THIRD FLOOR PLAN - TYPICAL
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
adapted at each end to the particular constraints of the north and south site boundaries .
The two buildings are coupled at the centre of the site by a suspended and semi-transparent link bridge on the second and third floors . This bridge , and the space below , allows a view corridor from Table Bay to the Noon Gun on Signal Hill .
Directly below the bridge is the vehicular access to the parking basement , and beyond this is a bridge over the canal to connect Waterway House to the rest of the Canal District .
Each building is also fragmented by generous entrances recessed into their respective façades along both Dock Road and canal sides , thus breaking the buildings up into two further segments .
The parapets of both buildings are crowned by a steel framed aluminium ‘ eyebrow ’ that not only unifies the two buildings tectonically , but also has
a practical function , conceals the anchor system for rope access window cleaners .
The retail space on the ground floor is set back from the office floors above , creating a more hospitable pedestrian environment and also contributing to the perception of the office space floating above the ground . Retail spaces are contained within continuous full height shopfronts with a clear height of 4.5m , while slim perimeter columns are externalised on the Dock Road and the far end façades .
Entrance atria to North and South buildings are seemingly identical , with only the reception joinery and various tile selections differing through tenant interventions . Each building is serviced by a bank of three lifts traversing from the parking basement via securitised lobbies up to all office floors . A further bank of two shuttle lifts link the parking to the podium externally .
The Façade The façade to the office floors is made up of a crystalline double glazed curtain wall , which adds to the buildings ’ sense of lightness , and animates with reflected activity , particularly of the water on the canal frontage . Significantly , it is the product of an intricate analysis of the east / west orientation of this building , and the corresponding play of light during the course of the day .
The integrated façade system deploys two different approaches – for the short sides facing north and south , and for long sides facing east and west . The short sides of the buildings , as well as the reveals to the entrances , are simply glazed with Solar E Grey glass to both the continuous vision panels as well as the horizontal spandrel panels . This creates a neutral offset to the complexity of the Dock Road and the canal façade design .
514 Waterway House