NATIONAL AWARDS:
Article Date: 16 October 2008
CMA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2008
NATIONAL AWARDS
CONCRETE RETAINING WALL BLOCKS
R1-6 and R3-6
R1-6 House Davidson – Wolseley, Western Cape
National Winner
Category – Retaining Wall Elements: retaining walls < 3m high constructed from concrete retaining blocks.
In 2003, this property was a neglected piece of mountain land with steeply sloping, wattle infested gullies, a lack of potable or irrigation water and no level building platform. An earthworks contractor cleaned out a small pond, built a sizeable water storage dam and cut two building platforms with a view of the valley. A workshop was built on the upper platform and the main house was sited on the lower level.
Three slopes were retained and terraced using Terraforce L12 blocks, and stairs, built with 4 x 4 step blocks, were incorporated into the walls. The blocks provided ideal growing conditions for the garden because they were filled with topsoil and watered with an irrigation system.
Extremely heavy winter rains in 2006 threatened to undercut the sides of a newly built road on the property which was paved with concrete interlocks. To prevent further erosion, Terracrete Hardlawn blocks were installed for lateral support and Terrafix erosion control blocks were used to line sections of various stormwater control channels.
Professional Team
Contractor: Dassenberg Retaining Systems
Manufacturer: Klapmuts Concrete
Licensor: Terraforce
Product information
Terraforce L12 and 4 x 4 Step Blocks (Sandstone)
Terrafix 15 and Terracrete (Grey)
Judges’ Comments
The blocks offered a good engineering solution, with the garden and context reflected in the design. The small forms of pocket gardens assisted in retaining an existing tree. The 4 x 4 step blocks and the retaining blocks complemented each other.
R3-6 Edge of The Sea – Umhlanga, KZN
National Winner
Category – Retaining Wall Elements – Vintage: any retaining wall product in its original form older than 10 years.
Stretching over two-and-a-half kilometres, this Waterloffel seawall forms part of the Umhlanga Ocean Walk, which runs from Durban View in the south to The Breakers in the north. First completed in 1993, new wall sections were added to the main beach in 2007 to retain portions of an unprotected coastal dune and to repair parts of the existing seawall.
The ends of the seawall were damaged during massive cyclonic seas in March 2007, when huge waves devastated the coastline and a national disaster was declared. However, 85% of the seawall withstood the onslaught, and it was only at the ends, where there was no capping, that damaged occurred.
This seawall is designed to incorporate a modern beach amenities centre, a life savers tower, a rescue boat launching ramp, a grassed entertainment area, a restaurant, a covered amphitheatre and steps to the beach with built-in showers.
Professional Team
Engineer: City Engineers Unit, in collaboration with Infraset/Kaytech
Contractor: Advanced Retaining and Paving Systems
Manufacturer: INFRASET
Product information
Infraset WL650 Waterloffel (Grey)
Judges’ Comments
Damage to the wall could have been avoided had the ends been capped. The wall was well repaired, although there was a slight colour variation. By surviving the natural disaster, the wall shows its design integrity, and is fit for its purpose.
INNOVATIVE CONCRETE PRODUCTS
i3-11 Northlands Production Park – North Riding, Gauteng
National Winner
Category – Innovative Products: other innovative concrete products showing ingenuity.
Bosun Brick’s 80mm interlocking reflective paving blocks were used to create directional arrows and stop signs on this project. Manufactured using an innovative patented formula, the pavers form a permanent reflective demarcation. The blocks are virtually maintenance-free and offer long-term cost savings. Other possible applications include wheel-chair, pedestrian crossing, speed hump and traffic demarcations.
In addition to Bosun’s reflective pavers, 8 548m² of Bosun 60mm interlocking pavers, 7 354m² of Bosun 80mm interlocking pavers and 1 600m of kerbing were installed.
Professional Team
Architect: Rob de la Roche
Engineer: Entity Engineers
Quantity Surveyor: Ferrer Hayim
Contractor: Northlands Projects
Manufacturer: Bosun Bricks
Product Information
Reflective 80mm interlocking pavers (Yellow and White)
Fig. 3, Fig. 7, Fig. 12 kerbs
60mm interlocking pavers (Grey)
80mm interlocking pavers (Grey)
Judges’ Comments
This innovative, new application is superior to traditional road markings which fade over time.
