Newtown Junction and Drostdy Hotel wins for dhk at SAPOA
20 May 2015
Two projects by dhk architects received Innovation Excellence Awards at the SAPOA Convention yesterday afternoon. Newtown Junction in Johannesburg received the Mixed-Use Development, Overall Transformation Awards and Overall Winner Awards, while The Drostdy Hotel in Graaff-Reinet won the Overall Heritage Award.
The R1.3bn landmark Newtown Junction by Attacq and Atterbury Property Developments, in partnership with the City of Johannesburg and South African Heritage Resources Agency is a substantial mixed-use development in the west of Johannesburg’s CBD. The project is an important commercial catalyst for the area, providing new retail and office space and reinvigorating the existing arts and entertainment venues, and representing a substantial investment in inner city regeneration.
“This complex project involved the design of a new retail mall, new offices for Nedbank targeting 4* Green Star SA rating, and the restoration of several heritage buildings on the site. The owners took a bold approach in keeping with the spirit of Newtown and we are proud to be associated with this project” said Peter Fehrsen, Director of dhk, from their Johannesburg office.
dhk were the lead architects for the project, working with LP Architects on the retail elements and Mashabane Rose Associates on the heritage portions of the site.
In Graaff-Reinet, the sensitive restoration of the Drostdy Hotel and several other historic buildings on the site, as well as the design of contemporary additions was also recognised by SAPOA with an award.
“This was an incredibly significant restoration project, and we worked hard to create a seamless experience of the rich heritage of this site, while bringing the hotel provision up to the 5* luxury standard envisioned by the owners,” said Renske Haller, managing director of dhk, who led the project from the company’s Cape Town office.
Two other projects by dhk were shortlisted in the awards programme, the Portside tower in Cape Town and the Eikestad Urban Renewal in Stellenbosch.
The SAPOA Awards for Excellence recognise exceptional property development across a range of sectors, and focus not only on architectural design but on economic viability, client and user satisfaction and community benefit.
