African Design Magazine March 2017 | Page 42

” Virgin Active believes in developing long term relationships with globally leading professional teams who are passionate about their work , able to execute a bold vision and work as a team – in DesignLine we have all these qualities . Together we have been creating world class facilities for our members for the past 15 years and we are very excited about what we can achieve in the future ” – Ross Faragher-Thomas – Managing Director Virgin Active South Africa
African project Virgin Active – South Africa
Menlyn Maine is not only a lifestyle centre where one may live , eat and play it is South Africa ’ s first green precinct and the only one in Africa , we are proud to have been part of this exciting development . The Virgin Active , located at Menlyn Maine , is part of the Classic Collection as well as being the first one in Pretoria , becoming part of a minimal five Classic Clubs in the country . The fifth Classic Collection Club opened soon after Menlyn Maine , in Cape Town . The design of the gym was to be of the same green standard of the precinct , reaching a four star Green Star SA Rating . The brief that we , here at DesignLine , were presented with was to create a gym that could become a home away from home , a space where people wanted to spend more time . That is why the gym has incorporated many spaces that not only promote the health that Virgin Active stands for but encourages members to linger a little longer .
Rosebank Towers is an Abland development opening in the time between Menlyn Maine and V & A Waterfront , this development is a striking corporate address in the prestigious Rosebank CBD . The striking building sits at an impressive fourteen stories , making it the largest building in Rosebank . With the combination of glass , composite spandrels and plaster on top of a fragmented stone plinth the building creates an impressive identity . DesignLine was excited to be involved in such a development along with Virgin Active . Being a corporate development the Virgin Active brief was to create a place for business owners , workers and families to come and enjoy in the healthy lifestyle that Virgin Active promotes . The views that were on show from the height of the building had to be taken advantage of , these were a large guideline for the design of the Club .
Close behind the opening of Menlyn Maine and Rosebank was the opening of the Virgin Active Classic Collection at V & A Waterfront Silo District , Cape Town . This club quickly became dubbed “ The Fancy One ”. The aesthetic and atmosphere of the club is unique to the club , being bespoke in many aspects . The red staircase has quickly become iconic to the club and has already been featured by VISI Magazine . The club was visited by Richard Branson prior to the opening of the club as well as it making an appearance on Top Billing . The club created to largely meet the same brief as Menlyn Maine Virgin Active , is rightly its own unique aesthetic club .

” Virgin Active believes in developing long term relationships with globally leading professional teams who are passionate about their work , able to execute a bold vision and work as a team – in DesignLine we have all these qualities . Together we have been creating world class facilities for our members for the past 15 years and we are very excited about what we can achieve in the future ” – Ross Faragher-Thomas – Managing Director Virgin Active South Africa

Click here to watch a video on the V & A Waterfront branch

42 africandesignmagazine . com