PROJECTVIEW
THE IRON WORKS,
CAPE TOWN
In 1922, Cape Town built its first
Iron Works on one of the city’s
most historically iconic streets,
Victoria Road. As a result of its
prime location and the fact that it
is a fine example of the industrial
architecture of that era, it has been
listed as a historically significant
building worthy of protection.
OBJEK’s brief was to convert the
existing building into a mixed-use
PARK LANE WEST, MENLYN MAINE
Barrow Properties and Menlyn Maine
Investment Holdings recently launched
Park Lane West, an 11,800m² sectional
title office building. The first building
designed specifically for sectional title use,
its situation in the heart of Menlyn Maine,
makes Park Lane West’s location ideal for
premier businesses looking for a prime
AAA-grade business address in Pretoria.
Reghardt Bekker of Boogertman +
Partners Architects explained that the
building’s central Menlyn Maine location
means that it is bordered by residential,
retail and commercial precincts. While this
is an advantage for tenants and users of the
building, the concept behind the precinct’s
design has far reaching implications: it’s
not simply about environmentally friendly
design, but a greener lifestyle overall,
with the development carefully planned
to encourage pedestrian use. Park Lane
West upholds this ethos, Bekker continued,
because its main entrance is located on
the green belt, which serves as one of the
main pedestrian routes.
The design of the building is based
around a perimeter office block, with a
central open atrium and garden. Flexibility
is a key word: the premises are intended
to work equally well whether servicing
multiple or single tenants on each floor. It
was, therefore, important to incorporate
several access and service points that may
be configured for different layout options
on each level.
“This has impacted directly on the
design aesthetic, resulting in a staggered
window grid following the differentiating
floor plans,” Bekker says. “The notion of
using a single building to host small and
large enterprises affords all users the
benefit of a professional corporate image,
but still allows for individual fit out and the
personalisation of each unit.”
He adds that the architectural language
of the building has been inspired and
informed by the larger Menlyn Maine
precinct: best described as ‘contemporary
natural’. Smooth, sharp finishes and form
have been implemented to create a modern
corporate feel. The use of softer elements –
think landscaping and natural finishes at
strategic points – helps to balance the
aesthetic and prevent it from becoming too
clinical. Inside the premises, meanwhile,
the same effect has been achieved through
the establishment of the multi-level atrium
and garden.
Like all other buildings within the
precinct, the principles of sustainable
energy consumption have been emphasised. Bekker explains that the question
of a minimised environmental footprint has
been addressed throughout all areas of the
premises, including management, indoor
environment quality, energy, transport,
water, materials, land use and ecology,
and emissions and innovation. The goal is
not simply to reduce environmental impact,
however; such considerations also ensure
lower maintenance and management costs.
hub, with retail spaces on street
level, parking and office space
occupying the floors above it, and
the
newly
developed
4-storey,
residential section finishing off the
building’s rejuvenation.
In order not to compete with the
building’s original 3-storey façade,
the new residential addition is
set back from the street edge
with a monochromatic façade to
complement the red brick base.
The residential addition consists
of 136 apartments ranging in
size from 53m2 to 103m2. Each
apartment
includes
a
balcony
and a secure undercover parking
bay. Set high above the road, all
apartments have beautiful views.
The development is situated within
the
UDZ
(urban
development
zone), which serves as a tax
incentive for investment buyers.
The existing building is one of the
only breaks in the retail strip along
Victoria Road. The revived retail
component offers a continuation
of the retail strip by utilising the
street edge for the Deli that opens
up directly onto Victoria Road.
Developers: Land Equity Group
Architects: OBJEK
Structural Engineering:
Alten Hulme Engineers
QS: RLB Pentad
Interior Design: Zeanne Design
Developer: Barrow Properties;
Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings
Architects: Boogertman + Partners
QS: Pentad
Main Contractor: Barrow Construction
Project Watch
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