Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa November/December 2013 | Page 15

PROJECTVIEW
MERRIMAN SQUARE
UPGRADE – NEW PARKING
FACILITY, CAPE TOWN

Construction of parking facility
with 18 levels of parking and
ramps between the existing tower
blocks commenced in July 2013.
There will be retail facilities on
the ground level and new facades
to both towers as well as internal
renovations to toilet facilities in
one block.

the site, open plan living areas with views
to the dam and opening directly up onto
the protected covered terrace and rear
garden, separated home office for the
construction business, triple garage and
parking for staff and visitors.
Challenge
The challenge of a long sloping narrow site
and the brief for an open plan transparent
house led to a design resolution of a
linear building form of slabs, columns
and piers, which floated above the small
inner estate road site boundary and, by
virtue of the raised floor level, privacy
could be achieved. The transparency and
privacy in the rear was addressed through
natural vegetation.
Environmental Requirements
The flat concrete roof, large overhangs,
surrounding verandah and screens, all
helped to address the environmental
requirements of the new legislation and
environmental approach to design. The
materials and finishes were proposed as
natural with little decoration and in clean
light colours.

Project Watch

Project Details
Site area is 1,534 m2 with a dimensioned
site of approximately 47m x 24m and a fall
of 8m over the short distance. Building
lines were 3m and 6m with the later relaxed
to 4.5, FAR of ±30% and coverage of ±20%.
The height restriction was 7.5m to the
top of the roof from any point on the site.
The design solution was a house of 439m2 at
an estimated building cost of R10,000/m2.
The structure was a piled foundation with
reinforced in situ slabs and columns and
natural sloping banks below the “feet” of
the building.
The design commenced in May 2012 and
later Design and LA approval was obtained
from the estate with intended construction
early in 2013. The project was placed on
hold in March 2013 due to world financial
woes spin off, but has been resuscitated by
a new landowner and hopes to commence
construction soon.

Client / Main Contractor: Petracon
Architects: Kevin Lloyd Architects
Engineer: Terry Prince
Landscaper: Design Shed
Text: Kevin Lloyd Architects

Client: Redefine Properties
Project Managers:
BFH de Jager
Architects:
Boogertman & Partners
Smuts and Boyes Architects
Quantity Surveyors:
LDM Quantity Surveyors
Consulting Structural Engineers:
Aurecon
Electrical: QDP
Mechanical:
Basil Nair and Associates
Main Contractor:
Murray & Roberts
Completion: July 2015
Value: R350 million
(Databuild)

NEW BUSINESS SCHOOL,
NELSON MANDELA
METROPOLITAN
UNIVERSITY, PORT
ELIZABETH

A new business school, which
includes academic and administrative
facilities, is underway. The external
works and site infrastructure are also
currently included. The project will
be ±5,000m2 and will be constructed
on 4-star Green Building principles.
Client:
Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan University
Architects: GAPP Architects
and Urban Designers;
The Workplace
Quantity Surveyors:
Turner & Townsend
Consulting Structural Engineers:
Arup
Electrical:
Carifro Consulting Engineers
Main Contractor: WBHO
Completion: ±March 2014
Value: ±R94 million
(Databuild)
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