Construction World January 2018

PROPERTY

Bringing nature into building design Construction and nature might not automatically go hand in hand, but more and more developers are moving towards incorporating it into building design.

By Nicholas Stopforth, Managing Director of Amdec Property Developments

This was evident in this year’s nominees for the World Architecture Festival (WAF) awards ceremony that celebrated global architects across 68 countries and innovation in design. The 10 th annual WAF took place in Berlin mid-November. Buildings on the 2017 shortlist – across 33 categories – featured creative ideas for natural ventilation and light, as well as water-saving and energy-efficient solutions. Another global trend on the rise is rooftop gardens, springing up in major city centres. Hubs like Hong Kong, Tokyo, Rotterdam and New York are becoming known for urban farming initiatives to boost food resources. This coincides with dramatic growth in mixed-use developments featuring apartments, hotels, shops, gyms and restaurants as developers look to create green spaces innovatively. Closer to home, Johannesburg has long been considered the world’s largest man- made urban forest, boasting over 10 million trees. But could Cape Town be playing catch up? Its city’s skyline is set to change as it sees its first environmentally-friendly mixed-use development come to fruition in 2020. Harbour Arch is being built on the foreshore, by the Amdec Group, that developed Johannesburg’s iconic and award- winning Melrose Arch. The most eye-catching feature of this 5,8-hectare mixed-use precinct will be the

complex’s leafy rooftop towering over the city’s harbour. Sustainability and eco-friendly innovation will be a key focus area with green building initiatives including refuse recycling, water- saving devices, rainwater harvesting, a centralised district cooling facility and low- energy LED lighting. There is a rise in walkable mixed-use precincts with the potential to maximise the efficiency of energy and water usage, rather than buildings in isolation. Which is

why we’re bringing the global phenomenal of new urban architecture to the city – where you live, work, play and stay in a safe, convenient, sustainable and community- focused environment. The development will also boost the economy, with the first phase creating up to 2 500 construction jobs alone, 350 jobs will arise from two Marriott branded hotels, retail and lifestyle spaces destined for the site. Upmarket residential apartments and boutique offices space will top its offering. 

M1 Place’s new lease on lifestyle Growthpoint Properties’ R85-million revamp of M1 Place in Marlboro, Sandton, has converted an ageing retail warehousing property nearing the end of its lifecycle, into a modern, vibrant retail park.

conference, eventing and exhibition space design. The building of 2 000 m 2 features a multifaceted, dedicated event space for conferences, an avant-garde business centre with conference suites and dedicated meeting rooms. A highlight is its multiuse rooftop venue overlooking the iconic Sandton Central skyline. The Galleria comes fully equipped with cutting-edge production facilities and a full range of technical, décor and catering services. The upgrade of M1 Place was no simple project, with a specific challenge being delivering the refurbishment while its established retailers were still operating. “This meant the project needed

The fully-let property is perhaps best known as the location of United Furniture Outlets and United Fashion Outlets because of the excellent visibility these brands enjoy from the M1 Highway. M1 Place is superbly located minutes from Sandton Central, with outstanding highway frontage and excellent access from Eastern Service Road. The one-year upgrade and expansion project has modernised the retail park and increased its size from 13 800 m 2 to 23 000 m 2 . The revamp has also enabled each of its trio of original tenants to expand into bigger spaces, as well as adding three new names to its mix. Engelbert Binedell, Industrial Division

Director for Growthpoint Properties, explains: “M1 Place is a prominent and highly visible property asset, and it is home to great businesses. However, it had become outdated in recent years. We identified its refurbishment and expansion as a good investment to unlock better performance from the asset and extend its lifecycle. This strategic upgrade is already achieving its intended benefits.” M1 place has been reimagined as vibrant retail destination focused on décor and fashion, and it is home to Sandton’s newest event space. Located in the new extension of the retail park is The Galleria, an architectural masterpiece that sets the benchmark for

to achieve minimal disruption from construction activity and a phased development approach was key to this,” explains Leon Labuschagne of Growthpoint’s Industrial Division.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD JANUARY 2018