Architect and Builder November/December 2015

PROJECT FEATURE ETV HEAD OFFICE ETV HEAD OFFICE Cape Town CLIENT/DEVELOPER ETV Sabido Properties ARCHITECTS Peerutin Architects PROJECT MANAGERS SIP Project Managers QUANTITY SURVEYORS LDM Quantity Surveyors STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS Henry Fagan & Partners CIVIL ENGINEERS BVI Consulting Engineers ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC SERVICES RWP MECHANICAL/WET SERVICES/ RATIONAL FIRE DESIGN Sutherland Engineers GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER & ENGINEERING M van Wieringen Consulting Geotechnical Engineers and Engineering Geologists LIFT CONSULTANT Sutherland Engineers ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT Sillito Environmental Consulting HEALTH & SAFETY CONSULTANT Frontline Health & Safety & Environmental Consultants ACOUSTIC CONSULTANT SRL South Africa HERITAGE CONSULTANT Ashley Lillie TRAFFIC CONSULTANT Aurecon SECURITY CONSULTANT Martin Peterson & Associates TOWN PLANNER Tommy Brümmer & Associates LAND SURVEYOR Trevor Stander Professional Land Surveyors MAIN CONTRACTOR Murray & Roberts PHOTOGRAPHY Fiona Barclay-Smith 40 P eerutin Architects were commissioned by ETV in early 2011 to explore the development potential of a recently acquired 6,675m2 site in the Gardens area of Cape Town, in close proximity to Roeland Street and Parliament. ARCHITECT’S REPORT ETV is a rapidly growing, free-to-air television station nationwide and, therefore, central to the brief for the feasibility study, was the requirement to relocate and house the station’s Cape Town operations at movein and to accommodate their needs well into the future. ETV was housed, from its inception, in the historic landmark building known as Longkloof Studios in the Gardens area. In the years since inception, ETV had enjoyed exponential growth within the walls of Longkloof but were rapidly outgrowing their available space. Technology had also made significant advances over the years and it was becoming clear that new, bespoke and state-of-the-art premises were becoming necessary to ensure the station’s continued growth and relevance in the approaching digital era. In addition, the proposals needed to make room for multiple tenancies as well as a possible phased construction sequencing. The site was, therefore, divided into two distinct phases. While Planning Permission has been granted for both phases, only Phase 1 has been completed to date, while Phase 2 is under consideration for a possible start on site in early 2016. To facilitate this process, a highly experienced professional team was assembled that included Project Managers SIP, Peerutin Architects, Tommy Brummer Town Planners, Henry Fagan Engineers and Sutherland Engineers among others, capably directed by the ETV management duo of Marcel Golding and Bronwyn Keane-Young. Site Erf 6315, Cape Town, is an L-shaped, 6,675m2 brownfield site in the Upper Gardens area, on the fringes of the Cape Town CBD. It is bordered by Roeland Street, De Villiers Street and Stirling Street. Historically, the land was fully occupied by light commercial buildings typical of the earlier character of the region. The change in usage from industrial to commercial has resulted in a gentrification of use in keeping with similar developments in the area such as nearby Wembley Square. The site is accessed from all three streets and, from its elevated position, enjoys sweeping views across the city in all directions and back to Table Mountain in the south-east. Design Concept Early design discussions quickly highlighted the notion that ‘growing up’ in the raw, industrial character of the Longkloof building had a significant influence on the collective psyche of the ETV management and staff. While earlier design explorations tested lighter, cleaner and more contemporary expressions of commercial architecture, with full height, full width glazing to capture light and views across the city, it was ultimately agreed that design proposals should reflect the station’s nostalgic origins, though reinvented and reinterpreted. ETV Head Office

Architect and Builder November/December 2015 | Page 42