the bone . While many commercial buildings have an overt ‘ style ’, they are formless and have no memorable internal spaces . The 15 Alice Lane project was driven from the outset by a strategic decision to create a unique three dimensional form and an arresting series of internal spaces . In the competitive market that developed shortly after project inception as a result of the recession , this strategy made the building more desirable than competing properties in a shrinking market .
Form and Space The externally visible architectural form defining the silhouette of the building is that of two towers whose north and south faces are delineated by irregular curves with a slight asymmetrical offset about the vertical axis . The resulting canyon like space between the two towers is eleven metres wide at roof and ground level , but is compressed to only about six metres at its narrowest point . The dramatic vertical space that results is sliced in half by a series of link bridges that have a fan shaped arrangement in plan and spiral upwards . The end walls of the vertical space are glazed and provide dramatic framed views of Sandton ’ s architectural landscape to the east , and the forests of Johannesburg to the west .
North and south façades are wrapped in a highly patterned skin of seemingly random panes of clear , dark grey , and white translucent glass . The resulting effect is one of a scaleless building , in which it is almost impossible to gauge the number of floors . The glass façades are extended beyond the edges of the building to accentuate the smooth surface quality and the abstract patterning effect .
The internal glazing on either side of the canyon like vertical space has a somewhat calmer patterning than the outside , but follows the same rules of abstraction and seemingly random distribution of elements .
East and West façades are constructed to exclude direct sun , with sculptural hand-formed metallic coloured aluminium boxes set around deeply incised window strips . The window strips are carefully placed as functional openings relating to the offices behind the façades , but the overall effect is one of abstraction and dissolution of scale .
Viewed from all angles , the building presents a highly patterned and highly abstracted surface of architectural elements that change constantly with the changing time and atmosphere of the day .
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