PROJECTS: ITC-SA AWARD WINNER
Top of the class
SA Roofing embarks on a visual exploration of the award
winning Cheré Botha School, a laudable educational facility of
architectural excellence.
By Candace Sofianos King | Photos by Elegant Roofing
C
ommissioned by the provincial
government of the Western Cape,
Cheré Botha School in Bellville
assists children who are intellectually
challenged, particularly with Down’s
syndrome or autism. The school is divided
into six sections featuring an
administration building, four classroom
blocks for learners, as well as one
classroom block featuring an assembly hall,
kitchen and workshops.
With the roof design having started in
July 2015, several meetings took place
between all parties throughout the process
12
OCTOBER 2018
CLADDING // CONCRETE // INSULATION // STEEL // THATCH // TIMBER // TRANSLUCENT // WATERPROOFING // COMPONENTS
in order for the team to come up with a
design that would work structurally and
ensure the final result reflects what the
architect and client wanted and was within
budget, highlights Vincent den Ouden of
Elegant Roofing.
A super form
A unique building design element is the use
of exposed timber roof trusses which add
richness to the overall aesthetic appeal of
the structure and allows for plenty of room
for natural light to enter the building.
According to Wolff Architects director
Heinrich Wolff, each of the classroom
blocks were designed around a shared
space which is expressed through a timber
A-frame, which the architectural firm
conceptualised as the ‘super-form’.
“The A-frame super-form is identical for
every age group, but the ground surface is
occupied and programmed differently
depending on its situation. These roofed
outdoor spaces form as a series of social
spaces at a scale between the classroom
and the school as a whole. It allows
learners to play and learn outside even in
adverse weather conditions. It was very