SCAPE | November 2022 | Renovation & Restoration | Vol. 86

NOVEMBER 2022

RENOVATION & RESTORATION

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/ LEADER /

WELCOME BACK TO THE FUTURE In the wake of our future-focussed trade show in October, we deemed it fitting that November should be a time of looking back to move forward. Especially as we find ourselves on the cusp of yet another year around the sun, it’s pertinent that we pause on the past to reprioritise our path to 2023 and beyond. The best lessons are learned in hindsight, after all.

History and heritage are the order of the day in this issue. But most importantly, we focus on habitat and the compelling need for environmental longevity by designing for the hereafter. As Anthony J. D'Angelo so concisely stated, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel; we just have to realign it.

As always, these glossy pages present content catering to everyone’s appetite.

Renovations, restorations, rehabilitations, regenerations, refurbishments, renewals — if it starts with an ‘r’, then you’ll probably find it inside this issue!

We start with a roundup of the annual Corobrik-ILASA Awards of Excellence, where some of our favourite projects to date, such as BOSJES Farm and Jewel City, walked away with a few notable crowns. Next, we traverse South Africa’s rich tapestry of adaptive reuse architecture by reading the perspectives of Cape Town-based Open City and Johannesburg-based Local Studio. Dive into the dune rehabilitation project on the shifting shores of Table View beachfront, explore landscaping strategies for combatting the urban heat island effect, and so much more. Some blasts from the past to look out for include a tastefully renovated 120-year-old Victorian villa in Green Point and a refurbished green office building in Sandton.

Naturally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t include the matriarch of the Mother City. Thanks to Source IBA’s Midas touch, The Winchester Boutique Hotel is restored to her former glory on Sea Point’s Beach Road. From the ornate Cape Dutch Revival-style gables to the blushing bougainvillea in the black-and-white-tiled courtyard, we invite you to step inside the beloved halls of the grande dame of the promenade to admire the hotel’s considered new interiors and finishes.

On my debut Welcome Note, I hope that, like me, you will fall in love with our unique heritage, historical landmarks, and natural landscapes all over again. Maybe one day our collective industry efforts will also go down in the books. Until then, we labour on, improving and preserving until we realise, just like all the civilisations who have gone before, we were also history in the making.

STILL GROW ING STRON G

STILL GROWING STRONG

STILL GROWING STRONG

STILL GROW ING STRON G

‘As an architect, you design for the present with an awareness of the past for a future which is essentially unknown.’

– Norman Foster

Liesl Lamprecht Content Manager

STILL GROWING STRONG

Cover Image: Dook

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/ CONTENTS /

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CONTENTS

It’s Getting Hot in Here Climatically Adaptive Landscape Architecture for Healthier Urban Spaces

By Timothy Snyders, TruForm Landscape Architects

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32

ILASA Awards of Excellence Roundup

Spotlight on Students

Celebrating South Africa’s Incredible Winners in Landscape Architecture

Jacobus Frederik de Jongh and Kirsten du Plessis, University of Pretoria, U-Flow Urban Growth Exhibition

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34

When Centuries Collide

Taming the Dunes

Old Meets New in these Cape Town Co-Working Spaces

By Bettina Woodward, Architect and Founder of Open City Architects

By Deon van Eeden, Vula Environmental Services

38 Plant of the Moment

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How to Care for Endless Summer Hydrangeas

By Malanseuns

Out with the Old, In with the Reuse Expanding on the Definition of Adaptive Reuse by Looking at Case Studies of Multi-Family Housing, Public Space, and Social Infrastructure

By Local Studio

39 One Cordless Machine for Multiple Tasks Sneak a Peek at STIHL’s Ingenious KMA 135

44 Create a Clean Space with Geberit’s Acanto Bathroom Series Clever Functions and Products for Professionals Who Don’t Want to Compromise on Functionality or Storage Space

46 Homage to Heritage The Winchester Boutique Hotel, Source Interior Brand Architecture

56 Corporate Curve 72 Grayston Drive, Paragon Group

64 Reinventing a Victorian Villa Arklow Villa III, Douglas & Company

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ILASA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE Acknowledging Our Heritage for a Smart Future

The annual Corobrik-ILASA Awards of Excellence aims to acknowledge and promote excellence in landscape architecture by championing relevant projects that add value to the landscape, especially pertaining to aspects of social or ecological health and well-being. This year’s Gala Event took place in Pretoria late September and was aptly themed ‘Acknowledging Our Heritage for a Smart Future’. From inclusive urban precincts to heritage-inspired wine estate gardens, the landscapes walking away with laurels are the handiwork of South Africa's industry trailblazers. A hearty congratulations to all the phenomenal winners!

/ ILASA ROUNDUP /

MERIT AWARD WINNERS CATEGORY 2 A & B:

www.sq1.au @square_one_studios

Planning and Design 1

1st Place Winner: Square One Landscape Architects BOSJES Farm, Breedekloof Valley

Situated in the scenic Breedekloof Valley, BOSJES has grown in stature and acclaim since opening in 2017. The Spens and Winkel — a pantrystyle coffee shop and farm shop set amid imaginatively landscaped indigenous gardens — effortlessly blend into the broader landscape; a testament to the creative collaboration between Square One Landscape Architects, Steyn Studio, and Meyer & Associates Architects. The gardens are spread across three sloping terraces connected by a curving pathway that provides universal access and creates a visual link between the woodland landscape, forested play areas, spacious lawns, and conservation garden planted with endangered renosterveld. Across the site, visual cues remind visitors of the cultural heritage of the valley. A series of water furrows and channels speak to the ingenuity of farmers in taming this drought-prone wilderness. The fragrant citrus groves in front of the Winkel and Spens are a reminder of the region’s rich agricultural tradition. Circular sandpits reference South Africa’s traditional farm dams and reservoirs, while child-friendly farming implements and splash-pads can be found in the dedicated children’s play area.

BOSJES Farm, Breedekloof Valley

Jewel City, Johannesburg

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2nd Place Winner: Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects

www.drla.co.za @danielrebelland

Jewel City, Johannesburg One of Johannesburg’s most prominent projects, Jewel City is an innovative urban re-integration initiative that sought to revive and establish more socially and economically inclusive public spaces in the CBD. The Jewel City complex consists of six industrial buildings, some dating back to the 1930s. The entire area was closed off to the public in the mid-1990s and remained an isolated and forgotten node for decades. That was until Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects transformed the landscape of this industrial complex into a vibrant mixed-use precinct featuring a large public square and urban park flanked by trees and retail space. The urban precinct also received a safe children’s play area that spills out onto the square animated with fountains and public art. The zero-level fountain is easily deactivated so that the central piazza can be used for events like concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and markets.

The upgraded and repaired peripheral areas and sidewalks, as well as additional lighting, all come together to create a cleaner, safer space around the inner city of Johannesburg.

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/ ILASA ROUNDUP /

PRESIDENT’S AWARD WINNER Square One Landscape Architects BOSJES Farm, Breedekloof Valley The belle of the Breedekloof Valley, BOSJES Farm has once again been recognised for its beauty and splendour; this time scoring the prestigious ILASA President’s gong. The innovative design of the Winkel and Spens is a subtle celebration of the region’s rich cultural history. Partially built into the hillside, the roof has been overlaid with soil and planted with indigenous grasses and succulents to blend seamlessly into the landscape, leaving the panoramic mountain views untouched. The garden concept sought to incorporate ecology into the cultural landscape, turning the legacy of cultural heritage and the tradition of living off the land into something accessible and enjoyable. Curved trellises of oak— a subtle reference to traditional cattle kraals — serve as a visual focus that twists and guides visitors inward. More than a dozen species of climbers, including bougainvillea, honeysuckle, star jasmine, and wisteria, add seasonal colour, texture, and aroma to the structure, creating a perfect blend of culture and tradition, natural beauty and inspired design, and a continuation of the design philosophy that has established BOSJES as one of the leading destinations in the Cape Winelands.

