Shoprite Whitey Basson Distribution Centre , Brackenfell
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY
The Shoprite Cilmor Distribution Centre , now the Shoprite Whitey Basson Distribution Centre , is a consolidation of several distribution centres across the Western Cape . Shoprite ’ s exponential growth resulted in the need for a new facility that would distribute dry groceries and refrigerated perishables . The development was an opportunity to look at the operating methodologies and design and take advantage of the latest thinking and technologies to improve productivity and reduce costs .
The brief to the professional team was to develop a world class facility that gave Shoprite the growth and competitive edge into the future . The park includes hightech materials handling technology , including a 5-level mezzanine fed by mini-load cranes , an Equipment Returns Centre with energy and water efficient crate washing and cardboard recycling , as well as nitrogen and diesel refuelling and truck wash and workshop facilities .
The sheer scale and size of the Whitey Basson Distribution Park presented the architects with the challenge of trying to blend this mammoth 135,837m 2 development into its surroundings .
No amount of landscaping could camouflage these buildings which would be visible from afar and from all four sides . Instead , various techniques were implemented to try and soften them . Curved lines were introduced for the roofs , the single largest visual element of each building , mimicking the surrounding rolling hills . Furthermore , the curved roof was extended down to the lowest possible point above the delivery canopies , effectively combining these two elements . This eliminates the conventional strict vertical line break between wall and roof and creates one continuous curved line that draws the on-looker ’ s eye across and over the roof profile . The sides of the building are effectively pulled down to a more accessible domestic scale , thus reducing the overall perceived height and mass of the buildings .
The large monotonous side profiles of the warehouses where also further broken down by placing offices and other auxiliary buildings in front , thus stepping the building
82 SAPOA Awards