and replaced within a coffered style to closely match the previous existing ceilings.

Project architect Lisa Doucha notes that, as a general principle, the aesthetic aspect of alterations attempted to simplify and enhance existing details. Where the extraneous clutter and add-ons were removed, the architects had an opportunity to refine the lines, clean up the detailing, and emphasise elements “that were intrinsic to the original building”, as Flint puts it. These interventions retained the quality and character that visitors and the owners responded to,

but “fresher and a bit more contemporary at the same time”. Noteworthy details were given the opportunity to “jump out”.

Meyer says that, in the past, many guests and visitors to the hotel would wilfully overlook certain details (such as the exposed plumbing), mentally editing their experience to match their romantic fantasies of its character. This habit

guided his and the architects’ choices in the refurbishment.

“What people remembered remains recognisable,” he says. What they ignored has now been erased in reality.

Where new elements were added, they were frequently designed to draw attention to noteworthy historical details, and to remain compatible without mimicking or imitating historic details (and thus

devolving into pastiche and fakery). As Flint points out, the fact that the architectural style was Cape Dutch Revival rather than Cape Dutch meant that the original features already included a certain eclectic quality, which in turn allowed GAPP and Source IBA a certain latitude in their contemporary reinterpretation.

Continued next page//

Brand Positioning Interior Architecture Interior Design

Everything Considered

www.sourceiba.co.za

+ 27 21 461 9998 info@sourceiba.co.za

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P r o je c t #2 t he w in c he s t e r The iconic central courtyard has been rejuvenated with new tiling, extensive landscaping and the re-installation of its refreshed signature fountain.

Making the difference in real estate We delivered project success on The Winchester Boutique Hotel through effective planning, the right team and rigorous controls

Turner & Townsend Caitlin Adair

t: +27 (0) 66 204 4568 e: Caitlin.adair@turntown.com 8th Floor, The Towers, 2 Heerengracht, Cnr Hertzog Boulevard, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

www.turnerandtownsend.com

Two noteworthy examples include the new pergola at the entrance and along the front terrace, and the introduction of arches in the reception leading to the courtyard. (As the courtyard was originally a motor parking court, the reception was a driveway.)

At some point in the hotel’s history, a canopy had been added at the front entrance, which concealed a beautiful moulded architrave with Art Deco styling. The slim, steel port cochere that replaced it functions almost like a “picture frame” that now reveals and emphasises the detailing. Its materiality and modern aesthetics offset the historical detailing and sensitively add layering with contemporary relevance.

Meyer suggested the introduction of a barrel-vaulted reception, picking up on the building’s distinctive arches (on the exterior along the first floor, but also along the internal corridors facing onto the courtyard) and amplifying the

importance of the motif throughout the rest of the building. The arches also draw the eye though the reception area (now cleared of furniture and other barriers) to the courtyard, framing it and, as Meyer explains, offering a “streamlined vision from the street” towards the heart of the building.

The crisp black-andwhite colour scheme throughout the hotel’s public areas help to create a neutral backdrop for quirky décor elements and furnishings that portray the building’s rich history and personality.

Certain areas, such as the courtyard – which has been rejuvenated with new tiling, extensive landscaping by Carrie Latimer Landscape Design and the reinstallation of its signature fountain, now refurbished – are allowed to bring complexity and detail to the design.

The hotel is now a more cohesive, better structured space, the crucial parts

pieced back together and consolidated. “We changed everything and yet it doesn’t look like we did,” says Flint.

“I think actually what we delivered is the fantasy that everyone always had of the Winchester,” says Meyer.

“In a world needing more and more of a sustainable approach, the idea of adaptive reuse has become more and more relevant and worthwhile,” concludes Flint.

Tel: +27 (0)21 424 2390 Email: office@ctn.gapp.net www.gapp.net

Tel: +27 (0)21 673 5800 Email: info.ct@mlc-group.com www.mlc-group.com

Professional Team Architect: GAPP Architects and Urban Designers Interior Design and Branding: Source IBA Main Contractor: GVK-Siya Zama Cost Consultants: MLC Construction Cost Consultants Project Managers: Turner & Townsend

20 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

www.siyazama.co.za

Dream school

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BPAS Architects recently completed a new campus in Durbanville, outside Cape Town, for independent education provider Curro Holdings.

Phot og r aphy: Burg e r E ng e l bre cht, 3six t y Phot og r aphy

A

new campus for Curro Durbanville High School opened at the beginning of this year, designed to accommodate 1 000 learners. In addition to school buildings, the 9 800m2 ‘mega’ campus includes an auditorium and studios for art music and the performance arts, plus a “400m athletics track, six hard tennis courts, four netball courts, an Astroturf hockey field, a cricket oval with nets, and a rugby field as well as an indoor sports centre with a pool.”.

Landseer Collen, principal architect and director of BPAS Architects, who designed the campus, says that the design of the campus deliberately departed from traditional approaches to educational architecture, particularly the notion of static, dedicated classroom spaces and “the standard modular approach of one teacher, one classroom”.

As a pioneering project for the group, the design of the campus took an experimental approach, seeking new ways to give form to the school’s theories of education, especially in a South African social and economic context.

Particularly important from an architectural perspective was the notion of the “third teacher” – an approach that treats the learning environment as playing an active role in the educational process, fostering an appetite for learning and even helping shape the curriculum.

To understand not just the school’s educational philosophy and ideals for the future of education in South Africa, but the types of spaces and facilities required, the architects held workshops and consultation with all

22 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

P r o je c t #3 C UR R O D UR B A N V IL L E

Clockwise from top left: Yellow accents were inspired by the field of canola flowers that occupied the site in its previous incarnation as farmland.

Teachable spaces are created everywhere around the campus, including this outdoor amphitheater, which remains flexible and multifunctional.

The clever configuration of timber stairs and seating makes for a flexible performance/ congregation/ seating area.

stakeholders, including students and teachers.

They also travelled widely to investigate international precedents that “challenge the traditional narrative” inherent in conventional educational architecture.

While BPAS visited successful and inspiring examples of progressive educational architecture in European and Scandinavian countries, they found their most case studies in countries with similar social and economic contexts to our own. The social diversity, climate and cultural influences in North Africa, India and South America, and the architectural approaches they encountered in those regions, proved far more instructive.

For example, Collen cites the standard conception of a classroom as having “four walls and a roof”, which was totally debunked in their investigations. “We saw that a tree can be an educational space,” says Collen. The disruptions brought about by two years of learning during a global pandemic also freed up conventional notions of movement through campus and between classrooms, leaving institutions, teachers and learners more flexible and receptive to alternative approaches.

As a result, BPAS developed a flexible and highly efficient arrangement in which every space is potentially a learning and teaching space, rather than just having dedicated classrooms.

The building itself is sensitively integrated into its natural environment. The site was originally agricultural land, and Collen recalls that when he and his team made their earliest site visits and surveys, there was canola growing “everywhere” on site. “[It was] like a yellow blanket over the field,” he says. The vivid horizontal bands of green vegetation, yellow fields of flowers and blue

The layout of the school building takes the form of two arms embracing a central courtyard.

sky provided the “horizontal scale” and a bold palette of primary colours for the campus. While there was no significant architectural context, the nearby mountain range, Collen says, provided a “beautiful backdrop” and prompts for “how it should be articulated and how it should be placed into the environment”.

Continued next page//

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 23

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Top right: In the interior, breakaway spaces, lounges and comfortable nooks create impromptu teaching spaces beyond traditional classrooms.

Bottom right: Raw, honest materials like concrete are softened with tactile timber detailing.

Below: A skylight above the stairwell floods the reception area with natural light.

At its most basic, the school building takes the form of two arms embracing a courtyard, creating a central, sheltered and welcoming space at the heart of the school. Collen says, beyond this, BPAS found opportunities to “create little spaces” – nooks and breakaway spaces, amphitheatres and courtyards and lounges – all around the campus, indoors and out, which would manifest as “teachable spaces”.

“One of our approaches was to say that none of the spaces is reserved for a singular purpose,” says Collen. Every opportunity was investigated. The idea of a tuck shop or cafeteria, for example, was dispensed with, replaced with a restaurant whose kitchen does double duty as instructive case study for the teaching of consumer studies. The restaurant seating area space is also a potential learning space.

Collen notes that studies of the “economics of space” show that one of the most underutilised spaces in traditional school architecture is the staff room. Instead of a conventional dedicated room, teachers are provided with an integrated lounge area, which can also function as another teaching space when not in use. Similarly, individually allocated offices have, with the exception of the executive head, been replaced with hot desking areas.

The very flexibility of the campus and teaching spaces allow opportunities for a variety of teaching styles, from theatre seating to workshop-style environment. Small and large groups can be accommodated. “It opened up the opportunity to use spaces more than once,” says Collen.

Beyond that, he says everywhere are interactive elements and “little surprises”, such as pull-out ottomans, quiet corners and portal windows looking at mountains.

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P r o je c t #3 C UR R O D UR B A N V IL L E

He also notes that this approach shifts the educational narrative from one in which the teacher is necessarily the custodian of the learning environment to one in which learners play a more active role. He explains that learners are allowed to suggest where lessons might take place, and flexibility allows for a certain level of spontaneity and for their interests to guide the curriculum and the learning process.

This creative engagement with the space activates the potential of the educational environment as “third teacher”.

Poetically, before construction began, the architects created an opportunity for the learners who would attend the school to write their names, or perhaps a wish or a hope for themselves or the school, on a brick. Their messages – their identities, dreams and ambitions – were subsumed in the construction of the school, hidden but absorbed into the built fabric of the campus.

Professional Team Architects: BPAS Architects Structural Engineer: KLS Consulting Engineers Electrical Engineer: KLS Consulting Engineers Civil Engineer: KLS Consulting Engineers Mechanical & Fire Engineers: Fire Mechanical Wet Services Engineers Quantity Surveyor: Calcoli Projects Acoustic Engineer: Mackenzie Hoy Consulting Acoustic Engineers Audio-visual Consultant: PJK Project Management Interior Design: Bsense Interior Architecture Interior Design: ORC Architectural & Interior Design Studio Landscape Architecture: CNDV Landscape Architects Main Contractor: MNK Projects

0861 744 835 www.bpas.co.za

Tel: +27 (0)21 872 0219 Email: info@orc-studio.com www.orc-studio.com

The campus includes a 400m athletics track, six hard tennis courts, four netball courts, an Astroturf hockey field, a cricket oval with nets, and a rugby field as well as an indoor sports centre with a pool.

