Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa July/August 2014 | Page 20

The visual impact of the
building was carefully
considered to create
a legible identity on
three scales; those of
the distant, middle and
immediate perspectives

Intended to be an urban marker, the
building also needed to respond to its context
in the greater CBD as much as the local
precinct and its immediate surroundings. As
such, the design addresses the building’s
urban form, through its massing, height
and composition, as well as its relation to
the urban environment. Furthermore the
concept needed to address the building’s
urban functioning in terms of movement
systems, public space, land use and building
interface. The visual impact of the building
was therefore carefully considered to create a
legible identity on three scales; those of the
distant, middle and immediate perspectives.
As FirstRand and Old Mutual had agreed
to be equal participants in this sectional title

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development, but with each having different
functional requirements, a somewhat complex sectional title register has evolved in the
final built form of Portside. One of the key
requirements of the brief therefore was for the
development to have two clear and legible
addresses for its respective corporate owners.
This was achieved through the creation of two
separate entrances and foyers on opposite
sides of the building, each with its own plaza with Old Mutual’s off Bree Street, whilst the
FirstRand entrance is located off Buitengracht
Street. In addressing the cross fall over the
building’s footprint, the vehicular entrance for
the parking and service vehicles is located on
the upper ground level off Mechau Street.
The character of the built form was
paramount, in particular the height, massing
and proportion. Notwithstanding rights up to
147m in height, it was felt that a slightly lower
tower was more appropriate to the nature and
character of the precinct, as well as to reduce
the visual impact of the building in relation to
the larger urban and geographical context of
the city and Table Mountain.
The architectural quality, material and
detailing of the building were crucial, not only
in terms of the external envelope - particularly
the relationship to the public realm where
street level activation, scale, legibility and
permeability are key drivers in addressing
social context and urban regeneration - but
also in terms of the indoor spatial environment
from the perspective of occupant comfort.
Portside was designed as a benchmark
of integrated sustainability and to raise the
standards of design, indoor environmental
quality as well the reduction of energy,
Portside