African Design Magazine ADM #39 April 2018 | Page 39

MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT
A
rchitect Raazik
Nordien from UF
Architects says that
the project started with the
acquisition of the vacant
site. “We then entered a
comprehensive process
of assessing a number
of development options
relating to what would be
most feasible in terms of
both the site context as
well as compliance with the
City of Cape Town’s current
zoning for that environment.”
The City required a mixed use
development, with a balance of
business, retail and residential
occupancy. “We undertook a number
of pre-discussions with the developer
and the City to determine what
their needs would be in terms of
the financing of the project, until we
found a model that would work for
all parties. The resultant plan is a
perfect ratio of what the City requires
and what is needed on the site and
its surrounding context. This then
dictated the final brief.”
In addition to the site development
constraints, is the City’s plan to
create a car-less city environment.
The area has in fact been zoned as
PT2 which refers to areas where
public transport use is promoted
and the City considers the provision
of public transport as being good, or
where the use of motor vehicles is
very limited.
Retaining walls are being installed
to counter the bridge proximity
challenge and the strategic
combination of retail, office and
residential areas has assisted in
overcoming the second challenge.
The retail area will be located entirely
on the ground floor while the offices
and residences are split by cores on
the upper two levels.
It was critical to understand site
constraints up front, with a need
for the building to seamlessly nestle
into its surroundings. Firstly, the
building could not be taller than its
neighbours and secondly, on the
site facing the bridge at street level,
part of the retail development will
flow onto a 6-metre promenade
which creates an internal-external
environment, bringing immediate life
to an otherwise bland servitude.
Energy efficiency will be factored in
to enable compliance with the City’s
requirements. This will entail double
glazing of windows facing Marine
AFRICAN DESIGN MAGAZINE © | APRIL 2018
39