Tel: +27 (0)21 812 5300 Email: info@kls.co.za www.kls.co.za

Consulting Acoustics, Noise Control and Electrical Engineers Tel: +27 (0)21 531 4452 Email: machoy@iafrica.com www.machoyrsa.com

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Building a sustainable future Conradie Park is a R3bn mixedincome community estate conveniently located in Pinelands, Cape Town. The 22-hectare development – a partnership between Concor and the Western Cape Government – will incorporate around 3 500 homes.

The development makes extensive use of ceramic clay brick.

Clay brick doesn’t fade, rot, chip or rust, making it low-maintenance.

“Different colours and shapes of face brick have been specified to create texture and variety in the façade,” explains Mark Schonrock, property development manager at Concor.

“The natural masonry walls add character and texture to contemporary materials like cement. Patterns are created by using bricks of different shapes,

or with varied orientation. As the light changes during the day, the masonry provides a constantly changing display of sculptural light and shadow.”

A perforated design is used for

attractive privacy walls, letting through light and air while blocking utilities from sight.

SUITED TO COMMUNITY LIVING It isn’t surprising that a highdensity development like Conradie Park has selected clay brick for interior walls,” says Mariana Lamont, executive director of the Clay Brick Association of Southern Africa.

“The density and mass of ceramic clay bricks makes them a natural sound barrier with high acoustic protection – ideal for schools and community buildings.

Brick homes keep suburbs quiet.

The acoustic insulation of clay brick ranges from 43db to 49db.”

26 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

BRICKLAYING TRAINING The laying of face bricks requires skill and attention, so only the most experienced artisans are allocated to this task. “Cape Town offers a good pool of bricklayers,” says Schonrock, “but the sheer scale of this development is going to lead to increased demand for these skills.

“Through the National Youth Service programme, we are training six local bricklayer learners,” he says.

“The first course started in November 2020. After completing the six-month training course, graduates were placed with selected sub-contractors to work on the current project.” www.claybrick.org

Conradie Park, Cape Town.Photo courtesy of Concor.

FOR GOOD Q FOREVER Clay masonry is a natural insulator against summer heat, winter cold, humidity and noise. With timeless appeal, impressive strength and maximum fire resistance, clay brick looks beautiful for a lifetime.

CBASA represents clay brick & paver manufacturers across Southern Africa.

We drive inclusive, sustainable practices in the industry while supporting our local producers, builders and architects.

Download free technical & construction guides at www.claybrick.org THE

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Y F THE CLA

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IN D U S T RY

SECURE

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Luxury for a lifetime – Platinum Collection Duram’s Platinum Collection of decorative wall paints bring incomparable luxury to every space.

Available in elegant finishes for walls, trims, accents or high-wear areas, these high-performance paints offer maximum protection with a lifetime interior guarantee and a 15-year exterior guarantee.

Duram’s fully washable and stainresistant paints ensure walls stay beautiful for years.

Duram Classic Matt is a luxurious wall paint with a flawless matt finish for beautiful living spaces.

Formulated to be fully washable and burnish resistant, with ultimate opacity and hygienic silver ion technology. Soft Touch provides a velvety and smooth tactile feel, and the flat finish diffuses light and hides plaster imperfections.

It creates warmth and contrasting surfaces, enhances colour depth, and reduces sheen as well as glare from artificial light. Classic Matt is fully washable and burnish resistant to withstand scuffs, stains, marks and wear, ensuring walls stay beautiful for years.

Duram WallTech offers extreme weather protection with maximum dirt resistance and colour retention.

WallTech’s low-sheen finish

creates a softly polished glow with a smooth, lightly reflective finish and rich appearance. With excellent opacity and coverage, its durability and simple maintenance provides a washable, easy-to-clean surface. WallTech is formulated for enhanced dirt resistance to ensure a freshly painted look for longer and superior fade resistance with advanced protection against

weather and UV damage.

Duram Satin Touch is a durable wall paint with an elegant satin finish for beautiful living spaces.

Formulated for enhanced scrub and stain resistance, with ultimate opacity and hygienic silver ion technology. Satin Touch, a medium sheen, provides an elegant and subtly radiant finish. The medium lustre protects against wear and

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tear, making this easy-maintenance finish ideal for areas with higher traffic. Satin Touch is scrubbable and stain resistant to withstand scuffs, marks and wear, ensuring walls stay beautiful for years.

Using Colour Smart advanced colour technology, Duram’s Platinum Collection offers beautiful depth of colour and exceptional endurance and fade resistance. These luxurious paints can be tinted to hundreds of colours with excellent colour accuracy, coverage and opacity. Try a convenient 90ml Colour Sample from the Habitat Colour Collection featuring 90 inspired paint colours.

Duram’s decorative paints are low-odour and low-VOC with minimal chemical emissions, protecting your health and that of the environment. These paints are water-based for easy clean up without the need for strong chemicals, and the paint container is 100% recyclable and reusable. www.duram.co.za

F I R ST TO M A R K E T

P L AT I N U M C O L L E C T I O N

Duram’s Platinum Collection of decorative wall paints bring incomparable luxury to every space. Available in elegant finishes for walls, trims, accents or high-wear areas, these high-performance paints provide exceptional depth of colour, fade resistance and colour accuracy. Offering maximum protection with a lifetime interior guarantee and a 15-year exterior guarantee, Duram’s fully washable and stain-resistant paints ensure walls stay beautiful for years.

Ask for Duram. The paint that’s made smart to look smart.

Dry paint colour and sheen may vary from colours shown. | Visit duram.co.za for more information

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Concealed fix sheeting – Saflok 410 performs like no other Concealed fixing is a method whereby the roof sheets are fixed to the purlins via a clip system, eliminating the use of visible fixings such as nails and screws, which pierce the roof sheeting. In this system, the fixing clips are completely hidden, providing a product with a neat and perfectly watertight finish. Safintra’s Saflok concealed fix roofing is one of the most widely used systems available, with over 10million m2 having been installed in South Africa alone. Saflok 410 is the flagship brand in the Safintra stable – not only delivering incomparable performance but also offering an attractive, modernlooking profile that will add aesthetic appeal and value to your building.

When it comes to concealed fix roofing, the design of the clips is exceptionally important. The clip serves as the ‘anchor’ that secures the sheet to the sub-structure and holds it down in all weather conditions. Therefore clips have a direct impact on the wind-uplift resistance of the system.

Safintra’s premier concealed fix profile, Saflok 410, has been effectively used for over a decade along the notoriously wind-torn coastline of the Western and Eastern Cape. The clip engages all three ribs of the concealed fix sheet, providing excellent hold-down capability in negative wind-uplift

BENEFITS OF SAFLOK 410 CONCEALED FIX PROFILE: • Clips under the roof sheet hold it in place – the sheet is not pierced by fasteners and remains completely watertight even at roof pitches as low as 2° • Wide pans and high ribs allow for excellent water drainage off a large surface area • Unpierced sheets enable extended expansion and contraction, ensuring that the roof remains watertight, even when the sheets are as long as 100m • Aesthetically pleasing shadow lines and natural spring curving allow for design flexibility in modern design trends • Sheets can be rolled on site in lengths up to 120m.

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tests. It can be made from either Aluminium or Aluminium-Zinc coated steel, ensuring bi-metallic compatibility with the sheeting.

Furthermore, the engineerdesigned geometry of Saflok 410’s anchor unit allows for optimal performance under high wind loads and foot traffic.

Saflok 410 was independently tested to reaffirm the profile’s impressive performance data in the field, with the results exceeding all industry norms. The test report highlighted exceptional results in: • Serviceability – 3.15kPa resistance of the system • Wind uplift performance – no ultimate limit state failure at 4.6kPa • Point loads – excellent rigidity and no deformations following the application of positive point loads.

Safintra has expanded its Saflok 410 mobile mill offering to Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, while continuing to service the Western and Eastern Cape regions. Saflok 410 can be ordered in any length required, although on-site rolling is recommended for lengths in excess of 13.2m due to practical transportation requirements. This premium profile is backed by a full Safintra warranty and is available countrywide. www.safintra.co.za

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Gyproc introduces a fit-for-purpose stud and track in the Gypframe range Gyproc’s stud and track steel profiles have provided the South African ceiling and partitioning industry with proven solutions for the defined-performance requirements typical to the commercial interiors of retail, healthcare, hospitality and general commercial structures.

The patented UltraSTEEL® work-hardening process lies at the heart of the performance of the Gypframe® stud and track products. The process effectively provides a dimpled appearance to the steel strips from which the profiles are formed. Many products offer a knurled surface, that appears very similar to the unique Gypframe® stud; however, the stiffness of the stud and screw retention does not match when comparing profiles of the same gauge of steel.

Requirements for stud and track within the commercial environment range from temporary hoardings installed in retail spaces during the refurbishment of tenant space or public areas to highperformance fire-resistant walls within the same project.

It is this wide range of performance characteristics that

manufacturers must take into account when considering the performance envelope of wall frame products. Gyproc has always considered making provision for a conservative safety factor an important aspect for systems that are durable.

Trends within the industry and advances in steel manufacture have allowed for the progressive reduction in steel thickness for general purpose stud and track where no specific performance is required. Gyproc has recognised that, for general purpose usage, a Gypframe® UltraSTEEL® stud and track product would be needed.

Following extensive in-house testing and installer acceptance reviews, the new Gypframe® Essential wall frame has been developed and is now available to the ceiling and partitioning industry.

Gypframe Essential Wall is available in the most commonly used 63.5mm width for stud and track, with an assortment of stud lengths most popularly used in general commercial work.

Corrosion resistance is aligned with the guidelines provided by the South African Building Interior

Systems Association. Fixing of lightweight boards, typically the 12.5mm RhinoBoard®, remains as reliable as the thicker Gypframe® UltraSTEEL® studs.

There are some constraints – installation in highly demanding environments, where moisture- or fire-resistant boards are required, high impact and walls higher than four metres is not advised. Gyproc considers these installations to be specific performance as opposed to fit-for-purpose.

When considering the ultimate performance and stiffness of a drywall, three factors must be taken into account. Firstly, the stiffness and structure of the board; secondly, the durability and

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rigidity of the stud and track to which the board is to be fixed; and finally, the integrity of the fixing of the board by means of the sharppoint screw.

The unseen backbone of drywall systems, the steel frame, is the base for ultimate performance and should never be overlooked or compromised in interior designs.

Gyproc’s technical team provides product support to architects and contractors, and have a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding wall frame and ceiling grids. For more information, contact the Gyproc technical team on the toll free number: 0860 272 829. www.gyproc.co.za

Gypframe®

www.gyproc.co.za

THE EFFICIENT CEILING AND PARTITION BACKBONE Stud and Track Wall Frame Customer Contact Centre: 0860 27 28 29 Products are manufactured using the UltraSTEEL process and are protected by South African Patents(2009/04144). UltraSTEEL is a registered trademark of Hadley Industries Overseas Holdings Limited.

