MATLA offices is situated within the sub-urban neighbourhood of Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria, South Africa. MATLA offices dual facade is a response to the contrasts of its tranquil southern approach and its Northern facade which overlooks a the well-known intersection of Lynnwood Bridge.
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Establishing the tone of commercial architecture in the area the buildings tectonic is inspired by historic monolithic African architecture, its strength and character. While the monolithic rectangular box emphasizes simplicity, the curved brick fins open and invite. Laid in simple stretcher courses the fins express rich textures and colours of the African rammed earth brick. As a thermal mass, they also improve the building energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
The form of the building was designed from the start to enhance the performance of the design and programme. Performance not only refers to the building’s environmental and operational effectiveness, but also to the way in which the development programme is accommodated in a functional and rational manner. The final form and aesthetic of the building expresses this inherent performance.
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The building would, on a commercial level, present itself as a mass that is indicative and suggests future scale and density of future and/or surrounding developments.
On a pedestrian level, the building is cut and sliced to create openings, corridors for pedestrians to safely navigate the intensely vehicular surrounds.
The “zig-zag” facade concept not only provides a shading solution but also incorporates coordinates key structural practicalities and efficiencies.
The idea was to propose a much needed shading solution that is an integral part of the building. From structural concept to internal unit layouts to materiality the building presents itself with honesty and integrity.
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Ghana’s Urban population is expected to increase by about 6 million by 2035 (18 million). This population will require a high level of inter-modal traffic and transport connectivity. Only reliable and efficient transport links will ensure the distributed population access to education and health facilities, business and job opportunities as well as to other public and private services. The overall strategy is to maintain the existing and ongoing routes from freight and passenger transport including roads, railways, in-land water and air travel in Ghana as well as sub regions.
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The Angelina Park Mixed Use Development is to occupy a large lush, densely vegetated 1437 Acre land parcel. The site is nestled against and forms part of the South Eastern region of the famous Aquapim Ridge.
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The park attempts to rethink what is typically associated with the concept of amusement/theme parks. What makes Angelina Park an internationally unique facility is the fact that it makes use of unique qualities and personality that Ghana has to offer. More specifically the unique culture, fauna and flora.
The Woodmill Mixed-use precinct is a development in the heart of the Stellenbosch, South Africa. Located on the original sawmill, the property is full of rich heritage.
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The development consists of retail, commercial offices, hotel and residential. Each zone of use responds and feeds off of one another and in that way not only reestablishing Stellenbosch's heritage but establishing community within.
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This dissertation focuses on the possibility of rehabilitating and regenerating the decaying "in-between" (Woods, 1997: 13) spaces of the city block within its urban periphery. A theoretical approach to transformation is proposed, which, instead of opting for demolition, seeks to expand on existing systems. Therefore, by harnessing site potential, the project suggests that the neglected infrastructure become part of a regenerative machine; a system of components that will stimulate the re-investment and development of the city block.
The main intention of the [infra]structure is to establish a coordinated relationship between the formal and informal of the city, the vision and the void. The goal is to create an organized centrality, where fragmented realities are brought together harmoniously using the neglected infrastructures as mediator.
