ADVERTORIAL- COVER STORY
What makes this project even more impressive is the effort made to create patterns and different textures with the bricks. The Plum Satin is manufactured to have a smooth texture on the front of the brick yet architects from both Trencon and Norse let the creativity flow and used the back side of the brick too, which has grooves with sides lighter in colour to form mosaic-like patterns. None of the buildings feature the very same pattern as the next.
Previously featured in SA Affordable Housing and an award winning development, The Gayles Estate in Evander, Mpumalanga is a project where Federale Stene’ s Semiface Travetine( FBA) clay bricks were used. The main features of this product are the rough texture, dark spots and the plain darker golden-brown hued clay bricks which form a beautiful pattern well suited for a homeowner that requires a cost-effective, low maintenance home.
The area tends to be slightly colder therefore the clay bricks are well suited to provide sufficient insulation for many years to come. Clay brick remains the best option for this community to establish a sustainable way of living so that future generations can benefit from this great initiative too.
The Terra Nova Retirement Village forms part of a major project being built by Stellor which includes six other estates in Trichardt, Secunda in Mpumalanga. This first-class retirement estate has already some completed units and will eventually provide a carefree retirement to the more active elderly, independent individuals and the elderly in need of assistance.
For such a fine establishment only the best facebrick will do, therefore an all-time Federale Stene favourite facebrick was selected for the project – the Rooibos Travetine( FBS). Not only does this product feature a beautiful collection of reddish hues, it allows for the creative combination between other materials too such as natural stone, wood and metal to form a completed stylish finish to each unit.
In conclusion, clay bricks are not only appealing to the eye, they are also unmatched in the building industry. This statement is comfortably supported by history. A quick Google search will show results of clay brick buildings and structures that were built thousands of years ago, still stand tall to this day.
“ How would you as the consumer benefit from clay bricks?” you may ask. The answer is simple.
Clay bricks provide natural insulation so that the building’ s inhabitants eventually save on electricity costs due to temperatures being almost evenly balanced indoors. Consumers are also protected from our unpredictable weather conditions in South Africa by being a durable building material. Clay bricks remain an affordable choice of building material as well as an environmentally friendly product with a low carbon footprint.
You, the consumer, can comfortably start your construction project with clay bricks knowing that the end result and your legacy will be appreciated by many future generations to come.
Above and below: Federale Stene’ s clay bricks are used for buildings at the University of Mpumalanga.
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SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER 2018