Architect and Builder November/December 2018 | Page 13

169 ON MAIN, GREEN POINT
Developed by Abacus Development
Company and designed by Bam Architects,
the architecture of 169 on Main in Greenpoint
is the result of a thorough assessment and
analyses of its context. The contextual
understanding of the site provided arguments
for different positive interface proposals to
respond to the differing conditions of the
development site.
The site has a very important place along
the Main Road Greenpoint streetscape and it
was therefore important to ensure continuity
with the existing fabric at street level in both
scale and interface layering at pedestrian
level. The building establishes an active wall
edge facing the urban park across the road
at the scale of the park. The circulation of
people on foot was considered a priority
over vehicular movement so that continuity
of surfaces and materiality supports the
pedestrian first.
The building reflects the transition in
grain across the site from the finer grained
southern edge towards a more course
grain on the northern edge and as such
the development had a responsibility to
be the mediation between the fine grained
residential neighbourhood of Green Point
running along the slope of Signal Hill, as well
as ensuring continuity with the Urban Wall
consisting of higher intensity development
along Main Road defining the edge of the
urban park of the Green Point Common.
In its response the building therefore
rises from a height of three storeys on the
southern side, to eleven storeys on the
northern boundary. The south side of the
building responds to the finer grain of single
residential houses whilst the north elevation
responds to a carefully established height
datum along Main Road with a clearly defined
base, shaft and crown. The crown acts as
a pulvinar or urban balcony overlooking the
Green Point common. Buildings further up
Signal Hill look down on the development
and the design responded by treating the
roofscape as a fifth elevation. Roofs are
therefore occupied, textured and landscaped
as far as possible.
Project Watch
The design utilises a rich pallet of modern
materials and textures doing justice to its
up-market location. The interior design
concept was developed by BONE Design
Studio and is based around creating a
bespoke ’luxury living’ experience. Through
the use of honest materials such as natural
timbers, honed composite stones and
a neutral palette of large format Italian
tiles, every apartment exudes its own
timeless sophistication.
Project Particulars
• 3 Levels of structured parking
(basement, ground and first floors)
• 11 storeys above ground level
• 51 apartments in total
• 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments
• Roof top pool with views over
Green Point Park
• 24-hour concierge
• Full fibre connectivity
www.abacusdevco.co.za
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