SA Affordable Housing January - February 2020 // ISSUE: 80 | Page 11

NEWS
Affordable seating for the first Green ICT
school in the Western Cape Province
W
the L range Terraforce retaining blocks and have, over the last
two decades become popular for practical stair and seating
arrangements at leisure amenities and school sports facilities.
Meyer says, “The blocks offer a good looking and neat
finish, and Decorton Retaining Systems – sub-contracted by JJ
Dempers Group – specialising in Terraforce retaining walls,
did a great job installing the blocks. The seating also fits in
seamlessly with the rest of the architecture, that showcases
modern, clean finishes, fresh colours and sustainable
technology.”
Meyer also adds that the project is one that has the
potential to affect real change for future generations in the
Breede Valley: “This is a love project, to give back and uplift to
the local community, while implementing the same
technology and applications in a rural environment as are
normally seen in an urban environment.”
After completion of the project in September 2019,
landscaping was undertaken by Square One Landscape
Architects together with Afri Landscapes. All future learning
activities taking place at Botha Halte will be provided by
Bosjes Trust, in partnership with the Western Cape Education
Department (WCED).
hen construction of a new Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) school building
began at Botha Halte Primary, off the R43 near
Botha Wine Cellar in Worcester, great pains were taken to
make the school as environmentally friendly as possible.
Initiated and privately funded by Farmprops, representing
the Bosjes Family trust, the school forms part of the LitNum
Hub for the Breede Valley area, providing tuition in
Mathematics and Afrikaans to primary school learners up to
grade seven.
Sustainable materials and products, such as solar panels,
water storage and wind turbines, were specified wherever
possible.
When retaining walls and steps were specified for the
outdoor recess area, Tiaan Meyer, Architect and Director of
Meyer & Associates Architects and Urban Designers,
suggested using the Terraforce 4x4 Step block for cost
effective and robust seating and the Terraforce L11 block for
plantable and permeable earth retaining walls on the school
grounds.
The Terraforce 4x4 Step blocks were designed specifically
to provide efficient and economical steps in conjunction with
Sustainable materials and products were specified wherever possible.
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JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020
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