Housing in Southern Africa June 2015

Bricks & Paving

eThekwini Water and Sanitation depot

The construction of the new eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) Depot in Prospecton will centralise facilities to service the expanding southern region.

coupled with motion sensors will fur- ther reduce electricity consumption. He said the parking areas were po- sitioned to reduce the impressionof an endless black sea of asphalt. Stormwater is collected in three large ponds, slowing the discharge of water into the stormwater systems. ■ The Professional Team includes: Architects : City Architecture Department in association with Robert Johnson Architect and Associates and Lees and Short Associated Architects Project Team : Rob Johnson, Gary Short, Dave Barrow Electrical Engineers : City Architecture Department in association with SNA Consulting Electrical Engineers Mechanical Engineers : City Architecture Department in association with Worley Parsons RSA Quantity Surveyors : City Architecture Department in association with M Power Consulting Landscape Consultant : Richard Winn Main Contractor : Motheo Construction Group Structural Engineers : City Architecture Department in association with LSC Brunette cc

a lower carbon debt. It is in this area that our claybricks canmakeapositive contribution.” He said the clay pavers selected for the walkways and pedestrian cross- ings not only provide a hard working pavement surfacebut that their earthy colour-fast attributes would stand the test of time in uplifting the external surroundings. Rob Johnson fromRobert Johnson Architect and Associates was commis- sioned to head up the design team. The depot provides a central admin- istration facility for water, waste and constructionoperations for the south- ern region, amechanical andelectrical workshop, central store, double wash bay, an ablution block, guardhouse and parking for 334 vehicles. Johnson said, “In contrast to the face brick, off-shutter concrete was used for part of the external walling to the admin building; elements in the other buildings echo the use of concrete. “The concrete structural elements are expressed in their undecorated finish throughout the scheme,” said Johnson. “Pitched roofs with large overhangs are accentuated with coat- ed ribbed aluminum on steel purlins and steel portals.” “A number of sustainable features include the collection of rainwater for ablution facilities, gardens and wash- ing vehicles,” continued Johnson. The need for mechanical cooling of thebuildings isminimisedby theuseof cavity-insulatedbrickwallingand roof- ing and natural light to the interiors

T he project comprises six build- ings providing 4 250m² on the 32 000m² site in Prospecton. To complement the rich red of Corobrik’s Firelight Satin Face Bricks, Burgundy pavers were used for the walkways and pedestrian crossings. ‘ Pat Moon from Corobrik said that a key consideration was the timeless qualities of unrendered face brick and paver finishes that contributed to the durability and maintenance costs. Moon said, “The thermal properties of the claybrickwall constructionoffer thermal comfort andwill alsomitigate heating and cooling of the buildings.” Clay brick has an attractive finish and the non-toxic mineral properties meet all the necessary requirements for healthy living and an environmen- tally friendly indoor work environ- ment. “There isahighdemand for sustain- able building materials that support

June 2015