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Alterations to The Tower building on corner of Chief Albert Luthuli and Mahatma Ghandi

CaseViews

CaseHeader

Status: 

HeritageAuthority(s): 

ProposalDescription: 

Proposed alterations to Erf 5330, corner of Chief Albert Luthuli and Mahatma Ghandi, Stanger, KwaDukuza Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.

Expanded_Motivation: 

NOTE: This application is for the upgrading and major maintenance to the existing The Towers building in Stanger. Once a permit has been granted by SAHRA, the architect will do a full set of working drawings for the proposed project (and submit it again to SAHRA for approval should it be necessary). SIGNIFICANCE The Towers building’s plans was submitted and passed by the Stanger Local Authority in 1950 and construction seemingly started in 1952. Thus, at the date of 2014, the existing building is approximately 63 years of age. Various plans were submitted between 1952 and 1960 for additions and alterations of which not everything were executed as per the building plans. The only building plans available to date is the four sheets attached to ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. The existing building differs from all the plans and amendments submitted to the Local Authority over the years. The building were re-measured by a professional Architect, Phillip Fouché, in November 2013. HISTORICAL REPORT The original use of the building was for a garage, workshop, motor showroom, offices and residential units, as per attached letter to the Local Authority dating November 1951. The current use of the building is for a workshop, offices, and residential units. Currently no tenants occupy the ground floor. The current proposal of the building, as per the attached documents, is to restore the ground floor to its original usage – a motor showroom, to upgrade the existing offices on the first floor as well as the residential units on the second and third floors. ARCHITECTURAL REPORT The existing building typically resembles Art Deco Architecture of the early 1900’s which is of great significance to the KwaZulu Natal/Durban area. The current state of the building is precarious due to no maintenance since it was built. The aim with the alterations to the existing building is to repair and restore the building on a contemporary approach, but to retain and to accentuate the typical Art Deco characteristics of the building. URBAN SETTING & ADJOINING PROPERTIES The building is located on the corner of Chief Albert Luthuli Street and Mahatma Ghandi Street, in the central business district of Stanger. The building is surrounded by typical commercial services, like the KwaDukuza Municipality, a motor showroom, funeral parlour, dry cleaners, estate agents and cell phone shops. Building styles range from industrial through to contemporary. PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORK 1.) Replacing the existing damaged metal roof sheeting with aluminium sheeting and repair or replace any damaged wooden trusses. The roof is barely visible from one side of the building only, thus it will have no impact on the exterior façade. 2.) Replacing all the existing steel window frames with aluminium frames with Low-E glass for a more energy efficient solution. The current steel frames are rusted with a number of windows unable to open or close. The mullion and transom layout of the windows will be retained to lower the visual impact of the exterior facades. 3.) Plumbing in the building will be inspected and the damaged sections will be replaced with uPVC and copper piping respectively. Currently the plumbing is not working properly. 4.) Non-loadbearing walls on the ground level will be demolished to restore the building to its original floor layout. These walls were built illegally with neither the owners’ nor the Local Authority’s consent. 5.) Floor areas will be retiled where damaged. The original floor finish of the internal staircases and main corridors will be cleaned and restored to its original state. 6.) The building will be painted internally and externally where necessary, especially to enhance the Art Deco style of the building. 7.) The existing steel fire escape staircase will be dismantled and be replaced with a new galvanized steel staircase, similar to the existing staircase. 8.) The lift will be taken out and be replaced with a fully functional lift. 9.) A palisade gate will be erected between The Towers building and an adjacent building for security purposes. 10.) The only aesthetical addition to the building will be horizontal aluminium louvres above the windows. This will enhance the Art Deco feeling of the building, and serve as an energy efficient element to the building by minimizing direct sunlight to the building. In essence the building will be restored to its original state and the Art Deco style of the building will be enhanced by using 21st century materials and methods to extend the precious building’s lifetime by another 60 years.

ApplicationDate: 

Thursday, November 21, 2013 - 11:20

CaseID: 

4201

OtherReferences: 

ReferenceList: 

Images
Context diagonal opposite street corner
Context Opposite Chief Albert Luthuli Street
Context adjacet to Towers building in Mahatma Ghandi Street
Back Elevation
View from corner of Chief Albert Luthuli Street and Mahatma Ghandi Street
View from  Chief Albert Luthuli Street
View from Mahatma Ghandi Street
Aerial View
 
 

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