African Design Magazine ADM #39 April 2018 | Page 14

COVER FEATURE
constructed with conventional I and H
structural steel sections. The exposed
steel hangers with intumescent
paint were constructed from hollow
sections and these support the
Bondek infill floors. A number of
these columns, in particular on the
4 th floor terraces, are features with no
structural significance, however six of
these columns have been designed to
provide vertical support for the roof
structure.
The steel frame principle also allowed
sufficient flexibility to achieve a
curtain wall cladding accentuated
with aluminium solid elements as
well as utilising the steelwork at roof
level to support a balcony structure.
The objective was to achieve a simple
structure that could be erected within
a limited time period. The design
demanded a meticulous coordination
of the engineer’s requirements, the
curtain wall shop drawings and the
detailing of the solid aluminium
elements during the pre-contract
documentation stage and on site
construction.
The structure supporting the multi-
level façade also provides vertical
support for the roof structure.
This structure was designed and
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AFRICAN DESIGN MAGAZINE © | APRIL 2018
The modulated curtain wall system
includes areas of double glazing and
single glazing. The double glazing
portions of glass are featured on the
prominent façades of the building,
on which a random arrangement of
vertical aluminium fins have been
applied to achieve a texture to the
elevations, defined with aluminium
clad surrounds. The balance of the
façades have a single glazing curtain
wall system to create a smooth and
sleek look. Furthermore, the façade is
articulated with full-height aluminium
panels as well as plastered and
painted brickwork.
The subtle application of the black
colour has been achieved by using a
lighter shade of the double glazing on
the main elevations and black single
glazing on the secondary elevations,
thereby giving the illusion of shadow.
This is complemented by a satin
sheen on the aluminium cladding
and a textured black on the plastered
brick walls. The glazing types were
carefully selected to provide optimal