African project Radisson Blu Hotel and Residence – South Africa
pavements , waterways , its status as an ocean liner destination , geometry of the nearby Company ’ s Garden , and more .
“ We are designing the hotel to honour that inspiration in a contemporary manner ,” she says . “ We are approaching the design as one would a finely tailored suit , with attention to detail and respect for being seen in the city . Finishes and colouration will be elegant and understated . Many finishes will be borrowed from the original building – such as fine stone , hardwood panelling and stainless steel . Because location is everything , our attention is drawn to the subtle hues the sea mist brings to the atmosphere of our city .”
The building retains its fine finishes such as hardwood panelling , white marble and black granite . Source IBA will build on the black-white theme in various ways . Graphics for carpets and screens will be based on patterns found in the existing building , as well as other Art Deco sources , translated into contemporary motifs .
The emphasis is also on local sourcing , achieved to date in the carpets , joinery and metalwork . A number of local artists will create works for the public areas , passages and guest rooms .
“ We work consistently with fantastic furniture makers , joiners and artists in Cape Town – our contact base is extensive and Cape Town is bursting with talent ,” says Smuts- Rogers . Derick Henstra , executive chairman of dhk architects and responsible for the overall hotel , says : “ The hotel and residential sector is undergoing rapid growth at the moment , and this development is being turned around in a year to take advantage of this upsurge in the market .”
The development is separated into three distinct elements – the Radisson Blu hotel , residential apartments and penthouses . Each element is being handled by a specialist team , bringing their particular expertise to the project and giving each part of the development its own character while ensuring that it works within the vision as a whole . It is a fast track programme and requires seamless coordination among the professional team and contractors .
Construction on the apartments started in September 2015 and the hotel started a month later , while construction of the penthouses will start early next year . The apartments and penthouses will be ready for occupation by the end of October 2016 , with the Radisson Blu and three bedroom penthouses following later in the year .
Apartments on track Focusing on the apartments , Juan Bernicchi , director of Bernicchi Architects says current construction is proceeding over several floors in a staged programme . Stripping out existing walling has begun , with first fix installation of services underway on six floors . ( All the work needed to take a building from the initial stages to putting plaster on the internal walls ). The estimated completion dates will also be staged over three months , starting in July 2016 with four floors , another four floors from August and the final three floors from September .
“ The existing building form allows for plenty of natural light and views from most internal spaces . The position and shape of the building maximize the 360 degree panoramic views of the city , which are , frankly , unbelievable ,” he says . Windows ( that can be opened ) to all external viewing spaces are a unique feature , “ not often achieved in the conversion of high rise office buildings ”. City offices are often noisy due to their
20 africandesignmagazine . com