Radisson Hotel Blaauwberg
For the developer, Realcor Cape, building this hotel fulfilled the need for 5-Star luxury tourist accommodation in the area, which they felt was lacking in Blaauwberg.
Covering an area of about 22,000m2 the development comprises 13-storeys plus two underground basement levels. The first three floors are considered ‘function floors’ that contain all the social functions of the hotel. The following seven floors feature 16 sea-facing guest rooms per floor with open balconies in most the rooms.
Built on a landmark site on Beach Road in Blaauwberg offering guests picture perfect images of Cape Town with the iconic Table Mountain as a backdrop, the 144-suite hotel will offer six modern conference and meeting facilities , an award winning contemporary bar and restaurant, cocktail bar, swimming pool, fitness area and sundeck.
As the hotel escalates further to the top, rooms become ever more exclusive. The two guest floors above the regular suites contain three executive suites and 11 guest rooms. Penthouses ranging in sizes between 250—350m2 are located on the remaining three levels.
Bridging the Gap
The development is essentially two separate ‘towers’ connected only at ground level. Being a hotel building, the servicing of the hotel guest and functions were one of the greatest considerations of the internal space planning.
This split in the building’s design was an obstacle for the architects as explained by Jacqueline Stow of Axion Architects, “The ‘ghost’ building line in-between the two consolidated erven caused us to have only one floor in the building that connected the entire development. Thus the entire crossover and servicing of the hotel had to happen at that level or on the basements below.”
This challenge was overcome by creating a service passage into the elevator core. This design alteration allowed staff and service people to freely move from one side to the other, while out of sight from the public realm. Furthermore, the building’s split became more challenging when connecting and arraigning function spaces.
Going Green with Material Selection
From the onset of this development, the developers were keen on incorporating the highest quality materials as well as incorporating the latest and most effective environmentally sustainable solutions. “The hotel’s design approaches the challenge of green design from various aspects, including passive design, energy saving devices, environmentally friendly materials and methods and recyclability are our main design criteria,” says Deonette de Ridder, CEO of Realcor Holdings.
The materials used in the building are conventional concrete and clay brick with post tension slabs. Achieving the row of guest rooms all with sea views on the south façade caused the core of the building to become quite large. The expanded core was also a direct result of the shear walls in -between guest rooms being removed.
“This however was used to our advantage with passive heating and cooling to the rest of the building. Additionally, aluminium frames and energy efficient glazing was used on the facade windows and doors,” says Stow. The external areas around the hotel will be upgraded and an extensive landscaping design has been implemented to the public open space.
Overcoming the Odds
Aside from the challenges associated with the building’s ‘split’ design, Blaauwberg’s windy weather proved to be a major construction obstacle for the project team. Wind contributed more to lost work hours than rain, as the crane stops working when wind speeds reach between 50—60 km/h.
To ensure worker safety, those working on the front edge of the building had to wear harnesses. Yet, once the hotel is completed in September 2010, the challenges will have been worth the beneficial contribution it will have upon the Blaauwberg area and greater Cape Town as a whole.
PROJECT TEAM
| Client | Axion Architects |
Interior Architects |
Realcor Cape |
Mechanical Engineer |
4EM Consulting Engineers |
Electrical Engineer |
Bradley Hemphill |
Civil Engineer |
Kantey & Templer |
