WINNER: COMMERCIAL OFFICE DEVELOPMENTS
No. 5 Silo, V&A Waterfront
N
o. 5 Silo is the third building in the V&A
Waterfront’s Silo District to be completed.
The client wanted to create a vibrant, mixed-
use and sustainable district that would combine
residential, office, leisure and retail opportunities as
well as creating a pedestrian-friendly link between
the Waterfront and Cape Town’s CBD.
The precinct plan provided for an open shaft of
public urban space between No. 5 and No. 6, named
the Boulevard, starting from the south façade of the
historical grain silo building and extending to South
Arm Road. No. 5 Silo therefore became pedestrian
permeable, with a public street and arcade allowing
access to and through the building from all sides.
The intent is that the building be accessible and
public, but also easing access from the bus stop
and from the harbour. This is further supported by
retail and public facilities at ground level.
The street is not only an ‘urban’ idea, but also
became part of the sustainability agenda of the
building. It is naturally ventilated with high level fans
maintaining movement of air. This becomes a new
type of atrium - un-conditioned and immediately
accessible to the public.
The architects sought design themes that suited
the location of the district as part of a working
harbour: themes of fit-for-purpose, workman-like
and dockside-warehouse. Expressed materiality
and appropriate detailing were considerations
equally as important as resolving the functional
and programmatic requirements of the brief. The
roof is a saw toothed design bringing south light
into the atrium, thereby maximising the amount of
natural light.
Materials chosen for the building consist of
exposed concrete, raw concrete block-work, uni-
tised glass and tile cladding, glass curtain walling,
rough cut timber panelling, exposed steel structural
members, steel framing and grillages, cobble and
flagstone paving, bold ‘warehouse signage’ and
‘street lighting’.
The technology and structure of the building is
expressed in the design aesthetic and not hidden
from the public eye. In No. 5 Silo the construction and
technological elements are also openly expressed.
Brick and block walls and concrete pillars are left
in their natural state and un-clad and unrendered
within the public space. Once you move away from
the public spaces the finishes become more refined
and controlled.
No. 5 Silo was awarded a 6 Star Green Star
Office v1 Design Rating and Arup’s sustainability
consultants are in the process of compiling the
as built submission, also targeting 6 stars. This
is the second building in the Silo precinct to
achieve the highest rating awarded by the GBCSA,
after No. 1 Silo.
SAPOA Awards
Originally aiming for a 4 star Design rating on No.
5 Silo, it had become evident upon completing the
energy modelling that the results were bringing in
the building just short of a 6 Star Design rating. Upon
discussion with the client, certain elements were
re-evaluated in an attempt to obtain the additional
points required.
Developer/Client: V&A Waterfront
Operations Managers: V&A Waterfront
Principal Agent: Mace Management Services
Architects: Van der Merwe Miszewski Architects
and Jacobs Parker Architects in a JV
Quantity Surveyor: MLC
Structural Engineer: Arup
Mechanical Engineer: Worley Parsons
Electrical Engineer & Traffic: GIBB
Rational Fire Design: Sutherland
Lift Consultants: Solutions for Elevating
Sustainability & Wet Services: Arup
Landscaping (Roof): Planning Partners
Health & Safety: Eco-Safety
Façade Engineer: Arup
Acoustic Consultant: SRL South Africa
Land Surveyors: David Hellig & Abrahamse
Interior Design (PwC): Formist
Interior Design (End user): Collaboration
ICA: Matrix Consulting Services
Main Contractor: WBHO Construction
Featured in Architect and Builder
Volume 67/Issue 6 - December 2016
71