and the landscaping plans are to list and motivate plant types to be used for approval.
A minimum of 20 % of each site area is to be landscaped( the 20 % is to be regarded as hard and soft landscaping areas); landscape designs are to take into account safety, surveillance, and defensibility of the public environment; in addition, corner sites have very specific requirements in terms of planting height and species, so as not to obscure or obstruct views.
Another focus of the guidelines is the external horizontal surface treatment throughout the Ridgeside precinct and the interface of the public surfaces with the surfaces used in the various properties. In this regard, landscaping design firm Ochre Office of Johannesburg assisted Paragon in selecting and specifying plant types that would meet the requirements of both the RMA and Green Star throughout the design. Ochre Office also assisted in terms of the documentation of the paving layouts, timber decks, timber seating, and the water features.
The edge conditions of the landscaping on the site boundaries were designed to, where possible, join seamlessly with the adjacent RMA landscaping levels to soften the transition, to keep the natural slope, and not to impose the new landscaping on the area with hard edges. The RMA landscaping will, in future, tie into the project’ s landscaping as a natural extension of the design.
Pedestrian access to the site was designed with the pedestrian movement through the precinct in mind. From Umhlanga Rocks Drive, pedestrian access was introduced to the podium level through an accessible ramp and a stair down. From Ntusi Road, access is provided through a stair to the podium level, while on the corner, on-grade access was provided that could also be used for deliveries to the coffee shop. The positions and angles of the various access routes were influenced by the buildings’ shape, its axes created, and the relationship / position of the pedestrian routes around the site.
Another important element of the client brief was to keep the area between the two buildings as flexible as possible for future functions, and as a spill-out area for both buildings. To that end, a row of trees was designed on the axis between the buildings, in combination with built-in and movable planters to create the necessary flexibility.
Pran Boulevard marks an exciting addition to the Ridgeside skyline with its complex glass façade and bold design.
24 Pran Boulevard