African Design Magazine ADM #39 April 2018 | Page 13

COVER FEATURE
is diminutive in scale
compared to the adjacent
buildings and demanded
a new architectural
expression that would
achieve a unique identity.
All existing concrete
structural elements
remained, the addition of
new Bondek slab in-fills
allowed for the expansion
of the building’s footprint.
New steel framing
structures allowed for the
fixing of the curtain wall
system as well as the aluminium
cladding. The decision to enclose
the existing recesses in the façade
had the added benefit of increasing
the lettable office area within the
building, thus creating more usable
office plates. The total GLA was
increased to approximately 13 400
m 2 , which includes the existing retail
tenants and the new corporate
tenant area.
The existing timber and tiled roof
was removed and replaced with
a new lightweight roof structure
supported on a ring beam and
girder on the south elevation of
the building. The steel structure
was designed and constructed
with structural steel lattice trusses,
girders and lattice columns. This
allowed for the new soft roof to be
concealed behind the façade.
Positioned adjacent to
the luxury 5 Star Monarch
Hotel, with its imposing
white exterior, 33 Baker
Street clearly stands out
in its environment. James
explains that the selection
of materials was very
important and the team
discussed options with
various suppliers in order
to achieve an optimised
glazed façade.
AFRICAN DESIGN MAGAZINE © | APRIL 2018
13