Landscape Design The landscape design for the Department of Statistics SA was informed by three core components. These include the outer landscape, the inner landscape and a central spine that orders the exterior environment.
The outer landscape deals with the perimeter of the campus and responds to the public realm, such as the streetscape, public square and pedestrian access.
The inner landscape deals with specialised and controlled open space within the campus and supports the function of the buildings. It provides environments for relaxation, social interaction, heritage and nature conservation as well as places of contemplation.
The central spine is a ribbon that connects the inner and the outer landscape with the surrounding urban context. It entails a progressive movement from the Public Square, through the Campus to the Heritage Village and Salvokop Freedom Park.
Design Concept The design concept is a progression of various spaces that are linked like beads on a string and that are interwoven along a central spine.
From the public interface at the Public Square in the northern corner of the site, the design flows through an internal street with private courtyards towards a multi-functional transition space that connects the new build form with the restored NZASM Heritage Court, from where it moves through a rehabilitated Bankenveld landscape that connects to the Freedom Park Museum.
The landscape design is best illustrated graphically as per the sketch plan. Some core
components that informed the design are as follows:
Public Square A multi-functional pedestrian space forms the gateway from the railway pedestrian bridge into the campus as well as the Salvokop precinct. In future, the public square will be further defined by future buildings along the northern edge. The space provides for hard surfacing, shade trees, seating, exhibition space and public art.
Arrival Court There is a seamless transition from the public square to the arrival court. Although access controlled, the arrival court forms part of the public realm as this space can facilitate large-scale events. Generous steps, high impact graphic landscaping and a cascading water feature welcome pedestrians and visitors onto the campus.
Atrium Street A weather-protected Atrium street, with a leafy urban street feeling, directs visitors and employees to the various facilities within the campus. Acclimatised Ficus street trees, seating, textured tiles are provided along the internal street that acts as a spine linking the public realm with the inner campus landscape.
Private Courtyards Three east-facing courtyards, with distant city views, are accessible from the auditorium, meeting rooms, internal street or canteen area. These spaces are optimally designed as small-scale pedestrian environments for social interaction,
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
58 Stats SA