TUKSBOPHELONG

Prinshof medical campus student residences for the University of Pretoria. The University of Pretoria was granted funding for the upgrading of their medical school campus, by the National Skills Fund. One of the requirements included a 300 bed student residence. The selection of architects was done by a design and project specific experience elimination process and Neo Dimensions architects were selected as the project architects.

 

The residence is built on the hill above the Pretoria Academic Hospital. Views to both the north (Moot area) and the south (Pretoria city CBD) of the site provide a unique setting and ambience for the students to live and study. The design includes, five residential blocks, a communal facility and a 200m² house parent’s residence. The buildings were placed to create landscaped courtyards where students could gather and interact, resulting in social cohesion in both the internal and external spaces. The communal facility acts as the central foyer space into the residences. IT Labs, a study area, kiosk and communal hall are some of the functions accommodated within. Each apartment, in the residential blocks, consist of eight bedrooms, seven north facing and one en-suite south facing bedroom, a central ablution facility and a shared kitchen, dining- and common area.

 

The Z-shaped feature element on the south facades is both a staircase enclosure as well as creating a covered approach for the entrances. This element acts as the main entrance focus point. Energy efficient systems which were included into the design, apart from north orientation, natural lighting and ventilation as well as a solar water heating system, water saving sanitary ware and back-up water storage. The roofs were specifically designed to provide the ideal pitch for the solar panels. Careful coordination resulted in the water storage vessels being stored inside the roof voids, opening up the reduced landscape areas due to the limited size of the site. The project was completed within budget on time December, for the students to move in on 2 January 2015.

TUKSSPORT HIGH SCHOOL

The new TuksSport High School and Residence

The TuksSport High School campus is situated on the boundary between the UP Sport Campus and the Proefplaas. It is an academic institution combined with specialist sports training, where school learners, some from distant rural areas, could safely be educated and live on a University Campus: A home-away-from-home.

 

The school campus consists of separate buildings, influenced by the various functions, and incorporates a sense of openness to the landscaping as well as echoing the adjacent experimental farm. A very valuable and historical Arboretum collection also had to be accommodated. Robust red face bricks were used throughout to acknowledge the farm structures. Off-shutter concrete to all soffits, columns and walkways to be robust and maintenance free. Plastered walls were painted bright colors.

The late Prof. Karel Bakker was consulted regarding the heritage value of the site and it was decided to maintain the animal drinking trough as a water feature as well as paving lines in the landscape, which mimics the foundation walls of the animal pens, since demolished.

 

Environmental concerns were important in the design. The façade design of the residence ensures critical sun control. The hot water is generated by a heat pump with a water storage vessel. All sanitary ware was specified and supplied as water-saving elements.

The ideal solution to the level difference between the classroom buildings and the residence was to produce an amphitheater for the school assembly space. Subtle red paving bricks combined with concrete pavers, imitating athletics tracks, guides the visitor into the atrium between the school hall and administration building which creates an open air Foyer space.

The structural steel design covering the open space is a continuation of the main school hall enclosure profile. The school logo built into the steel design casts a shadow on the paving floor throughout the day.

This open air foyer space is the focal point of the school campus as one can easily observe the rest of the buildings and being naturally guided through visual links and walkways.