NEWSWORTHY
SUN CITY INSTALLS SOLAR PLANT
Sun City , South Africa ’ s most famous holiday resort , has taken its name to heart and installed a R16-million solar plant to reduce electricity consumption from the national grid . Located in a region with many sunny days throughout the year , the grid-tied solar photovoltaic system is rated at 1.4 megawatts peak of installed capacity . The system constitutes 2,584 560W monocrystalline solar PV modules installed on the roof of the Sun City hotel , said TM Lesetla , National Energy Engineer at installers Tsebo Energy Solutions who installed the system . “ These panels will be married into Sun City ’ s internal electrical network to feed the power produced on the roof to the points of delivery . Sun City is like a little town on its own and the solar capacity is part of the energy mix .” The installed plant will displace an equivalent of 2,367,571kWh per annum , with the highest levels of energy production expected in nine out of the 12 months . “ This is an equivalent of what 329 average-sized South African households consume over a year . On good sunshine days , which will be most days , the facility will free up an equivalent of 14 % of Sun City ’ s electrical demand from the national utility supplier Eskom , which will be to the benefit of the grid in the vicinity , and by extension local communities that feed off the same supply ,” said Sun City General Manager , Brett Hoppé . From a sustainability perspective , the solar plant will see Sun City will reduce its annual CO2 equivalent emissions by an estimated 2,510 tons per annum , a positive contribution to mitigate against climate change into the future .
PHOTO : MATTEO LOSURDO
SAOTA , ARRCC & POLIFORM OPEN LIGHT SPACE LIFE AT THE VENICE BIENNALE
SAOTA , ARRCC , and Poliform recently announced their collaboration for the LIGHT SPACE LIFE exhibition at the prestigious Venice Biennale called Time Space Existence . This exhibition , hosted by the European Cultural Centre from 20 May to 26 November 2023 , showcases their shared commitment to exceptional design .
The Venice Biennale provides a global platform for artists , architects , and designers to showcase their innovative work to a wide audience . Participating in this event allows SAOTA , ARRCC , and Poliform to go beyond display , demonstrating their dedication to pushing boundaries and creating extraordinary design experiences .
The collaboration between these three brands is a natural fit . SAOTA and ARRCC specialise in creating buildings that offer practical solutions while enhancing people ’ s lives , and Poliform is known for its attention to detail , refined finishes , and timeless appeal in furniture design .
SAOTA and ARRCC have distilled their design philosophy into three core elements : LIGHT SPACE LIFE . These principles resonate throughout their projects , encompassing contemporary architecture and various aspects of life . Poliform ’ s book “ Time , Light , Space ” captures their innovative designs through powerful images by photographer Paolo Roversi .
LIGHT plays a crucial role by revealing and shaping forms , allowing us to perceive mass and volume visually . It also creates shadows that evoke powerful emotions within us .
SPACE is at the heart of architecture , with SAOTA viewing internal and external spaces as a seamless continuum . They understand that space profoundly influences our experiences within built environments .
LIFE is the driving force behind good architecture , aiming to empower and enhance our lives . SAOTA ’ s architecture integrates harmoniously with nature , connecting meaningfully to the surrounding landscape and its cyclical rhythms .
Together , these tools — light , space , and life — create architecture that resonates deeply . They establish an environment that embraces the natural world , balancing human-made structures and nature . The exhibition at Palazzo Bembo in Venice features 15 screens on a corner wall , providing a window into these remarkable buildings and spaces . Through videos , visitors can witness a collection of architectural works , highlighting the studios ’ connection to Cape Town and showcasing various projects . SAOTA , ARRCC , and Poliform invite visitors to immerse themselves in the principles of LIGHT SPACE LIFE , which are evident in each video and project .
PHOTO : MATTEO LOSURDO PHOTO : FLAVIA ROSSIE
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