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Bring your creative visions to life Architectural feature screens and panels from Tilt are a powerful tool for architectural expression. Integrating perforated patterns into architecture creates an engaging and tactile feature. Tilt’s wide range of screens can be used to transform indoor and outdoor spaces into eye-catching works of art, bringing beautiful, distinctive and functional additions to any project.

With pattern perforations at the core of Tilt’s offering, their panels lend themselves to anything from shading and privacy, concealment and cladding, to functional screening and partitioning. Create designer façades, partitions, feature walls and decorative panelling for pergolas and sunscreens. Light projects through the pattern onto surfaces, bringing spaces to life with magical everchanging effects.

Tilt’s experienced team of specialists, engineers, designers and fabricators will specify quality materials, industrial design approaches and production techniques to develop applications for your projects that use minimum materials with maximum effect.

Choose from high-quality materials, unique patterns and a choice of finishes to suit any application or project. If you can’t find exactly what you need, Tilt’s team will gladly work on bespoke concepts, crafting one-of-akind contemporary architectural solutions at a reasonable price.

Take a look at these projects by Tilt: HERTEX WAREHOUSE FAÇADE & BALUSTRADES Zuckerman Sachs Architects The understated gold finish for this aluminium façade creates elegant shading to the upperlevel office area of the new Hertex Warehouse in Cape Town. Patterns not only decorate but also shade, reducing internal temperatures.

The dappled light and shadows give an unexpected and everchanging aesthetic. Balustrades and shades add to the look and feel while offering clear functional benefits.

THE UNIVERSITY OF JHB, SOWETO CAMPUS Krige Design Studio Architects Decorative copper-coloured cladding and privacy screens were installed over the numerous façades to create a vibrant communitydriven environment for the student campus. Giving the buildings a strong graphic identity from the outside, the screens also offer some privacy and shading from within.

THE WESTWOOD APARTMENTS Rawson Developers This six-storey façade shows our organic tree-inspired Sagano pattern in full glory. An ideal graphic look for these new apartments in the suburbs of Cape Town. The panels not only give the building a striking design feature to both entrances, but offer privacy and concealment to the stairwells and openings. www.tiltscreens.co.za

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Ecologically responsible tiles – more than a trend As with all décor and fashion items, ceramic tiles are subject to trends.

With high-definition printing techniques, major manufacturers are able to create virtually any tile pattern the market demands.

But not all consumer demands are aesthetic ones.

South African-based tile and bathroomware manufacturer Ceramic Industries’ research into the local market reveals an uptick in demand for locally produced goods that are made in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. “With South Africans focusing on their home renovations and creating work-from-home spaces in recent years, that trend has only grown stronger,” says sales and marketing director Gary Bowler.

For the company itself, ecological responsibility is more than just a fad. “We’ve made it a core value at Ceramic Industries, because we realise our stakeholders are a broad group,” says Bowler. “It includes our customers, our employees, the

communities that surround us and the country at large.”

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN, PROUDLY RESPONSIBLE For 45 years, Ceramic Industries has invested in its seven local factories, constantly upgrading and innovating to meet the demands of the market. They’ve also invested in upskilling staff, and uplifting local communities with study bursaries and educational support.

Every upgrade to their factories has come with energy- and water-use efficiencies – for instance, many of the factories’ kilns recycle heat for use in other processes.

They’ve also implemented simple but effective solutions like movement-activated lighting and solar-panel roofing at certain plants, and they’ve switched from fossil-fuel to electric-powered forklifts in their warehousing. In addition, approximately 95% of all packaging materials come from recycled paper.

The psychology of colour – a bright idea!

Did you know that colour can influence your behaviour? Or even your perception of taste?

Brands use warm or cool tones to manipulate messaging and stimulate behaviours through their logos and packaging. Chromotherapy uses the wavelengths in the visual spectrum to treat different conditions such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), depression and cancer.

Colour also influences us in ways that are not so obvious, and its influence differs between individuals depending on age, gender and culture.

For instance, heterosexual men report that a red outfit enhances female attractiveness, while heterosexual

women did not. Different coloured pills are known to enhance the ‘placebo’ effect. Red or orange pills are used for stimulants, while depressants are often green or blue.

Carl Jung was an early pioneer of studies into the psychological properties of different hues and how they ‘colour’ our perception. He aimed to unlock a language or Code of Colour.

Here some of the meanings we associate with different colours: • Red – energy, power, love, excitement, speed, anger • Orange – friendly, cheerful, confidence, enthusiasm • Yellow – happiness, optimism, clarity, radiance

LIGHT, STRONG, ECO “One of the projects we’re most proud of is our EcoTec range,” says Bowler. “It’s a real leap forward in manufacturing. Our team set themselves the difficult challenge of producing a thinner tile that was as strong and durable as the existing range.” The new production technique uses less clay in the manufacturing process to produce a lighter tile with all the strength and resilience of its predecessors. A consequence of this innovation is a reduction in gas emissions from the

• • • • • • •

Green – health, freshness, nature, money Blue – peace, trust, loyalty, strength Purple – luxury, ambition, creativity Pink – femininity, sincerity, innocence, youth Grey – balance, calm, dignity Black – grief, formality, mystery, drama White – purity, cleanliness, peace

FloorworX, a local manufacturer of vinyl composite tiles (VCT) and sheeting based in East London, has been adding colour and convenience to medical and educational facilities for over 69 years.

Available in 16 bright and beautiful colours, their fully flexible vinyl sheets

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kilns, reduced packaging needs, and a lowering of transport emissions thanks to the lighter product.

When there’s a natural convergence between what customers are looking for and the values by which a company operates, it’s usually a recipe for success, whatever the trends. “We’re a proudly South African company, using locally sourced raw materials, a homegrown team and a commitment to sustainability,” says Bowler. “We think that South African customers appreciate that.” www.ceramic.co.za

and tiles offer a directional pattern guaranteed to stimulate healing or learning in any hospital ward, surgery, lab or classroom. The smaller 1.2m width flooring is easily installed in passages and facilities with minimal wastage (offcuts are recycled into product!) with the protective polymer coating applied after the welding rods have been joined. This seals the surface, affording protection after the building and sub-contractors have completed their installations, ensuring a clean and hygienic surface with easy maintenance.

The benefits of buying local are obvious: Specify SA. Everyone wins. www.floorworx.co.za

HEAVY DUTY, HIGH STRENGTH, POLYURETHANE SCREED

Sikafloor® PurCem® Sikafloor® PurCem® is used in areas subject to heavy loading, abrasion and high chemical exposure to provide a hard wearing surface such as in food processing plants, wet or dry process areas, freezers and coolers. n Thermal shock, abrasion, impact and chemical resistant n Retains physical characteristics through a wide temperature range (-40°C to +120°C) n Odorless and phthalate-free

Call us for more info: 010 823 8688 www.sika.co.za

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Demand rises for a.b.e. fast-track decorative flooring products Demand for decorative flooring products from a.b.e. Construction Chemicals has soared over the past few months as the construction sector gained momentum and the spring season inspired homeowners to spruce up their homes, says Peter Jones, a.b.e.’s National Sales Manager: Flooring. a.b.e is part of Saint-Gobain Africa, and has its head office in Boksburg.

Jones says four products that have particularly been in demand both from the construction industry and the residential market are Chryso Granicrete, Chryso Béton Ciré overlay, abecote WD 337 epoxy paint, and abescreed SLCP selflevelling screed.

Chryso Granicrete is a blend of exclusive selected dry powders containing portland cement, hardwearing minerals and additives.

The polymer-modified cementitious base allows for thin skin topping applications and, once ground and polished, the product offers a hardwearing and decorative finish. The surface may also be Nano-etched to provide an exposed aggregate type finish, or coloured by adding micronised iron oxide pigments.

Chryso Béton Ciré offers a myriad of applications for the residential,

hospitality and tertiary sectors.

Applied with spray gun or trowel to obtain the desired finish, the product can be used to smoothen floors with blowholes or surface irregularities, and can cover large surfaces in a short time – about 200m2 per day, on average. “The Béton Ciré system, which includes Chryso Béton Ciré Finishing as final coating, can be pigmented to obtain different colours to complement various finishes,” Jones explains.

The system is suitable for renovations as well as new construction, both indoor and outdoor, and for application over tiled surfaces. Available in a wide range of architectural features, including warm earth colours, it can be used as a plain, burnished or coloured skim application to floors and ceilings and is ideal for columns, stairways, architraves and façades; countertops; and concrete and MDF wood furniture. It can also be applied to walls.

“Apart from residential applications, Chryso Béton Ciré is now very popular as decorative highlight in stores, restaurants, commercial buildings, hotels, bathrooms, patios and showrooms,” Jones states. “Recent projects include residences in Hersham on

the Garden Route, and in Simbithi Eco Estate in Ballito.” abecote WD 337 tough epoxy paint, one of a.b.e.’s most respected floor coatings – with a track record of over 30 years – is a two-part, water-dispersed tough epoxy paint that produces a durable and smooth floor coating. “abecote WD 337 epoxy paint is not only decorative and ideal for DIY home applications, but also robust enough to protect factory and warehouse floors, such as those at chicken farms, dairies and wineries.

It is also widely used at motor workshops and shopping centres.”

Some noteworthy flooring projects for which the product was specified include Havanna Hills Wine Estate in Durbanville, Douglas Green Winery in Wellington, SA Breweries in East London, ABI Coca-Cola in Durban, Reebok Pump Station in George, Base 4 Aviation hangar in Western Cape, the NEU Pack Industries plastics extrusion factory floor in Jacobs, KZN, as well as various residences countrywide.

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“This is an economical product that can be applied over damp surfaces, and easily overcoated for maintenance. It is exceptionally popular as a protective and decorative coating for masonry and cementitious surfaces and can be used for industrial, commercial and residential applications.”

Available in six colours, abecote WD 337 is both oil- and petrolresistant and has strong impactresistance as well. It is suitable for cold rooms and ramps as it can be mixed with fine aggregates to provide non-skid surfaces.

Finally, demand for abescreed SLCP self-levelling screed is also running high. This is a single-pack, rapid hardening cement-based screed for levelling floors where quick setting is required. It can be applied by trowel, or pumped. The product is ideal for fast-track refurbishment and new construction where finishes such as carpets, tiles, vinyl, wood block or cork need to be installed quickly. It provides smooth floors for offices, dwellings, shops, public buildings, airports, warehouses, workshops, factories and other areas subject to similar loads.

