been given distinct, detailed identities, while
being unified by the repetitive use of a palette
of architectural forms. The lighting design and
wayfinding signage provide further layers of
design logic.
The Pond
The featured pond is the result of a team
effort by a botanist, freshwater specialist, land-
scape architect and civil engineer to design
a habitat rich in biodiversity potential, while
meeting regional and site-specific stormwater
drainage requirements.
Formerly a polluted water body, with typically
degraded flora and fauna, the pond has been
The Sanctuary
subjected to an extensive water and landscaping
maintenance programme, which included the
removal of more than 5,000m 3 of polluted soil. The
programme is already showing signs of success as
the pond teems with frogs, fish and insects, and
the birdlife is steadily returning.
A footpath along the landscaped, bird-friendly
banks is dotted with benches and rest areas and
provides high levels of public access to the full
perimeter, while external wooden decks for the
adjacent restaurants sweep over the water’s edge.
The challenge for this waterfront is that varying
stormwater run-off from the Helderberg Basin
will affect water levels and create a different
experience in the wet and dry seasons.
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