Project type: Environmental Education Complex & OR Tambo Narrative Centre
Client: Ekurhuleni Municipality
Project value: R171,000.000.00 (2009 estimate)
Project description:NLA responded to a call by the Ekurhuleni mayor in 2004 for the planning and development of the regional recreational facilities in the Northern and Eastern region of the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality. Each of these regional park should also include a wide variety of recreational facilities, strong conservation focus as well as an Environmental Education Centre. Drawing from our experience of planning the southern Environmental Centre, namely Kwelele Regional Park, we submitted the joint venture bid with SFC Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers. The bid was successful and we were given 9 months to plan and get the first phase tenders together. NLA was responsible for managing the professional team which included the EIMS Environmental Consultants, MMA Architects, Fabriquant/SJ Quantity Surveyors, Risimati Mechanical & Electrical Engineers, Empower Risk OHS Consultants and Green by Design/Eco Design Architect - the Green Consultants.
The Development Masterplan was adopted by EMM Council in 2005, but due to the limited funding only the fencing and the bulk earthworks proceeded. Sufficient funds for the project were only secured in 2009 and SFCNLA was reappointed to complete the project.
The site includes one of the largest and most sensitive pans on the East Rand. Leeupan is known for frequent visits by flamingos and other rare bird species. The 196 hectares site falls within close proximity of the OR Tambo gravesite. To commemorate the influential Tambo family a memorial in the small Wattville was also incorporated in the appointment, designed by Fanuel Motsepe architects with specialist input from Matimu Heritage consultants. The development required the relocating of two informal settlements (Egypt and Beachfront) as the area is to be redeveloped for recreational and sports facilities for the local community.
Due to the advancement in “green” architecture the team reviewed the building which was intended to showcase sustainable design incorporated a number of experimental construction methods including rammed earth, straw bale and cob walls, earth tube/thermal mass heat exchange floors and environmental friendly materials and finishes. The abundant subsurface water found on the site will be collected through a natural water feature and fed into an irrigation storage dam. This along with harvested rain water will be recycled for irrigating the landscaped and rehabilitated areas.
The site situated within the threatended “Moist Gauteng Grass Land” was severely disturbed due to the previous informal settlement and neglect and will be rehabilitated in terms of the Environmental Authorisation. The area surrounding the building is to be replanted with largely endemic indigenous highveld species including grasses, forbs, bulbs, shrubs and trees. Large portions of the site are to be reseeded to re-establish the original grassland as a rembrance of what this largely urbanized area looked like in the past.
During the bulk earthworks the soil has been selectively stockpiled so that the clay could be used for the construction of the cob walls and floors. The gravel has been used to backfill behind the buildings retaining walls. Stone and rock has been reused in the gabions and the topsoil is to be utilized in the rehabilitated planting areas.
The building complex currently under construction OR Tambo Narrative Center, a multipurpose centre with an amphitheatre as well as an Environmental Educational Centre to the value of R 71 million. SFCNLA is also designing a recreational facility on the old Egypt squatter camp, to the value of R12 million earmarked for construction next year. It is also envisaged that the site will include an artificial wetland to deal with the storm water & grey water from the neighbouring informal settlement. The project will link up with the Wattville historical walk which links the cemeteries, upgraded park with tree lane to pathways as part of the cultural and historical network that is being developed in the Ekurhuleni Metro.