“Furthermore, it is normally possible to walk on abescreed SLCP only two to four hours after application. As it is protein-free and will not harbour bacteria, it is ideal for canteen flooring and the medical sector,” Jones adds. “This product range is growing and now offers different MPa strengths for specific applications, as well as a.b.e. repair and vapour systems.” www.abe.co.za

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Introducing the range of bathroom accessories from BluTide

Some exciting news from BluTide is the introduction of the BluTide range of accessories to complement the BluTide range of tapware.

BluTide’s 88 range of bathroom accessories is elegant and minimalistic, following the design dictum that less is more. Marrying quality, practicality and style, BluTide’s accessories are pared down to their essential forms, designed to add style and refinement without introducing clutter or distraction.

The range includes towel rails, hooks and rings, soap holders, toilet roll holders and toilet brush holders.

All items are available in four different finishes: shiny chrome, brushed stainless steel, luxurious matte black, and the deep richness that only a brushed brass finish can offer.

Not only is the finished product visually impressive, it has been designed with a special mounting

system that ensures the product remains secure to its mounting and will not rotate or loosen over time.

BluTide’s 88 range of bathroom accessories is made from 304 Stainless Steel, which is durable and gives the product longevity. 304 Stainless Steel is naturally resistant to corrosion and stains and does not require any protective coating, which makes this material ideal for the bathroom environment.

One of the most unique features of stainless steel is its capacity to self-repair. The material forms a transparent and thin chromium oxide layer on the surface and when it is activated by oxygen within the air or water, it is this layer that repairs light scratches or any damage to the surface. www.blutide.co.za

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Stylet – a statement in style and luxury Bijiou is proud to introduce a new and exciting range of exquisite mixers – the Rolls Royce of bathrooms and kitchens, which have a 15-year guarantee.

The new ranges are Stylet Gold and Stylet Satin Nickel. These taps are elegantly shaped and have a timeless style that not only complements any bathroom or kitchen but also elevates the room’s ambiance. It is the final piece of carefully selected jewellery that brings an ordinary ensemble into the world of high fashion.

Stylet Gold features the following items in the range: a short body mixer, long body mixer, kitchen mixer, bath mixer, undertile mixer and diverter. It also boasts additional accessories such as golden wastes, shower arm and rose, wall-mounted hand shower and options between a long bath and basin mixer. The accessories also have Nikki spouts for your bath’s waste to drain water and double as

a bath spout.

Stylet Gold is finished with a medium gloss over a brushed look, allowing the style of the tap to truly dazzle in low light settings, instantly setting the mood. Stylet Gold complements contrasted blues, greys, black or plain white – all of which are timeless but eyecatching. The quality of the range is truly exceptional, backed with a standard 15-year guarantee – it’s a statement of craftsmanship.

The Stylet Satin Nickel is matte and flawless. It is a finish to behold.

As Stylet Gold’s luxurious twin, it consists of a short body mixer, long body mixer, kitchen mixer, bath mixer, undertile mixer and diverter.

The additional accessories are the same as Stylet Gold, but perfectly finished with Satin Nickel. With its brushed look, the matte makes lines appear softer while contouring with the light. Suited to any colour, from light to dark, it amplifies space and quietly exudes elegance. Perfect

for muted settings of grey and black, the Stylet Satin Nickel also welcomes a splash of colour to lift or accentuate your ambience. www.bijiou.co.za

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Reinventing bathrooms – 3 new trends for 2022 Where bathrooms were once utilitarian private rooms, they’ve transformed into design spaces for relaxation, refuge and expressions of creativity. Patrizia Cortese, product and development manager at innovative bathroomware manufacturer Ceramic Industries, shared a few insights into emerging trends. “We’ve identified three major trend groups that we’ve named Re-Wild, Timeless Classic and Simple Serenity,” she told us.

RE-WILD Some call this trend Biophilia and, as the name suggests, it draws inspiration from nature, making use of greenery, tropical foliage and organic shapes. Ceramic Industries’ freestanding Orbit bath is a great example of the natural forms that fit into the trend, while tiles that reproduce natural wood-grain or stone complement the look. The ReWild trend is also finding expression in bathrooms that make use of glass walls and ceilings to bring in natural light, and connect the room to gardens and greenery. And this trend goes beyond the superficial – Ceramic Industries is committed to ecologically responsible production and water-saving sanitaryware.

Water-saving and energy-efficient technology also shows up in tapware, like Tivoli’s Cold Start and Flow Reducer ranges.

TIMELESS CLASSIC “In a way, this is a trend that never went away – but it’s always reinventing itself,” says Patrizia. She points to the use of black and white in combination, and refers to two examples from Ceramic Industries’ Betta Baths range: Melissa, with its modern square edges, and Vogue, with its luxurious curves.

Black bathroom taps, showers and other hardware is a trend that will continue throughout 2022. It makes for a striking look that works with both classic and contemporary design styles.

SIMPLE SERENITY There’s been a shift in the way people see bathrooms. Like the other rooms in the house, they’re opening up: becoming more spacious, or opening into the bedroom. These bathrooms are no longer hidden away, and they aim to create peaceful sanctuaries.

A centrepiece bath, like the Pura freestanding model with its contemporary, simple lines, creates a focal point in a spacious room.

This look pairs well with the clean lines of modern Tivoli Caserta taps, while neutral colours and clever furniture that conceals clutter adds to the serenity.

“I’m always intrigued by new bathroom trends,” says Cortese. “Few rooms give you the opportunity to reimagine the space from so many aspects – from materials to colours to configuration to hygiene and sustainability.” And thanks to new products and technologies, the possibilities are ever-expanding. www.ceramic.co.za

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DISCREET DESIGN THAT’S PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN Unobtrusive toilets and basins with fine edges are part of contemporary, global bathroom trends. Discover world-leading quality and design from a proudly South African manufacturer.

CERAMIC INDUSTRIES • GLOBAL TRENDS MADE LOCALLY

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN

WWW.CERAMIC.CO.ZA Tel: (016) 930 3600 Email: enquiries@ceramic.co.za

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Timeless by design When you blend the finest industrial design and a tradition of functional perfection, the result is excellence on an entirely new level. London-based Barber Osgerby (Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby), in collaboration with AXOR, bring you the AXOR One collection – a range of sleekly designed, functionally pleasurable and singularly luxurious mixers, showers and accessories, inspired by modern living and compact luxury.

What exactly does compact luxury mean? Jay Osgerby expands on the concept: “Space is really important, and I think what’s happened historically is that the bathroom has always been confined to a really tiny space. Where possible, it’s great to be more generous with the footprint for that room, which is why, in our design concept for a New York loft bathroom, we apportioned a large share of the limited living space in the city for a bathroom as a recreation area.”

Timeless by design, the AXOR One washbasin mixers combine elemental forms with ultra-precise Select

technology. Available in different heights, the mixers suit a wide range of bathroom styles and washbasins, including countertop washbowls. The Select taps seamlessly integrate a mechanical handle into the mixer base, which arcs in a beautiful parabolic shape before gently tapering into a curved spout. Distinguished by an elegant flat handle, the singlelever washbasin mixer shares the

same visual language of slender silhouettes and balanced proportions, with the same exceptional manufacturing quality.

AXOR One overhead showers and hand showers are defined by their stark monolithic forms, driven by the power and relaxation of variable Rain and PowderRain spray types. The AXOR One floorstanding bathtub mixer stands

46 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

out for its sleek, archetypal form, distinguished by a high parabolic spout.

For an extra touch of luxury, the AXOR Universal Circular Accessories programme is the perfect complement to the AXOR One collection. The range reflects AXOR and Barber Osgerby’s passion for highly functional, expertly crafted design objects in the bathroom.

Accentuate your style with a choice of a wall mirror, shaving mirror, towel hooks, single and double hooks, a towel holder and a cosmetic tissue box.

For the shower, the programme offers a shelf and a bath-towel holder in various lengths. For the toilet area, a paper-roll holder, a toiletbrush holder and a dustbin are available. The entire collection can be individualised in Matt Black or an exclusive AXOR FinishPlus surface.

AXOR One brings the benefit of sheer, minimalist design to life, balancing a radically reduced aesthetic with exceptional functionality. www.axor-design.com/za

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Welcome to Jaquar World Jaquar World is a one-stop-shop for complete bathroom solutions.

At Jaquar World, customers can walk in and: • conceptualise their own bathroom • get professional input on design and technical issues that help turn their concepts into reality • get first-hand experience of what they are about to make • find all the relevant products and services with unmatched customer support that goes beyond the online or over-thephone service.

Focusing on complete bathroom solutions, Jaquar World offers everything one could dream of in the bathroom space through two of its most respected global brands – Jaquar and Artize – which conform to the highest quality standards and have been awarded several global design and excellence awards. The range includes faucets, sanitaryware, showers, wellness products, shower enclosures, flushing systems, bathtubs, water heaters and bathroom accessories.

Committed to helping customers turn their customised bathroom concepts into reality, Jaquar World

keeps a team of well-trained design consultants, sales and customer service professionals ready.

Anticipating the needs of discerning customers, these professionals can offer design input and expert advice on the selection of the right products and services.

Besides taking care of all the facets of installation, service and maintenance, Jaquar World offers customers total peace of mind.

Jaquar World is a unique attempt by the Jaquar Group to create a

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hands-on, immersive experience of complete bathroom solutions and technology behind the products.

Celebrating innovation and diversity of style in a dynamic environment, Jaquar World crafts a format that invites designers and architects to use the space for inspiration and to stimulate creative discussion.

Find Jaquar World at 33 Commerce Crescent, Kramerville, Johannesburg. www.jaquarworld.com

jaquarworld.com

Complete Bathroom Solutions

under one roof 33 Commerce Crescent, Kramerville, Sandton, Johannesburg +71 2776648 | 0100107239 andrew.joburg@jaquarworld.com

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Franke’s brand new matt black & matt white Aspera Range

The already popular straightedged chrome finish Aspera Range from Franke is now expanded to include colour finishes, complete with additional trim sets to customise the mixers' detailing!

This colour range perfectly complements the edgy and contemporary bathroom, with a choice of Matt White for a luxurious crisp all-white look, or Matt Black for a trendy and dramatic monochrome design.

MORE ABOUT TRIM SETS: Trim sets are essentially trim detail on the body construction of the bathroom mixer, made up of an aerator plate cover and cover plate.

This unique feature of including additional trim sets with each mixer allows the homeowner or designer the option to easily customise these mixers. The homeowner can also change the trim at a later stage

as trends change – and what’s best, the homeowner can do it themselves in a few minutes!

The Matt Black Aspera Mixers come fitted standard in all-over Matt Black. Included in the box are two additional trim sets: one set in Chrome, and one set in Rose Gold.

