Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa July/August 2014 | Page 47

*VASTU SHASTRA which
literally translated means
the ‘Science of Buildings’
is an ancient Indian
‘Architectural Science’ that
deals with inter-related
subjects like Geography,
Geology, Geometry,
Astrology, Philosophy,
factors influencing a site
such as Topography,
Orientation, Surrounding
structures, Roads, Sun,
Earth’s magnetic field
etc. and lays down
guidelines for the design
and construction of a
Building or ‘Vastu’

interpretation of Vastu Shastra principles for
the southern hemisphere, which has scant
precedent and history as opposed to the
northern hemisphere.
The new head office is designed to cater
for future expansion of the Jindal Africa group
and provides a total floor area of around
4,300m2. The dominant use of steel elements
in the building was encouraged to reflect the
industry in which Jindal is present. The site is
the consolidation of two erven on prominent
William Nicol Drive in Bryanston. Access to
the building is via Kildoon Road, which also
serves the adjacent motor dealership on the
corner. There is a 12m fall from the NW corner
of the site to the SE corner. This is in line with
Vastu Shastra principles for the southern
hemisphere, which means the site is naturally
aligned to these conditions.

Jindal Mining

The building conforms to zoning guidelines, consisting of 3 storeys of office and
accommodation space, with one semibasement level of parking. Green design has
been incorporated into the building wherever
appropriate and best practice has been
implemented in each service to the building.
Project Concept
KMH Architects’ winning concept design
entry for the competition remained remarkably true to the end product achieved. Hats
are tipped to the Client for sticking to the
original concept without diluting aspects
during design development and detail
design stages.
The design concept proposal uses the
metaphor of rock/stone strata, shifting
techtonic plates and the process of mining

47