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/ ILASA ROUNDUP /

JUST TREES AWARD WINNER Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects Deloitte HQ, Waterfall City This year, the winner of the Just Trees Award for the best use of trees in a landscape design was awarded to Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects for Deloitte, Waterfall City. The headquarters gracefully ease into Midrand’s urban fabric, the podium ramp, walkway/cycling route, and pedestrian link to Mall of Africa all providing comfortable visitor access to the building’s entrances. The landscape’s water-wise indigenous plant palette is irrigated with stormwater harvested from the building roof and basement seepage water. Three oval spill-out spaces east and west of the headquarters feature granite planters filled with an exciting array of plants. Large evergreen trees combined with Helichrysum petiolare, Gazania tomentosa, Plumbago auriculata, Elegia tectorum, and other shrubs are almost within touching distance of boardrooms and offices, inviting employees out of the building and into the landscape furnished with modified wood benches and decks for comfortable informal gathering. With their extensive use of trees, including Harpephyllum caffrum, Dombeya rotundifolia, and Erythina lysistemon, among others, it’s only fitting that Daniel Rabie Landscape Architects should walk away with this coveted landscape award.

Just Trees commented: “Tree species selection, design, installation, and maintenance have worked incredibly well here to deliver an environment that is functional and beautiful.

It is evident that the trees are showing vigorous growth and are performing all their desired functions in terms of softening and complementing the modern building design as well as creating features, providing shade, and creating habitat for people and birds to enjoy.

What has been achieved here is definitely a legacy for the future. Congratulations!”

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/ ILASA ROUNDUP /

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER Graham Young Graham is a multi-award-winning registered landscape architect with forty years of experience. He holds degrees in landscape architecture from the University of Toronto (BL) and University of Pretoria (ML), and is the owner of his firm Graham A. Young Landscape Architect. Graham has worked in South Africa, Africa, and Canada, developing valuable expertise in the practice of landscape architecture, urban design, and environmental planning. He recently retired as a senior lecturer, teaching urban design and landscape architecture at post and undergraduate levels at the University of Pretoria. He has received numerous ILASA and industry design awards during his career. These include the ILASA Presidential Award for the Riverside Government Office Complex (with KWPNLA) and Isivivane Freedom Park Phase 1 (with NLA). One of his specialties is Visual Impact Assessment, for which he scooped up an ILASA Merit Award in 1999. He has completed over 350 specialist VIA reports for projects across Africa and Canada. He has been widely published in local and international design journals and books, and recently co-founded the e-journal African Journal of Landscape Architecture, where he now serves as the managing editor. Graham is also a member of the Editorial Board of the African Landscape Network and the current president of the International Federation of Landscape Architects Africa Region.

@grahamalbert

Daniel Rebel (right) receives the Just Trees Award from Just Trees Managing Director Carl Pretorius (left) and ILASA President Sbu Dladla (middle).

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/ ILASA ROUNDUP /

MERIT AWARD WINNERS CATEGORY 1:

Research, Technology, and Publications 1

1st Place Winner: African Journal of Landscape Architecture

2

2nd Place Winner: African Landscape Network IFLA Africa

The African Landscape Network (ALN) is an online map-based interface that features a landscape-focussed network of individuals and projects across the African continent. The ALN seeks to encourage the adoption of the African Landscape Convention by connecting organisations, individuals, and professionals working on landscape programmes, projects, and issues throughout Africa.

The African Journal of Landscape Architecture (AJLA) is the official e-journal of IFLA Africa that arose out of the shared passion to have an authoritative journal to serve the profession and academia. The AFLA is committed to curating content that promotes and enhances an extensive understanding of the field of landscape architecture across the African continent. Editors: Bernard Oberholzer and Graham Young.

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WHEN CENTURIES COLLIDE

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OLD MEETS NEW IN THESE CAPE TOWN CO-WORKING SPACES

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/ FEATURE /

T

he talented team at Open City has been involved in numerous heritage projects over the years, effectively honing their craft in giving old buildings a new lease on life. In honour of SCAPE’s November focus on refurbs and renovations, we asked Bettina Woodward to weigh in on how interior architecture navigates the coalescence of past and present design elements to preserve South Africa’s heritage...

I have chosen to showcase two small historical refurbishment projects in the CBD of Cape Town. In both cases, the buildings were underutilised and neglected and have subsequently been transformed into vibrant co-working communities. Located at 163 Bree Street, Open Co-Workspace is a calm and inviting co-working office in the hub of the Mother City. It is tailor-made for architects and designers who wish to collaborate creatively. Yet, perhaps the most intriguing part is the building’s great historical value. According to the 1833 Cape Almanac, the residents of Bree Street included builders, coppersmiths, and shoemakers – a long legacy of Capetonian craftsmanship. Today, the heritage building with its beautiful plaster adornments sits proudly on a street corner in a revitalised part of Cape Town. The second project is our recently-unveiled co-working space on the corners of Church and Loop Streets. With five office suites, a shared kitchen, and two beautiful boardrooms, the cosy quarters offer modern amenities coupled with the character of centuries past.

Peeling away the layers One of the best parts of working with historical buildings is the joy that comes from reviving their old charm.

Often these buildings have been subjected to unsympathetic changes which detract from their underlying integrity. We usually start the process by subtracting these elements, after which the important historical features become more prominent. You don’t always know what you will find when you peel away the layers – you can get pleasant or nasty surprises! When we removed the modern plasterboard ceilings during one project, we found beautifully preserved 18th-century green ceilings above. Fortunately, the engineer agreed they were structurally sound and could be kept in place.

Engaging a heritage architect right at the beginning of the process is very important. They will assist you in identifying which building elements are historically significant and why, and ensure that your interventions preserve and enhance these features. This is not often precisely what you think, and the technical considerations when dealing with the fabric of old buildings can be complex, requiring a very specialised approach.

Creating a unique character At Open City, we regard material selection and using a limited palette as the essential components of a successful refurbishment. We search for an abstract, timeless quality whereby the textures and forms of the original building are preserved and enhanced. The essence of the space takes centre stage rather than a ‘layered’ array of interior design elements. Each building has a special character, and part of the craft of heritage architecture is understanding what it is and how to reveal and strengthen this unique quality.

BETTINA WOODWARD Architect and Founder of Open City Architects www.opencity.co.za @open_city_architects

109 Loop Street, Cape Town. Photography by Jeremy Woodward

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/ FEATURE /

163 Bree Street, Cape Town. Photography by Greg Cox

163 Bree Street, Cape Town. Photography by Greg Cox

163 Bree Street, Cape Town. Photography by Greg Cox

109 Loop Street, Cape Town. Photography by Jeremy Woodward

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/ FEATURE /

Aiming for authenticity Creating tension between old and new elements is a key heritage approach we explore in our work. The authenticity of the historical features is preserved at all costs, while new additions are differentiated. However, this does not necessarily mean that contemporary insertions are out of keeping with the old. When we design new elements such as doors and windows, we choose a similar material but give them a contemporary form.

Alternatively, we could use a contrasting material and be inspired by the original form. Emphasis is placed on historical layering to tell a continuous story of the building through time.

Reinventing for relevance Refurbishing old buildings is also vital to preserving our city’s unique heritage and character. This is not only about form, but also about function.

Old buildings need to be reinvented to remain relevant and accommodate new ways of living. Co-working as a community-centred initiative has transformed the way people work. Our specific approach has been to establish a creative community within the space whereby ideas and resources can be shared, and small businesses can build better support networks. The small size, unique corner sites, and character of the heritage buildings are all critical factors that unlock this social potential within the city. I believe this model for thinking about small city spaces can also be applied in other ways to enhance the economic and social vibrancy of the city.

22 109 Loop Street, Cape Town. Photography by Jeremy Woodward

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/ FEATURE /

OUT WITH THE OLD,

Braamfontein Gate, Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Photography by David Southwood

/ FEATURE /

IN WITH THE REUSE Cityscapes across the world are sprawled with abandoned buildings that occupy valuable space while serving no benefit to their contexts. Innovation surrounding the conversion of these white elephants into valuable spaces is necessary in ensuring that these structures come to cement their place within dense urban landscapes.