The Matt White mixers come fitted standard with a contrasting Chrome trim. Included in the box is one additional trim set in Matt White for an all-over monochromatic look.

PRODUCT FEATURES: Superior high-quality DZR Brass construction for an extended product lifespan • Precision engineering component detail for a durable, quality product • Matt finish durable powder-coating finish • Anti-scald cartridge –

•

•

• •

engineered to mix hot and cold water efficiently and include an adjustable ring, allowing you to limit the maximum temperature Neoperl easy-clean aerator prevents clogging and provides an extended lifespan for the mixer, maintaining a perfect stream under any condition Functional and aesthetically designed Five-year warranty on the body construction and two-year warranty on the mixer cartridge.

When designing a bathroom, the number-one goal is to provide excellent functionality. Ultimately the users of the bathroom need the space to be functional and serve their particular needs well – whether it be a bathroom for family use, a guest bathroom or a master en suite. In addition, a completed bathroom should look stylish and

50 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

add to the overall value of the home.

Choosing quality brassware is a key element to the success of any bathroom renovation. Fittings should be a good enough quality to withstand the wear and tear of daily use. The right tap can also elevate and change the entire look of your bathroom, whether in a full-scale renovation or a quick bathroom update. www.franke.co.za

ASPERA

ASPERA

Comes standard with a Matt Black Trim Set, and supplied with an additional Chrome and Rose-Gold Trim Set

Comes standard with a Chrome Trim Set, and supplied with an additional Matt White Trim Set

Matt Black

Matt White

Aspera Range expanded to include Matt Black & Matt White.

The straight edged Aspera Bathroom Mixer Range of basin, bath & shower mixer options by Franke compliment any modern bathroom design. In addition to Chrome these mixers are now available in brand new Matt Black and Matt White finish, with the options to change the trim set on each tap.

Contact: 031 001 5000 | HS-enquiry-fsa.za@franke.com | ws.franke.co.za

WATER SYSTEMS

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Ashton International College chooses Samsung and Alliance Spending six hours a day in school uniform inside closed classrooms while wearing protective Covid-19 face masks in uncomfortable temperatures can leave the best of students struggling to concentrate on their schoolwork. For Ashton International College Ballito, a world-class independent school in KwaZulu-Natal, supporting pupils to perform at the best of their abilities is the top priority. Thus, the school embarked on an upgrade to its air-conditioning systems, as well as its pool heating system, with the assistance of Fourways Group – which has supplied the products needed over the last seven years in order for the school to replace and upgrade its outdated and inefficient air-conditioning systems.

Old units in the large Junior and Senior College classrooms were replaced with innovative Alliance inverter mid-wall models and Alliance under-ceiling units that boast 36 000, 48 000 and 60 000 BTUs. These inverter models have been proven to save up to 40% on electricity running costs, while maintaining high levels of cooling and heating performance – a major need and bonus for the school.

Smaller classrooms and offices were fitted with a mix of Samsung and Alliance mid-wall split inverters. As a result, students are better enabled to focus in class and on teacher

instructions and engage in peer discussion, while breathing cleaner, healthier air – thanks to superior Alliance and Samsung filters that trap viruses, bacteria, dust, and other air pollutants.

The Big Grace Hall was fitted with 16 x 60 000 BTU Alliance Cassettes, zoned for each area, which are linked to a central controller for user convenience.

For the Legacy Hall, which encompasses the indoor sports field and staff offices, Ashton International College smartly chose a powerful commercialgrade Samsung DVM system and indoor units, boasting over 122 000 BTUs. The Music Hall and sound rooms rounded out the air-conditioning element of the project, with a DVM system being

installed that is just as cool as the music the students create.

As air temperature control was underway, Fourways simultaneously assisted with the perfect solution to water temperature control inside the Ashton International College Ballito swimming pool. Covid-19’s disruption of the athletic year mid-summer resulted in water sport interruption, a real downer for the students. But like the pool’s water temperature, their spirits were raised after the installation of two 91kW Alliance commercial swimming pool heat pumps, providing for a pool volume of up to 800 000L. These enable four seasons of swimming enjoyment and no downtime when it comes to practice for the swimming season. The two

52 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

units, boasting environmentally friendly R410a refrigerant gas, replaced four older heat pumps of an alternative brand that weren’t able to maintain a 28°C pool temperature all year round like Alliance technology can.

Efficient temperature control and ventilation are important for good indoor air quality, especially in recent times for Covid-19 prevention strategies to reduce the number of virus particles in the air. Fourways is proud to have been part of an upgrade project that brings comfort and peace of mind to the school body of Ashton International College Ballito. The students and educators couldn’t be happier. Bring on summer, they say! www.fourwaysaircon.co.za

Producing hot water for large buildings, more efficiently.

As we look at Eskom’s proposed tariff increases for South Africa in 2022, the Alliance heat pump range has expanded to include new and eco-friendly high temperature water heating systems which can produce hot water up to 80ºC. These are an ideal solution that can help commercial and industrial buildings increase the efficiency of water heating production while saving running costs by up to 70%.

• Eco-friendly • Energy efficient • Low maintenance

• Easy installation • Warranty: 12 months on the unit and 12/3 WARRANTY

3 years on the compressor.

CHOOSE ALLIANCE FOR YOUR NEXT COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL WATER HEATING PROJECT AND EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE. JHB & Central: (011) 704-6320 Bloemfontein: 083 381 0074 Gqeberha (PE): (041) 484-6413 George: 082 380 0708

KZN: (031) 579-1895 Pretoria: (012) 643-0445 CPT: (021) 556-8292 EL: (043) 722-0671

w w w. a l l i a n ce a i r. co . z a

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GBCSA welcomes new chairman of the board – Brian Unsted Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) Asset Management Executive and Head of Good Spaces, Brian Unsted, has stepped forward as the new chairman of the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) board.

“I am thrilled to be entrusted with guiding the GBCSA at this time when sustainability matters are gaining traction in both South Africa and at a global level. Lots of good work has been done and much more great work still needs to be done to make a meaningful difference. Climate change imperatives are becoming more urgent. I look forward to broadening the reach of the GBCSA to new sectors of the economy and enticing other organisations that can make a significant difference in the built environment to become part of our journey over the next two years,” says Unsted.

Brian has 28 years’ experience in the South African property industry and is the sustainability champion for the L2D fund, ensuring synergy

on sustainability issues between the property investment portfolio and the broader Liberty Group.

Brian’s background includes roles as Senior Financial Manager in property development at Liberty Properties, Financial Manager at Investec Properties for Growthpoint, and Head of Finance at Liberty Properties, bringing expert knowledge in financial and management accounting, asset management and the property industry as a whole.

“In his role as vice-chair, over the past 18 months Brian has already made a substantial contribution to the GBCSA. He has an exceptional passion for the green building agenda, and I look forward to the GBCSA making great strides with him at the helm,” says GBCSA CEO Lisa Reynolds.

He takes over the reins from Giles Pendleton who steps down as chair to take up a remarkable opportunity as Executive Director at NEOM – a 36 000km2 economic zone

Brian Unsted

in north-western Saudi Arabia.

“At The Line, NEOM’s new 170km long linear net zero city, I now get to work at a country scale and drive all the lessons and ideas from the industry, that have served me well, to make a significant difference in the world.

Serving the green building industry in South Africa has been an honour and a privilege. Despite some tough decisions made over the past three years, I believe the GBCSA – from its board, through to its business

54 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

model – is set for an exciting and prosperous future as the thought and action leader of South Africa’s green building industry,” says Pendleton.

“The GBCSA is grateful for the commitment and dedication to the green building industry from Giles. We wish him well on his next adventure and look forward to learning from his successes overseas,” concludes Reynolds. https://gbcsa.org.za/

EUROLUX

PROJECT SOLUTIONS LUMENS

1

step

step

2

step

3

A lifecycle cost analysis is presented to the client, thus allowing for informed easy decision making.

www.eurolux.co.za

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Insulation – the first step to going green Insulation presents the easiest and most economical way to reduce energy consumption required for heating and cooling your home, says Daneel Pretorius, Category Manager of Swartland’s Summit range of insulation and decorative ceiling products: “The better your home is insulated, the more energy you will save when trying to maintain a constant and comfortable indoor temperature.” In fact, the first step you should take is to improve your home’s overall energy consumption. Pretorius elaborates: “A well-insulated home will be exceptionally energy efficient – requiring very little energy to keep the indoor temperature at a constant and comfortable level.”

He adds that making sure your home is well insulated is not just a nice-to-have – according to the SANS 10400-XA building regulations, proper insulation is actually a legal requirement for any new building.

He says that there are different types of insulation, including: • Wall insulation: There are two types of wall insulation – cavity and solid wall insulation. Cavity wall insulation is used to fill cavities between the inner and outer wall sleeves. Solid wall insulation is when there is no cavity to fill inside the wall, and as such, the insulation has to be installed on the inner or outer surfaces of the wall. External solid wall insulation, such as fibreglass or wooden shingles, for example, needs to be weatherproof, and generally covers the entire external façade of the building.

Inner solid wall insulation, on the other hand, such as tongue-andgroove XPS insulation board, is installed onto the wall surfaces of interior rooms.

THE BENEFITS OF HOME INSULATION Energy savings: Did you know that an under-insulated home could use up to 30% more energy in order to keep it at a comfortable temperature?

• Reduce your carbon footprint: Pretorius notes that it is essential to look for insulation with good green credentials: “XPS insulation board, for example, is 100% recyclable, and its manufacture does not emit any harmful wastes or by-products. Knauf insulation boasts Ecose Technology, which means that it is manufactured from rapidly renewable natural materials and bonded using a bio-based technology.”

• Better indoor air quality: Insulation helps keep irritating allergens and environmental pollutants out of the air circulating around your home.

• Prevents noise pollution: Insulation will not act as a complete sound barrier, but it will definitely help reduce the volume of external noise (and sound inside from disturbing your neighbours).

• Protection from moisture and mould: Insulation helps to provide a seal against unwanted moisture and humidity.

• A fire barrier: Knauf insulation, for example, has been awarded Euro Class A1, and SANS10177 – Part 5 fire certification. XPS insulation board will be classified as B/B1/2/H&V in terms of SANS428, which means that although it is combustible, it poses no flame-spread hazard. www.summit.co.za

•

•

•

Roof and ceiling insulation: Roof insulation, such as Knauf mineral wool insulation, comprises rolls of soft insulation material that is installed in the roof between the joists and rafters.

Ceiling insulation, such as XPS insulation board, comprises rigid polystyrene foam board that is installed onto a room’s ceilings.

Window insulation: As much as 30% of a home’s heat loss can occur through its windows.

