forming around the ramp . A water feature provides some white noise against the traffic and creates a cooling atmosphere . There is also plenty of shade on offer through the planting and two roofs that have been positioned to channel the space up and onto the podium . One of these roofs has been designed to carry an artwork or provide a venue for functions . The podium space has pockets of indigenous planting with seating that can be arranged by the user along with open spaces that have been enabled for public gatherings , artwork and events .
Design Components The Old Mutual structure is made up of three main components - the main building on the south and east sides consists of large forms and addresses the city as it faces fast-paced Rivonia Road . For this reason , the façade has been designed to be viewed from a distance with bold , large forms and sweeping curves constructed from a double glazed unitised façade and aluminium cladding . The main building protects and holds the more detailed podium building to the north , which utilises a lower scale , smaller forms and more texture to interact with the public podium at a human scale . Along with the glass and aluminium , the architects used a white and grey honed stone cladding to bring texture into the façade . The podium building is seen as an extension of the public space , with the planting and forms from the podium stepping onto the balcony and roof space above providing much needed garden space for the Old Mutual staff . The atrium space makes up the third component and is held between the main and podium buildings . It links the components of office space together and houses the main arrival experience , spaces to connect staff members and vertical circulation routes .
Interior Spaces The Ground floor of the building is conceptualised as public space and has been designed to be an extension of the podium with the Old Mutual Reception moving up to the First floor . The Ground floor façade steps in , creating polite thresholds and opportunities for cover close to the building whilst expressing the structure and building materials .
There are a multitude of functions on the Ground floor , including pockets of retail to activate the podium in the future , a 200-seat auditorium , a coffee shop , the staff restaurant and a client experience center , not to mention the main arrival spaces for the Old Mutual staff and visitors . The main atrium space is divided by the central lift core , with the West Atrium focused on the arrival spaces .
The East Atrium is more focused on the Old Mutual staff members with the staff restaurant spilling out into the space under the overlapping pause areas . The pause areas have been conceived as alternate working areas on every floor . They are all different , with the focus being on line of site between spaces and interaction with the main staircase , observation lifts and circulation routes . This is all to aid communication between the departments , improving the opportunity for conversations and collaboration between the Old Mutual business units .
Multi Tenant Design The office space is easily divisible into three manageable sub tenant spaces if required and there is access flooring throughout the building . The façades have been kept clear of clutter , with service spaces and fire escape
566 No . 1 Mutual Place