Award for UWC University Life Sciences Building
November 2011
dhk Architects is a recent recipient of an award from the Cape Institute of Architects for its work and design of the UWC University Life Sciences Building at its main campus in Bellville, Western Cape. The UWC Life Sciences is an innovative development which includes an institutional laboratory comparative to the best in the world and which uniquely incorporates six departments into a single working and learning environment.
“Our focus is on designing fit-for-purpose developments on time - and on budget. Our efforts are aimed at creating spaces that reflect contemporary designs that advance conservation and sustainability principles and practices,” said Derick Henstra, Chairman of dhk Architects. “UWC combines all these ambitions whilst remaining pioneering and functional.”
“Despite the challenges presented by the global recession, dhk continues to build on its reputation that combines innovative design capabilities and sound technical skills so as to deliver living spaces that work mixed-use urban developments that bring benefits to those that live and work within these environments” says Henstra.
dhk Architects
October 2011
dhk Architects are pleased to announce the appointments’ of Dr Justin Snell and Marina Brink as Associate Directors and Brinley Prichard as an Associate of the firm.
“Each of these individuals bring an enormous amount of experience, talent and professionalism to our executive team. We look forward to their positive contributions to the ongoing success of the company and the role that they can play in shaping a dynamic future of the Group”, said dhk Chairman, Derek Henstra.
Dr Snell has more than 11 years experience in the architectural profession in South Africa and a successful track record in the design and delivery of small and large-scale projects. For the new Portside Tower, Justin was instrumental in steering the innovative design aimed to be the first 4 Star green-rated tall building in South Africa. Dr Snell’s field of specialisation is design with a focus on sustainability, ecology and energy conservation, and he recently led the design team of the winning competition entry for the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies in Kenya, intended to create a landmark project and icon of sustainable development in Africa.
Marina has more than 10 years experience in the architectural profession. Having worked in South Africa and the United Kingdom, she has gained experience in various stages of the design and building processes covering a broad range of projects including residential, commercial, retail, hotels as well as mixed-use developments. Marina commenced her tenure at dhk in 2005 as Design and Project Architect working on ICON, an 18- storeyed, mixed-use office and residential building in Cape Town CBD and has since been involved as Design Architect on various projects. More recently she has been extensively engaged in the design of a variety of retail centres across South Africa.
Brinley Pritchard has 8 years’ post graduation experience in the architectural profession, having worked in South Africa, the Republic of Ireland and the Seychelles. He has experience in all building stages across a range of architectural projects. His specialties include residential apartment buildings, housing and luxury hotel projects. His recent involvement comprises the documentation, construction phase and project management of luxury hotels in Cape Town, South Africa and the Seychelles.
Premier breaks ground for Cape Town new skyline
August 2011
Underscoring their commitment to sustainable investment in the Western Cape, Old Mutual and FirstRand are embarking on their joint Portside development initiative to further the fast growing central business district of Cape Town.
The Cape Town skyline will soon feature a stunning new addition in the form of the impressive new Portside Building. The project in the Cape Town CBD is a joint initiative between Old Mutual and FirstRand Bank. It will become the provincial headquarters for the 3 divisions of FirstRand Bank, namely FNB, RMB and Wesbank. Old Mutual will offer an additional 25 000m2 of prime space for leasing to corporate and retail tenants.
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille today participated in the ground breaking ceremony signaling the start of the project. In her speech, the Premier congratulated the two companies for their vision and investment in the future of South Africa, as well as their commitment to the growth of the Western Cape Province.
“The obvious commitment by both Old Mutual and FirstRand to support the Province’s sustainable economic development standards has been commendable,” she said, “and the City is confident that the presence of the architecturally appealing Portside building in Cape Town will not only enhance the beauty of the city, but also serve as a catalyst to create the critical mass of related buildings and commercial activities needed to further revitalize the fast-growing Cape Town CBD.”
Designed jointly by dhk Architects (the lead architects) and Louis Karol Architects to represent a ‘city in the sky’, the new Portside Building will be the highest building in the Cape Town CBD with 32 floors and comprises a full city block between Buitengracht, Hans Strijdom, Bree and Mechau streets. It will capitalize on the stunning views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean while complementing the beauty of the city. The project is likely to be a big boost for the local construction industry, and represents a substantial investment into the Western Cape Province.
The 1.6bn project, which is set to become a landmark tower in the emerging financial district in the foreshore area of Cape Town’s CBD will have office space of over 52 000m2 as well as 1 200m2 of banking and retail area with easy access from all sides on the ground level.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of the building, FirstRand CEO, Sizwe Nxasana, explained that the banking group considered Portside to be far more than merely another city building. “As one of South Africa’s oldest banks, FNB has a strong presence in Cape Town and the Western Cape,” he pointed out, “and our investment in Portside is an extension of our continued commitment to investing in the development of the city and region, providing sustainable economic stimulus and creating much-needed jobs in line with government’s employment development and social upliftment agenda.”
According to Ben Kodisang, MD of Old Mutual Property, the visual, environmental and social impact of Portside was key to the entire design process. “Not only did the design of Portside need to enable Old Mutual and FirstRand to have two distinct businesses addresses in the city,” he explains, “its location in a Central City Urban Conservation Area meant it needed to be highly sensitive to the historical and environmental character of its surroundings.
To this end, the architects were required to take cognizance of both the current and potential future development of the city around the site of the new building, and ensure that Portside will be able to create the necessary synergies with other buildings in the area, contributing to the overall revitalization of this part of Cape Town over time.
