CAPE FLATS AQUIFER RECHARGE PLANT IS A TOP 5 FINALIST IN THIS YEAR’ S ARCHITIZER A + AWARDS
The Cape Flats Managed Aquifer Recharge( MAR) plant is a pioneering response to Cape Town’ s water crisis, offering a sustainable solution to secure the city’ s future supply. Located within the False Bay Nature Reserve in Pelican Park, the facility purifies treated effluent to potable standards and recharges the Cape Flats Aquifer. The flat, sandy site – exposed to southeasterly winds and corrosive coastal conditions – informed both material and spatial responses.
Central to the project is an innovative civil engineering process: purified effluent is reinjected into the aquifer to sustain water levels. This occurs through four linear filtration buildings, stepped down an artificial slope to allow gravityfed flow. Their east-west façades feature angled brick fins and narrow south-facing windows, creating a“ gilled” effect that filters light and limits algae growth. These façades serve as sunlight membranes, making filtration both a functional and expressive architectural element.
At the site’ s highest point, the administrative building acts as the facility’ s‘ head’, signifying human oversight. Integrated into the first filtration building, it echoes the gilled language but introduces a looser brise soleil. This screen-like structure filters light and mediates the transition between interior and exterior, orienting visitors and defining the threshold of entry. Behind it, a glazed atrium forms a double-volume arrival space, both luminous and sheltered.
Internally, the administrative block is organised for operational efficiency and user well-being. The ground floor houses plant functions, while the upper level accommodates offices, meeting rooms, and the control center – spaces designed to support productivity and convey respect for staff.
The plant’ s extensive concrete structures – walls and floors up to 600mm thick – embody significant embedded energy. Thus, the design prioritises durability and long-term resource efficiency. Robust face brick, selected for its warm tone and low maintenance, enhances resilience in the harsh coastal climate. A strategy of timeless construction supports both longevity and future adaptability.
Sustainable measures extend to using dune sand from site excavations as backfill, installing low-flow fixtures, and applying passive thermal design to reduce energy consumption. These modest interventions reflect an ethos of enduring resourcefulness.
Although public access is limited, the facility’ s design elevates infrastructure, enhancing the daily experience of its users. As a civic landmark, the MAR plant embodies Cape Town’ s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the face of water scarcity.
Architect: SALT Architects Design Engineer: Water & Wastewater Engineering Project Manager & Structural Engineer: JG Afrika Structural Engineer: WA Structural Design Electrical & Mechanical Engineer: Cyntech Geotechnical Engineer: Peregrine Consultants Fire Consultant: PMC Consultants Main Contractor: Stefanutti Stocks Photography: Karl Rogers
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