At the heart of the building , the multiple-volume atrium functions as a gathering space in the semi-public ground floor , accessible to both visitors and trainees . The design of the atrium stair is based on its function as a social interaction space . The stairs become the platform of showcasing and animating vertical movement in the atrium space , encouraging people to use the stairs instead of the lifts . The seamless wrapping of the atrium-passage balustrade with the atrium staircase visually connects the various levels and contextualises human-scale and experience .
On each office level , the atrium is activated by a northern and southern staff pause area or informal gathering space . The glazed atrium roof allows filtered sunlight into the atrium with shadows and light constantly animating the internal space .
The tenant also invested in the design of a unique roof for the building . Instead of the roof accommodating building services only , the tenant required the roof to accommodate urban agriculture as well as a social interaction space for its staff . The ‘ green roof ’ is used for urban agriculture , such as vegetable and herb production for use in the client and staff canteen , the surplus being used for bartering with local green grocers ,” he continues . The green roof acts as the ‘ fifth ’ elevation for the future highrise building and decreases the urban heat-island effect associated with cities .
Location and Architectural Concept The Sage VIP building is situated in the Menlyn Maine Precinct , Pretoria . Its boundary is defined by Aramist Road to the south , Bancor Street to the north and Southern Cross Avenue to the west . The Nedbank regional office is directly across Southern Cross Avenue .
The Sage VIP building responds to the urban street scale by means of a gathering space in front of the main entrance on the south-western corner . The main pedestrian entrance and external gathering space fronts onto Aramist Avenue , which connects the existing vehicular corridors of Lois Avenue and January Masilela Boulevard .
The Sage VIP Building is designed to be simple in nature and to be low maintenance . It is a contemporary and simplistic ( sic ) building , designed around the tenant ’ s requirements while allowing for future flexibility and conforming to ‘ green ’ building practices .
Sustainability and green design principles formed an integral part of the design philosophy in terms of building orientation , limited eastern and western glazing and solar control on the northfronting glazed façades . An automated shading system protects the limited fenestration on the eastern and western façades , the aluminium louvre blades tracking the sun to provide maximum shading .
The Sage VIP Building has an external gathering space at the entrance to the building .
172 Sage VIP