Designworkshop

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine

SOL PLAATJE UNIVERSITY STUDENT RESOURCE CENTER

Designworkshop

ARCHITECTS
Designworkshop

PROJECT YEAR
2018

LOCATION
South Africa

CATEGORY
Sustainability

ENGINEER STRUCTURAL
Aurecon

PHOTOGRAPHS
Roger Jardine

ENGINEER ELECTRICAL
Aurecon

NGINEER MECHANICAL
Aurecon

ENGINEER MECHANICAL
Element

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Insite Group

QUANTITY SURVEYOR
KDM

ACOUSTIC CONSULTANT
Linspace

CONTRACTOR
Murray & Dickson Construction

ENVIRONMENTAL
PJ Carew Consuting

ENGINEER WET SERVICES
Aurecon

FIRE CONSULTANT
Aurecon

CONCEPT INITIATION
Andrew Makin, Paul Wygers

CONCEPT DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Mark Horner, Janine Beauchamp, Andrew Makin

MANUFACTURERS
Forbo Flooring Systems, Lafarge Holcim, Nora, Regent, Floorworx, Mariseal, Mentis, Union

DETAIL DESIGN DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION DELIVERY
Mark Horner, Janine Beauchamp, Pauline Hayward, Michael Flanagan, Ursula Brunner, Mariska Peel, Mongezi Ncube, Susan Glossop

Text description provided by architect.

In 2014, Sol Plaatje University [SPU] opened its doors as the first new University in South Africa’s democratic era. Strategically close to the Square Kilometre Array Telescope [SKA], its initial intake of 135 students is expected to grow to 7 500 within its first 10 years.

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine

Located in Kimberley’s Inner City, a progressive Urban Design Framework seamlessly incorporates existing civic, public and education stock with new purpose-built University buildings, positioning tertiary education as an integrated part of Inner City life. Perhaps it’s heart.

Designworkshop was successful in a two-stage architectural competition towards conceptualising and delivering a Student Resource Centre as the functional and physical centrepiece of University life, including library, teaching, study, and social space.

The key question we explored was what this emerging typology could optimally be and enable in the South African reality of a globally integrated world.

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine

Ancient images of knowledge-sharing are of people gathered around elders, thought- leaders and gurus, in Public Space. Depending on where and when, this could be by the side of a river, under a tree, in a public square or on a street-side.

This is learning and knowledge generation in a social setting. Within society and indistinguishable from it, learning is enabled by the practical and perceived reality of life as it’s experienced, often on a platform of traditional cultural practice.

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine

When information was recorded in writing, the emblematic image of learning is often the quiet study table surrounded by books.

This is the dissemination of accumulated knowledge, most commonly recorded outside of the direct experience and as a more linear and one-directional transmission abstract from specific cultural settings. The ‘neutrality’ of science.

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine

The SPU Library and Resource Center integrates both, at the same time. It’s a social place where people make themselves available to wide-ranging incidental and planned interchange in the course of daily life, both in physical space and online, with and without books, collectively and in solitude, directed and enabled by mentors or among themselves.

It is at the same time a tree, the side of a river, a public square, and a street.

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine

Centred on a raked public forum, the ground floor is an extension of Kimberley’s pavements, paths, squares and gardens. It’s a public space sheltered from the cyclical hot and cold extremes of the arid climate.

Ascending from public to private, each additional floor is another ‘public square’ accessed from its perimeter to enable 3-dimensional exploration of a continuous knowledge-scape.

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine

Solid grass-reinforced moulded mud forms typify South Africa’s interior vernacular brakdak construction. The Library scales this heritage up into a 22cm thick freestanding concrete shell rising up to 36m high and lifted off the ground to reveal a single hollowed-out volume ascending upward to its highest point overlooking University Square.

The inverse of Kimberley’s iconic Big Hole diamond mine, the building is a distinctive sculptured object, arising from the endless horizontality like a koppie, brakdak house, or mine shaft. In a single material, concrete is structure, enclosure, climatic attenuator, flexible use-enabler, extended tradition, and noble experience.

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine

In everyday university life, the building is a refuge, a 24 hour winter lounge and summer verandah.

In a world of scarce resources, it is highly energy efficient, allowing in the right amount of natural light with significantly mitigated heat-gain or loss, the internal temperature further moderated by hot and cold water pipes embedded into concrete floors.

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine

In the City, it’s a landmark of democratic learning, social and cultural exchange, and a generator of economic potential which always comes from empowered knowledge and ideas.


Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
© Roger Jardine


Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
Ground Floor Plan
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
1st Floor Plan
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
2nd Floor Plan
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
3rd Floor Plan
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
4th Floor Plan
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
5th and 6th Floor Plan


Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
Section


Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
Elevations north south
Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
Elevations east west


Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
Concept skethes

Sol Plaatje University Student Resource Center
Campus layout

Designworkshop
T +27 31 3035191 F +27 31 3035198
Designworkshop
94 Florida Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa