Harmonising the best of both worlds – transforming an old grain silo into a new hotel – is an amazing project just a short distance from Cape Town ’ s V & A Waterfront .

Aptly named the Silo Hotel is located in the grain elevator portion of the building from where grain was once lifted .

“ It occupies six floors and is a two-part structure made up of the elevator tower and the actual storage silos ,” says Gyproc ’ s regional technical and specifications manager , Janet Thompson .

Historically , the grain silo building was the tallest building in sub-Saharan Africa measuring 57m when it was opened in 1924 and decommissioned in 2001 . The 5 500m 2 structure required careful building renovations to retain its cultural significance and original features . “ The project was as much deconstruction as it was construction , because parts of its original structure were chipped away to reveal new spaces ,” Thompson shares .

To support the structure and retain its character , developers sought light-weight yet high-strength walls and ceiling material that have visual appeal while adding practical value .

“ The main considerations were acoustics , aesthetics and moisture and fire requirements ,” Thompson elaborates . To this effect 15 different types of plasterboard systems were specified , based on their sustainability , acoustic , fire rating and thermal properties .

“ These components are necessary in a luxury establishment like Silo Hotel , where privacy within rooms , safety and comfort of guests , aesthetic appeal and reduced maintenance become important considerations . Gyproc Rigitone and Isover Energylite is installed in the spa ceiling as well as in the Library and private restaurant areas ,” she says . For the hotel room ceilings , they used a Gyproc Rhinoboard . The ceiling was skimmed with Cretestone and triple bulkheads were installed .

The rooftop comprises a bar , restaurant and pool with 360 ° views of Cape Town , Table Mountain , along with views of Greenpoint Stadium , Robben Island , V & A Waterfront and Cape Town harbour .

Ceiling the deal

Revealing new spaces while maintaining the structure presented different challenges that Gyproc was able to overcome .

“ A heritage site and a building of this magnitude is accompanied by some engineering and construction challenges ,” she explains . Owing to the unique architecture of the hotel , the rooms are more spacious vertically than horizontally . “ Working at height with skimming Gyproc Cretestone and installing triple bulkheads proved labour intensive and demanding , however an outstanding result was achieved . The contractor , Scheltema worked at a height of up to five metres . This resulted in slower installation and significant safety considerations when erecting scaffolding and ensuring the use of safety harnesses .

“ All the hotel walls and ceilings are skimmed with Gyproc ’ s , Cretestone which was sealed creating an individually phenomenal appearance ,” Thompson says . The team also found the installation of triple stepped ceiling bulkheads throughout the suites and bulkheads around the air conditioning demanding . “ Frequent discussions were held with myself , Scheltema and the architects throughout the process to optimise each design phase ,” she adds .

For acoustic comfort , Gyproc Acoustic Rigitone plasterboard was expertly installed by Scheltema in the ceilings of the study , library and private restaurant allowing for quiet discretion on the sixth-floor mezzanine level .

In addition , for thermal comfort Isover EnergyLite Acoustic Insulation was installed in the ceiling . “ On this sixth floor , a hidden 60-minute fire rated ceiling was required using Gyproc FireStop Boards , installed above the Rigitone and 200mm of Isover Energylite as exceptional acoustic ratings were required . Scheltema exceeded the 63bD rating required . This level of complexity made for an arduous nonetheless exceptional installation ,” she explains .

“ Scheltema together with Gyproc through our technical site support rose to the occasion throughout all the challenges delivering a quality installation , on time and within budget ,” Thompson beams .

The Silo Hotel

To successfully finish off the project , Thompson believes that a combination of eclectic and contemporary interior features is balanced by the stark industrial style of the architecture with aspects of classic glamour where required .

“ There were no standard room details as the rooms are individually furnished by the hotel operator from Royal Portfolio , Liz Biden , so all rooms are bespoke .” The hotel has 25 individually decorated rooms made up of two royal suites , one penthouse , seven deluxe superior suites , four family suites , six superior suites , one luxury room and four silo rooms .

According to the developer , Mark Noble , installing the right materials contributed hugely towards the outcome of transforming the old silo building into a sustainable architectural and artistic glory . “ The result is an interior space that ’ s safe and comfortable , meeting the complex installation requirements while remaining structurally sound and aesthetically beautiful ,” Noble concludes .

JUNE 2018 13

SA Roofing June 2018 // Issue 101 | Page 15

Harmonising the best of both worlds – transforming an old grain silo into a new hotel – is an amazing project just a short distance from Cape Town ’ s V & A Waterfront .