NO . 5 SILO
NO . 5 SILO V & A Waterfront
DEVELOPER , CLIENT & OPERATIONS MANAGER V & A Waterfront
PRINCIPAL AGENT Mace Management Services
ARCHITECTS Van der Merwe Miszewski Architects and Jacobs Parker Architects in a JV
QUANTITY SURVEYOR MLC Quantity Surveyors
STRUCTURAL , WET SERVICES , SUSTAINABILITY & FAÇADE ENGINEERS Arup
MECHANICAL ENGINEER Worley Parsons
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER & TRAFFIC GIBB
RATIONAL FIRE DESIGN Sutherland
LIFT CONSULTANT Solutions for Elevating
LANDSCAPING ( ROOF ) Planning Partners
HEALTH & SAFETY CONSULTANT Eco-Safety
ACOUSTIC CONSULTANT SRL South Africa
LAND SURVEYOR David Hellig & Abrahamse
INTERIOR DESIGN ( PWC ) Formist
INTERIOR DESIGN ( END USER ) Collaboration
INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONING AGENT Matrix Consulting Services
MAIN CONTRACTOR WBHO Construction
PHOTOGRAPHY VDMMA Riaan West
The Silo District has taken shape around one of the city ’ s most prominent industrial relics , the 1921 grain silo complex , that has now been reinvented as the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa . The client , the V & A Waterfront , wanted to create a vibrant , mixed-use and sustainable district that would combine residential , office , leisure and retail opportunities as well as creating a pedestrianfriendly link between the Waterfront and the city .
No . 5 Silo within the District No . 5 Silo is the third building in the District to be completed and was designed by VDMMA Architects in collaboration with Jacobs Parker Architects . The prime requirement was for new office space to increase the client ’ s commercial office rental stock , but also to extend the sustainable and public nature of the precinct .
The precinct plan provided for an open shaft of public urban space between No . 5 and the future No . 6 , named the Boulevard , starting from the south façade of the historical grain silo building and extending to South Arm Road . Entry for pedestrians was required from this open shaft of space to the West of the building , but also from the basements ( a shuttle lift ) and from the South and East to the newly created external urban Public Realm .
Design No . 5 Silo therefore became pedestrian permeable , with a public street and arcade allowing access to and through the building from all sides . The intent is that the building be accessible and public , but also easing access from the bus stop and from the harbour ( including the cruise terminal ). This is further supported by retail and public facilities at ground level .
The street is not only an ‘ urban ’ idea , but also became part of the sustainability agenda of the building . It is naturally ventilated with high level fans maintaining movement of air . This becomes a new type of atrium - unconditioned and immediately accessible to the public .
The architects sought design themes that suited the location of the district as part of a working harbour ; themes of fit-for-purpose , workman-like and docksidewarehouse . Expressed materiality and appropriate detailing were considerations equally as important as resolving the functional and programmatic requirements of the brief . This reinterpreted and extended the ideas already explored at No . 1 Silo . The roof is a saw toothed design bringing south light into the atrium , thereby maximising the amount of natural light .
Materials Materials chosen for the building consist of exposed concrete , raw concrete blockwork , unitised glass and tile cladding , glass curtain walling , rough cut timber panelling , exposed steel structural members , steel framing and grillages , cobble and flagstone
436 No 5 Silo