The challenge was to design a building that could accommodate a combination of private office space for the NGOs with a variety of public spaces accessible to the community . The configuration of the building was derived from the need to provide a building that was both secure and accessible . An auditorium for lectures and the screening of documentaries , a multipurpose hall ( accommodating 100 people ), a classroom , library , legal advice office and a restaurant have been located on the ground floor where it is easily accessed by the public .
Three floors of secure office space for the registered pubic benefit organisations ( including EE , EELC , Medecins sans Frontieres , Treatment Action Campaign ( TAC ) and Social justice Coalition ( SJC ) amongst others ) are housed on the upper levels and linked by a controlled lift lobby . The layout is such that each organization is able to retain its own identity and function autonomously while being part of the whole .
At ground level , small retail outlets open out onto the street generating a quality of a dynamic urban street block . On the most prominent corner of the building , a double volume library has a winding seating-staircase wrapped around a central feature bookcase to make best possible use of a small space .
The internal courtyard created by the layout of the building provides both parking and gathering space . A basketball court can be set up in place of parking . Flexibility of use was a key driver in the design .
What was the inspiration behind the design ? The design was driven by a focus on expressing , in built form , the values of the NGOs : equality , dignity , respect and safety . The user brief also called for a building with the vibrant character of a newsroom – which translated into an architecture that is ‘ young ’, hip and edgy . All design aspects of the building ; the building fabric , landscape , art , signage were coordinated by the architects to express this forward thinking . envisaged to become a thriving u the township . As one of the first p the KBD , the Centre is anticipated transformation within the area .
What was the site formerly ? The project was initiated in 2010 but since much of the land in Khayelitsha is owned by the City of Cape Town ( COCT ) and is subject to development restrictions , there were years of fruitless searching for a suitable site . It was not until 2014 that a site was found in the heart of the the Khayelitsha Business District , ( KBD ) an area
Were there any issues on s The site is situated close to a larg Khayelitsha Hospital , the Magistr Affairs and Social Welfare offices . a preferred site parcel with the K were requested to define our own broad development framework o allowed us to ensure the site was
18 africandesignmagazine . com