Another groundbreaking project from Propertuity sees the first large-scale residential container development in South Africa.

Drive Lines, the design-forward project located at 213 Albertina Sisulu Street, Joburg, comprises a multi-level structure created using upcycled shipping containers and built over what was originally a one-storey car repair shop.

As with the redevelopment of Hallmark House with Sir David Adjaye (read about it here), Propertuity strives to push the envelope in terms of what it means to live and work in the city with a focus on creating communities and improving urban spaces.

In South Africa the need for inexpensive building solutions has never been more pressing. Building sustainable, affordable housing that also strives to a higher aesthetic ideal were the imperatives for Drive Lines, which was conceived and implemented in collaboration with award-winning New York-based architecture firm and upcycling experts LOT-EK, founded by Giuseppe Lignano and Ada Tolla.

It illustrates the potential for sustainability and good design to converge. The units are compact, but full of light and air, with large windows, each with its own outdoor space. A rental-only development, it also reflects the need for temporary housing solutions. Drive Lines is geared towards young people looking for affordable housing, but who are discerning enough to want to live in quality spaces.

With a contemporary aesthetic, the community-centric development is designed to encourage clever use of space and to stimulate residents interaction with one another and with the space via open walkways and a central green area. “We wanted to create a happy, quiet place in the middle of Joburg’s crazy energy,” says Giuseppe.

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“Blok was born of a need to drive city living; something I as an urban resident believe in strongly,” says Jacques van Embden, co-founder and MD of Blok. “Urban space is extremely competitive and as such drives innovation and evolution – a big part of what makes city living attractive, as it feels like it is constantly evolving and asking questions of itself.”

This is also one of the characteristics that make Blok stand out from competitors; it too is constantly driving innovation, both in its design ethos as well as its social and community responsibility. Blok and the team behind it believe that when one lives in an urban landscape public spaces become democratic spaces. As one would care for one’s own garden or pool, when these become a shared resource, such as the Promenade and Sea Point public pools, each person that makes use of it should care for it as their own.

“Democratic spaces either belong to no-one and degenerate or they need to belong to everyone to flourish, and Blok, as a part of the developers of the city, is determined to activate this shared level of ownership and sense of responsibility,” says Jacques.

Programmes that are already in motion include a partnership with and membership to the local Rate Payers Association to work on a Crime and Grime initiative for the Atlantic Seaboard, Blok response and activation is a contribution to security initiatives of the Sea Point CID and a contribution to the LPR (license plate recognition programme). The innovation in design is driven by the focus on what WAUW Architects refer to as ‘third spaces’. “The third space is what makes a property a home, the corner that would ordinarily be ignored becomes the home office / reading corner, whatever the owners need is how we allocate that space,” says Eric van den Berg of WAUW, the architectural team designing the Blok developments, the second of which launches in October.

This ethos of thoughtfulness and innovation extends from the beautiful Blok apartments to the Blok community, consisting of the owners, shareholders, and potential owners that care about the environment in which they live, both inside and outside their front doors.

We featured Blok’s exciting Sea Point development here. You can also visit blok.co.za for further information.

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Piet Bakker van Stauch Vorster-argitekte, Mokena Makeka van Makeka Design Lab en Anya van der Merwe van Van der Merwe Miszewki-argitekte het die uitdaging aanvaar vir die ontwerp van die Kiks2, wat sal bestaan uit 10 000 m² handelsruimte, ’n hospitaal, hotel en kantoorblok. Die projek, wat na verwagting teen Junie 2015 voltooi sal wees, vorm deel van die Kiks se plan om teen 2020 as die beste langafstand- internasionale konferensiesentrum bekend te staan.

Die sentrum, wat tans ’n groot verskeidenheid geleenthede aanbied – van kleinskaalse maatskappyvergaderings tot groot saamtrekke soos die Design Indaba – sal ná voltooiing van die tweede fase verskeie groot saamtrekke gelyktydig kan aanbied wat meer toeriste en sakelui na die stad sal lok.

Die uitbreiding is in pas met die mandaat van die Kiks om beduidende ekonomiese voordele vir die Moederstad en die Wes-Kaap in te hou. Werkskepping sal styg van die huidige 7 000 poste tot sowat 10 000 per jaar, en die stad as geheel sal ’n hupstoot kry met groter getalle plaaslike en internasionale toeriste.

Die argitektoniese konsep agter die ontwerp, getitel “6211”, gebruik die DNS-kode van die unieke biodiversiteit in die Kaapse blommeryk as inspirasie. Die DNS-konsep, wat op amper elke vlak van die gebou – van die dak tot die mure en matte – geïnkorporeer word, sal help om die dubbelvlak-gebou te laat funksioneer as ’n lewende kunswerk en ’n opvoedkundige ruimte wat menslikheid beklemtoon en vier.

Die argitekte se bedoeling met die groot sentrale foyer en veelvlakkige terrasse is om ’n ligte, oop gevoel aan die Kiks2 te verleen. Buigsaamheid is ook van uiterste belang, en die sentrum sal soomloos as een gebou moet funksioneer, maar ook as twee, wanneer nodig. Wanneer die projek voltooi is, sal die Kiks die middelpunt vorm van ’n stedelike, voetgangervriendelike polspunt wat Kaapstad sal help om sy plek as volwaardige wêreldklas-stad vol te staan.

Meer inligting: www.cticc.co.za

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Piet Bakker of Stauch Vorster Architects, Mokena Makeka of Makeka Design Lab, and Anya van der Merwe of Van der Merwe Miszewki Architects take on the challenge of designing CTICC2, which will comprise 10 000 square metres of retail space, a hospital, hotel and office tower. Set to be completed by June 2015, the project dovetails with the CTICC’s objective to become the best long-haul international convention centre by 2020.

The Centre – which currently hosts a multitude of events, ranging from small scale company meeting to huge events such as the Design Indaba – will, post expansion, be able hold multiple large events simultaneously, bringing more tourists and business people to the city.

In line with the core mandate of the CTICC, the expansion is set to have substantial economic benefits for Cape Town and the Western Cape. Job creation will increase from the current 7000 to around 10 000 per annum, and the city as a whole will be boosted by the increase in both local and international tourists.

The architectural concept behind the design is entitled “6211” and takes inspiration from the DNA code of the Cape Floristic Kingdom’s unique biodiversity. Incorporated into the building at almost every level – from roof to walls to carpets – the DNA concept will enable the double level facility to serve as a living artwork and place of education that celebrates and raises awareness about humanity.

With a large central foyer and multiple terraces, the architects’ intention is for CTICC2 to have a light, airy and optimistic feel. Flexibility is also paramount, and the centre will need to operate both seamlessly as one building, but also as two when required. When completed, the CTICC will sit in the midst of an urban, pedestrian-friendly hub propelling Cape Town forward as a world-class city.  

More info: www.cticc.co.za

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