With the SANS 10400 National Building Regulations, it is also a legal requirement to meet certain energy-saving criteria.

Double-glazed windows, such as Swartland’s Cape Culture double-

•

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glazed windows, are the ultimate in energy efficiency. A more affordable option are windows with Low E glazing, which comprises glass panes with an ultra-thin coating that ensures less heat passes through.

Floor insulation: Floor insulation creates a barrier between the cold cement foundation and the floor substrate above. In modern homes, there is usually standard insulation between the concrete and the floor substrate; however, in older homes with suspended floors, a product such as XPS insulation board usually needs to be added to the underside of the flooring.

SUMMIT ALL THE INSULATION

AND CEILING SOLUTIONS UNDER

ONE ROOF

Summit XPS insulation boards, cornices, trapdoors and our Knauf insulation range set a new standard in quality and affordability. A proud member of the Swartland family, all Summit products are made from high-quality materials to ensure you get long-lasting performance, peace of mind and value for money.

For more information visit www.summitxps.co.za or call us on 0861 22 3444.

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Local manufacturer’s products can assist in transforming to a low-carbon economy

During the recent COP26 global climate conference, President Cyril Ramaphosa joined other leaders in announcing a historic partnership with the governments of France, Germany, the UK, the US and the European Union to support a just transition to a climate-resilient society in South Africa.

Local manufacturer Pratley has a range of products capable of supporting the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy, especially in terms of infrastructure development and energy savings, notes Marketing Director Eldon Kruger. These include Pratliperl®, an aggregate for plaster and screeds that can assist the construction industry in meeting quality standards such as SANS 204, which specifies the design requirements for energy efficiency in buildings. The product is a perlite-based, lightweight, thermally insulating and fireproof cement aggregate that is used instead of ordinary building sand.

Unlike ordinary perlite, Pratliperl® is unique in that it is ideal for use with cement. This is because, unlike traditionally brittle and friable perlites, Pratliperl® has a strong surface structure. “The end result is a unique, eco-friendly and lightweight building material

that is both fireproof and thermally insulating,” comments Kruger.

During processing, perlite ore is crushed to sugar-grain size and passed through a specially developed furnace. The perlite grains soften as a result, and the water trapped within their structure turns to steam, which escapes by diffusion.

These grains, in turn, expand or inflate into a multitude of well-sealed lightweight glass beads with a vacuum inside.

Expanded Pratliperl® is best described as comprising millions of tiny ‘vacuum flasks’, hence its unrivalled insulating and fireproofing properties.

Pratliperl® has a conductivity (K) value in a loose state of 0.05 W/ mK, which is 20x more than ordinary sand. This property is derived from the low density and the ‘vacuum flask’ structure of the Pratliperl® beads. A mere 16mm of Pratliperl® plaster on each side provides the same thermal insulation as a double-brick (220mm thick) wall, essentially meaning that the wall’s thermal insulation is doubled. “This incredible insulation value means architects have peace of mind that they can comfortably comply with energy-saving regulations such as SANS 204,” stresses Kruger.

The loose density of Pratliperl® is about 100 kg/m3.

When mixed with cement, the practical concrete densities range from 300 kg/m3 to 1 100 kg/m3, depending on the mix, which is essentially concrete that floats on water.

In addition to the almost refractory melting temperature of 1 250°, Pratliperl® concrete also maintains its hightemperature structural integrity due to its incredible thermal insulation.

The latter ensures a very high thermal gradient on the heated surface during fire conditions, resulting in low temperatures immediately below the surface. A mere 30mmthick Pratliperl® plaster will assure a fire rating of two hours and will release no smoke or fumes during a fire, giving it a distinct advantage over expanded polystyrene-based insulation products that may give off harmful fumes.

Pratliperl® concrete does not rely on air entrainment, and can be cured under any vibratory conditions. Once cured, it exhibits superior strength when compared to other lightweight concretes. The strength varies with density, but a practical strength from 1 MPa

58 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

up to 15 MPa is possible. This far exceeds the strength of aerated or other similar lightweight concretes of a similar density.

Applications for Pratliperl® range from plaster (internal and external thermal insulation) to lightweight floors for high-rise buildings, roof decks, fire barriers, precast mouldings, fireproofing for tunnels in mines, screeds, bathtubs, underfloor heating, tile adhesive filler, bricks and boards, pizza ovens, cryogenic tanks, loose-fill, a paint texturing agent, aggregate for refractory cements, and as an insulating surface for molten metal. www.pratleyminerals.com

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Benefits of LEDS and integrated LEDS When it comes to illuminating a space, be it residential or commercial, LEDs are the way to go, especially if energy efficiency is your top priority. They use about 50% less energy than regular incandescent bulbs and have a lifespan of around 20 years, so they don’t need to be replaced as often.

Another little-known benefit of LED bulbs is that they don’t negatively impact your health.

They don’t flicker or hum, causing eye strain and headaches, and they don’t emit mercury vapour, a toxic chemical detrimental to people and the environment.

WHAT ARE INTEGRATED LEDS? Any light fixture described as having an “integrated LED” simply means that the LED light source has been built into the fixture itself, as part of the design. This all-in-one fitting is appealing to many buyers because it saves time and money in the long run. They have a longer lifespan than screw-in LEDs and offer a higher lumen count, lower wattage, and better colour-rendering

index. Integrated LEDs handle heat dissipation well because they’re fitted with an advanced heat sink that directs excess heat away from the light. They also allow for more control of light output and appearance and can be simple to control in terms of dimming. www.eurolux.co.za

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The Aerolite evolution is here!

Aerolite has a new name, look and feel. Aerolite Soft Touch ceiling insulation is now yellow in appearance, more natural and softer to touch.

A chemical pink dye was removed from the product, rendering a more sustainable thermal and acoustic solution for your home. Isover has invested in various process improvements, as well as introduced additives that help to create a softer and easierto-handle product.

While all these innovative modifications have been made, Isover has ensured that the classleading performance has not been compromised.

Aerolite Soft Touch offers these key benefits: SOFTER AND SIMPLER TO INSTALL Now softer to touch, easier to cut and simpler to install, Aerolite Soft Touch has improved process control, which contributes to less dust when moving and installing the product.

BETTER INSULATION = GREATER SAVINGS Aerolite Soft Touch continues to save you money on your electricity bills by retaining heat in winter and reducing the need for cooling in the summer. The Energy

Efficiency Regulation (SANS10400XA) is applicable to all new buildings and extensions, including the compulsory installation of thermal insulation. Therefore, Aerolite is well positioned to meet the requirements of the standard while still providing you with great thermal and acoustic comfort.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY RECYCLED GLASSWOOL Manufactured using up to 80% recycled glass, naturally occurring

silica sand and fluxing agents, which is combined to form glasswool. Furthermore, it doesn’t emit toxic fumes or smoke, is biosoluble and has a Class III rating according to the World Health Organisation.

DOES NOT BURN OR SPREAD FIRE Adding to its thermal and acoustic properties, effective insulation literally adds a layer of safety to your home. Aerolite Soft Touch is non-combustible, therefore it does

60 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

not burn when exposed to fire and will not spread flames, emit smoke or spontaneously combust.

COMPRESSED ROLL, SAME GREAT COVERAGE Once the packaging is cut, compression packed rolls will recover to its correct thickness within 24–48 hours. This means easier handling, optimising on transportation costs and saving on storage space. www.isover.co.za

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Does adding energy-efficient components always improve building performance?

Heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) of buildings can use a significant quantity of energy: American and Australian estimates place it in the region of 30% of total consumption. It follows that reducing the heating and cooling needs of a building can have a significant impact on long-term energy consumption and energy costs.

The best time to reduce heating and cooling needs is during the building design phase. Once the building is completed, there are few options remaining – for example, adding efficient air-conditioning systems or retrofitting of shading and glazing. These are rather like sticking a band-aid on instead of preventing, or at least reducing, the problem before it arises.

In South Africa, solar loads are often high, and good designs will always address this. However, some people are not aware that blindly “throwing” better-performing glass or insulation at a building does not necessarily lead to improvement; in fact, in some circumstances it might actually make things worse. This

has been illustrated below for the building model shown in Fig. 1.

The building construction is typical for the Western Cape: plastered brick cavity walls, a well-insulated ceiling and single clear glazing in the windows. If the owner wished to use external louvre shutters, or double or quadruple glazing to improve it from this baseline, what would the impact be on the annual building performance? Instinct says that progressively improving these components should lead to a reduction in energy consumption, but is this necessarily the case?

The annual thermal energy that must be added or removed is shown in Fig. 2, assuming that air-conditioning is used to keep the indoor temperature between 19 and 25°C. The use of fixed shutters (orange column) drastically reduces the cooling required relative to the base case (black column), but increases the heating many times; overall the combined (total) heating and cooling energy is less than for the base case. The best

case in terms of total energy use is from controlled shutters (grey column) that are opened and closed depending on the indoor temperature. Using double glazing with solar control (yellow column) instead of shutters gives reasonable performance with respect to heating, and reduces the cooling compared to the base case. But upgrading from double to quadruple glazing (dark blue column) leads to worse performance than the double glazing, even though the thermal insulation is far better! This is because quadruple glazing traps

Fig. 1: DesignBuilder building model showing layout and orientation

62 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Fig. 2: Comparison of results: annual heating and cooling

more heat indoors in hot weather and increases the cooling required for this building.

So, don’t make the error of thinking that you can improve a building just by randomly using more expensive, better-performing components; you need to ensure that they work together with the building as a whole to achieve the best case overall. Balance is critical. www.greenplan.co.za

d r aw in g b o a rd

HIGH-QUALITY SYSTEM FOR INSTALLING LVT FLOORING Ultraplan Eco 20 Self-levelling Screed

2 Primer G Primer

Ultrabond Eco 4 LVT Adhesive

3

1

4 * Concrete with high levels of residual moisture will also require a moisture barrier.

Flexcolor 4 LVT Grout

Mapei South Africa has developed a comprehensive range of versatile, reliable and innovative products for use in the application of Resilient, LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) and Textile flooring solutions, following an uptake in popularity within the local market.

MAPEI stays up to date with growing trends and technology within this market, making it your ideal application partner.

Solutions offered by MAPEI range from substrate preparation and priming, crack repair and filling, adhesives as well as waterproofing and sealing for any Resilient, LVT or Textile installations.

For a flooring bond that lasts a lifetime go with MAPEI!

Learn more at mapei.co.za Tel: +27 11 552 8476 Email: info@mapei.co.za

64 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Consistent high-quality prints with every run Since launching the imagePROGRAF TM Series in September 2018, Canon has installed over 23 000 units. Consistently producing high-quality prints, the easy-to-use, competitively priced device has been a huge hit in environments requiring smaller volumes, due to its small size.

