African Design Magazine ADM #39 April 2018 | Page 40

MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT
proximity to the
beach.
UX = A1
environment
An important aspect
of the project is the
user experience
element. This meant
that the team needed
to factor in the use of
common areas and
how occupants move
from one element of the building to
another.
Drive and the introduction of a smart
environment whereby occupants can
purchase their own energy and hot
water requirements.
The building has also been
designed to maximise rainwater
and grey water harvesting and
recycling. The conscious selection
of materials based on the location
and interactive environment,
together with the possibility of solar
power implementation are also
on the agenda. The intention is to
include raw concrete, dark wood
and screeded floors to ensure
the preservation of aesthetics,
accompanied by robustness and
durability, given the development’s
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AFRICAN DESIGN MAGAZINE © | APRIL 2018
The target market is those people
where an outdoor lifestyle was
desirable. The provision of common
areas for showers, changerooms,
storage areas for canoes and
surfboards, secure bicycle racks and
motorbike bays, allows occupants
to capitalise on the surrounding
environs. A biometric access control
system allows ease of passage for
registered users between secure
inner and outside areas. Additional
security will be provided through the
enclosure provided by an electric
fence, CCTV surveillance cameras,
and the presence of 24-hour security
guards.
“Although this project is developer
driven, the architects had the ability
to control the outcome before it
became an actual project. We got
the recipe right then we aligned
this recipe with what the developer
envisaged,” says Nordien.