Photo: Gavin W. Maneveldt
Photo: Gavin W. Maneveldt
The entrance to the largely self-sufficient, Northpine Technical High School.
school for 1500 learners in a poor
community on the urban edge of
the Cape Metropole includes a hall,
library, administration block, laboratories and trade workshops. The
facility, with its distinctive roofscape, is largely self-sufficient and
its design incorporates rainwater
harvesting for sports field irrigation.
Light shelves as part of the external
facade help to bounce natural daylight into classrooms and therefore
minimise the need for artificial
light. It is the first school to manage a protected environmental area, conserving the Critically Endangered Serruria furcellata.
CapeNature (CN) Reserve Accommodation. As the conservation
and regulatory authority for the
Western Cape, CN knows the importance of conserving resources
for future generations. As a consequence, the organisation has been
re-modelling and re-designing a
number of its tourism facilities
within its reserves, following best
ecological and green building principles so as to minimise their eco-
logical footprints. One of its notable examples is the Oudebosch Cabins in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. This reserve is one of the
most beautiful of CapeNature’s protected areas so it made sense to
start here. Being fully operational in
February of 2012, the new complex
comprises: a restored landscape of
indigenous and endemic plants; a
succulent mosaic buffer for fire protection to the buildings; planted
succulent roofs; mulch basins to
filter grey water; an ecological pool
comprising a natural wetland as
filter and as a backup for firefighting; self-composting toilets;
and low energy (insulation, solar
water heating, LED lighting, gas
cooking, closed combustion fireplaces) utilisation. Cabins were
placed and built in consideration of
the seasonal solar conditions and
the prevailing wind directions. In
addition, 94% of the materials and
components used in construction
are of South African origin, materials were sourced as close to the site
as possible, as much recycled material (e.g. recycled bricks for paving)
as possible was used, and mostly
local employment (from the immediate vicinity) was utilised. CapeNature has a number of other such
tourism initiatives also completed
and others in various stages of
completion.
The Human Settlements Contact
Centre, Manenberg was opened
in April of 2012. This centre is the
first municipal building in the country to receive a Green Star SA rating
from the Green Building Council of
South Africa. The public space in
front of the building has been designed and landscaped for the enjoyment of the local community
and consists of lawns with trees
and seats, and beds of indigenous
plants. The plants not only contribute positively to the ecological
health of the site, but are being
used as a valuable resource for educational purposes.
The University of the Western
Cape (UWC). In 2012 the African
Green Campus Initiative voted UWC
the greenest campus in Africa for
The Kirstenbosch Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway is a curved steel and timber bridge that winds and dips
its way through and over the trees of the Arboretum.
Photo: Gavin W. Maneveldt
Photo: Gavin W. Maneveldt
Photo: Gavin W. Maneveldt