Dubbed ‘adaptive reuse’, this rising architecture approach offers a practical solution to breathe new life into cities by repurposing empty structures into functional builds. Turning silos into corporate offices, hospitals into museums, and commercial offices into student housing – the possibilities are endless. However, handling the contextual intricacies of these projects successfully requires considerable experience and expertise. Enter Local Studio, a Joburg-based architecture practice that is no stranger to reacting to the needs of our ever-changing South African cityscape. Expanding on the definition of adaptive reuse by drawing from their past projects, join the team at Local Studio as they take you through their wide-ranging portfolio featuring multi-family housing, public space, and social infrastructure.

ow, Johannesburg. Phot Hillbr ogra

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The work of our firm, Local Studio, founded in 2012 by Thomas Chapman, can be seen to defy this trend, in that we have sought out the majority of our work in and around the historic city centre of Johannesburg.

To date, our firm’s largest projects have been the adaptive reuse of existing structures, and we have worked across this spectrum from a classical department store built in 1903, to a mirrored 1970s office tower built for an oil company.

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nce considered a global city on par with London and Hong Kong, the city of Johannesburg is a monument to human achievement. During the Apartheidera, downtown Johannesburg sprouted up like an anthill: an impressive landmark above ground signifying a much more impressive subterranean gold-mining empire. The city’s horizontal growth since the end of Apartheid has been driven by the private sector, and reflects the blind fear of our still mostly whiteowned economy in a mostly black country. Archaic, anti-spatial zoning laws have perpetuated rather than regulated this growth, and the city’s massive highways now read like a block-chain of the shameless flight of capital – each gated estate further away, larger, and more self-contained than before.

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/ FEATURE /

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Adaptive reuse in multi-family housing schemes

Downtown Johannesburg has the most liberal zoning laws in the city region, exemplified by a zero parking ratio and building heights governed by a 59-degree rule. This zoning is ideal for reuse, particularly the conversion of commercial and industrial buildings to multi-family housing. In most cases, private-sector housing providers have sought to nimbly inject affordable rental housing into a myriad of structures, capitalising on new arrivals to the city with limited economic means. We have designed over 2000 such housing units, built in the downtown area. These projects mostly involved the use of new, lightweight construction technologies due to the structural limitations posed by existing buildings. The spatial planning in these projects has mostly involved smart densification through the design of compact residential units, while always striving to convince our clients to invest in better communal spaces for residents.

Braamfontein Gate In 2018 we designed and completed the tallest office-to-residential conversion in Johannesburg and lobbied the City of Johannesburg to invest in a public promenade alongside it. Braamfontein Gate involved the creation of 400 affordable housing units in the burnt-out shell of a 30-storey office tower built in 1976 for the French oil company, Total. Developers will often pick these buildings up for very low prices and try to maximise efficiency.

The affordability level of the housing market in South Africa is weighted at 70% with a household income of R5000/month, forcing developers to build schemes that are accessible to this market, deeming it a version of (entirely unsubsidised) affordable housing.

Projects like this mostly involve the creation of internal partitions to define apartments within deep floor plates which previously were open plan offices. The cheapest way to do this would be with cement-stock brick walls, and this has far more to do with the low cost of labour: migrant workers are paid less than R150 a day.

Fortunately, the structural systems of most of these buildings cannot support heavy interior walling, forcing the introduction of innovative light-weight walling systems and an upskilling of workers in much friendlier working conditions. The interior walls are rendered polystyrene, and the most interesting part of the intervention was the adjustment of dark glass sun shades, which actually obstructed the view of the city when you were standing up, into balustrades by cutting the steel frames and moving them up 800 mm. The glass was found to be brittle and the project couldn’t afford to replace it to the same specification, so we opted for white corrugated iron instead, which makes the building stand out on the horizon. We also designed the conversion of the building’s massive banking halls on the ground floor into communal spaces for tenants. This makes the building a very popular place to live today and a massive departure from other affordable housing developments in the area.

Situation East Situation East is a conversion of a former garment workers’ factory into residential apartments in Maboneng.

Like many industrial buildings in this part of the city, the building is characterised by deep spaces and flimsy structural elements, making traditional apartment typologies and construction methodologies impossible. The design therefore called for innovative ways to bring natural light and ventilation into the space, while maintaining

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www.localstudio.co.za @local_studio

/ FEATURE /

Braamfontein Gate, Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Photography by David Southwood

Situation East, Maboneng, Johannesburg. Photography by David Southwood

Rissik Street Promenade, Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Photography by Nicholas Rawhani

Situation East, Maboneng, Johannesburg. Photography by David Southwood

/ FEATURE /

28 Fulham Heights, Johannesburg. Photography by David Southwood

/ FEATURE /

the market feasibility of the project. The intervention also included the addition of a new fifth- and sixth-storey of the building, as well as a roof garden housing a sculpture by American artist, Sam Chermayeff. Apart from the efficient restructuring of the internal space, details of which were largely governed by a spray-on concrete and polystyrene walling system, we placed a lot of emphasis on the exterior elements of the building. These included pre-cast concrete breeze blocks, where the façade was punctured to bring natural ventilation to passages, as well as various contrasting textures and colours for the new rooftop addition.

Adaptive reuse in public space

Since its inception ten years ago, our practice has also conceptualised several urban acupuncture projects for the City of Johannesburg. This work proved to be the most challenging and rewarding form of reuse of all, in that it mostly involved the transformation of vehicular roads and Apartheid-era buffer zones into pedestrianised public spaces.

Rissik Street Promenade Along with Braamfontein Gate, we lobbied the city council to develop the space adjacent to the tower from what was previously a dump site into a pedestrian promenade. The Rissik Street Promenade is a 300-metre promenade connecting the Gautrain rail station to the Johannesburg City Hall, via Braamfontein Gate. The walkway allows for safe and comfortable movement of pedestrians in what was previously a high-mugging zone.

Generally, the city is extremely conservative when it comes to design specs for public spaces, mainly because they don’t want to maintain anything. We were able to deviate from their rule book significantly by proposing that the apartment building subsidises urban management. The building owners were able to employ gardeners and security guards by adding less than R180 per month extra onto their apartment rentals.

Conceptually, this project fits into a broader agenda in our office to promote the development of more pedestrian public space in the inner city. We are significantly below the UN Habitat recommended quota of 15 m2 public open space per capita, because in the city the majority of open spaces were built over, leaving only vehicular streets as opportunities to create more open space.

Adaptive reuse for social infrastructure

The new-built projects we have completed in the city seldom exist as stand-alone structures, more often than not filling in a void or growing parasitically from existing buildings. These projects have generally been small-scale interventions for social organisations providing education and healthcare to underprivileged city inhabitants. In many of these cases, their spatial requirements could not be satisfied within available built structures due to the need for larger collective spaces, such as school halls and dance studios. e am H Fulh

ights, Johannesburg. Ph otog ra

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The Outreach Foundation Community Centre The Outreach Foundation Community Centre is one of the first new social infrastructure projects to be phy built in Hillbrow since the 1970s. The project is situated within the broader Hillbrow Lutheran Church/ Da vid Friedenskirche precinct, a site given to the Lutheran Church by Paul Kruger at the turn of the So ut century. The Friedenkirche was designed by one of Johannesburg’s early architects, Theopile hw Schaerer (artefacts.co.za). The actual building site is the staggered rooftop of an unfinished community hall, built as part of the German Consulate in the 1970s. d

The building houses three primary functions: a computer centre on the ground floor, a dance studio on the first floor, and offices and meeting areas on the second floor.

These functions are collected within an angular volume draped over the two levels of the site. The building also presents its primary function, which is the dance studio, to Twist Street through a 12-metre window.

The building is in and of itself a small piece of urban design, housing a vertical street in the form of an open staircase, which leads users from a central courtyard up to the public roof garden. The choice of white corrugated steel and clear corrugated polycarbonate as cladding materials abstracts the building’s image and clearly establishes it as a new addition to this part of the city.

