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Paragon Architects

A gleaming S-shaped glass box on a nine-metre-high podium serves as Sasol’s HQ, Johannesburg

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By Houseandgarden.co.za | June 26, 2017 | Innovative

The Sasol logo provided the departure point for the conceptual design of this corporate HQ, a gleaming S-shaped glass box on a nine-metre-high podium, built on the curving edge of Katherine Street.

A central core of circulation and services ties the large, 68 000m2 building together, with the various areas linked by a series of bridges. The glass façades were carefully engineered to ensure the 5-Star Green Star design satisfied performance as well as aesthetic requirements. The glazing is a combination of reflective glass spandrels and vision glass, which form a unified crystal exterior.

In addition to glass performance, the building’s volume has impacted on the design. Where sections of the building cast shadows on itself, the size of the spandrels reduce to allow in more light. Façade patterning was generated using heat gain and environmental analysis to reduce energy consumption and maximise user comfort levels.

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