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Heritage Studies & Humanities Building,
Sol Plaatjie University / MMA Design Studio
Completion: 2022
Programme: Research, Offices & Student Services
The Heritage Studies and Humanities building is located on the central campus of the new University and had to be designed to fit the strict parameters of the SPU campus masterplan including build-to lines and heights. The masterplan dictated an odd shaped courtyard building which was required to fit an extensive programme of auditoria, labs, teaching spaces and staff offices.
In order to fit the +\- 4600m2 programme into the available space the large auditoria had to be curved and piggy-backed onto each other facing away from the courtyard thus maximizing on the spaces under the raked seating. This allowed us to achieve the required 70/30 assignable to non-assignable area ration prescribed by the DHET.
All laboratories and teaching spaces are located in a north wing with the staff accommodation located on a bridge-link between north and south. The bridge allows for access and glimpses into the social and cultural activities in the courtyard. The building follows the material palette prescribed for the campus with the exception of a rendered earth-tone base conceptually denoting the lifting of the building in order to “unearth” the heritage of the Northern Cape. This base is articulated with smaller random openings suggestive of the vernacular traditions.
