Mayor’s Municipal Office
Typology:
Office
Date completed:
2015
Area (m²):
40,000
Location:
Tshwane, South Africa
Introduction:
A design competition for a PPP (Public Private Partnership) project was won in 2010. The design had to be completely reworked several times in order that our client and the end user was satisfied through the PPP process.
Description:
The building was designed to be a cost effective, efficient rational building that was completed within a good budget, whilst maintaining a sense of grandeur. Delivery of the scheme was rigorously controlled by the transaction advisors (Mott McDonald), ensuring that all deliverables fulfilled the extensive and onerous brief. I delivered the entire development, including the base building as well as all internal finishes, fittings and furniture.
It was necessary to deliver regular presentations to the mayor’s office, as well as to the financing bodies to maintain a satisfactory relationship. The building attained a Green Star 5 rating (equivalent to a LEEDS Gold).
The building occupied an entire city block, with the massing being used to create a public piazza in front of the entrance - embracing the concept of accessibility and transparency. The civic scale and function of the building was intended to ensure legibility to the citizens of the city of Tshwane. The strong form of the chamber was to be identifiable as the seat of representation for the people.The colonnade on the street edge defined the piazza space, functioned as a protected civic route for circulation and seating, whilst also providing a support structure to enable the entire square to be locked down at times of civic unrest.
The chamber itself is a complex plan of interconnected uses and occupancies what were designed to maintain separation and stringent security, whilst enabling public and press interaction. The office space sat on top of 1,533 parking bays that would be required for both staff and the public.
