Finishes Natural materials have been extensively used to express the texture and visual appeal of various elements . These include stone , steel , brick as well as extensive indigenous landscaping .
Natural stone cladding in the form of shard riven walling has been used selectively on various external walls and to highlight changes in level . The finish is not a smooth manufactured look but in keeping with the essence of the raw natural material . Lime washed face bricks used on demising piers between tenants , are accented with glass mosaics for detail and the walkway features exposed timber rafters and ceilings with steel supporting columns . The exposed steelwork support is a strong design feature , framing the high walkway .
The walkway flooring is unpolished terrazzotype pavers . Colours are clean and bold for a contemporary feel . The signage criteria have been developed to ensure good exposure for the tenants without obliterating the Centre but still affording all tenants the necessary visibility .
Piling Gauteng Piling was commissioned by the client ’ s agent to install the piles , which started in November 2006 . Altogether 698 augered piles were installed and by the time that Group Five Building commenced on site , a large area was available to them to start with the foundations . Co-ordination between activities were crucial during the latter stages of the piling , as final design and layout changes meant that the sequence of work was very important and at times there were 4 piling rigs on site .
Challenges The building aspects of this shopping centre are not so much unique as a return to tried and tested conventional building techniques , to achieve both an interesting aesthetic as well as to meet the low maintenance requirements of the client .
The first of these is the use of almost 4,000m 2 of Oriented Strand Board ( OSB ) sealed with Derbigum torched on SP3 and SP4 waterproofing , to create a trafficable , watertight walkway , including an integrated OSB gutter .
The second is a series of facebrick arches built using traditional methods , whereby facebricks are placed individually in soldier courses between scrim wires and curved formwork to effect an arch with the ends of the bricks forming the underside of the arch , without the use of brick faggots or concrete lintels .
It was a challenge to provide substantial steel support to the curtain wall glazing on the vertical face of the feature entrances , ( which in some instances span 15m ) without compromising on the intended aesthetic of a delicate glazed light box between substantial concrete piers . Ongoing
244 Woodmead Retail Park