INTERIORS From the interiors , the glass façades facilitate a powerful connection between the interior of the building and its context , looking out over the landscaped grounds , over the city and to the mountain ranges beyond . The vision that informed the architecture and façade design is sustained in the interior spaces , blurring the distinction between the exterior and interior design of the building , welcoming diversity and emphasising the presence of the land in the inner workings of the department .
The urban and rural landscapes of South Africa represent a diverse narrative , propelled by cultural production . The addition of this new architectural landmark to the capital city seeks to represent these landscapes and the staff that occupy the building represent the inhabitants its inhabitants . The interior design reinterprets elements found in these landscapes such as texture , organic form , colour and pattern and applies them to the functional outputs such as space planning . This results in a spatial / design response that ’ s contextually informed , aesthetically on brand , fosters social cohesion and culture production , and is led by the users .
The country ’ s topography is expressed in elements throughout the building , from the atriums to the office spaces . Details designed into the bulkheads , ceiling finishes , floor tiles , timber screens , elements of the joinery and panelling , and even the shape of the planters , all celebrate the natural beauty of the country ’ s landscapes . The colour palette takes inspiration from earthy tones of greens , oranges , ochres and taupes . Each floor has been allocated a colour from the palette , allowing for easier wayfinding within the building . African influenced textures and organic shapes combine with a contemporary look and feel , and local artists have been commissioned to provide some unique custom finishes .
The graphic design of elements such as the wallpaper and the remarkable vinyl decals that feature on the walls at key points , such as the ground floor main entrance , are drawn from the patterns created by agricultural endeavour and human interaction with the land : the crop circles , furrows , terraces and rows that shape the land have been abstracted , simplified and transformed to become graphic design elements in a larger , unified composition .
The interior architecture serves both the public face of the Department as well as the day to day requirements of its staff contingent . The public face of the building contained within two large atria has been designed to allow for practical interaction with visitors with business with Deeds and Surveyor General departments . A 250-seater auditorium , client meeting rooms , a canteen and deli are also accommodated here .
Staff office floors are located in the wings leading off the central spine are open plan with meeting rooms , phone booths and pause areas allowing for privacy and break away opportunities .
Located on the same campus , the original Berea Park Clubhouse , which is a Heritage building , has been extensively and sympathetically renovated , and is now being utilised as a training facility for the DALRRD .
Outside , the landscape design employs plantings of locally grown crops and vegetables such as maize , which at points come right up to the building edges , forming a base and making a symbolic connection where landscape and architecture meet .
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