the retail components are accommodated on
this podium, providing a feeling of activity and
connection to the urban fabric.
Dropping down, entry to the scheme is
accessed from Minerva Road via the lower level
parking. Visitors and tenants can access the retail
and Planet Fitness via separate demarcated lift
cores. An escalator also allows access from the
parking basement and street level to the lower
level podium. This podium provides access to the
gym and will also act as the connection to future
phases of the precinct.
All parking levels offer access to the two lift
cores and Planet Fitness has a dedicated lift on
all parking levels. Depending on the tenant/s
utilisation of the 2,300m 2 floor space available,
tenants can make use of the centralised
lift lobby.
Design Language
The Urban Design Framework document
dictates the bulk accessibility, the interface
between buildings and the street front, as well
as the intended connections between the various
buildings and podium levels engineering of the
podium structures necessitated by the slope of the
site. Not as evident in Phase One, these podiums
will play a more dominant role in the look and feel
of the precinct as it is developed. The urban fabric
is very important to the scheme’s success.
Throughout the process the design team
worked with well know visual artist Hannelie
Coetzee, which was a very rewarding process.
Her art is going to be exhibited not only on Phase
One, but also throughout the entire precinct. The
art will be showcased within the built environment
as well as the surrounding park spaces. The
artworks act as a thread to pull all aspects of the
precinct together.
On Phase One, Hannelie’s distinctive installation
art piece called “The Narrowing Link” anchors one
corner of the building. It was important to the client
that the artwork was integrated into the precinct
and its urban fabric from an early stage. Sandton
Gate has an important connection to green spaces
within and adjacent to the built components and the
team is currently working with Hannelie Coetzee
and Jozi Trails to ensure that the buildings and
landscape connected properly and that maximum
benefit for pedestrians during both working and
leisure hours is maximised.
56 Sandton Gate