CUTTING-EDGE UPGRADE TO HISTORIC FARM SCHOOL
A state-of-the-art school for farm community children has opened its doors on the
outskirts of Worcester. The new Botha’s Halte Primary School is the result of a private-
public partnership that harnessed top level educational, commercial and design skills and
experience, to make the much-needed rural facility a reality.
The Botha’s Halte Primary School
design was undertaken by architects
Meyer & Associates - a practice
with an extensive range of national
education sector projects under its
belt. Central to the school’s design
focus was to showcase educational
best practice from around the world
by making digital technology available.
According to architect Tiaan Meyer, the
Botha’s Halte school design applied
ecological and sustainability principles,
while respecting the cultural heritage
of the area. “These considerations
influenced the architectural form of the buildings but are also made visible throughout the
complex and as such form part of the teaching and educational processes – therefore a
didactic approach has been followed in the architectural design of the buildings,” he says.
The original school was founded during the 1920’s. Comprising a single hall, it served
as the first school building on the property and has been restored as the new focus and
reception area for the school. The added complex sought to meld into this and the situational
context. The buildings are all tucked into the landscape with the curved roofscape imitating
the rolling foothills of the Witzenberg Mountain range, which also acts as the majestic
backdrop to the school.
The external colours of the buildings are recessively dark, to blend into the landscape,
with only minimal bright accents. However, the historical components remain in their
original white. “To the one side, the Anna Zaal reflects the link with the lime washed
building traditions of the past, and on the other, the tower represents a symbol of a green
and increasingly ecologically sustainable future,” explains Tiaan.
“On a more subliminal level, the tower also references other distinctly regionalist
typologies such as the traditional corbelled huts found scattered in the Worcester district
and the lower parts of the Greater Karoo, and other natural structures such as ant heaps,
which itself hold lessons for ecological design and building practice in Southern Africa.”
Mark Saint Pôl, Director of Square One Landscape Architects, who spearheaded the
design and integration of the external elements of the school, explains that best practice
landscape architecture principles have been used which allow the landscape to harvest,
filter and store all excess waste and storm water run-off in a bio-filtration retention basin
which also serves as an attractive forecourt. This water is reused for irrigation and creates
a natural habitat for wetland species. Dry river beds have been designed to not only prevent
seasonal flooding, but create nature-play environments and interactive learning opportunities.
The building and surrounding spaces are sensitively integrated into the landscape through
planted roofs that act as natural insulation to the harsh external climatic conditions.
NEWSWORTHY
AURECON TRANSFORMS
INTO AN AFRICAN-
FOCUSED BUSINESS
Engineering, design, and advisory
company Aurecon Africa has taken
a bold step to demerge from the
global Aurecon brand to position
itself as a business aimed at the
African market. In October 2019,
Aurecon officially announced the
separation of the African business
from the Aurecon Group, effective
from 1 January 2020.
While being part of a global
engineering and advisory firm
has helped the company achieve
immense successes and growth
over
the
past
decade,
the
landscape has changed, requiring
agile, locally-relevant, and Afro-
centric solutions.
“Having all decision-making and
ownership in the hands of Africans
will
increase
our
agility
and
capability to deliver appropriate
and relevant offerings,” Aurecon
Africa
Chief
Executive
Officer
Gustav Rohde comments. Prior
to his new role, Rohde served as
Aurecon’s global Chief Operating
Officer, and played a key role
in preparing the company for a
digital rich-future.
The
company
many
is
changes,
undergoing
including
a
total rebranding process, with a
completely new name in Zutari,
which
reflects
the
company’s
African heritage.
In positioning the new company for
success, Aurecon Africa recently
achieved a Level 1 Broad-Based
Black
Economic
(B-BBEE)
status.
Empowerment
Three
recent
senior appointments, with Rohde
at the helm, will assist the new
entity to nurture its skills, supplier,
and socio-economic development
goals. “B-BBEE has always been
a
strategic
imperative
for
us,
and therefore our Level 1 status
is
an
important
affirmation,”
Rohde adds.
News Watch
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