All stakeholders agreed, from the outset, that environmental sustainability is a vital component in this design approach. Stephan Claassen, Provincial Head of FNB explained that it is the intention of the project team to submit the building for formal green star rating to the Green Building Council of South Africa. “We intend making Portside a benchmark of environmental sustainability in terms of both construction and building management processes, and have worked closely with the architects to ensure that it serves to raise the standards of green design, indoor environmental quality, and the reduction of energy, water consumption, waste production and management production and negative carbon emissions for tall buildings.”
Kodisang confirmed this commitment and explained that the incorporation of these green building principles will be closely monitored and evaluated to ensure that Portside conforms with the City of Cape Town’s green building standards and achieves the desired four green star rating.
Both Claassen and Kodisang expressed their gratitude to the City of Cape Town for its support and assistance in making this vision a reality. “Without the close partnership of the City of Cape Town, FirstRand and Old Mutual would never have reached this historic point in realizing our vision for the Portside building,” said Kodisang, ‘and we are immensely grateful for the encouragement and assistance the council has provided us.”
South African architectural firm making its mark on the Italian landscape
July 2011
Local architectural firm, dhk architects, are the designers for a multi-million Euro office block in Mogliano, Italy. The 9000m2 corporate office block, currently under construction, comprises two highly visible buildings designed around a glazed public atrium. The piazza-like atrium brings the two building structures together in a communal area with a signature coffee bar and public recreational area. “dhk has been responsible for the conceptualizing, design and oversight of this international project and we have been working closely with our Italian property developer clients. The building is due for completion at the end of 2011 and is adjacent to the already completed Move Hotel”, said Peter Fehrsen, Director of dhk Architects.
dhk Architects scoops prestigious SAPOA Excellence Award:
May 2011
Cape Town, South Africa: Prominent national architectural firm dhk Architects claimed first place in the SAPOA 2011 Excellence Awards in the Other category for its work on the innovative UWC Life Sciences development. The Life Sciences building at the University of the Western Cape is a modern, sophisticated institutional research laboratory which has fused six departments into a single multi-functional academic development.
Chairman of dhk Architects, Derick Henstra said,” our focus and commitment as an architectural firm is to design fit-for-purpose developments on time and on budget, while creating spaces that reflect contemporary as well as functional design. Our emphasis is also to promote sustainable projects that contribute to the natural as well as built environment – UWC is just one such development – a building which reflects urban re-invention and rejuvenation and combines various elements to create a imposing and lasting landmark.”
South African Firm wins Architectural Design Competition for the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace & Environmental Studies :
March 2011
Cape Town, South Africa: Cape Town-based architects, dhk has won the Architectural Competition for the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies in Kenya. The winning design was unveiled by Dr Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP accompanied by Dr Reuben Mutiso, Chairman of the panel of international jurors, at an awards ceremony held in Nairobi.
The ‘Green Campus’ will be the home of the Institute for Peace & Environmental Studies (WMI) of Noble Peace Prize Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai. Located on a lush and steeply sloping 50-acre site at the University of Nairobi Kabete campus, the WMI is envisaged as a functional and inspiring hub of activities in the area of natural resource management and education for sustainable development. The institute is expected to meet stringent sustainability and conservation criteria, aiming to achieve close to 100% carbon neutrality and self-sufficiency.
Receiving the award, dhk director, Peter Stokes said they were overwhelmed to have won the opportunity to design the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies. He commended his partners in the consortium, Land Use Consultants of the UK, Turner Townsend and the WSP Group.
The jurors’ report commended dhk architects for the boldness of their design and the thoroughness in resolving the different aspects of the scheme from concept to detail. Project Advisor and jury member, Phillip Kungu said “We were particularly impressed with the land use master plan, the sensitive treatment of ecological issues and the extensive handling of sustainable design concepts. The winning design was unanimous,” he concluded.
Dr Justin Snell of dhk who lead the design said, “the competition was an inspiring experience, and provided a singular opportunity to utilize the team's joint experience to deliver a thoroughly integrated approach incorporating land management to architecture and engineering. Our aim was to give expression to the vision of Wangari Maathai and to embody the values and principles of the Green Belt Movement by approaching the site, landscape and architecture in terms of long-term stewardship, sustainable management of resources, education and empowerment.”
The location, form and massing of the WMI formed one of the key strategic design decisions of the dhk entry. Based upon core sustainable management concepts, the approach was to locate the institute on land with minimal agricultural value while simultaneously nestling the Institute into its surroundings and capturing the dramatic views across the valley towards Mt Kenya.
At the heart of the dhk scheme is the welcoming and dignified democratic space sheltered by a tensile canopy roof supported on tripod ‘tree-like’ columns evoking the tree planting work of the GBM and the three legs of the traditional African stool seen by Maathai as representing ‘democratic space, sustainable and accountable management and ‘cultures of peace’.
Land Use Consultants from the United Kingdom - who were responsible for the Eden project in Cornwall, said of the design, “the ‘Green Campus’ will be a dynamic educational and practical landscape showcasing and demonstrating sustainable techniques in natural resource management, agriculture and production as a step in the path to sustainable human development through peace and democracy.”
“Receiving this commission is a tremendous accolade to have received and a tribute to the foresight and creativity of the many talented architects working at dhk,” said Derick Henstra, Chairman of dhk Architects. “Perhaps, more gratifying to us is the in-roads that we are able to make towards designing and building sustainable and environmentally responsible architecture here in Africa that is relevant and has the primary objective of serving the people and communities of the continent whilst still protecting and conserving the natural resources for future generations to come.”
Other members of the jury included Arch. Steven Oundo, the Chairman Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), Arch. Dr. Gideon Mutemi Mulyungi, the Secretary Ministry of Public Works, Dr. Sylvester Masu, Ms Priyanka Kochhar of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of India and Dr. Lars Reutersward Director Global Division, UN-HABITAT.