Architect and Builder November/December 2015 | Page 32

PROJECT FEATURE

RIDGE 6
RIDGE 6
Umhlangha
DEVELOPER/QS
FWJK
ARCHITECT/PRINCIPAL AGENT
Peter Ries Architects
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
Hatch GOBA Consulting Engineers
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
Spoormaker & Partners
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
DBA Consulting Engineers
FIRE AND WET SERVICES
Aurecon
MAIN CONTRACTOR
WBHO Construction
PHOTOGRAPHY
Grant Pitcher

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idge 6 is the seventh office development FWJK has developed within the Ridgeside
Office Estate in Umhlanga. This 7,000m2 office development follows on the success
FWJK has had in delivering cost effective buildings sold on a sectional title basis
achieved as a result of a high design efficiency ratio in terms of top structures and basement
parking design.
CLIENT BRIEF
The design brief to the architect, Peter Ries Architects, was very specific. Firstly, design the
basement parking garage to a design efficiency ratio of one parking bay per 23m2 and then
carry the structural parking grid through to the office levels with no expensive structural
transfer slabs common to most office buildings designed from the top down. Secondly,
the rentable to useable area ratio had to be not less than upwards of 90% and thirdly the
external glazing to wall ratio was not to exceed 35%. The architect was requested to use
bold colours externally which is a signature of all FWJK’s developments.
The architect’s response to this brief has resulted in a desirable building that is fresh,
functional and most importantly was completed in April 2015 at an all-in affordable cost of
R19,000/m2 of sectional title area.

Ridge 6