A sustainable oasis in the city

Project: The Ridge: Portswood Precinct, V&A Waterfront

Award: Commercial – Offices and studios, Bronze, 2022

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Architect: Studio MAS

Client: V&A Waterfront

The design vision for The Ridge, an office space currently let by Deloitte that is set in the sustainable V&A Waterfront neighbourhood of Cape Town, was to establish new benchmarks for sustainable commercial buildings in South Africa. Eco bricks made from 5.5 tonnes worth of single use plastic bottles collected from local schools have been used in its construction, while the façade is made from timber. Its distinctive pleated design corrects the solar orientation of the building to maximise light and minimise heat load. The Ridge also has an energy efficient mixed mode climate control system using innovative Thermally Activated Building systems (TABS), displacement ventilation and natural ventilation to stabilise the building’s temperature.

Design highlights

Roof vents within the glazed sculptural skylights fill the central atrium with light and fresh air, creating a street where people can circulate, meet and interact. The street acts as the chimney for the natural ventilation strategy, as well as allowing natural light into the deep central portion of the building. Exposed concrete, timber panels on interior walls and a wealth of indoor planting create a striking interior. The double volume entrance plaza with innovative saw-tooth timber ceiling leads in to the Deloitte reception, client-facing meeting rooms, a staff restaurant and a café while a central sculptural staircase and lifts allow employees to easily connect with each other between floors.

Photo credit: StudioMAS / V&A Waterfront /ARUP /GVK /Gareth Griffiths