Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa March/April 2014 | Page 31
Putting it to the test - The CELL C Building
Ohlhorst Africa was appointed as the External Thermal
Composite Systems (ETICS) contractor for the innovative
Cell C building. The developer Atterbury Properties having
seen the previous success of the recently completed projects
opted for this option. Building began in March 2013 and was
completed by the beginning of November of the same year.
“Design and detail sessions were required with Bentel
Associates International and Group 5 in order to better
understand the capabilities and options of this product,” says
Ryan Hesketh (Operations Manager LBS). “The project was
completed in a very short 8 month time span and considering
the size, aesthetics and challenges with the project, this
would have been a capacity challenge with conventional
building systems.”
Design Features
Aesthetically, the ETICS products allow for three dimensional
design features in the walls, a combination of boxes and
recesses that would have been challenging when using
conventional building methods.
A curved feature wall, divided into blocks and additional
windows recessed by 1.5m with the walls angled at a 45
degree angle is the ETICS showcase of the build - a design
which would have been very difficult using traditional build
materials. Further detailing is that of the warehouse walls
doubling as feature facades in the customer care warehouse
– spanning an impressive 50 x 9 meters high.
A smooth final finish on the facades was the specification
posing a challenge at critical light. This created an added
challenge requiring immediate product development.
Ohlhorst together with St Gobain improved on plaster
technology and introduced a render system to achieve
specified plaster finish aesthetics over large uninterrupted
areas.
Lightweight Building Solutions is a division of Ohlhorst Africa,
one of the largest tiling and plastering contractors in
South Africa. All products meet international certifications
and all solutions are installed to meet the ETICS
Warranty requirements. For more information please visit
www.ohlhorst.com.