African Design Magazine ADM #42 July 2018 | Page 41

LANSERIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
a steel to a concrete tower. This had
obvious implications for the programme
and the length of contract. Another
challenge was with the roof of the control
tower. “The locally-sourced lightweight
composite roof structure had to be
installed in panels, and along with some
of the walls and the steel structure, this
necessitated the use of the crane. As
mentioned, cranes could be on site for
only a limited amount of time, thereby
effectively extending the proje ct time
frame,” Von Solms points out.
Interestingly, these challenges forced
the team to be innovative and find
solutions that would ultimately enhance
the final product. “A good example of this
is the fact that the cladding which was
proposed for the original structural steel
design, would have presented issues in
terms of its fire resistance. We didn’t have
this issue with concrete.”
Von Solms says that it is the smaller
details on the buildings that stand out
for him. He cites the small recesses in
the concrete and the small cladding
overhangs, together with specific glass
angles, as classic examples.
Sustainability
Not intended as a Green Building, the
tower however is notable in terms of its
climate controlled environment, which
ensures that the critical function of the air
traffic controllers is never compromised.
Selecting the best possible glazing to
minimise glare and using heat pumps
instead of geysers have also added to the
environmental stewardship of the project.
In addition, the natural environment was
left undisturbed to create a grassland
effect that subdues the large areas of
asphalt.
“We are extremely pleased with the
fact that we were able to problem
solve on the fly, allowing us to drive the
concept further. It was most enjoyable
participating in the development of a
landmark building and we would love
to be involved in similar projects in the
future,” says Von Solms.
Render by Cottle & Bergh Architects
Photographs courtesy of Lanseria
International Airport
Article by Allyson Koekhoven
AFRICAN DESIGN MAGAZINE © | JULY 2018
41