Architect and Builder August/September 2019 | Page 68

1 Discovery Place Interiors, Sandton
INTERIORS AWARD
One of the main factors pertinent to the interiors of
1 Discovery Place is that the design was customised very
specifically around the Discovery’s requirements. The
developers chose to include Discovery throughout the
design process to ensure the building was tailored for
them. On that basis, Interior Architects and Designers,
Paragon Interface, then proceeded to shape the interior
space towards embodying Discovery as a company and
their vision.
Atriums formed one of the main drivers behind the
design context. The central atrium design was led
very much by the idea of the concourse. There was an
understanding between the client and the design team that
they wanted the building to be very active; they wanted
to see people, activities & life happening, This was then
translated into public spaces, active collaboration hubs,
break out spaces, pause areas and agile workspaces.
Initially the left and right atriums were very structured and
uniform. As they developed, the atrium designs became
more curvilinear and spoke more to the architectural
design of the building. There are two conceptual ideas of
a CALM atrium and an ACTIVE atrium. A visitor will get
the feeling that the one atrium is far more peaceful; there
is a lot more planting and it is more intimate, whereas in
the larger atrium, you really feel the level of activity, as it
opens up more towards you.
As you walk through the concourse, you can see how
Discovery’s brand identity has been populated in that
space with Box-like ‘pods’ added onto the sides of the
concourse. This is not only to enhance the aesthetic, but
also showcases Discovery’s branding. That, combined
with the integration of ceiling details, colour coded floor
levels, the 6-storey high main reception, which also
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integrates Discovery’s colours – really becomes the
Discovery overlay within the building and also serves to
provide distinctive wayfinding.
Circulation was a fundamental driver throughout
the design intent. When you have so many staff to
accommodate on a 12,000m 2 plus floor plate, it is easy to
feel lost and overwhelmed. It was important to humanise
the scope of the building through the interior architecture
and design. This was achieved was by seeing the building
as a series of spaces you move through, rather than one
large space.
In terms of materiality, the design team wanted the
building to be very vibrant and quite tactile, fresh and
lively. This tied into how they perceived and understood
Discovery’s corporate identity, and that design intent is
followed through by means of the materiality.
Developers: Zenprop Property Holdings and
Growthpoint Properties (JV)
Interior Architects: Paragon Interface
Architects: Boogertman & Partners Architects
Project Managers & Tenant Representative:
Baseline Project Management
Quantity Surveyors: MLC Quantity Surveyors
Structural Engineers: Sotiralis Consulting Engineers
Electrical Engineers: Claassen Auret and
Conscius Electrical Consulting Engineers (JV)
Mechanical Engineers & Green Consultants:
Aurecon
Fire Consultants: TWCE
Main Contractor: Tiber and WBHO (JV)
Other Consultants: RLB Pentad Quantity Surveyors;
Sutherland Engineers; Morta Project Managers; SRL
SAPOA Awards