CONCRETE ROOF TILES
T3-6; T4-1 and T5-1
T3-6 The Rest Country Estate – Nelspruit
National Winner
Category Residential C: houses and housing complexes with a unit area of > 100m².
In considering that the original modern colonial building on this estate was covered with slate, the architect chose Marley’s Modern concrete roof tiles to extend the theme to the buildings that followed.
A combination of Marley’s Modern dark grey, light grey, antique grey and amber tiles provided a less expensive yet aesthetically pleasing alternative to slate tiles. This range of colours allowed individual owners flexibility in their roofing colour mix without disturbing the uniform appearance of the estate.
The same tile combination was introduced in a second phase of the development. Besides being pleasing to the eye and reasonably priced, Marley’s Modern tiles successfully met the architectural challenge posed by varying roof pitches and extensive verandas.
Professional Team
Architect: Tom Hattingh Architects, Nelspruit
Contractor: Mike Bentley Construction
Manufacturer: Marley Roofing
Product Information
Marley’s Monarch concrete roof tiles
Judges’ Comments
The roof is neat, well done and complements the estate as a whole.
T4-1 Riverside Club/Varsity College – Durban North
National Winner
Category - Commercial & Community: shopping complexes, office blocks, hotels, clinics, schools, prisons and churches.
This project entailed accommodating the Independent Institute of Education’s Varsity College (VC) into the Glenwood Old Boys (GOB) premises. GOB’s existing premises were old and needed a cash injection and VC required premises with sporting facilities, which GOB had.
The architects were asked to blend the architecture of the existing GOB clubhouse and ancillary buildings with the VC brand. This proved particularly difficult as the GOB clubhouse had a complicated mix of single and double-storey construction, steep roof pitches, and several lean-tos, add-ons, and fill-ins, which had been built to generate additional space.
Both parties wanted to retain the pitched roof aesthetic, and terracotta Marley Double Roman roof tiles were selected to provide colour uniformity for the multi-phased development as well as for any future additions.
A decision to match the clubhouse’s roof pitch of 45° was taken in order to prevent a complete roof rebuild. However, had a 45º pitch roof been erected without adjustments, it would have reached a height almost equal to the double storey façade, thereby resulting in an appearance which was decidedly top-heavy. To avoid this, the VC roof was double-pitched by adding an internal box gutter at mid-span. This reduced the height of the roof and yielded a more pleasing, better proportioned result.
Professional Team
Architect: Miles Pennington
Quantity Surveyor: McIntosh Latilla
Contractor: Armstrong Construction
Manufacturer: Marley Roofing – KZN
Product information
60 000 Marley Double Roman M22 (Terracotta) roof tiles
Judges’ Comments
An innovative and neat solution. Water treatment and future maintenance could be a problem.
T5-1 Bryanston Wedge – Sandton
National Winner
Category Vintage: any roof tile product in its original form older than 10 years.
Ten years on and these roofs at Bryanston Wedge show no sign of wear. This successful roof design frames the courtyard and ties the various units of the development together, while the colour of the tiles blends in well with the surrounds.
Professional Team
Architect: Louis Peens Architects
Contractor: Talana Construction
Manufacturer: Marley Roofing
Product Information
Marley’s Monarch (Tuscany) designer range.
Judges’ Comments
There is beautiful detail in the slope and the multi-blend colouring is forgiving.
Professional Team
Architect: Tom Hattingh Architects, Nelspruit
Contractor: Mike Bentley Construction
Manufacturer: Marley Roofing
Product Information
Marley’s Monarch concrete roof tiles
Judges’ Comments
The roof is neat, well done and complements the estate as a whole.
CONCRETE BLOCK MASONRY
M1-1 and M2-1
M1-1 Fisherman’s Village – Muizenberg, Western Cape Peninsula
National Winner
Category – Residential A: community housing.
This 135 unit housing complex comprises single, double and triple story units, which are free standing, semi-detached or attached, and are designed with varied street elevations to enhance the seaside experience.
The single and double storey units were constructed economically using Cape Brick’s Maxi Cement Bricks. Additional architectural interest was created by corbelling the brickwork around the windows and the parapets. Furthermore, the recesses and the stepping of unit elements allowed for the attractive spacing of control joints.
