MIDRAND
THIS COMPETITION WAS OPEN FOR ALL AFRICAN DESIGNERS.
THE PLAN OF THIS SCHEME CONSISTED OF TWO ARMS OF ACCOMMODATION THAT WERE HINGED ON A CIRCULAR DEBATING CHAMBER, FACING NORTH (AND THE REST OF AFRICA)
THE NORTH ARM ACCOMMODATED THE PARLIAMENT ADMINISTRATION. THE SOUTHERN ARMS ACCOMMODATED THE PARLIAMENTARIAN OFFICES, AND VIP SUITES. THE COURTYARD FORMED BETWEEN THE TWO ARMS IS A LANDSCAPED, TERRACED GARDEN AND MEETING ROOMS WERE ARTICULATED AS POP-OUT BOXES IN THE COURTYARD.
THE HIGHVELD LANDSCAPE IS AN IMPORTANT DESIGN ELEMENT AND THE GROUND WAS MOUNDED AND SHAPED ON THE MOTORWAY SIDE TO ELIMINATE NOISE POLLUTION, PROVIDE SCREENING UNDER WHICH PLANT ROOMS ARE HOUSED AND TO CONCEAL BASEMENT PARKING.
LARGE PRECAST CONCRETE ‘FENCES’ WERE DESIGNED AS SCREENS AROUND THE BUILDING WHICH NOT ONLY REFERRED TO THE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN KRAAL ENCLOSURE, BUT ALSO ASSISTED WITH CLIMATE CONTROL FOR THE BUILDING. THE TRANSPARENCY OF THESE WAS OFFSET AGAINST THE SOLID COPPER PANELING USED THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE BUILDING.
THE SCHEME INCLUDED A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED SET OF SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES INCLUDING ROCK STORES FOR HEATING AND COOLING, PASSIVE VENTILATION AND SOLAR GENERATED ENERGY.
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