Customers in retail are easily and economically producing highquality posters, maps and drawings in-house whenever needed.

Construction customers are producing weatherproof plans and CAD drawings on Canon’s unique water-resistant media without the need for lamination.

Corporate offices are effortlessly, securely and quietly producing large-format prints of exceptional quality, time after time. Not only are they all lowering their outsourcing costs, but they also benefit from the full versions of PosterArtist V3.0 poster creation software and Free Layout Plus template tool – both bundled free with the printer.

Both partners and customers have been enthusiastic about the capabilities of the device and how easily and efficiently it can produce high-quality posters, maps and drawings on demand. www.canon.co.za

CONSISTENT HIGH-QUALITY PRINTS WITH EVERY RUN imagePROGRAF TM-300/305 MFP

Gain peace of mind with Canon’s imagePROGRAF TM-300/305 MFP, knowing you will have consistent high-quality prints with every run. The full pigment Lucia TD ink prints fine lines, crisp text and vivid colour with enhanced water resistance. This allows you to print everything from large format mine shaft diagrams, construction drawings, GIS maps, posters, signs and more with the confidence that comes from knowing your device is secure, smooth and simple.

SECURITY: Data and information contribute to the value of your business. Advancing technology can help you protect this data, such as the comprehensive product-related security package that comes with the imagePROGRAF TM-300/305 MFP. SEAMLESS OPERATION: In a fast-paced business environment, having technology solutions that can complete a job in record time and not disrupt workflow is essential.

EASY TO USE: The imagePROGRAF TM-300/305 MFP models come pre-configured, helping you get started without a timeconsuming set up. The touchscreen display and online manual are designed to enable any employee, no matter their experience level, to use it effectively.

Canon creates technology that offers high-quality, secure results for every situation. With the imagePROGRAF TM-300/305 MFP series, you can rise above the challenges of tomorrow, today.

See the bigger picture

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How can architects reduce mistakes while driving client loyalty? Simple.

Adopting new technologies isn’t easy, especially when it comes to processes built over time. But, for design and construction, aligning your systems to integrate with Building Information Modelling (BIM) standards can, and will, save you time, effort and frustration.

Plus, it can add both significant value to processes and provide an opportunity to grow your business.

BIM adoption is a game-changer for collaboration, managing information, and overall operations for architects. Tech-savvy architects now use software such as AUTODESK® REVIT® or GRAPHISOFT® ARCHICAD® to visualise, render and output documentation about a building. But the collaboration challenges remain.

Product information is meant to be shared across the ‘Building

Lifecycle’, from design and specification on to procurement, construction and installation and facility management.

Software is the enabling tool used to facilitate the BIM process.

Interpreting pre-defined standards from owners and keeping them in the loop for all changes to the building model is a key component to operational efficiency for an architecture firm. In a nutshell, the critical requirement to be effective is in sharing and communicating information in a streamlined way. In a digital world it’s all about being fast, accurate, seamless, and now more than ever... mobile.

Virtual design, or the ability to ‘see before you build’, is used to identify and correct errors before materialising at the jobsite. The

accuracy of the data and details within models is allowing suppliers to prefabricate off-site and avoid many unnecessary in-the-field assembly and issues, improving speed in the installation process.

With Openings Studio™ you can define how openings should look before the process begins, and then stay current with product information, catalogues, installation instructions, manuals and more.

Openings Studio™ is a software

tool designed for all stakeholders in the building process – for the entire lifecycle of the building. It integrates directly with design software to seamlessly transfer project data for complete door hardware schedules and specifications.

Contact a consultant today and get started with your next building’s library – to share! www.assaabloyopeningsolutions.co.za

FLEXSTEP The FlexStep stairlift is designed to function both as an ordinary staircase and as a wheelchair lift. Developed and manufactured

by Liftup and supplied in South Africa by Sitwell Consulting, the FlexStep is flexible and equally useful for pedestrians and wheelchair users alike. FlexStep is an innovative 2-in-1 solution and saves space compared to installing both a flight of stairs and a separate lift.

FLEXIBLE DESIGN FlexStep is an innovative 2-in-1 solution that transforms stairs into a platform lift for wheelchair users and walking impaired people. The FlexStep is designed to merge into the environment where it is installed. We offer numerous options to customize step inserts and

handrail types, and also balustrades, materials and colours can be tailored to a perfect match. You may even supply your own flooring materials for the steps to achieve the optimal integration into your décor. https://sitwell.co.za/ consulting/products/lifts/

WWW.SITWELL.CO.ZA ADDRESS: 41, 11TH AVENUE, HIGHLANDS NORTH, JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA, 2192 TEL: 011 440 8226 | CELL: 079 893 8143 | EMAIL: TINA.WATT@SITWELL.CO.ZA

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Houses of Parliament blaze highlights need for fire protection The fire that broke out at the Houses of Parliament in central Cape Town on 2 January has again raised the issue of protecting heritage structures and other buildings containing priceless artefacts or documents from fire risk.

The fire is believed to have started on the third floor of the National Council of Provinces building before spreading to the office space and gymnasium and then the National Assembly building, which was completely gutted.

The Houses of Parliament consist of the original building, completed in 1884, and additions built in the 1920s and 1980s. These house the National Assembly, the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of South Africa, while the original building houses the National Council of Provinces, the upper house of Parliament.

The original parliament building was designed in a neoclassical style that incorporates elements of Cape Dutch architecture. The later additions were designed to blend in with the original building. The Houses of Parliament have received Grade 1 National Heritage Status by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), its highest rating.

In mid-April last year, a fire originating at Table Mountain eventually swept onto the upper campus of the University of Cape Town (UCT). It caused extensive damage to the African Studies Library reading room, known previously as the JW Jagger Library.

Built in the 1930s, it is home to many international research collections, with an estimated 85 000 items in total.

“It is particularly challenging where you have a building that did not necessarily have fireresistance measures incorporated into its design,” points out ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk. A key consideration with a heritage

building is if it has been adapted from its original function and construction, or whether it is a relatively new building that can accommodate such measures. The construction materials used in older buildings are often not in line with modern regulations. Complicating the issue is that heritage buildings are difficult to retrofit with conventional sprinkler systems, for example, due to the fact that their external appearance has to be preserved.

Modern buildings also deploy drencher systems that can cool the exterior with water curtains to protect windows, doors, walls and roofs against an encroaching fire.

“This is probably the best strategy to adopt in the event of a fire like the Table Mountain blaze, as it means a heat shield is essentially created around a building in order to protect it,” stresses van Niekerk.

In addition to modern advances like recessed sprinkler systems, which are only activated in the event of a fire, another solution is a hypoxic system that introduces nitrogen into an area to reduce the oxygen level

to the point where spontaneous combustion cannot occur.

However, the best approach remains a proper fire-risk assessment that examines a building holistically. There are also internal factors that need to be considered, such as the possible sources of ignition inside a building and how best to manage these.

Notwithstanding that a building is old, the electrical system can still be modernised without affecting its heritage ‘look and feel’.

In addition, modern electrical management systems based on earth leakage and thermal resistors, as well as computer monitoring, can result in an automatic shutdown if any risks are detected. These can range from fans, heaters and computer terminals that are left on to overloaded multi-plug extensions – a common cause of fire in a typical office environment, for example.

“Managing the internal environment of a building adequately allows for the fire risk to be minimised. Obviously, risk can never be eliminated by 100%,

but it can definitely be reduced to an acceptable level,” highlights van Niekerk. An effective means to achieve this is to introduce refuge areas into heritage buildings in particular, as part of the overall lifesafety strategy. A refuge area has its own oxygen supply and fire-rated walls and doors to protect occupants until a fire dies down or is brought under control.

“There is an onus on the owners or trustees of a heritage or historic building to safeguard that building against fire. This is a risk assessment that any responsible building owner should conduct. It is advisable for any commercial or academic institution to request their insurers to come take a look at their buildings in order to give them advice. If the insurer does not have the necessary technical expertise or experience, ASP Fire offers this specialised service to a host of insurers,” concludes van Niekerk. www.aspfire.co.za

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Redevelopment of the Polokwane Eastern Ring-road The Polokwane Eastern Ring-road is an outer ring road that circles the city of Polokwane. The existing two-lane, single carriageway road was developed to a four-lane dual carriageway. This allows traffic to travel the Eastern Ring Road around Polokwane, instead of going through the Central Business District.

The initial construction of the road began after the 2010 World Cup, with phase two, the bridge redevelopment and construction, beginning in 2019. The main contractor on this project was Edwin Construction and the specialised applicator was Bridge Jointing and Rehabilitation Contractors Pty Ltd. Sika SA were proud to have been involved with specifying the bridge rehabilitation products.

The first part of the process was to identify areas of corroding rebar, as well as defective and damaged concrete. These repair areas were demarcated by means of a perimeter cut, using an angle grinder. The defective concrete was broken out and removed until good concrete was reached.

The remaining concrete close to the perimeter saw-cut edge was then broken out, leaving a nice clean edge to butt the repair

mortar up against.

The prepared concrete surfaces were then thoroughly cleaned and pre-saturated with potable water to saturated surface dry (SSD).

Once the concrete preparation was complete, Sika MonoTop®-412 NFG, a cementitious repair mortar, was mixed with a low-speed festo paddle mixer and applied to the repair area by hand. This mortar is a low shrinkage repair mortar that is suitable for restoration work, structural repairs, and for preserving or restoring passivity to the steel reinforcement. Its increased durability and superior workability and finishing makes it a product of choice by engineers and contractors alike.

A challenge on this project was the large number of graffiti and old posters. The graffiti and poster glue had to be mechanically removed by grinding.

Bridge columns and abutments were treated with two prime coats, due to the porosity of the concrete surface and two topcoats of Sikagard®-850AG – a permanent, anti-graffiti and anti-fly poster coating. This product facilitates the removal of what would have been permanent graffiti, using only water, without damaging the protection

layer or requiring a refresher coat. Once treated, no flyer glue will bond onto the substrate. This unique product prevents ingress of water and other contaminants, and protects against weathering and aging. It offers a clear gloss finish to any substrate it is applied onto and provides UV protection as well.

To protect against carbonation, bridge parapets and soffits were coated with a two-part, polymerbased, cementitious coating called SikaTop® Seal-107. To achieve a uniform colour for the entire structure, SikaTop® Seal-107 was applied on one of the bridges.

68 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

This was a bit of a challenge as the bridge is approximately 10m above the roadway – so, to enable access to the deck soffit and the outer faces of the balustrades, all work had to take place from below the soffit.

This bridge redevelopment not only aided in job creation, but it has also made travelling around Polokwane more convenient.

