Architect and Builder October 2016 | Page 52

PROJECT FEATURE METROPOLIS ON PARK METROPOLIS ON PARK Sandton DEVELOPER Barrow Properties ARCHITECTS GLH Architects STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS Pure Consulting ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS OneZero Consulting HVAC ENGINEERS Adaptres WET SERVICES CKR Consulting FIRE CONSULTANT TWCE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DDV Design Group INTERIOR DESIGN GLH Architects MAIN CONTRACTOR AND SITE AGENT Barrow Construction PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of GLH Architects T he large apartment sizes and modern finishes overlooking the largest green space in the heart of Sandton, makes Metropolis on Park, developed by Barrow Properties, an iconic residential development which will be highly attractive to investors and residents seeking high end apartment living. The Site The building is located on Pretoria Road adjacent to Mushroom Farm Park in Sandton, which offers some of Sandton’s best green space. The Gautrain station and Sandton City are all within easy reach. Apart from the usual site challenges, the one that influenced, to some extent, the initial design of the building, was the slope of the site. The ground floor main entrance had to be in touch with the street elevation. This led to the entrance podium being designed in such a way that it sloped in two directions towards the street level so as not to disassociate the main entrance from the streetscape. This also gave the feeling that the ground floor leads onto the park on the north side. The park, being a big draw card, and the awkward site having a river running through it on the lower south end, guided the design in a certain direction. The main three blocks were placed as close as possible to the park and each one kinked to hug the park and get the maximum views and usage out of the available area. On the south, the main entrance looks onto the river and trees lining it. Therefore, the site provided many challenges and beautiful views of the city which gave the building its form and design philosophy. 34MM WIDE DEFAULT, USE WITH 62mm COLUMNS (SEE MASTER PAGES) temporion res am rero magnihilitat as essimaion erias aborem apietum, optatusam am, ne laborepta 50 Metropolis on Park