We developed the Fabrik masterplan for City Prop Administration. The masterplan project formed part of a greater urban design framework for the CBD, set out to regenerate this part of the city. The plan covers two city blocks in the north-east of the Pretoria CBD which had suffered a substantial decline over the years.
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The surrounding city grid has a coarse grain, characterised by large impermeable blocks and wide traffic-congested streets. A key element of the design strategy was to use buildings to define the street edges, opening up these boundaries and stimulating street activity.
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The masterplan retains several architecturally significant 20th century buildings, including industrial sheds, mid-rise residential buildings and 17-storey office buildings. Fabrik includes a diverse mix of uses such as retail, offices, studios, workshops, business incubation spaces, a hotel, residential apartments, event space and a permanent market. The new buildings are arranged around public spaces and a pedestrian route that passes between the two city blocks. This arrangement reinforces positive connections in the urban city fabric.