Architect and Builder June 2020 | Page 43

including copper, brass, leather-look porcelain tiles, engineered timber planks, off-shutter concrete and textured wallpaper. Examples of feature materials utilised to bring a more tactile feel as well as assist with acoustics to these vast public spaces are: • an interlinked ‘cascade coil’ mesh which forms a 6m high by 40m wide continuous backdrop to the pre-function space. • artificially engineered ‘Cor-ten’ like cladding panels which clad the 2 storey, curved executive office behind the concierge and reception desks. • a mixture of fretwork glass, wrought iron pivot doors and fixed screens juxtaposed against vast expanses of oak panels stained with Jax Oleum polyurethane sealant. Particular care has been taken in choosing the varied performance glazing used on the scenic lift, cantilevered feature stair, internal balustrades, vestibules and skylight to create a visual connection between the disparate elements with a sophisticated smoked charcoal appearance throughout. Apartment Interiors Open plan kitchens are situated towards the rear, allowing the living space to flow out on to the balconies and maximise the ingress of light. The materials and colour palette for the apartment interiors were carefully considered with many options being tabled. Key was finding balance with neutral tones and textures to provide a warm but still relatively blank canvas for residents to create their own space and identity. Landscape Architecture The central courtyard is divided by means of a sculptural steel screen wall with detail cut outs, as well as pergola structures. Creepers soften the view and visually screen off the courtyards. Each of the courtyards has a swimming pool with bamboo decking. APARTMENTS FIRST FLOOR The residential courtyard was developed on two levels. The upper level adjacent to the ground floor apartments was provided with bamboo decking and a detailed planting mix. An iconic seating bench with reflection pond, set within a sculptural earth mound, not only serves as a tranquil gathering space for the residents, but also as a focal feature to the development. All seasons evergreen lawn provides a lush finish, which is complemented by the diverse planting mix adjacent to the apartments. Quercus palustris trees define the central gathering space. In the hotel courtyard a seating wall with Rustenburg granite finish was provided along the southern edge of the deck area and an indigenous planting mix softens the edge to the hotel. All seasons evergreen lawn was provided to the northern part of the courtyard along with stepping blocks. One on Whiteley 43