Sika is certain that the products used on this project will keep the roadway looking new for many years to come. zaf.sika.com

Take your next project

above and beyond At BMI Coverland we believe that #itsneverjustaroof.

That’s why we go above and beyond by offering industry leading roofing solutions to suit your development’s needs, delivered through world class customer service.

As part of BMI, the largest roofing and waterproofing company in the world, our products are developed and tested to conform to the highest international standards. This is one of the reasons that our BMI Coverland concrete roof tile range carries an industry leading 30 year guarantee, giving you peace of mind that you have chosen the right product for your project.

We offer a large range of roofing components which includes amongst others our RadenShield reflective underlays and maintenance free Figaroll plus dry ridge system. Combined these two products are components in our Cool Roof System, which delivers a reduction in the internal temperature of a home and thereby reduces energy consumption and associated costs.

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Talking trends with Hillaldam Sliding Door Systems What are the latest trends and noteworthy innovations in glass sliding, stacking and folding doors? We asked Matthew Gidlow, Regional Director at Hillaldam Sliding Door Systems.

BIGGER IS BETTER! Sliding, stacking and folding doors are not a new concept; however, with the trend towards large open-plan living and working arenas, today’s homeowner is opting for frameless glass. The frameless sliding and stacking systems are able to cover greater distances, allowing more natural light into your home and blurring the lines between the inside and outside.

The Hillaldam VistaSlide and VistaStack products are the first in the country to accommodate 12mm glass and is a completely bottom-supported system, which makes them virtually service-free.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SLIDING, STACKING AND FOLDING GLASS DOORS? Folding doors are a series of doors hinged together. These move together as you open and close them. Stacking doors

have many panels that move independently of each other, allowing the homeowner to open one or several, depending on their requirements. Sliding doors are large panels that move left or right and stack behind each other to create your opening.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR A HOMEOWNER LOOKING AT THEIR PRODUCT OPTIONS? Application, application, application! When you choose

frameless glass sliding and stacking systems, the design possibilities are endless. The first question is to ask how the homeowner would like the doors to operate. This will determine the choice between sliding, stacking and folding.

Secondly, do the doors need to be weatherproof or weatherresistant, and who will operate them? These questions will ensure you make the right product choice.

70 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

WHEN PURCHASING A FRAMELESS GLASS DOOR OR WINDOW, WHAT SHOULD A HOMEOWNER CONSIDER? Quality first. Hillaldam has a fiveyear warranty on their VistaSlide and VistaStack frameless glass systems. With over 60 years in the door and window industry, we offer the best quality products on the market. www.hillaldam.com

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Hybrflex-540 – the hybrid sealant for multiple applications What is a hybrid sealant? In lay terms, it is the result of combining high-performance polyurethane and silicone chemistry that produces a sealant with the best properties of two or more families of polymeric materials, but limiting their individual inherent weaknesses. It has the strength of polyurethanes and the weather resistance of silicones, and is sometimes referred to as an MS (modified silicone) Polymer.

Den Braven Hybriflex-540 is a hybrid sealant that has been on the market for over 10 years and has proved to be

extremely dependable, especially in the South African climate. There is a growing trend for higherperformance sealants due to the need for sustainability, and to comply with building and environmental regulations and requirements.

Hybrid sealants are specifically developed to use as universal sealants, primarily for sealing construction and dilatation joints.

These could be joints in pedestrian walkways, perimeter sealing of windows and doors, and are used on most common building materials such as concrete, brickwork, painted wood, enamel, aluminium, stainless steel and a variety of plastics.

Because of Hybriflex-540’s hybrid technology it is also ideal for: • sealing of floors – tiles and laminated • natural stone applications such as cladding and countertops • sanitary applications such as sealing showers, baths and vanities.

It has become a firm favourite with one of South Africa’s biggest lifestyle estate developers and is specified for use throughout their developments, across a multitude of construction applications and finishings.

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It is suitable for use both indoors and outdoors as it has a durable rubber seal, making it weatherproof and UV resistant.

Hybriflex-540 also ticks the environmental box as it is isocyanide free and low in volatile organic compounds – this is a very important consideration when using a sealant in confined indoor areas. It is also a sustainable product and complies with the requirements of the Green Building Council of South Africa.

Den Braven encourages

consultation with its technical experts who will discuss your requirements, appraise areas of application and, if necessary, give training to construction site employees on how to apply a sealant. Correct application is a very important aspect for the outcome of the job.

Den Braven Hybriflex-540 comes in either a 300ml cartridge or 600ml foil pack, is available in black, white and grey, and is paintable. www.denbraven.com/en-sa

09:25

HYBRIFLEX-540

Multiple jointing & sealing applications

Contact us or visit our website for technical specifications Tel: 011 792 3830 • www.denbraven.com/en-sa • sales@denbraven.co.za

Den Braven Sealants South Africa

www.LeadingArchitecture.co.za FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 71

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Armorflex for Mamelodi stormwater upgrades Technicrete’s internationally licensed Armorflex Erosion Control System was selected for upgrades to major stormwater systems currently underway in Mamelodi Extensions 4 and 5 northeast of Pretoria. The project, undertaken

by Tefla, was awarded by the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and Armorflex 140 selected as the product of choice by the engineers because it is fit for purpose, flexible (during installation and long term) and creates labour through ease of installation.

Based on a trapezoidal channel analysis of water volumes and velocity, Armorflex 140 was selected as the best system to install for the gradual channel to be constructed.

The area has been recognised as a frequently waterlogged area, with large volumes of slow-moving water. It was hence determined that although there is a high volume of water, the expected flow velocity is low and hence Armorflex 140 blocks would suffice – as opposed to requiring the heavier 180 blocks used to offset higher velocities.

Thatho Moruke, Site Manager for Tefla, comments, “The Armorflex 140 system’s flexibility is in its ability to conform with ground contours.

It settles without cracking and requires limited ground preparation.

When installed and anchored correctly, the system offers a superior lifespan with minimum maintenance required.

“Part of the contractual requirement was to outsource 30% of the work to workers from the local community. Armorflex’s easy installation enabled us to meet this requirement with training and some supervision, thereby adding skills to the local building labour force,” Moruke says.

Another feature of Armorflex, specifically relevant to this project, is the capacity for water to flow vertically up or down through the openings in the blocks. Accordingly, the high levels of groundwater in this area will be able to seep up through the block voids and into the channel, where it will flow away.

One of the fundamental advantages of Armorflex are the small sleeve openings inside each block that run perpendicular to the direction of waterflow. These openings typically accommodate a 3.5 to 4.5mm galvanised steel wire, threaded through the system post installation of the blocks. This wire assists with overall stability of the system until such time as the natural vegetation can grow and take root, typically one to two rainy seasons. Should Armorflex be required to be installed in preassembled mats, for underwater installations like harbours, the contractor can use these openings to thread a structural polypropylene cable, strong enough to support a 6m x 2.4m mat of Armorflex during lifting and placement.

Maintenance is a simple annual process of ensuring that the vegetation growth is cut back to block level, as overgrowth will cause settlement of silt, which then spirals into larger islands of vegetation and silt, eventually blocking freeflow dynamics within the channel.

It is important to note that the vegetation must not be removed, just cut down, as the roots assist to lock the blocks to the channel bed.

Justin Kretzmar, Technical Sales & New Product Development Engineer at Technicrete, adds, “For this project, with steep vertical sides to the channel, Technicrete’s earth-retaining Florawall blocks have been proposed for placement on top of the edge blocks to protect the embankment from eroding when stormwater volumes exceed

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base flow of the channel. Florawall is a versatile block as it can be filled with concrete, soil or vegetation to improve overall aesthetics of a project, while still maintaining its earth-retaining function.”

“We are very satisfied with the support from Justin and his technical team, who were on site ensuring that all blocks were laid correctly and that the channel profile and levels were at the required ‘smoothness’. The delivery scheduling from Technicrete was spot on. Not only do we now have a strong, effective and long-lasting solution in place for stormwater control, we have also upskilled many members of the surrounding communities,” concludes Moruke. www.technicrete.co.za

f e at ure d d e s i g n

Alfred's lights Thabisa Mjo has done it again with an incredible new collaborative project that focuses on telephone wire weaving. The acclaimed local designer’s latest collection is called Alfred’s Lights, and is a line of striking telephone wire pendants. Mjo worked closely with Elizabeth Joubert of interior design studio Tin Lab, together with renowned master weaver Alfred Ntuli – who is known for weaving geometric patterns with telephone wire – and a range of other collaborators to bring the collection to life.

Mjo, the founder of Johannesburg-based studio Mash. T Design, has always been adamant that hers is a practice of African

storytelling through design.

Over the last few years, as her business has grown, she has increasingly sought out collaborations with artisans who use techniques that are quintessentially South African. “For me, arts and crafts, and anything handmade, represent luxury, and my aim is to merge these traditional production methods with forward-thinking design,” she explains.

In this instance, telephone wire weaving is a longstanding local artisan practice rooted in the 1960s, when Zulu night watchmen started weaving scraps of telephone wire around their traditional sticks. The practice became popular

74 Leading Architecture + Design FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

among Zulu communities, and today there is great innovation and creativity in the use of this medium.

“We were so grateful that bab’ Alfred agreed to work with us, as these designs saw quite a deviation from his usual work. Not only are these pendants on a larger scale, but they also bring in more pattern than his usual restrained aesthetic.

Alfred not only rose to the challenge, but exceeded it. As usual, nothing we do is ever just a single person’s efforts.

From the management team at Bambizulu, who connected us with bab’ Alfred, to the artisans at African Art Centre who helped produce the pendants, and our collaborator, Elizabeth

Joubert, whose idea it was to create a telephone wire pendant, the final product is a community effort – a result of everyone’s hearts and skills coming together,” says Mjo. The outcome speaks for itself and the new line is a real conversation starter, which is typical of Mjo and her stellar trajectory.

Recently, Mash. T Design was recognised by internationally respected interiors magazine Dwell, which is published in the USA. Mjo was part of the annual Dwell24, a global round-up of “the most exciting designers making furniture, lighting, and other objects for your home”. www.mashtdesignstudio.com

More than skin deep The beauty of our building solutions is supported by solid functional advantages.

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The aesthetic advantages of Alania Building Systems are apparent. It’s the hidden functional benefits that complete the picture. Our lightweight aluminium solutions provide durability and longlasting resilience, protecting the structure from weather elements and the effects of pollution while requiring minimal maintenance.

Alania innovations are suitable for new construction and the transformation of older buildings.

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We commit to uncompromising quality of workmanship and materials from a team of solutions-driven professionals who stop at nothing to ensure superior results.

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