Architect and Builder August 2016 | Page 10

NEWSWATCH THE LATEST NEWS AND PRODUCTS FROM THE BUILDING INDUSTRY NEWSWORTHY SOLAR PANELS FOR LARGE FACILITIES SA’s electricity is ranked as the 10th most expensive in the world, and with the National Energy Regulator having also approved a 9.4% hike for Eskom for 2016/17, we can expect to climb those rankings. Since 2009, prices for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules have fallen roughly 80% and the solar industry is poised for massive expansion. KJION Energy SA, a subsidiary of ICT Group Holdings, provides PV solutions with or without battery storage for large commercial and industrial sites. These customised solutions offer completely self- DHK EXHIBITION A GREAT SUCCESS Works, an architecture exhibition by dhk architects, was held at The Architect pop up gallery in Cape Town during the month of August. Following a VIP Preview the exhibition launched to the public with a jam-packed First Thursdays opening, and also hosted several other events over the course of the month. The exhibition also formed part of Architecture Open Studios, an annual event that is part of the Open Design Cape Town festival. The exhibition showcased past, present and future work of this leading South African architectural studio using photography, architectural drawings, hand sketches, scale models and 3D visualizations. The exhibition took viewers through dhk’s evolution and included never-before-seen photographs and visualisations with over seventy projects on show. A selection of the studio’s very first projects were revealed for the first time, including several private homes completed by founding partner, Derick Henstra, as a young architect in the 80s. More recent works were explored in depth through architectural models and drawings, and included several projects under construction such as Waterway House in the V&A Waterfront and the Norval Foundation art gallery in Steenberg. Projects which are still in design development stages and as yet unbuilt were shown with dynamic 3D renders as the studio’s vision for the future. “This exhibition is just a small sample of our work spanning three decades that gives some insight into the way we work and our design process. It really showcases our philosophy, which is focused on contextual response rather than an ingrained stylistic approach. It’s what makes us tick,’ said Henstra. The exhibition was generously supported by Libra Joiners who were responsible for the fit out, as well as Lights by Linea, Dulux and 3D printers Rabbit. sustainable, off-the-grid requirements, as well as backup, on-grid PV needs, as well as a solar trailer for mobile requirements. “For companies that have large warehousing facilities, PV panels on the roof to supply their power makes real says Johann economic sense” Wassermann, Sales Manager at KJION Energy SA. “Capex can be written off entirely in one year and SARS offers tax incentives per saved grid kWh spent too. The return on investment for solar has come down drastically in the last few years.” says Wassermann. For further info contact: KJION Energy SA, Johann Wassermann: [email protected] 8 News Watch