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/ FEATURE /

Fulham Heights Fulham Heights is one of the first projects to demonstrate the principals and guidelines of the Johannesburg Corridors of Freedom policy. The policy looks to promote mixed-use development and residential densification in neighbourhoods adjacent to the recently completed BRT network. The building is a conversion of an old corner shop, which was a Chinese restaurant and subsequently rented by us as office space prior to its purchase for redevelopment. Today the building houses Breezeblock Cafe and LAPA (an art residency and communal, experimental space) on ground floor, our office/studio on the first floor, and two residential units on the top floor.

"TO DATE, OUR FIRM’S L ARGEST PROJECTS HAVE BEEN THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF EXISTING STRUCTURES."

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The project, like many others completed by us, intends to be a beacon of hope and regeneration in the area and is designed to promote passive surveillance in an area fraught with petty street crime and housebreaking.

T

Construction took the form of a three-storey structural steel frame inserted within the walls of the original building. Light-frame steel panels clad on either side with translucent polycarbonate were used to infill the façade on the east and south elevations, with glazing on the north and a solid wall of fibre-cement on om dati on C munity Cen the west. The new structure contrasts with the original concrete façade and pavement colonnade, oun tre, hF c Hil a lbr which were restored as part of the project. re ut

vid Sou thwood

The team at Local Studio. Photography by Dirk Jacobs

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/ FEATURE /

SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS U-FLOW URBAN GROWTH EXHIBITION Land art is a genre of environmental art that seeks to improve society's understanding of and engagement with nature, social context, and site materiality. These public projects are powerful tools to communicate and create awareness around environmental and humanitarian concerns – in this case food security and climate change. Tying into SCAPE’s theme of urban renewal and revival, we decided to spotlight second-year architecture students Jacobus Frederik de Jongh and Kirsten du Plessis by looking at their creative U-Flow Urban Growth exhibition project.

JACOBUS FREDERIK DE JONGH AND KIRSTEN DU PLESSIS Second-Year BSc Architecture Students University of Pretoria

Photography by Giorgia Fanelli

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1

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ff

Process Work The Flow of The Design

U-Flow Urban growth

/ FEATURE /

Jacobus Frederik de Jongh u21433195 Kirsten du Plessis u21514233

P In R Elight C E DofE the N C exhibition's E S T U D I main E S theme 'Food for Thought', students at the University of Pretoria were INDUSTRIES OF NATURE, Alejandro Haiek

tasked to select one Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) as their sub-theme to address a relevant

The'real-world' Industries of Nature installation at the Civitella Castle, is an exploration of on 'food security', Jacobus and Kristen designed an issue in their context.

Choosing to focus the connection between the local framing industries and the processes of naenvironmental land art project for potential placement on Hatfield Campus, using site-specific materials. ture that supports it. The project overlays with the community, the castle and the local farmers, and depended of visitors to the castle to help create the ribbon-like weave.

Rethinking sustainable cities and communities Urban renewal is the concept of breathing new life into a once lively but now dilapidated space. Places Source: Stouhi, D. 2021. Alejandro Haiek Unveils Images of Winning Intervention at the Wojr/Civitella Awards. [Online] Available from: https://www.archdaily. com/973258/alejandro-haiek-unveils-images-of-winning-intervention-at-the-wojr-civitella-awards?ad_source=search&ad_medium=projects_tab&ad_source=evolve and their lifespans may not be as long as we once thought, which is why urban renewal is an search&ad_medium=search_result_all {accessed: 11-5-2022.] essential part of architectural continuity and food security. U-Flow is the result of co-production and community. E.g., the community comes together to weave the waste products of local grain farmers into ARCH FOR THE ARCH, Snøhetta & Local Studio the provided framework. The essence of the weaving is to add a new layer every season to illustrate Consisting of 14 interconnecting curved beams, the public is art ainstallation that urban renewal and food security circularis and community-based project. This all comes together and interactive and thought-provoking commemoration of the Archbishop to teach user abouttotally theenvelops hard work goes Desmond Tutu. the The 9m tall artwork the userthat and seeks to into bringing grain, one of the most essential foods in generate public participation in theplates. development the countries constitution.

South Africa, to their Theof co-production is essential as it teaches users that without co-working and community, food security is at risk. The structure is meant to envelop and comfort the users as they connect to the seasons and the contextual community around them.

Source: Snøhetta. 2018. Arch for Arch. [Online] Available from: https://snohetta.com/projects/374-arch-for-arch [Accessed: 11-05-2022].

No grain, no gain

The Design

H oThe w I entire t A l l Fprocess lows

of weaving has a metaphorical connection to the production and consumption of grain. The community harvests the grain from the storage holes in the platform, produce the food in the weave, and then the food is decomposed in the weave, removed, and the cycle begins again.

After life The design also makes provision for the afterlife of the structure. The storage holes can be converted into planters, and the frame of the ribbon can become a type of pergola that can be reclaimed by nature, ready to resurface when the next urban renewal cycle needs to take place.

Learning from those who came before Industries of Nature Alejandro Haiek Coll

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Industries of Nature is a site-specific temporary installation by architect-in-residence Alejandro Haiek

Design Principles: thatThe was artfully constructed Civitella SolidColl and void: mesh with the solid timber pieces:on Thethe spaces created bycastle grounds using simple means and locally available cities through the connection of solid and void. materials. Considering how nature and people work in tandem to form the traditional Umbrian landscape, Flowing in the process of creation: Movement of people is just as important as keeping people in places.

The design around the people and keeps the project explores the flows connection between local framing industries and the processes of nature that them there fr moments of time. support it, brilliantly overlaying the community, the castle, and the local farmers, and depending on Association through interactive memory: By interaction with the weave, the community creates a sensecreate of place, the belonging, and pride. weave. visitors to help ribbon-like Centrality: The urban environment is the heart of contemporary human civilization, the design tries to call on the community to join in this notion of centrality in the urban space.

Arch for Arch

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Snøhetta and Local Studio

Arch for Arch is an architectural structure in Cape Town commissioned by Design Indaba to commemorate the life and work of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Consisting of 14 interconnected curved beams, the ninemetres-tall public art installation next to St George's Cathedral totally envelops pedestrians, generating public participation and serving as a reminder of the country’s constitution.

Interactive

centrality

circularity

movement

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protection

seasonal

co-production

community

/ FEATURE /

TAMING THE DUNES

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/ FEATURE /

D

etermined to tame the dunes from Dolphin Beach to Bloubergstrand, the City of Cape Town’s Coastal Management Branch conceived, researched, and funded a wholistic approach to accommodate man and nature along this sought-after coastline. Deon van Eeden and his experienced team at Vula Environmental Services were invited to drive the renowned dune rehabilitation project on the shifting shores of Table View. After commencing work in July 2022, the key objective of the wider ongoing initiative is to restore the deteriorated dune cordon, which has lost its ability to protect the surrounding infrastructure from windblown sand, and to replace and repair the parking facilities, beach access, and services such as the stormwater infrastructure.

Read along as Deon details the developments at the dunes...

Shifting sands by the seashore Nestled in the Mother City’s most iconic bay overlooking the worldrenowned Table Mountain lies Table View beachfront – one of the most popular destinations in the Cape, drawing thousands of local and international beachgoers annually. This majestic 3.5-kilometre stretch of seaboard spanning from Dolphin to Bloubergstrand Beach not only offers splendid views of Table Mountain. In addition to the traditional sightseeing, surfing, lifesaving, and relaxation activities the beachfront has to offer, there has also been a steady rise in the number of kite surfers from all over the world using the bay in recent years. The destination is popular due to the summer south-easterly winds that blow along the shoreline. However, it is this same wind that has moved sand inland for centuries before the coastal road was constructed in the late 1930s. Following the construction of the road, the inland mobile sand was stabilised by planting exotic trees such as Acacia saligna – the Port Jackson willow. The coastal dunes were, however, not that easily tamed, and for many years sand from the sea was blown inland across all obstacles man tried to put in its way.

Dune development and degradation The idyllic beauty of the area naturally fuelled the demand for beachfront development, which started in earnest during the 70s with little consideration to the dynamic nature of the dune ecosystem or the severity of the underlaying ecological drivers. The rapid development along the coastline led to the construction of a managed dune belt along the coast during the 80s and 90s. The prescribed maintenance routine was first disrupted and later neglected, resulting in the formation of tall, unstable dunes that became structurally and ecologically unsound, engulfing infrastructure such as meandering walkways and amenities during the past decades.

