Client ’ s Brief Following the successful design and completion of the Lynnwood Bridge Mixed-use Development in Pretoria , Abland appointed Studio 3 Design House as architects for the Loftus Park Development .
The client ’ s brief was based on the above experience as well as inspiration from a visit abroad to precincts and piazzas in the United Kingdom and Germany . This inspired and narrowed the broad concepts entertaining this mixed-use concept to become a ‘ people ’ s place ’ and to ignite the greater node around it .
The mixed-use concept requires P-grade office space , a 4-Star hotel , premium status gymnasium surrounding an open-air piazza . The instruction was to provide vibrant retail space with the focus on entertainment , restaurants and convenience . Loftus Park must seamlessly bring business and leisure together as it tackles both work and play in one vibrant precinct . The development should also relieve and cater for the desperate need of parking , not only to satisfy the legal requirements , but for event opportunities at the stadium .
The brief emphasises the introduction of intense and valuable landscaping that will embrace the required “ public experience ” to be outstanding as well as complementing the architectural expression with special reference to scale and proportions . Also included was the significance of the surrounding buildings such as Loftus Versveld Stadium and Clydesdale regarding use of building materials and textures / articulation of façades of buildings .
Design Concept and Planning The approved Town Planning Rights for the development was 48,000m ² which is developed in different phases . The first phase comprises a retail component of 11,000m ² ( including a food anchor ), a 4-Star hotel of 8,000m ², a premium gymnasium of 3,500m ² and P-grade offices of 12,000m ².
The zoning parameters restricted the height of buildings not to exceed the highest point of the rugby stadium also restricting the height of the Western Zone to 4 floors .
The main entrance to the development is celebrated in Kirkness Street which leads to the
576 Loftus Park