Design Guidelines In addition , the design guidelines for the site were modified to a limited extent through consultation with the planners and the local authority ; pitched roofs were substituted for the originally proposed parapets with flat roofs and the onerous glazing to wall ratios were clarified . The design guidelines were incorporated into the zoning conditions and were strictly enforced by the local authority . The vague nature of most of these guidelines resulted in protracted negotiation with council as interpretations differed between developer , architect and local authority . For this reason , a large portion of this article will be dedicated to analysing design guidelines .
Materials In keeping with the barnyard expression , the palette of materials consists of traditional building blocks ; bagged brickwork with plaster moulding details , corrugated iron roof-sheeting , timber posts and beams , slate tiles , cobbles , cementitious paint etc .
Each building has a slightly different identity which is reflected in the paving and landscaping directly in the front . The walkway behind the lemon trees is thus called “ Lemon Tree Way ” and the walkway where Peter West , the contractor , had difficult founding problems is called “ West Way ” as a fitting commemoration !
Design Interpretation & Resolution The architect ’ s interpretation of “ Cape vernacular / rural agricultural setting ” results in a strong , simple concept of rectangular barn buildings with lean-to walkways and celebratory ‘ knuckles ’ at the junctions . The semi-circular layout helps reduce the visual impact of the 180m long walkway to create an intimate parking “ werf ”.
The condition that glazing should not exceed a ratio of 1:4 to the elevation proved difficult to resolve . The importance of shopfront glazing to retailers is well understood and this condition implies punched windows only . The solution lay in raising the height of the façade so that the permissible glazing area was increased . The glazing was then limited to a zone between 400mm and 2,400mm above ground . The old barn expression of deep reveals was achieved by an additional skin of brickwork under the walkway roof . Although the outcome is attractive , it would have been expedient if the intention and vision had been clarified earlier in the design guidelines .
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