The Brief The original concept behind Tsogo Sun ’ s Head Office was to give it an established and civic feel within the Montecasino contex . A second speculative office building , now the Head Office for Absa CPF and BBS , was constructed on the same site so that the two identical U-shaped buildings reflect each other across beautifully landscaped symmetrical courtyards .
The brief required the buildings to convey a sense of unity and flow within their immediate surroundings while still maintaining their commercial value . The brief for the first of the two towers , the East Towers , was to house the new Head Office for Southern Sun and Tsogo Sun . A five storey , 4,000m 2 office block , with a single level of basement parking would be the basis of the brief . The
second building designed would be a speculative office block , which would be an external mirror image of the first block . The courtyard space between the buildings was integral in linking the two buildings together and to their surrounds .
The Design The placement of the two U-shaped office buildings is the result of a conscious design decision to perfectly frame the Palazzo Intercontinental Hotel along a strong central axis .
The main Porte Cochère and entrance fountain of the Palazzo Hotel are on the central axis of the two U – shaped buildings ’ courtyards . When viewed from Montecasino Boulevard , the two buildings perfectly frame the Palazzo Hotel in the distance . Stairs from the landscaped courtyard provide a
18 Palazzo Towers