Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa January/February 2014

TREETOP WALKWAY AT KIRSTENBOSCH The new Treetop Walkway at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden is almost complete. The walkway meanders through the Arboretum, also known as the Enchanted Forest. The 130 metre long walkway is made from galvanised steel and timber, and will stretch 11 metres above the ground. Due to the snake-like twisting, the skeletal structure and its position above the trees, the walkway has been given the nickname ‘Boomslang’. The walkway will provide breathtaking views from the treetops of Table Mountain and the Cape Flats. The walkway is expected to be completed in March, with the formal opening to the public in April. It will be free to all visitors that have paid to enter the garden. INTRODUCING SIKA FFI Sika is a world leader in bonding, sealing, dampening and reinforcing solutions, both for on-site and for industrial applications. Finding the right adhesive or sealant to suit a specification is a critical and necessary step in the range of services you can expect from Sika and now Sika has fine-tuned their sealing and bonding solutions for the Façades, Fenestration and Insulating glass market. Façade To strike the ideal balance between aesthetic appeal and energy efficiency, architects are increasingly turning to glass curtain wall construction. Glass can be well combined with other materials such as natural stone, metals or plastic coated metals, giving planners a wide scope for creativity. But facades must also provide long-term durability. This requires perfect adhesion between the components and highly elastic, weatherproofing solutions. These specifications call for high-tech products, which are tailored to meet specific demands and guarantee peak performance in every respect. Sika supplies a wide range of tried-and-tested, innovative façade products for every demand. News Watch Insulating Glass The façades are mainly responsible for the energy balance of a building. The excellent thermal insulating effect of bonded double- or triple-glazed units with coated glass - sealed by dual-seal technology - can save much of the energy otherwise consumed for heating or cooling. enormous contributions to improved productivity in window manufacturing. For more information on Sika products and systems visit the website: www.sika.co.za Windows Structural bonding of the glass to the sash frame stiffens the window. As a result, the glass supports the frame instead of the usual situation where the frame supports the glass. Reduced requirements to the structural strength for the sash frame enable numerous options for improved window structures. The face widths of the sash frames are narrower, which increases the incoming light and improves the insulation characteristics. Permanent secure bonding of the glass with the frame reduces maintenance costs because the structure retains its dimensional stability. Settling of the sash frames is largely excluded. )

Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa January/February 2014 | Page 11