THE SANCTUARY
THE SANCTUARY Somerset West
DEVELOPER & PROJECT MANAGER Abacus Development Company
ARCHITECT SVA International
QUANTITY SURVEYOR iQS Quantity Surveyors
TENANT CO-ORDINATOR Wilkinson Construction & Management Services
CIVIL ENGINEER Icon Consulting Engineers
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER KLS Consulting Engineers
MECHANICAL ENGINEER EKCON Engineers
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT CNDV Landscape Architects
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT Doug Jeffery Environmental Consultant
HEALTH & SAFETY CONSULTANT Eppen-Burger & Associates
MAIN CONTRACTOR NMC
PHOTOGRAPHY Adam Letch
An ecologically sensitive development is quietly making waves on the banks of a 32,000m 3 rehabilitated wetland in Somerset West .
The Sanctuary , set against the backdrop of the Helderberg Mountains with sweeping ocean views , is a work-shop-play , mixed-use retail and office development along the busy R44 thoroughfare . Opened in October last year , it is the brainchild of Abacus Development Company and was brought to life by Cape Town-based SVA International architects .
Aptly named , The Sanctuary aims to minimise the impact of its presence on the environment , while gently encircling the stormwater detention pond that lies at its heart . This multi-faceted development comprises a 6,000m 2 convenience retail offering on the ground floor , plus 6,000m 2 of AAA-grade office space and a 2,500m 2 gym on floors one and two , as well as several waterfront destination eateries , two drive-through restaurants and 740 external parking bays .
Design Concept Architecturally speaking , the high-end boutique shopping centre combines a contemporary aesthetic with the highly textured building materials synonymous with the Cape Winelands .
The form of the building was largely determined by the mix of uses required of the site and their relation to the natural elements of water , sun , wind and mountains .
The pond is the result of a team effort by a botanist , freshwater specialist , landscape architect and civil engineer to design a habitat rich in biodiversity potential
526 The Sanctuary