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“We love dark buildings, especially in the Highveld,” says architect Enrico Daffonchio. “The strong light characteristic of this region means we design buildings that absorb it rather than reflect it.” -
Playful patterns and warm cove lighting are indicative of the congenial welcome guests can expect at the hotel. -
Wolkberg tiles are a striking contrast to the black brick façade, while brass accents bounce light through communal spaces. -
The four-storey mural by South African artist Cameron Platter, commissioned by Art Gazette, lives harmoniously alongside the New York-style windows of the open interior courtyard. -
The “sea of lights” porte-cochère that leads from the pedestrian walkway into the VOCO hotel and Proud Mary. -
The lobby that leads to the concierge houses, among other design details, a nod to the VOCO mascots – a mosaic owl and flamingo – which “live” among the Art Deco lights and rattan disk panels. -
Chorus I, a 2018 work by artist Maja Marx, is housed in a seating alcove of off-shutter concrete and wooden panelling, and framed by pendant lights. -
The warm wood panelling of the mirrored bar at Proud Mary acts as a continuance of the seating alcoves and convivial spaces throughout the chic eatery, executed by Sketch Studio. -
Showcased in a secluded dining room is “Shoes”, a collection of ink, pencil and pastel drawings by Cameron Platter. The bespoke brass mirror-and-rattan ceiling panels reflect the geometry of the terrazzo floors by Union Tiles and klompie tiles by Wolkberg. -
Private workstations were created by Hoven Design for Workshop 17’s contemporary and cool co-working space. -
The retro-style gentleman’s barbershop on the pedestrian level of The Bank is a step back in time, with burgundy velvet trims and a molecule pendant light.
WORDS Michaela Stehr PRODUCTION Annemarie Meintjes PHOTOS Dook
A revamp of the old FNB building in Johannesburg’s Rosebank by Daffonchio Architects has seen an award-winning transformation of a ’70s staple into The Bank – a 13-storey, versatile creative and social hub with nods to a multitude of architectural movements.
Banks bring to mind memories of long queues, drab interiors and quiet, stark spaces. This may have been the case for the old FNB building situated in the heart of Rosebank, a bustling retail and business district that has been blossoming since the 1930s. Today, though, The Bank – a new mixed-use space designed by Enrico Daffonchio of Daffonchio Architects – holds anything but these qualities. Just announced a winner of the Gauteng Institute for Architecture’s Award of Excellence, this extensively reworked space effectively ties together a series of different elements – a barbershop, Proud Mary restaurant and bar, Workshop 17 co-working space and VOCO hotel – while stylishly paying homage to the area’s rich architectural history and urban pedestrian lifestyle. “The concept was to accommodate different and completely separate functions while upgrading and connecting the urban surroundings,” explains Enrico.
Along with the client’s wish to establish an iconic landmark, the extensive team involved in the project was tasked with creating a statement structure that uses design, art and an element of playfulness to bring people together in a vibrant flurry of social networking and interaction. The locally produced black bricks that make up the majority of the monolithic structure were all custom-made, and Enrico sampled a variety of architectural styles prevalent in the area while adding a contemporary spin and bringing refreshing elements to the design. “We looked at the old Rosebank and its Art Deco buildings, which have now disappeared,”he says.“NewYork’s historic buildings were also a source of inspiration. The top of the building, on the other hand, is more in line with our minimalist style and the principle that ‘form follows narrative’ – that is, we designed the building around the story of the site being an old bank.”
As you walk in through one of the three entrances, you notice the way the softer interiors complement the strong exterior. This was interior decorator Nkuli Nhleko’s intentional plan. A feel of romance and nostalgia hits under the lobby’s undulating lights, with an old-school welcome desk illuminated by waves in the porte-cochère, created by Imbewu Design.
“We aimed to gradually introduce visitors to a more glamorous interior,” says Nkuli, “so we chose to deploy some hard materials – Nero Fiorito marble, and charcoal and light-grey terrazzo – to work in harmony with the black brick.”As a result,instead of the drab monotones of a banking-mall lobby, you experience a plethora of sensory stimuli – the sound of chatter, the smell of coffee brewing – before you lay you eyes on the striking spaces. Nkuli combined practicality with aesthetics in the screen that divides the hotel entrance and lifts from the restaurant, coffee shop and co-working lounge. Serving its purpose as an entryway into the lift lobby and a room divider, it is also the first element you see as you walk into the reception area.
Tying the spaces together is Art Gazette, who curate original contemporary artworks from an extensive catalogue for a range of business and private clients.From a carefully selected inventory, curator and co-founder Morné Visagie selected 750 artworks by more than 40 South African artists for The Bank’s VOCO hotel, the lobby and Proud Mary restaurant, as well as a 400m2 mural for the private courtyard. “We selected artworks that would not only merge holistically with the building’s design but elevate it, offering an additional feature to be admired and enjoyed,” says Morné.
The pandemic may have put many commercial projects on hold, but you get the feeling that The Bank has got its timing spot-on. We are, after all, a social species; we need to spend time in each other’s company. And The Bank is about exactly that – creating a space to hang out, eat, work, stay over and be a human being in the world once more.
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