African Design Magazine ADM #37 February 2018 | Page 16

DESIGN AND CONCEPTUALISATION BRIEF The client desired a highly efficient environment representative of its innovative character. Simultaneously, the design needed to tie in with the broader vision of the commercially savvy precinct developer, which includes the Feenstra Group and CIH (Community Investment Holdings), in association with The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). Leveraging its experience on over 1 000 projects in a number of countries throughout the continent, SVA International created a design that would seamlessly marry functionality with aesthetics. A variety of site levels provide for a sense of drama, with the offices and public areas located on a raised podium with two semi-basement parking levels below these elements. The fall across the site, from John Vorster towards Lenchen Avenue, allows for on grade staff access on the higher end of the site and impressive access for visitors through a multi-volume lobby on the lower end of the site. Various oor plates are contained within two ve-storey buildings, linking them with a social highstreet at podium level and a multi-volume public interface atrium. These elements also link the function room and auditorium, as well as showrooms and labs, to the main buildings. The public areas promote interactions between clients, staff and visitors while the series of outdoor spaces, which are accessible from the highstreet, provide for staff breakaway areas and outdoor functions. The incorporation of other future lifestyle elements, including a gym and convenience retail, are provided for on the podium level. 16 africandesignmagazine.com