enough height to ensure panoramic sea views and a safe pedestrian environment free of cars . The commercial component of the offices seemed to be best suited at the corner of the site facing the busy M12 above the dealership .
Design Details
• A podium was created with the required 8 levels of parking bridging the gap between the Ncondo Pl . and Vuna Cl .
• The roof of the podium acts like a park with lawns and trees surrounded by shops and restaurants .
• All the blocks are accessed via the public park on the top of the podium , ensuring that the shops and restaurants are activated .
• There was an intention to express these blocks individually but they needed to come from the same ‘ family ’. The bold form of the design was intended to withstand all the differing components and inputs .
• The distinctive arch in the office wing creates interest and invites one to explore beyond the arch . The reflections in the arch soffit highlight trees from the street and cars from the park .
• During the design and development process , and in response to the urban planning part of the parking façade facing Vuna Close , this was improved by being lined with loft apartments .
Design Components Podium The podium was mainly designed to accommodate parking requirements , but as the design developed certain responses to brief and urban framework had to be considered . The dealership and lofts were inserted into the podium block . In order to activate the street edge at Ncondo Pl . all the pedestrian vertical circulation from the parking was moved to the front of the building . This included escalators , glass lifts and stairs .
24 Umhlanga Arch