The degradation continued until the level of impact on the residents and the public could no longer be addressed symptomatically, and a comprehensive strategy was required to resolve the problem. The Table View dunes have not functioned as a natural system for many years, and as a result, returning them to their exact baseline conditions is not possible, making complete restoration unachievable. The only practical solution was to implement a management system based on the understanding of all the dynamics at play and to do so within the constraints of not only the broader coastal zone but a very narrow strip above the high-water mark.

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/ FEATURE /

Proactive preservation Achieving cost-effective dune management requires a well-executed plan consisting of several seasonally sensitive phases. And just like dune formation takes a long time, the success of a project will only evident years down the line. Vula Environmental has been on the front line of numerous long-term projects and, in the wake of experience gained, we have honed our knowledge and experience, positioning us well to provide a management solution for a persisting problem. Much of what is being implemented at Table View is based on the rehabilitation work we undertook at the Hout Bay dunes, for which we were awarded the SALI Shield of Excellence in 2020. In turn, our Hout Bay project was based on our work done at Big Bay, for which Vula was awarded the SALI Shield of Excellence in 2005.

Implementing a dune management plan should be as easy as following specifications, but when it comes to dunes, the initial steps in establishing a restoration plan heavily relies on understanding the baseline conditions and processes at work. Intensive review of the sparce literature available on previous attempts at dune management was supplemented with modern surveying techniques, such as LiDAR surveys, orthomosaic imagery, and monitoring of various climatic conditions. The dune profile design fits within the specific environmental parameters observed in the scoping phase, and one must find a balance between functionality, aesthetics, and ecology to support perpetual vegetation and cost.

It is therefore vital that the contractor implementing this work has an intimate understanding of the components and drivers at play as to provide the necessary insight to predict variations in management situations by being proactive rather than reactive.

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DEON VAN EEDEN Managing Director Vula Environmental Services www.vulaservices.com @VulaEnvironmental

/ FEATURE /

BEFORE

Restoring what was lost Large-scale rehabilitation projects require excruciatingly detailed planning with many restoration activities occurring at the same time and several components dictated by seasonality. For example, the earthworks had to be limited to the off-season to avoid large numbers of beachgoers; wind netting had to be installed before the windy season; and planting was limited to between autumn and spring. Therefore, effective project management skills are as fundamental to the success of these kinds of projects as the ecological knowledge and expertise. As such, the implementation component will span at least two years, meaning the stable state of the project will only fully be achieved in the third year.

Perpetual maintenance will benefit from precise deposition of windblown sand that will require annual circulation back to sea to replenish the beaches further north.

With great power comes great responsibility Great responsibility falls on restoration scientists and practitioners. The ecosystems we work with are most often fragile and poorly understood, leaving little room for error. The need for cross-feeding knowledge from the researchers to the practitioners has therefore never been greater. As horticulturist turned restoration scientist, it is my and Vula’s mission to bridge the knowledge gap. And what better way to do this than with the excellent example of healthy cross-disciplinary interaction found within dune management projects?

TEAM VULA

/ FEATURE /

PLANT OF THE MOMENT

ENDLESS SUMMER HYDRANGEA

The nostalgic thought of Hydrangeas has a way of transporting you back to your mom’s garden where these amazing shrubs used to grow in shady beds, producing masses of large floral spectacles from late spring into early summer. Today, there is a new Hydrangea variety called ‘Endless Summer’ that has been specially cultivated to improve those shrubs into more rounded, compact, slightly smaller plants with a prolonged flowering period, giving you loads of colour for at least the six warmer months of the year. Most Hydrangeas will only produce flowers on new growth, but the Endless Summer variety has the ability to flower on both the new and previous year’s stems.

When planning your Hydrangea flower bed, you will need a shady spot with either early morning, late afternoon, or dappled sunlight. Keep in mind the bright light and partial sun will ensure sturdy stems and decent flower production. These festive flowers also prefer rich composted soil that is watered regularly (we also recommend a thick layer of mulch). And yes, the soil’s pH will definitely have an effect on the flower’s colour as all Hydrangeas must be planted with acid compost. Regular varieties will produce pink flowers in neutral to slight acidic soil, and blue flowers when the soil is extremely acidic. Endless Summer is one of the few varieties that stays pretty much true to colour, even if there is a slight change in pH, but should you wish to change the flower colour with a drastic change in pH, you can expect to see results after a year or two. Try adding dolomitic or calcitic lime to change the flowers from blue to pink, and add aluminium sulphate to transform them from pink to blue. www.malanseuns.co.za @Malanseuns

So, give it a bash and plant your own breath-taking beauties... What better way to enjoy endless blooms this summer?

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/ FEATURE /

ONE CORDLESS MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE TASKS

STIHL KMA 135

Work smarter, easier, and more cost-effectively by using the STIHL KMA 135 R KombiEngine to complete multiple landscaping tasks. This innovative, professional cordless machine can power a wide variety of tools with a performance that matches petrol-powered models.

The KMA 135 R offers total mobility for maximum convenience. In addition, it is fuel-free, emissionfree, and extremely quiet for working whenever and wherever you need to – even in noise-sensitive areas.

Forget about the cost of buying fuel, or the headaches of keeping teams supplied with fuel and mixing and storing it. This machine is low maintenance for optimal economy, and its weather-resistant design means that you can work even when it’s not a perfect day.

One of the greatest benefits of this machine is that the KMA 135 R is part of the STIHL Lithium-ion PRO system, and is compatible with all STIHL KombiTool attachments. This means that you don’t have to load up various tools every day as it can be partnered with more than a dozen different attachments, such as blowers, brushcutters, and hedge trimmers.

An exciting new addition is the RG-KM Rotary Scissors attachment, which is designed for the effective, low-spin removal of weeds and grass from a range of surfaces, including gravel, asphalt, and paved areas. It works like a hedge trimmer, with blades that move back and forth to give low-spin mowing.

The reciprocating action of the blades reduces the potential for thrown debris, making it ideal for work in high-traffic areas and places where you don’t want any mess, such as the grass perimeter of golf bunkers, verges, and ponds. With up to 3000 strokes per minute, it boasts a relentless cutting performance from blades that are quick and easy to remove and replace.

The KMA 135 R is easy and comfortable to use and has a variable speed trigger with three performance levels to optimise performance and run times. It has a battery slot that can support either an onboard battery or a backpack battery for extended periods of operation.

The machine offers landscaping professionals cordless convenience and professional-grade performance, allowing you and your team to work anywhere you want for as long as you need to. Get the cost-effective power, mobility, and versatility of the STIHL KMA 135 R today. www.stihl.co.za @stihlsa

*The STIHL KMA 135 R KombiEngine and its various attachments are all sold separately.

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/ FEATURE /

IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE

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/ FEATURE /

As our climate continues to warm, cities around the globe are facing more frequent and extreme heat waves, urging urban planners and landscape architects to trial new strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect (a phenomenon that sees skyscrapers and pavements absorb and retain heat, raising a city's temperature by several degrees compared to the surrounding suburbs). Shedding some light on the climatically adaptive strategies landscape architects can utilise to cool down urban environments, Timothy Snyders shares his expert opinion...

Identify the problem Urban sprawl, urban development, densification, cluster housing — these are terms we are all familiar with and are increasingly becoming part of our day-to-day living. New developments highlight different priorities for each potential stakeholder. The first concern the developer voices is, "How can I make this as highly viable as possible?” The muncipality, in turn, will wonder, “How are the services going to maintain these developments?” And the perturbed public asks, "How is this going to impact my everyday commute?"

Very few people see it happening and think of the impact it will have on temperatures – a concept known as the urban heat island effect. Gardens are smaller, road reserves are narrower, and designers’ preference for hard surfaces is increasing due to less long-term maintenance.

