Page 16 - Designing Ways 260

IID

Wian Van der Merwe

Caesarstone project

hen we were initially briefed entrances and vista lines. The current
on Caesarstone, it was façade has already got a ninth proportion
Wquite clear that this was to it. This I then relayed to what our
not going to be an easy task. Architect country is made up of – nine different
Mokena Mokeka did a beautiful job in provinces.
constructing a brief, truly unique to our Upon entering the National Assembly,
country and it’s people. these lines (Provinces) converge and lead
Extracting key words from the brief you all the way to the seat of the speaker.
was the start of my conceptualisation. From the speaker’s perspective the lines
How do you bring together or unify will extend over the entrance and outline
words like Connection, Dialogue, our national flag.
Flow, Communication and Unity. My design envisions a new National
Conceptualising this brought forward the Assembly through five significant
idea of how light moves through a prism. architectural elements to convey my
Multiple rays of light beams converge concept of “Convergence through a
when traveling through a prism and meet layered nation”. Wian Van der Merwe
at a specific point or node.
The call for unity in our country is now Columns:
a much-needed necessity, now more than Existing columns stand tall as the
ever before. I wanted to envision a space shadows of the new. Branches from the Inlay:
moulded by our diversity, a colourful heavens anchor our feet on the soul of our TheNine Provinces are superimposed
nation celebrating our people and cultural land. as brass inlays on the central axis of the
diversity. Afrofuturism stands as the core, main walkway. This represents our nation’s
an expression that would pave the way for Ceiling: individuality and what we fight for.
the future of African design culture. The existing roof bares the weight of
I conceptualised the idea of a lens, by a nation longing for change. Through Lens:
incorporating aspects of our country. the ashes of the dusty old roof, rises new A lens in the sky emerging through
Taking the current façade of the National light through thousands of glass tubes beams of light which becomes the object
Assembly and creating nine different puncturing through the old. that carries the weight of the words that
changed the way we live.

Engraving:
Writing on a wall over-shadowing
the delegates of the National Assembly
engraves the words of the Freedom charter.
I wanted to utilise and retain as much of
the existing building as possible. Taking
existing façades, features and layouts into
consideration helped me to create a space
that looks both to the old and the new, in
a way that binds us closer together within
this radically dynamic “new” National
Assembly.
The presentation consists of three
different boards, conveying different
presentation methods and elements of
my design. The first board introduces the
viewer to the project in the most dramatic
way possible, this also shows how the nine
provinces form part of the design.
The second board sells the project in
my opinion: a dynamic section, original
concept sketches and illustrative 3D
drawings helps the new proposal to be

16 Issue 260 • dw