architectural portfolio
The OBLIQUE OFFICE PARK
This corporate office project was initiated in mid 2017. Only the concept phase of the project was done to enable the client to reach out to investors.
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Project Brief
Archland Design Studios was tasked with creating a speculative concept design for an office block in the small but rapidly expanding town of Burgersfort in the Limpopo Province. The predetermined site was located on the edge of the sparsely developed industrial area, with access from the east and mountain views to the west. The purpose of the design was to enable the client to reach out to investors to fund the project. The area is rapidly modernising and the client asked for a building which could be an icon of this new aesthetic. At the same time, the building has to deal with the extreme heat and harsh sun which is characteristic of the area in question.
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My Role
As the project called for a bold and unique design aesthetic to which my own style is well suited, I was tasked with heading up the project in its entirety. Everything shown was designed, drawn, modelled or rendered by myself.
Concept
In order to maximise exposure, it was decided to push the building to the rear of the site and line three sides of the site, with a courtyard in the middle. This would allow the entire building to be visible upon approach while it appears larger than it actually is. The courtyard could then be under roof, forming an exterior entrance lobby with all the surrounding offices looking down into the public space and opening out onto it. This would allow every office space on every floor to be given access to useable exterior space which would be protected from the harsh sun, but allow fresh air and a connection to the natural world through the integration of planted areas. This was an intentional ploy to create a pleasant working environment which does not feel isolated or purely synthetic.
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The size and population of the building was calculated mathematically using equations to determine the ideal balance of variables such as legally required parking ratios, site area, lettable areas and possible basement parking areas. Combining this data with the concept, it was possible to generate a rough form for the building which could be refined based on orientation, solar angles and necessary circulation routes. The actual structure of the building consists orthogonal face brick masonry walls with intersecting, angled concrete elements which create the dramatic flair of the aesthetic. The tectonic steel roof over the top is used as a separate umbrella structure which wraps around the stereotomic structure of the office. The lightweight element is used to introduce different oblique angles to the aesthetic, playing a key role in the appearance and in the climatic response of the building. As an extra outer skin, the steel structure creates service spaces and solar shading, while also using the ‘heat chimney’ effect to keep the interior cool.
Workflow
The project was modelled in Sketchup, with plans created in Layout and renders done in Lumion. The presentation drawings were finished using Adobe Photoshop, while the presentation was compiled in Adobe InDesign.