DESTINY HOTEL, KEMPTON PARK
PROJECTVIEW
DINOSAUR EDUCATION
CENTRE, GOLDEN GATE
PARK, DRAKENSBERG
Did you know that the oldest
dinosaur
nesting
site
was
discovered in the Free State’s
Golden Gate Highlands National
Park? A few years ago, palae-
ontologists found 10 nests con-
taining 34 eggs and skeletons
which are thought to be over 190
million years old. With a new
species of giant dinosaur also
recently being found nearby, it is
fitting that the area’s Jurassic roots
are now being immortalised with
a dedicated dinosaur education
centre in the National Park for
future generations to enjoy.
GVK-Siya Zama, in partnership
with
Leteketa
Construction,
have been working on the R83.5
million project that will see the
construction of an interpretive
centre,
activity
node,
look-out
point and exhibition areas.
The centre will feature a lecture hall,
classrooms,
laboratories,
offices
and a café, together with temporary,
permanent and community dis-
plays. A special extinction area will
also be erected, where guests will
be taught all about the link between
birds and dinosaurs.
GVK-Siya Zama Regional Business
Development
Twantwa,
Manager,
believes
Destiny Hotel is a new hotel under construction in Bredell, Kempton Park. The hotel is
owned and developed by Akani Properties, and is a further addition to the existing 40-key
hotel and the newly-built 2,090-seater Ekurhuleni International Convention Centre, both
located on the property. Designed by Bentel Associates International, the new 248-key
hotel is intended as a complementary addition to the existing hotel and conference centre,
with the provision of additional guestrooms and exclusive guest facilities, all bolstering
the current product offering.
The hotel is positioned at the northern end of the property, and the design intent
took certain aesthetic cues from the existing conference centre with respect to colour
and materiality. Due to the proposed 7-storey (Ground + 6 levels) height of the hotel,
and the low-density surrounding residential area, the intent was to design the hotel in a
layered and longitudinal approach, thereby reducing the perceived height of the building.
The first experience of the hotel will be via a ‘grand’ glazed porte-cochère, which is the
guest approach into the large hotel lobby, containing reception desk(s), guest lifts, group
check-in and access to the external space beyond. The central-piece of the building has
been accentuated on the façade with a vertical ‘rib’ feature, a major signage opportunity
for the hotel.
The ground floor has been designed as a
public area ‘street’, opening out to the hotel
gardens and pool terrace beyond. Along
this ‘street’, provision has been made
for lounge, all-day dining, bar, boardroom
and business cubicle offerings. Due to
the proximity of the adjacent conference
centre, further meeting room provisions
have been kept to a minimum.
Orientation and siting on the property,
was an important consideration. The hotel
is predominantly along a west-east axis,
allowing for bedrooms to have north-south orientations. The public areas are all located
on, and open out to, the northern aspect side of the hotel ground floor.
A sky bar and pool deck is to be located at roof level, whilst the first floor contains a
hotel gym and the sixth floor is to be dedicated as an ‘Executive Floor’ with dedicated
Executive Lounge, and Diplomatic and Presidential Suites on this level.
Client, Project Manager, Principal Agent: Akani Properties
Architect: Bentel Associates International
Quantity Surveyor: Brian Heineberg & Associates
Structural Engineer: V&H Consulting
Civil Engineer: DG Consulting
Mechanical Engineer: Graeme Page Consulting Engineers
Electrical Engineer: CKR Consulting Engineers
Fire Consultants: Specialised Fire Technology
Interior Designer: LLP Design
Main Contractor: Tri-Star Construction
Ndzulu
that
the
company was selected to work
on this project because of its
experience in the construction and
restoration of landmark buildings
with
highly
detailed
finishes.
This attention to detail can be
seen in the wood-look finish of
the concrete and the external
brickwork being laid to mimic
dinosaur scales.
The project is due to be com-
pleted and open to the public early
in 2020.
14
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