NORTH ELEVATION needed to recognise and positively contribute to the pedestrian realm and village atmosphere of Kenilworth Main Road whilst being a new contemporary home for their new flagship Western Cape Regional office incorporating their Southern Suburbs Sales and Rentals divisions . In addition , it also houses PGP ’ s National IT department .
The scheme was required to maximise on the allowable bulk and visual presence and opportunities facing on to Main Road . The ground floor had to allow for an “ anchor ” tenant that was complemented with at least two food-related tenancies . The balance of the bulk would be housed over 3 floors comprising AAA-grade offices of which they would be the major tenant .
The architects were tasked with the design of a building with convenient and adequate parking not only for the requirements of the retail and office tenants but also needed to provide a minimum of 30 bays of overflow bays for the general use of the public that shop along Main Road .
Challenges / Planning With an already approved scheme , the new design was subject to a number of amendments
of conditions and departures to that scheme . This process was further complicated and delayed by a change in market conditions with the advent of the 2008 world economic crisis and a commercial requirement for more office bulk and less retail rentable area .
Concept / Design Concept The design strategy was to create a simple and bold architectural intervention that would address and re-inforce the pedestrian and retail environment of Kenilworth Main Road . Historically , the Main Road has always had a vibrant community feel to it and the new building had to respect and build on this legacy . The architects wanted this building to be the seed that would help kickstart a hive of new Main Road activity and regeneration of one of the last remaining active retail “ high streets ” in the Southern Suburbs .
The architects design strategies , as with all new projects , was to spend a great deal of time in the area , understanding pedestrian movement patterns , climatic conditions , existing context and building materials , along with noting key focal points and best view orientations .
378 Pam Golding on Main