Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa May/June 2014 | Page 25
The Silo Precinct,
adjacent to the BOE
building, is considered
a link between the
CBD & Waterfront
interior. Strategic internal lighting transforms
the new building at dusk. The Living roof
“Green Roof”, with its beautiful views of the
harbour, acts as a social space for the office,
while increasing biodiversity and helping to
reduce the urban heat island effect created by
traditional roof construction.
Conclusion
The building seeks to find a balance between the
requirements of a contemporary office building
and the historic industrial building typologies
of the V & A Waterfront. The aim and intention
was to develop the building’s conceptual
underpinnings and façade resolution to reflect
the inherent integrity of these buildings which
were mostly efficient, direct and honest in the
manner in which they responded to their often
pragmatic briefs.
The building is sustainable and well beyond
the requirements of “best practice”. A Green
Star “as built” rating is currently being sought
and it is the first office building in Cape Town
to achieve a 6 Star “design” rating. The client’s
commitment to the environment ensured
that sustainability sat at the heart of the
design process.
rating which will be announced before the end
of the year. This rating is particularly significant
given the scale of the project.
Sustainability
“Sustainable development and green operations
are fundamental to the V & A Waterfront’s overall
development strategy,” says David Green, CEO
of the V & A Waterfront. “We have adopted a
DEVELOPER’S COMMENT
The development of the new No.1 Silo office
building at the V & A Waterfront began with the
intention of setting the new benchmark in South
Africa for contemporary office design. With its
striking design and the award of a 6 star Green
Star SA rating for design by the Green Building
Council of South Africa, the V & A Waterfront
believes that it has achieved this. The No. 1 Silo
office development was South Africa’s second
6 Star green office building and the first in the
Western Cape. It is also targeting an As Built
No.1 Silo
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