Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa September/October 2014 | Page 6

NewsWatch the latest news and products from the building industry and allied professions NEWSWORTHY TRELLIDOR CLEAR GUARD: ELEGANT AND EFFECTIVE WINDOW PROTECTION A circular sweep of windows creates a calming effect on anyone that enters the building, but can also be a security headache. Trellidor Clear Guard protective window screens were the answer for a new electronic goods service centre in Roodepoort, Johannesburg. The challenge was to protect windows that curve around the reception area without destroying the free-flowing ambience of this public space. Protection against theft was critical as this is a high tech environment where there is plenty of electronic equipment to steal. It was essential, though, that the burglar proofing was elegant and unobtrusive. Trellidor Clear Guard security screens were custom made to fit each window so that they blend in with the fenestration rather than dominate the building’s design. Looking out of the building from inside, one sees right through the screens and hardly notices they are there. The protective screens perform very well as an alternative to run-of-themill security barriers. They can be opened for easy window cleaning or as an alternative escape route in an emergency situation. They also moderate the penetration of UV rays and heat, assisting with internal climate control and reducing dependence on cooling systems such as air conditioners and fans. Trellidor Clear Guard screens can be manufactured to work seamlessly with any door or window design and powder coated to reflect the colour scheme of the building. www.trellidor.co.za 6 SA’S CITY OF THE FUTURE WILL BE BUILT ON TECHNOLOGY & INTEGRATED PUBLIC TRANSPORT Demand for accessible information technology and cost effective integrated public transport systems will see Modderfontein become a centre with population densities similar to some of the world’s major urban centres. So says Mr Anthony Diepenbroek, CEO of Zendai Development South Africa which, as part of the Hong Kong listed Shanghai Zendai Group, will be driving the project to develop 1,600 hectares of land in Modderfontein, near Johannesburg over the next 15 years. ‘Modderfontein New City, the new growth node in Gauteng and South Africa, will cost an estimated R 84-billion in the process of moving from drawing board to reality. “The SA city of tomorrow will be driven by the twin needs of access to information technology and viable integrated public transport systems. Both of these factors are aligned to prevailing development principles which demand that population densities maximise economic delivery of services - the higher the population density, the less the cost of delivering what are the cornerstone requirements of any major new urban development. “The growth of SA middle class demands that a new integrated approach to development is adopted. The previous system of creating arteries along which people travel to existing urban centres from outlying areas will simply not be able to cope in the medium to long-term. A system of high-density spines is the only sustainable solution; this solution is aligned to the City of Johannesburg’s “Corridors of Freedom” spatial vision. The development plan for ‘Modderfontein New City’ presents a natural solution to population pressures. It is located at a natural growth point within Johannesburg, which is growing exponentially, and will enable the existing Gautrain rapid rail network to connect Modderfontein to the Johannesburg CBD, Sandton, Pretoria and the OR Tambo International Airport. Attention to the development of additional logistics complementing and extending the Gautrain network will further enhance mobility. With ‘Modderfontein New City’ becoming home to an estimated 100,000 people when it is completed and offering functional development zones which complement urban living (from a bustling CBD to an international conference and exhibition centre) catering for work, live and play with the most extensive access to urban open space in Gauteng, the stage is being set for the creation of a city that will rank with the best in the world. “Modderfontein plans to serve as a 24-hour district; a place where people will live and interact in an urban environment that is convenient, efficient and safe. It seeks to be a place where people will want to live, work and enjoy the benefits of various recreational offerings on their doorstep,” concludes Diepenbroek. For more information, please contact: Usman Aly - [email protected] News Watch