How do we as landscape architects counteract this with planting and interventions in the built environment? The solution, in my opinion, is simple: let’s return to natural materials and natural solutions. Cities have started to recognise this of late in the form of green walls and roof gardens in areas with limited space. Yet, while every step towards greener cities is positive, these measures can be largely superficial.

Go out on a limb The soft landscaping intervention that has the biggest and most immediate impact is planting trees. Mature trees have the ability to reduce both surface and atmospheric temperatures which will have a direct impact on reflective and latent heat in cities and urban areas. We have all experienced the difference between standing under a shade structure, feeling the radiant heat from the roof material, versus the cooling effect of standing under the canopy of a tree.

Our plants have evolved to withstand harsh environments, and our climate is begging for cooler urban spaces. Living in South Africa with its Mediterranean climate presents significant considerations. The advantage being that we are already in a harsh climate with a magnitude of hardy plants to our disposal within an urban environment. Moreover, this harsh African sun only highlights the need for intentional designs to keep our urban spaces comfortable. Can we not overcome the one by using the other?

CLIMATICALLY ADAPTIVE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR HEALTHIER URBAN SPACES

Turn over a new leaf Indigenous South African plants have evolved to withstand the harsh conditions by having small waxy leaves or by being succulent. However, this does not provide the opportunity to just plant them and walk away, as they still require a level of care and watering.

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/ FEATURE /

TYPICAL MATERIALS

ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS

Exposed soil

Ground cover planting

Stone chip covering

Bark mulch

Concrete paving

Clay paving

When found in nature, they are surrounded by earth and other small plants, not subjected to hard man-made surfaces with reflective heat and pollution. When planting indigenous species in an urban environment, we need to play to their strengths and assist with their upkeep. We can alter our design approach by

• • • • • • •

providing as much healthy soil as possible (the deeper the better); planting plants in groups so that they can protect each other from the harsh elements while also providing adequate space; planting with layers (both vertically and horizontally); having a diverse planting palette; considering ground water recharge such as Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS); providing water during establishment; and ensuring ongoing maintenance.

Diversify plant palettes By introducing a diverse plant palette, one is able to accommodate the various climatic conditions of an urban environment. Some species will assist in reducing the heat while others survive the harsh sun, working together to protect the one from the other. Then there's also the secondary benefit of encouraging insects and fauna back into cities and providing backyard biodiversity. This will inevitably allow regenerative planting through self-seeding and biological control and maintenance.

Another notable benefit for humans is the psychological well-being that comes from having contact with nature.

Consider natural materials However, if we wish to truly have an impact on the heat island effect, then changing our planting palette needs to be in conjunction with making different material choices. We know natural materials tend to take longer to heat up and quickly cool down, resulting in lower thermal retention and latent heat. This in turn reduces the time plants are exposed to artificial heat. Natural materials also tend to have lower reflective heat properties, reducing the exposure of the underside (most vulnerable portion of leaves) of the plant and minimising artificially induced transpiration.

By merging these two elements of diverse planting and natural materials, we as landscape architects will be able to assist in reducing the urban heat island effect, increase biodiversity in cities, and improve people's lives and mental well-being.

TIMOTHY SNYDERS Professional Landscape Architect www.bpas.co.za @truform_landarch

Steel

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Timber

/ FEATURE /

According to Timothy, planting more trees is the soft landscaping intervention that has the biggest and most immediate impact on the urban heat island effect.

Mature trees can reduce surface and atmospheric temperatures, lowering the reflective heat in cities and urban areas.

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/ FEATURE /

CREATE A CLEAN SPACE WITH GEBERIT’S ACANTO BATHROOM SERIES Clever functions and products for those who don’t want to compromise on functionality or storage space.

Our ‘Design Meets Function’ philosophy is once again embodied in our Acanto bathroom series. Elegantly designed with the known and uncompromising Geberit quality, the Acanto series offers innovative and convenient solutions to saving space in your bathroom. With storage space designed for optimal reach, the Acanto series is designed with diversity, along with special and unusual combination possibilities in mind.

The complete Geberit Acanto bathroom series combines a clear design with organic shapes and smart, detailed solutions that meet the most diverse requirements and design wishes. The individuality of your lifestyle is matched by Acanto’s diversely modular nature.

Organise your space, with Geberit. Our magnetic storage is wall hung to help you clear away the clutter.

But who has enough space in their house, never mind in their bathroom?

For the vast majority of people, the bathroom is hardly a spacious room.

When it comes to designing a new bathroom, people often have high ambitions, and so they should! But the reality often looks somewhat different. Most people require space-saving solutions that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, particularly in the guest WC. That’s why we are developing products that maximise the available space, creating more room for storage.

The organising box can be used to make the washbasin cabinet even more versatile, neatly arranged, and optimised thanks to its modular nature. The super sleek Acanto bathroom furniture offers lots of storage space, even in small bathrooms, making it ideal for smaller floorplans.

With the magnet board, you can position storage boxes exactly where you need your cosmetics – and you can change the position in next to no time.

Better bathrooms, better lives.

www.geberit.co.za @geberit_za

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/ FEATURE /

Some benefits of the Acanto bathroom series: 4.5 l flush Water-saving flush toilet Floor clearance Wall-hung toilets ensure easy floor cleaning.

Moisture-resistant material Bathroom furniture with moisture-resistant, high-compressed three-layer chipboard.

Push-to-open mechanism Handle-free drawers can be opened by pressing lightly on the front.

Quick-release WC seat Easily removable WC seats for more convenient cleaning.

Drawers with soft closing Drawers that finish closing silently and by themselves.

Soft closing A practical, quiet soft-closing mechanism for the WC seat.

Rimfree® WC Rimfree® toilets ensure easy cleaning and greater hygiene.

Hidden floor fixing Floor-standing WC ceramic appliances are available in a closed version.

Hidden wall fixing Wall-hung WC ceramic appliances are available in a closed version.

Hidden overflow Washbasins without an overflow hole can be combined with the Clou drain and overflow system.

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The iconic façade of The Winchester Boutique Hotel at night. Photography by DOOK

HOMAGE TO HERITAGE THE WINCHESTER BOUTIQUE HOTEL

/ PORTFOLIO /

Size: 2300 m² Cost: R90 million Opened: November 2021 Location: 221 Beach Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town

C

elebrating a century of gracing the scenic front row seat of Sea Point, the grande dame of the promenade has undergone an extensive makeover before making its comeback as The Winchester Boutique Hotel. With respect to the original building as the guiding principle throughout the overhaul, Source Interior Brand Architecture (IBA) has created a scheme that pays homage to the historic architecture and layers of memories, delivering on the grandeur and unique sense of place of this Cape Town landmark, while still adequately addressing the needs of contemporary travellers. Let’s step inside the beloved halls of The Winchester Boutique Hotel to find out what the suite life is all about...

Site history and context With a history dating back to the roaring 1920s, the Cape Dutch Revival style Winchester Boutique Hotel was originally built on the Sea Point beachfront as a residential apartment block in 1922. Yes, on the beach and not across from the Promenade and Beach Road as it is today. Previously known as The Winchester Mansions, the building’s iconic inner courtyard used to be a parking space for vehicles, accessed directly through the current front door. In 1958, the building was purchased by Mr and Mrs Harvey (the titular namesakes of the redesigned Harvey’s Bar), who turned the apartment block into a hotel before eventually passing the property down the family line to the Wainfords who still own it today. In November 2021, after a two-year refurbishment by GAPP Architects and Urban Designers and Source IBA, the beautifully reimagined Winchester Boutique Hotel reopened to the public under the management of Newmark Hotels, reminding Capetonians why they fell in love with the matriarch of the Mother City in the first place.

The renovation 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, so the upgrade presented an opportunity to relocate and conceal many of them. Further investigation led to the discovery of more challenges, such as the need to upgrade haphazardly installed electrical and HVAC systems.Certain staircases needed to be closed off and new ones added to meet fire-safety compliance laws.

Furthermore, the team needed to find a way to create space for standard contemporary hotel conveniences like air conditioning. Due to the salty sea air from the Atlantic, many of the concrete slabs on the front façade had corroded, requiring carbon patching and the addition of new support beams. The owners and architects also became aware that the building was starting to show increasing signs of decay and dilapidation, prompting a more extensive proposal to structurally refurbish the whole building and not just redo the interior and rebranding.

