Architect and Builder June 2016 | Page 20

PROJECTVIEW NINEONS, GREENPOINT Situated in Green Point, NINEONS, the latest development by Blok, has a strong focus on compact urban living, with space maximised throughout the building’s design, both inside and out. The Blok eco-friendly team is focus of the evident in the green construction methods and materials used; an ethos that extends right into mobility with the installation of BMW Electric Vehicle charging stations. The building is angled at 45º, ensuring that the sun’s rays equally benefit all 23 apartments, maximising light and warmth. The building’s vertical fins offer privacy to each unit and are a strong architectural aesthetic. These design features, from the liberal use of glass to maximise the incredible light quality and views, to the modified angle of the building that allows for an open frontal facade whilst still maintaining privacy, has resulted in a building with a strong and interesting aesthetic. “We have found Green Point’s community incredibly open to the ethos of shared spaces and working together for the good of the greater neighbourhood, and used this when conceptualising the NINEONS design. With the theme of the building strongly on compact living and the overwhelming demand for urban apartments in this area, it was imperative that we deliver an excellent product while utilising compact design and duality in order to accommodate more people, and each to the high standard that Blok has become CORNUBIA REGIONAL SHOPPING CENTRE, NORTH COAST, KZN The concept for this unique retail development is borne from the need to provide the KZN North Coast with a differentiated shopping and leisure experience which incorporates the various aspects of the unique KZN lifestyle. Sunny skies and wonderful weather become an integral part of this development. Different aspects such as lifestyle, fashion, food, sports and family entertainment are all integrated in a regional shopping destination which will also offer incomparable convenience and choice of grocery and value shopping. This open-air environment has been designed to provide 65,000m2 of retail within separate nodes which are all unique in their architectural language and style. The different nodes are interconnected by landscaped walkways, bridges, malls and sidewalks. These nodes are also further characterised by park-like open areas which offer family orientated entertainment zones to the shopper. At the heart of the development is the 'town square' comprising two levels of al-fresco style restaurants, tapas bars, coffee shops and retail stores. Leading from the town square are two meandering boulevards which interconnect to form 1 km of retail therapy. The larger of the two boulevards leads the shopper through the North and South shopping precincts of the development. The shorter of the two, called the Cornubia 'high line', offers a convenient shortcut of criss-crossing the parking areas and the busy SASA Boulevard. The North precinct is anchored by Shoprite, Woolworths and Edgars. The South precinct is anchored by Pick n Pay and Dis-Chem, and includes banking, value, as well as sports-related retail and a gym. All walkways and parks are elevated and surrounded by a wide band of vegetation so as to shield pedestrians from the traffic and to ensure that the entire experience is one of calm and relaxation. The Cornubia retail precinct is perfectly located between the M41 highways and the proposed Cornubia Boulevard. These are the two main West to East arterial routes in the region. They connect the suburbs of Verulam, Phoenix, Ottowa and Mount Edgecombe to both Umhlanga and the N2 highway. As such, visibility of the development to vehicular traffic will be excellent from all these roads. synonymous with,” says Jacques van Embden, MD of Blok. NINEONS is scheduled occupation in March 2018. www.blok.co.za 18 for Developer: Investec Property Project Managers: SIP Project Managers Architect: Bentel Associates International QS: Brian Heineberg & Associates Civil and Structural: SMEC South Africa Electrical Engineers: Bosch Projects Main Contractor: WBHO Construction Project Watch