Professional Team
Architect: Bouwer Architects
Engineer: Sutherland Associates
Quantity Surveyor: De Leeuw
Contractor: Power Construction
Manufacturer: Cape Brick
Product Information
7MPa Maxi Bricks
14MPa Maxi Bricks
Judges’ Comments
A good application of the product, with aesthetic appeal that creates a positive urban environment.
M2-1 House Herrmannsburg – Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria
National Winner
Category – Residential B: individual housing.
Concrete masonry blocks were chosen for this project primarily for their attractive appearance and great design flexibility. Hollow masonry blocks lend themselves to area-specific reinforcement and a wide selection of lintel blocks allows for imaginative re-enforced lintel designs. Moreover, channelling for conduit and plumbing can be constructed inside the walls with careful planning. The product also assisted the designer in complementing and making use of the geographical features of the site.
Professional Team
Architect: E Herrmann
Manufacturer: Watson Concrete
Product Information
90, 190 FairFace Blocks (Slate, Grey, Crete)
Judges’ Comments
The attention to detail reflects a good understanding of the holistic application of cement masonry products, an example of cement masonry in its brutal form. The creative use of design and material provides an aesthetically pleasing residence.
CONCRETE BLOCK PAVING
P2-1; P4-8 and P5-4
P2-1 Irene Village Mall – Irene, Gauteng
National Winner
Category Commercial & Community: shopping malls, market places, parking garages, building surrounds, roof paving, sidewalks, plazas (civic), station platforms, plazas and recreation areas, trim parks, parade grounds, fire stations and helicopter pads.
The Irene Mall, where SmartStone’s Paduan Pavers were laid in herringbone to create an 'old world' ambiance which evokes the historical and cultural heritage of Transvaal architecture. The Paduan Paver’s rich red was chosen to complement the red face-brick used in construction of the clock tower - a feature of the mall.
Professional Team
Architect: Boogertman & Partners
Engineer: Sutherland Associates
Quantity Surveyor: NWS (JHB)
Contractor: Pentacon Civils
Manufacturer: SmartStone Midrand
Product Information
Paduan Paver (Red) 2 800m²
Judges’ Comments
Use of material and colour pallet complement the architecture while the herringbone pattern creates an aesthetic feel and enhances circulation areas.
P4-8 Croyden Olive Groves – Croyden/Faure, Western Cape
National Winner
Category Roads: all public roads, from minor suburban roads to major highways.
C.E.L. Paving’s brown pebble exposed aggregate concrete pavers were used on this estate as the landscape architect wanted to build a country road that was durable and would complement the architecture of future houses on the estate.
In addition, natural cobblestones were used to demarcate crossings and borders and to alert road users of oncoming traffic. The pavers, which had been used successfully on a neighbouring estate, were chosen for consistency of finish as well as durability. The colour consistency of the pebbles was painstakingly achieved by sorting through various batches of aggregate.
Professional Team
Architect: Planning Partners
Engineer: Ninham Shand-Alex Versfeld
Contractor: Burger and Wallace Construction
Manufacturer: C.E.L. Paving Products
Product information
Vintage thick exposed aggregate pavers (Brown) 190 x 125 x 70mm (±22 000m²)
Wet Cast Cobbles
Judges’ Comments
Superb attention to detail creates an immediate impression of quality. A high-end product which blends in well with its environment.
P5-4 The Westcliff Hotel, Parktown, Johannesburg
National Winner
Category Vintage: any paving in its original form older than 10 years.
Influenced by Northern Italy’s Tuscan-style, The Westcliff Hotel in Johannesburg evokes a bygone era of leisure and refinement. SmartStone’s Fan Cobble was used to good effect creating a European feel and softening the linear effect created by standard cobbles. Ten years on there is no apparent aging.
Professional Team
Architect: Osmond Lange Architects and Planners
Engineer: Lillicrap Crutchfield
Main Contractor: Wreckers Civils
Contractor: REE Paving Contracts
Manufacturer: SmartStone Pretoria
Product Information
SmartStone Fan Cobble (Sandstone) (±5 500m²)
Judges’ Comments
The product shows good resilience in usage over an extended period of time. It is well maintained and functions as per design.
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