Refurbishment brief Source IBA was initially brought on board as a hospitality design consultant and commissioned by the client to provide an overview of the potential of the building. This report set the tone for what then became the brief for the refurbishment, and the team was appointed to execute key parts of the interior architecture and design, brand design, and signage design. The firm worked closely with the owners of the hotel who are well-versed in design and involved in informed debates around the final design elements and objectives. The first design objective was to deliver on the expectations this evocative building and Cape Town landmark demanded. The second design objective was to rationalise the room types. From a hospitality management perspective, it makes business sense to have a similar number of equally proportioned rooms. The challenging factor for the design team was finding inspired finishes that complied with the technical requirements – essentially, finding a balance between context and the intended look and feel.

Looking back to look forward It was important to the team at Source IBA that, by respecting the property’s past, they would not end up creating interiors akin to the typical stage sets for period dramas. Rather, they wanted the interiors to pay homage to the hotel’s proud history through inventive referencing. In other words, ensuring the design enhances the DNA and the heart and soul of The Winchester while simultaneously bringing a fresh, contemporary feel to the hotel.

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www.sourceiba.co.za @sourceiba

/ PORFOLIO /

The concierge desks at the entrance. Photography by Sean Gibson

SUP P L I E RS Sanware Meir by Flush Bathrooms 021 511 7888 Tiling LimeGreen Sourcing Solutions 021 447 2254 Tile House 021 506 3020 Countertops WOMAG 021 447 6161 Rugs and carpets MONN 021 555 0751 Custom signage, prints, and wallpaper Cara Saven Wall Design 082 953 6246 Lemon Collection 061 294 8742 Fabrics Eshanima Fabrics and Wall Coverings 021 447 2187 Furniture Southern Hospitality 021 204 7004 Parasols Cape Umbrellas 021 448 6012 Lighting Light World 021 023 2661

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/ FEATURE /

Shoreditch House restaurant. Photography by Sean Gibson

MEET T HE T EAM Cost consultants: MLC Construction Cost Consultants Project managers: Turner & Townsend Landscape designers: Carrie Latimer Landscape Design Photographer: Sean Gibson Photography

Architects: GAPP Architects and Urban Designers Lead architects: Andrew Flint and Lisa Doucha Interior architects and designers: Source Interior Brand Architecture Main contractors: GVK-Siya Zama

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The hotel occupies a prime location on Sea Point's Beach Road. Photography by Bianca Nakan

Private lounge area. Photography by Sean Gibson

/ PORTFOLIO /

"THROUGHOUT THE ROOMS AND PUBLIC SPACES, A SMART, EYE-CATCHING BLACK-AND-WHITE PALETTE MANAGES TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT IS BOTH SLEEK AND SNUG."

The design team retained, and in some cases reinstated, historic details to the interior architecture, allowing furnishings, colouration, quirky details, and styling to add modern appeal. This enabled the scheme to remain fluid and infinitely updateable by changing only moveable items and soft furnishings.

Room service The décor and design of the 76 guest rooms and suites saw a modern revival of sorts, with carpets, bathrooms, and fittings being entirely replaced while a careful selection of furniture pieces combined to form a contemporaryclassic style that celebrates the history of the hotel. As part of the extensive refurbishment, Source IBA and GAPP Architects repositioned the hotel’s sea-facing suites on the front façade to take full advantage of their spectacular views across the Atlantic Ocean and Robben Island in the distance. These prime spot, sought-after rooms were reconfigured to better align with the arched windows, creating spacious suites replete with private balconies and signature terraces overlooking the Sea Point promenade. On par with the modern comforts guests have come to expect from luxury hotels, the palatial en-suite bathrooms offer elaborate amenities such as expansive showers and elegant freestanding baths, not to mention the champagne-hued brushed-metal fittings that hint at the golden age of travel.

Memorialising monochromatic minimalism To foreground the timeless arches, the architects removed the porte-cochère at the front doorway, effectively drawing attention to the archways leading from the reworked reception into the central courtyard. Upon entering the chic monochrome abode, guests are met with clean lines and dark wood panelling – the epitome of cosy elegance. Throughout the rooms and public spaces, a smart, eyecatching black-and-white palette manages to create an atmosphere that is both sleek and snug. The minimalistic design is offset by vintage furniture, layered textiles, striking signature chandeliers, and artwork collected by the Wainfords over the years – the combination of old and new capturing the character and charm of the building’s century-long history.

The monochromatic colour scheme extends to the iconic and widely photographed central courtyard, where the new hexagon porcelain tiles, extensive landscaping, reinstallation of the signature fountain, and, of course, the famous bougainvillea that had to be nurtured throughout the renovation, collectively revive the hotel’s signature interior. Beyond the courtyard, overlooking the refurbished pool terrace with its bold black-and-white striped sun loungers and redone landscaping, The Constance Room is another reimagined space designed to house boutique conferencing facilities. Combined with the renovated sea-facing terrace, Harvey’s Bar, and restaurant Shoreditch House, Source IBA has breathed new life into the beloved boutique hotel’s wide range of offerings.

Be our guest In the past, many guests and visitors would wilfully overlook unwanted details (such as the exposed plumbing), mentally editing their experience to match their romantic fantasies of its character. This largely guided the refurbishment, leading the architects and designers to retain the recognisable elements and erase what people ignored from reality. Through adaptive reuse, they successfully delivered the dream-like nostalgia Cape Town locals and tourists alike call to mind when they think about the timeless monument of The Winchester Boutique Hotel.

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One of the tasteful Premium Suites overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Photography by Greg Cox

The monochrome palette tastefully extends into the hotel's bathrooms. Photography by Greg Cox

The refurbed pool terrace and deck

Black-and-white outdoor loungers Alfresco dining area. Photography by Sean Gibson

Harvey's Bar. Photography by Sean Gibson

MSO5-CH bath spout & MWO3-FIN-CH bath mixer.

TIMELESS.

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CORPORATE CURVE 72 GRAYSTON DRIVE

Located up the road from the renowned Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City, and Sandton Convention Centre, the exquisite glass edifice on 72 Grayston Drive has been upgraded by Paragon Group to better complement its architecturally chic and modern surroundings. The office building underwent a major refurbishment, including the installation of a new façade, a doublevolume atrium built over an existing deck, a complete interior fit-out, and new parking deck. Read along to step inside this curvaceous corporate build...

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/ PORTFOLIO /

Size: 6 203 m² Cost: R95 million Location: 72 Grayston Dr, Sandown, Sandton

Building brief Eight years ago, Paragon Group won the original competition brief to develop a completely new 20-storey office building. However, the project was not pursued due to the unmet 50% pre-let condition. The brief was later revised and Paragon set out to refurbish the existing building by giving it a new look to maximise its current value. Tight timeframes and site-specific obstacles made the project challenging as delivery dates needed to be maintained without compromising quality.

Unpacking the design 72 Grayston Drive is a four-storey refurbished, green office building in the heart of Sandton Central Business District, forming a gateway to Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre. The original main entrance used to be positioned at the lowest parking level and in the basement, which was not in favour of the visitors and failed to define a clear entry point to access the building. During the overhaul, the original semi-basement, which was inadequately used for parking and storage, was refurbished, painted, and kitted out with additional lighting to cover the added parking spaces. The parking was maximised by adding additional parking decks on the south and north-western corner of the site. A gym training area was provided on the ground floor level and later fitted out by the space planner.

www.paragon.co.za @paragongroupza

Adding the atrium The architects added a new atrium to define the main entrance to the building. The structure was constructed out of glass and steel before being wrapped in a façade of aluminium slats, shielding the building from the sun's rays and give it a rustic feel that tones down its modern appeal just enough to match its setting. A steel canopy covered with aluminium slats was also added, wrapping around the atrium to form a ceiling. The lift’s openings were swapped around to face the new atrium to allow for easy vertical movement from one floor to another.

The double-volume atrium lit up at night.

"THE BUILDING IS REVOLUTIONARY IN ITS GEOMETRY AND DETAILING, SETTING NEW STANDARDS IN LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY."

