the entire nine floors , the atrium offers a visual link to the outside while allowing light deeper into the floor plate and encouraging user activity .
The west façades are shaped towards a curved glass pinnacle which cantilevers outwards towards the road . The main façade consists of double glazed unitised façades , incorporating a dark grey glass . The outermost façade of the
northern building features a secondary offset glazed ‘ skin ’ with raking sides , a nod to the fastpaced vehicular movement on Oxford Road .
The building mass is eroded along ground level on both the eastern and western edges , which , together with landscaped pockets and water features , offer users sheltered spill-out spaces under and around the building . Sitting proud of the surrounding canopy line , the building offers spectacular views across the city from the ground floor podium upwards .
The landscaping on Ground Floor slopes gently towards both Oxford Road and Tottenham Avenue , softening the interface between passers-by and the building . “ We introduced upper floor terraces at the back of the building as well as the landscaped berm in acknowledgement of the low-rise residential fabric bordering the eastern edge of the site ,” Paragon Architect Laura Strydom reveals .
Construction Challenges The site ’ s desirable location on Oxford Road , a short walk from the Rosebank Gautrain Station , posed particular construction challenges . “ The Gautrain servitude cuts through the site , which restricted the allowable construction methodology to be used . Further to this , Oxford Road sits within the site boundary . All these factors contributed to a long and intensive design process which took into account site-specific parameters , together with stakeholders ’ particular needs and requirements ,” Strydom highlights .
BIM software have been deployed from the outset , with virtual co-ordination and clash detection done on an ongoing basis . An eightperson Paragon Group team was dedicated to the project , with each person assigned to
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