NORTH EAST ELEVATION
vibrant and interactive experience in its common
area. The building, therefore, needed to be both
outward and inward looking.
Given the shape and prominence of the site as
well as the Urban Design Principles and Guidelines
for the City, it was important that the building acted
as a ‘responsible neighbour’ that added value to
urban quality of the City. At the same time, the
consultant team was given the target of achieving
a Gold LEED-rated building that demonstrated a
commitment to Environmental Sustainability.
Concept and Planning
The concept was to take inspiration from the
unique pentagon shape of the site and set up a
perimeter building that responds to each of its
38
boundaries. The space that was left over in the
courtyard was then used to create an inspiring,
vibrant and dynamic multi-volume enclosed atrium.
From an aesthetic point of view, the architects
were very interested in creating unique and
contrasting façades on each of the boundaries that
give the user and viewer a different experience
depending on the angle of approach. As such,
there is a contrast between organically-shaped
sweeping curved façades and bold rectilinear
floating boxes. This concept was then carried
through into the atrium where a simple angular
pentagon volume is pierced by curving pause areas
at different levels within the volume.
From a planning point of the view, the usable
office space is split into two simple and efficient
Allandale