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The addition of an atrium adorned with striking aluminium slats helped to create a setting-appropriate main entrance to the building.

MEET T HE T EAM Mechanical consultants: Mott Macdonald Main contractor: Trencon Construction

Client: Public Investment Corporation Architects: Paragon Architects Project Managers: Origin Project Managers

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72 Grayston Drive received a brand new façade, double-volume atrium, and a new parking deck.

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/ PORFOLIO /

All of the floor plates are subdivisible, allowing the building to be multi-tenanted. Pockets of landscaped external decks were added, connecting the internal spaces and creating social café areas for the tenants of the building.

Another large landscaped social deck was added above the atrium roof level.

Façade facelift The architects envisaged a unitised façade system to clad the existing envelope without interrupting the existing structure. The original structural envelope remained unchanged, and was cladded with a high-performance, double-glazing façade separated on every floor by steel PFC channels. Horizontal rope light strips were then introduced inside the C-Channels, breaking the building into two segmented floors when lit up at night.

Additionally, roller blinds were added right around the façade to enhance the performance of the glazing. To complement the silhouette and pattern of the structure, the perimeter of the landscape and parking decks was cladded with vertical aluminium slats. These were also extended to cover the newly refurbished metered taxi rank along the western side of the site. Two existing complementary FE Stairs turrets, also cladded with vertical louvres, complete the façade on both the northern and southern sides of the building.

Closing remarks The building is revolutionary in its geometry and detailing, setting new standards in local construction technology.

Its distinctive silhouette and surface patterning have no rivals when it comes to corporate architecture in Johannesburg.

Comfortable lounges create warm, open spaces for tenants to gather.

SU P P L I ER S VRV system and BMS Daikin 021 528 3500 DX system Samsung 011 704 6320 Air terminals Strategic Air and Trox 033 3981006 Sealants and adhesives a.b.e Saint Gobain 0860 223 773 Lifts Schindler Lifts 021 552 4831 Paint Versus Paint 011 447 8380 Balustrades Steel Studio 011 608 1963 Joinery De Haan Skrynwerkers 011 472 2355

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Aluminium slats help to shield the building from the sun and give it a rustic ambience.

72 Grayston Drive underwent a complete interior fit-out during the refurbishment.

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REINVENTING A VICTORIAN VILLA

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ARKLOW VILLA III

/ PORTFOLIO /

Size: 160 m² Location: Green Point, Cape Town

W

edged between the slopes of Signal Hill and the sparkling Atlantic Ocean in the suburb of Green Point, Arklow Villa III is a 120-year-old Victorian heritage building that has undergone extensive alternations and additions to become a light and functional cottage in Cape Town. The talent behind the transformation, Cape Town-based architecture and design studio Douglas & Company, completely remodelled the property’s interior and added a new storey on top. With their hands-on experience and understanding of the design sensibilities and local authority approval procedures required for renovation projects in the Western Cape, the studio is no stranger to blowing away the cobwebs to give historical homes a much-deserved glow-up. Let’s see how they went about reinventing this Victorian villa...

Building backstory The existing house historically formed part of a series of three identical cottages called Arklow I-III. Following more than a century of neglect and lack of adequate maintenance, the property suffered from several careless additions and shabby patch-ups, heightening its need for a professional restoration. After buying the property in 2012 and living in it for several years before starting the refurbishment, lead architects Jan and Liani Douglas had plenty of time to work out exactly what they wanted to do with the project. Although in dire need of a facelift, Arklow Villa III had plenty of personality pre-renovation. Therefore, the architects’ goal was to transform the insular single-storey dwelling into a light-filled, two-level house, all while retaining the special soul of the cottage. The designer duo made the decision to do what was right for the building, rather than strictly adhere to a brief. The rest is history.

Recounting the renovation From the front, the semi-detached house appears almost unchanged, except for the addition of two new dormer windows punctuating the roof plane. With the preservation of the heritage street frontage and the traditional veranda, the tasteful reconstruction and remodelling of the roof and rear elevation gave the house a new lease of life while simultaneously paying homage to the home’s history. The existing stoep was replaced, closely resembling the old one, but executed in a lightweight, contemporary language to expose the textured stone foundation walls behind.

In contrast to the conservative approach to the front façade, the rear of the house presents a completely new building. The double-fronted character of the existing structure made it possible to divide the house into two zones, with private spaces on the one side and public/shared facilities on the other, and both zones benefitting from north and south light. On the ground floor, the main spatial organisation remained in keeping with the original layout, with the addition of a small bathroom and staircase leading to a new first storey. A new courtyard was opened up at the rear to allow light and ventilation into previously unlit and unserved spaces. Tall doors and glazing to the south also helped to add plenty of light to the previously dark abode.

On the new first floor, a main bedroom and bathroom round off the ‘private zone’, whilst a study overlooking the living area below and opening up onto a terrace with views towards Signal Hill extends the ‘public zone’. The new double volume space is unusually generous in relation to the scale of the cottage and exposes the existing roof trusses to the living room below. Redundant roof trusses removed from the existing roof space were used in interior detailing.

Sustainable city-living The new work is predominantly executed in standard South African pine timber. By using pine for the floors, doors, windows, and ceilings, the design worked in harmony with the existing timber trusses, tying the space together and making it appear bigger than it is. Existing features and finishes were preserved where possible and used in combination with a new restrained palette of brick, natural stone, and timber, exuding warmth and tactility. Rainwater is harvested from the roof and reused to operate the washing machine, dishwasher, and flush WCs, significantly reducing the residence’s reliance on the municipal water supply.

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SUP P L I E RS Corrugated sheeting BlueScope Steel 021 442 5420 Doors and windows Ambassador Doors and Windows 066 187 9316 Bricks and pavers Corobrik 021 888 2315 Steelwork TGS Concepts 021 875 5652 Appliances SMEG 011 463 1016 Sanware Still Bathrooms 021 421 9970 Exquisite Bathrooms 021 418 7626

Two new dormer windows on the roof allow an abundance of natural light to enter the cottage.

A courtyard was added to the rear for additional space and light.

The kitchen's custom-designed units are topped with a vibrant green marble.

"BY USING PINE FOR THE FLOORS, DOORS, WINDOWS, AND CEILINGS, THE DESIGN WORKED IN HARMONY WITH THE EXISTING TIMBER TRUSSES, TYING THE SPACE TOGETHER AND MAKING IT APPEAR BIGGER THAN IT IS."

Sliding doors open up onto a terrace overlooking the new courtyard below.

/ PORTFOLIO /

Interior identity The double-bent black steel staircase with its cylindrical spiral handrail at the top marks the centre of the room, drawing the eye upwards. The interior features pieces from Douglas & Company’s furniture range, including the E.1027 Credenza and McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon drinks trolley. The former is a nod to Irish architect and furniture designer Eileen Gray’s seminal modernist holiday home on the French Riviera. Inspired by her Maison Minimum approach, the Credenza’s profile and rounded ends resemble the villa’s curved entrance wall. Plus, the same vertical handle detailing was incorporated into the custom kitchen design to create continuity throughout the residence. The drinks trolley (or McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon) has been placed in the dining area in front of a frameless glass window where soft light provides an ideal habitat for the much-loved houseplants, resulting in the trolley being filled with greenery rather than a favourite tipple.

The old entrance lobby, lounge, and dining room have been combined into a generous open-plan living space.

Architecture awards Arklow Villa III received a CIFA Award for Architecture, a Corobrik/SAIA Awards of Excellence Merit Commendation, and AFRISAM/SAIA Sustainability Design Award in the Sustainable Architecture category.

MEET T HE T EAM Architects: Douglas & Company Lead architects: Jan Douglas and Liani Douglas Interiors: Douglas & Company

Building Contractors: DGM Construction Engineers: Gadomski Consulting Engineers Photographer: David Southwood

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D O U G L A S & C O M PA N Y

www.douglasandco.co.za @do_andco

The black steel staircase with its cylindrical spiral handrail becomes a focus feature in the otherwise earth-toned abode.

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