WWF HQ Receives 6 Star Rating
The World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) newly refurbished headquarters in Braamfontein received a 6 Green
Star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).
A
s the first retrofitted building
in South Africa to receive the
highest level of recognition for
green building possible, this 655m 2
3-storey office was redesigned for minimal
environmental impact with minimal
material usage.
Restored and revitalised by
Simon Cretney of Alive Architecture
using salvaged materials from the
deconstructed 1906 structure, the historic
building was redesigned to be thermally
activated by maximising the natural
heating and cooling properties of sunlight
and natural airflow.
Tw o w a te r s a v i n g i n i t i a t i v e s
were also implemented to meet the
W W F’s water requirements. T he
resultant facelift perfectly reflects the
preservation ethos of this international
environmental agency.
“Not only does it symbolise our
commitment to sustainable practices and
the wise use of our resources, but it also
celebrates the interconnectedness of our
natural and built environments,” said Dr.
Morne du Plessis, CEO of WWF.
Materials
The original façade was retained (as it
had become a well-known landmark on
the corner of Melle and De Korte streets),
while the balance of the L-shape structure
was deconstructed brick by brick to make
way for the new layout.
Bricks, timber (floor boards, joists and
beams, except battens) and sheeting were
preserved, stored and reused to rebuild
the modern interior incorporating plenty
of raw, unfinished materials. The different
bricks lend an industrial feel to the allwhite interior with grey highlights, while
key furniture pieces were created using
reused timber within the building.
“We breathed new life into this bold,
old structure that really merges the old
and the new,” said Simon Cretney of
Alive Architecture.
78
Advertorial