Zoning The property , Stand 1973 Houghton , required rezoning from Single Residential to Business in order to proceed with the project . The architects were closely involved with the Houghton Resident ’ s Association in developing a suitable interface between what is probably one of Johannesburg ’ s most prestigious residential areas and the new line of business developing fronting onto Oxford
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
Road . This resulted in generous set backs for the building on the road that separates the Business area from Residential .
Also included is a generous landscaping border along the sidewalk facing the residential area in which mature trees have been planted . On the Oxford Road side of the site , the architects had to deal with a set back of some 13m from the property boundary in order to accommodate the Gautrain servitude . Between these two onerous building lines , this left a wedge tapering down to just 20m in width in which the building had to be designed and accommodated - including the parking basements .
The Gautrain servitude turned out to be fortuitous in that it left the architects with a broad landscaping area along Oxford Road in which a fountain is located . This servitude area will be a common feature of all the buildings constructed along this major arterial .
Design Since the site is east / west facing along its length , this presented a dilemma as to how much glass and how much solid façade should face onto the main arterial road . In such a situation , one is always reluctant to have blank walls facing the road as this offers a fairly “ dead ” experience of the building in passing along the road . In the design , a compromise was reached between a northfacing wing with solid end wall facing onto Oxford Road , as well as a glass enclosed main staircase and a length of offices which face onto the road . Here , the western orientation was accommodated by setting back the glass of the offices behind the north wing and the entrance foyer and deeply recessing the glass by placing balconies along this front of the building . These balconies are accessed by sliding doors which then face onto Oxford Road .
A 3m louvred canopy is cantilevered out over the façade on the top floor . A fire escape is visible
246 Oxford Terrace