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BOTHA’S HALTE PRIMARY SCHOOL Size: 1,200m² Cost: R3,600,000 Location: Worcester, Bosjes Estate, Breede Valley, Western Cape Botha’s Halte primary school is the brainchild of the Bosjes Trust. With much collaboration between the Bosjes Trust, the Department of Education in the Western Cape (WCED), Stellenbosch University's SUNCEP programme and the governing body of the school, they have successfully created a space which is not just for the benefit of the learners of Botha's Halte Primary, but for the greater community. At the start of 2017, construction of the new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) school building began at Botha Halte Primary – off the R43, near Botha Wine Cellar in Worcester, South Africa. This facility provides tuition in mathematics and Afrikaans to primary school learners up to grade seven. Square One Landscape Architects were members of the professional team involved in the design of this project, which was entered into the ILASA Awards of Excellence in 2019.
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Pro Landscaper Africa | November 2019
The design concept: Botha’s Halte incorporated the latest in technological innovation and environmental sustainability initiatives to create a world class educational facility for young learners in the Breede Valley Region. The school is a privately-funded public facility, and the client’s brief included the creation of an innovative architectural design that would generate a stimulating and inspiring environment for learners, while showcasing the latest in environmental innovation and technology. The architectural design (Meyer & Associates) incorporated a number of environmental sustainability mechanisms, including energy savings through passive heating and cooling, energy efficient lighting installations and monitoring systems, water harvesting and water treatment strategies, and wind energy generation. Landscape architectural interventions included the creation of extensive green roof systems, productive vegetable gardens and orchards, an indigenous water-wise and didactic
planting palette, as well as a vegetation rehabilitation component. Outdoor play: An integrated outdoor play environment was created to cater for a variety of ages and capability levels, focusing on tactile and natural play. Rockeries, sand pits and natural materials were incorporated to create an interactive environment to allow natural expression and learning through play. The play environment includes a variety of custom-designed components that complement the architectural design, while providing a variety of opportunities for play and exploration. A structure of heritage significance, the Anna Zaal, located at the site, was protected and retained and became central to the design integration. The Anna Zaal is framed by a forecourt area that incorporates a series of contextually appropriate low seating walls, stormwater swales and rockeries which create a natural and educational play environment at the school’s entrance.
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