Construction and Materials
Following a two-year feasibility and design
process, the bulk earthworks on the centre were
completed within three months, with construction
taking a further 15 months to wrap up. The topsoil
was harvested and protected during the works in
order to be re-laid at a later stage.
The Sanctuary made maximum use of locally
sourced materials, particularly facebrick and
recycled aggregate in concrete. Recycled rebar
was installed as standard throughout and FSC-
certified timber used.
Sustainable Elements
Because water is at the heart of this develop-
ment, it is also a key element of the sustainability
features. Rooftop water tanks have been
installed on every block to supplement the fresh
The Sanctuary
water supply, while water-efficient sanitary
systems have been used throughout. Grey water
and rainwater is recycled for sanitation and
irrigation purposes.
The careful management of energy consump-
tion within legislated requirements is another
green building intervention, with a number of
active systems installed, such as waste heat
reclamation systems and tenant heat pumps to
meet the demand for hot water. The buildings are
designed to SANS 204-1 energy efficiency codes
and the 2MVA electrical supply limit for the site,
including all tenant services, ensures that actual
energy use will not exceed this threshold.
Simplified operations and maintenance manuals
will assist tenants to implement the sustainable
technologies as intended and to take “ownership”
of these interventions.
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