design concept solution to dress up the facades
so as to ensure it shielded the cars and the
fluorescent strip lighting to the concrete soffits
from external view, yet allowed enough cross
ventilation to obviate costly services such as
sprinklers and mechanical ventilation. This was
achieved through applying 3 varying shades of
CNC cut aluminium panels in a random format
to all visible facades. The play of light during the
day or backlit effect at night gives this building a
wonderful playful animated façade that has a life
of its own.
The Parking Building
The challenge with any mixed-use precinct is how
to deal with the pressures and requirements for
sufficient parking. Century City has a very high
water table and so it is not practical or viable to
construct more than one underground parking
basement. That, coupled with the urban design
concept of a pedestrian friendly and active ground
floor plane around the base of all the buildings,
meant the only other option available was to design
and build a freestanding parking structure with a
unique character and presence of its own.
As with the cost constraints of any parking
building, the architects had to find a cost-effective
CLIENT’S COMMENT
Century City Square, the new commercial
and hospitality hub of Century City, has been
completed at a cost of R1billion.
The development, by the Rabie Property
Group, comprises the Century City Conference
Centre, a 125 room hotel, offices, apartments
and restaurants all situated around an open public
square with 1,330 under cover parking bays being
provided in a super basement and structured
parking garage.
With a total capacity of 1,900, the Century
City Conference Centre has been designed to
complement Cape Town and Century City’s
existing facilities and, to not only fill a gap in the
market, but to also further cement Cape Town’s
position as one of the world’s most sought-after
conference destinations.
It offers flexible configurations and a total of
20 different venues including 11 meeting and
breakaway rooms as well as a business lounge.
Three adjoining halls on the ground floor have
a total capacity of more than 1,200 delegates
This Spread:
Century City Hotel
64
Century City Square