African project
Bosjes Chapel – South Africa
The client has recognised the economic benefits of enticing local and international
visitors to the farm; wanting to share its Cultural Heritage and unique natural
environment. The aim is to create a destination where families can relax and get away
from the pressures of everyday life.
The chapel is only one part of the bigger project, other parts being landscape gardens
tea garden, a restaurant (Bosjes Kombuis) and boutique guesthouse (Die Skuur) in th
Cape Dutch Manor house. Apart from being open to the general public the venue cou
also be hired for functions, including weddings).
Being glass walled the building is orientated in such a way as to limit the amount of s
that enters the building; especially during the peak hours. The peaks of the roof also
leans outward in order to cast more shade on the glass, whilst still being aesthetically
pleasing. Wind is also at times a particular problem in the area, and the building is
orientated with the principal entrance facing away from the prevailing wind direction
therefore avoiding the need for a wind lobby. Formally cues were also taken from the
surrounding mountainous landscape.
In order to keep the structural form of the roof and assembly space pure, other eleme
of the buildings functional programme are either hidden within the plinth, or discret
within the outer corners of the surrounding garden. Inspired by the simplicity of the
Moravian Mission Stations established on Cape Dutch farms in the 19th Century, the
chapel lacks a spire – relinquishing a sense of significance in relation to its impressive
natural surroundings.
An open embrace which invites in, the chapel is also a space that extends outwards
into the valley and mountains beyond, raising the awareness of God’s creation in the
immediate environment.
Challenges
“One of the physical problems we encountered was the wind, in-fact, we had to awar
an extension of time to the contractor due to the adverse effect of the wind-force on th
application of the “shotcrete” to the reinforced steel cage of the roof,” explains Edwin
Swanepoel, director of TV3 and Principal Agent for the project. The wind literally ble
the concrete away before if hit the spot and it was also unsafe to work on top of the ro
“This lead to another problem, wastage!” he explains. “We actually had a waste-facto
of over 50% on the concrete (shotcrete) due to the prevailing strong wind conditions.”
Among the many, the biggest challenge for the architects by far was the construction
methodology and detailing of the chapel roof and glass façades. “Our early research
found that such an intricate shape has never previously been constructed in South
Africa,” says Swanepoel. “We had to find a viable construction solution that would b
suitable for the Worcester climate and we had to at the same time be realistic regardin
skill and workmanship in the South African building sector. We realised from the sta
that it would be an indefinite challenge to the team to ensure that the design together
with the pre-contract documentation and detailing are successfully transferred into
building form without compromise and within the budget.”
Specific challenges were:
1. Formwork – As there is no benchmark or similar structure for this unique shape/
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