To create harmony and a consistent language to the design, KMH developed the concept, which they dubbed“ Contemporary Ruin”, to modernise the interior, but still paid homage to the exterior architectural heritage. The refreshed cohesive vision influenced all aspects of the design, ridding the interior of the maritime / cruise liner elements and replacing them with classical motifs.
The new design embraces Vodacom’ s existing Greek-style exterior yet ensures a seamless flow between the internal and external architectural languages.
The Entrance Lobby Upon entering the building, one is greeted by a new monolithic reception desk. The backdrop to the desk is the newly clad spiral staircase that wraps its way up through the volume of the entrance lobby, connecting all the floors. Another design decision was to bring more solidity to the walkways connecting the office wings. This was achieved by limiting the visuals through each level by closing up the balustrades and softening the walkways with hanging plants. The jewel within the space is the slatted pod, which serves as a semiprivate meeting space for quick consultations without needing to book a boardroom. It is a bespoke design with soundproofing, power points and task lighting.
The Terrace The original water feature covered a large surface area and separated the entrance lobby space from the atrium seating area, which was only accessible by a bridge similar to a gangway
48 Vodacom Atrium