#Recently Completed Developments We Missed

[Lydon]

Thought I'd create a thread where we can post general developments of note that have recently been completed, or are nearing completion, but haven't created a thread for yet So fire away.

[Lydon]

Palm Springs
Apartments
Brooklyn
http://www.palmspringscapetown.co.za/

An excellent boost for the area. Brooklyn seems to be undergoing a mini revival of its own lately. Quite a few developers are fixing up buildings or developing sites along the main road. It's slowly starting to look less dingy these days.

Renders:
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Photos:
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[AtlanticOceanMan]

are them the apartments buidings or the office building

[Lydon]

They're apartments

[Lydon]

I take it that this is finished by now:

Simonstown Naval Base Simulator
Submarine Escape Simulator
Simonstown
Source

The South African Navy purchased three submarines and employed Equity Studio in association with EBESA architects to design a training facility that can simulate the escape of navy personal from a type 209 submarine. The project is built next to the existing dive tank in the Western Dock Yard near the Nay museum. The old police station (timber structure) on the site had to be demolished to make room for the new building. READ MORE


Photos:

[Lydon]

Vodacom seem to have extended their Bellville offices:

Vodacom Bellville

Client: Vodacom
Architect: KMH Architects
Engineer: Qunu Consulting
Quantity Surveyor: Turner and Townsend









Source: Gran Build

[Lydon]

32 Chepstow Road
Apartments
Green Point
Source

Construction has been completed at 32 Chepstow Road, the new block in Green Point with just six apartments.

Pam Golding Properties is marketing the apartments, one of which has been sold. Prices range from R1.85 million to R2.75 million.

PGP’s area manager for the City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard, Basil Moraitis, says although Green Point is known as a trendy area, this is a quiet section of the suburb, giving residents the best of both worlds.

“They will enjoy peace and quiet and good security, while still being within easy each of numerous boutiques, delis, coffee shops and restaurants. The new Cape Town Stadium and the V&A Waterfront are also close by, and it will be a very short commute into town for those working in the Central City business district. All units enjoy views of either Table Mountain or Table Bay and the stadium.”

The apartments range in size from 73 m2 to 91 m2, with an additional 11 m2 to 30 m2 of decked patios. Flats have either one or two parking bays in a secure underground garage with direct access to the building. The block is wired for DSTV, and there is provision for a 24-hour concierge, with digital CCTV coverage for extra security.

[CTMAN]

Hi Guys, was not sure where I could ask this question? Why is it that in South Africa we don,t use as much wood/timber in our buildings such as internal door frames, wooden fencing etc, rather than cement or concrete walls? I suspect some of this may have to do with security, i.e. walls?

[hsark]

Originally Posted by CTMAN

Hi Guys, was not sure where I could ask this question? Why is it that in South Africa we don,t use as much wood/timber in our buildings such as internal door frames, wooden fencing etc, rather than cement or concrete walls? I suspect some of this may have to do with security, i.e. walls?

1) craftsmen ship
2) most decent wood comes for the eastern cape i is quite expensive to import it places like gauteng
3) 2 most architects are taught at university not to use timber as its though to be inferior and difficult to use

[Lydon]

14 Loop Street
Offices
Source



Loop Street Building Sets Green Pace

One of Cape Town’s Grand Old Ladies – 14 Loop Street – has been given a major facelift, and in the process, become one of the city’s first truly iconic green buildings.

Built in1904, 14 Loop Street has now been extensively refurbished – on the inside and out. The result is that it has been transformed into a prestigious, upmarket office block, and sets a new benchmark in green building development in the process.

Rob Kane, chairman of the Central City Improvement District (CCID) and director of Vunani Properties, which owns the building, says the company was attracted to 14 Loop Street as it is the last city block to be upgraded in what is fast becoming the financial heart of the city.

He says “going green”, while still retaining the old character of a building, is still a fairly new concept in South Africa, although it is fast becoming a trend with both tenants and landlords.

Most commercial buildings have an average life span of 24 years, which makes “going green” a priority for the future. 14 Loop Street’s “green” features include large double-glazed, tinted, openable windows that let in lots of natural light and require substantially less air-conditioning. The air-conditioning system is low energy, low emission. Toilets are dual flush and urinals are waterless. Recycled materials were used in the renovation. In addition, power consumption will be reduced and water is collected off the roof for reticulation into the building’s grey water system.

“There is always a balance between commercial viability and wanting to provide sustainable developments. With 14 Loop Street, we seem to have achieved an acceptable balance,” says Kane.

Tenant, Dr Guy Preston, Head of the Department of Water and Forestry’s (DWAF) “Working for Water Programme,” says the building is “perfect” for the programme’s needs.

“This is the only building we considered that met our green requirements. It’s an example of what can be achieved, and I have no doubt that it sets new standards for green buildings in the future,” he says.

Preston adds that DWAF worked closely with Vunani in the refurbishment process and is “highly impressed” with the final product.
He says 14 Loop Street will act as an inspiration, and as a trendsetter, for developers who take the green concept seriously.

“It’s wonderful to see what can be done, and how an old building can retain its essential character, while undergoing a major renovation, with green considerations top of the agenda,” he says.

“We are also very pleased to be located right in the middle of a city that has undergone major, lasting change in recent years. It’s a vibrant, safe place to be and it’s wonderful to see so many big businesses returning to the CBD after a long absence,” he says.

He says staff are more than happy to be based in the city, with all the amenities it offers and a safe, reliable transport system.
The building’s top two levels can either be used as penthouse offices or residential space and feature a 250m2 roof garden with beautiful mountain views. The development value of the building is R34 million.
Vunani is a BEE property developer and some of its other recent commercial developments in Cape Town include The Decks on Green Market Square and 56 Short Market Street.

“Vunani has developed or bought properties in the CBD of over R250m,” says Kane. “This shows our own faith in the future of the CBD”.
He says as far as possible, his company sees all its future developments having to be ‘green’ and this is always a challenge as, at the moment, tenants want green but are not willing to pay the premium for it.
“This presents the developer with a tough decision as most of the costs of being green are for his account (upfront) but most of the benefits are for the tenant,” says Kane.

He says the building’s large windows will be obvious to passersby, and the low height partitioning will be easily notices by visitors, as will some of the reconstituted/recycled/renewable materials used. But most of the other green features are largely hidden (like the efficient air conditioning system, collection and use of rain water, double glazed tinted windows, etc).

Asked why green features like these are important, he says: “The current (high) energy usage of buildings in SA is not sustainable and more and more companies are realizing that the green road is the only one to take”.

[Lydon]

Updated the above post with a photo.

[Foxyman]

Eden on the Bay - Big Bay, Blouberg - Retail

http://www.edenonthebaymall.co.za/about.htm

Is open and apparently amazing, has anyone been?

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[Lydon]

Indeed! It is great.

We actually have a thread for it. Check the Index for Big Bay Beach Estate.