The Bank

Award of Excellence (Gauteng Institute for Architecture)

2020 | 25min 

A CPD Central film, in collaboration with Dream Station Productions.

"The building strikingly balances grandeur and charm. Substantial vertical and horizontal gestures are mediated by the human scaled brick, brass and planted elements. While refreshing its context with a new café, restaurant, retail and co-working spaces, it also hits the elusive note of seeming to have always been there. The timeless lower-level adherence to form proportion and rational order, is topped with the upper-level office spaces which are relatively wild, contemporary and experimental. This building can be appreciated for its technical elegance, seamless assimilation into the context while offering energizing programs back to its users" - GIfA 2021

About:

The Bank is a multi award-winning, exciting new mixed-use development in the hub of Rosebank, Johannesburg. It is an approximately 14,300 sqm, 12 Storey mixed-use building with 3 additional floors of basement parking. The structure of the existing 4 storey building, previously a bank, was retained and added onto. The ground floor consists of retail, restaurants and hotel reception and conference facilities. The other 11 floors are occupied by offices and a hotel. The public areas around the building on ground floor level will be activated through the design of pedestrian friendly landscaping and furniture.

The building uses mainly renewable energy sources, such as a solar farm on the roof to power the building, as well as a heat recovery system which reuses the waste heat from the HVAC to heat water for the hotel.  

The design aesthetic celebrates the history of the original building as a banking institute. The deep facebrick façade creates an impression of strength and resilience, which is softened by the greenery along the façade. The building then defragments at the top into a minimalist crown, which creates deep landscaped roof gardens in which to enjoy the views of the Johannesburg skyline.  

Architect Daffonchio Architects, Imbewu Design
Building typology Hotel
Building size 15000 sqm
Client Blend Property 17 (Pty) Ltd

All photographs by Juane Venter and have been supplied by Daffonchio Architects for The Voice of the Architect Short Film Festival.

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