Plumblink Waterfall, Gauteng, South Africa
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Plumblink take the plunge
An established business with over 100 retail outlets across South Africa, Plumblink took the plunge allowing visionary architect Ivan Andonov of Empowered Spaces to design a contemporary building that transformed the typical geometry of a standard warehouse into a showstopping facility. Utilising traditional industrial materials such as corrugated sheeting, cladding and tinted window glazing, Andonov effectively delineated the traditional warehouse “block” by inserting massive decorative “window-boxes” with overhangs and balconies above ground level to achieve an eye-catching sculptural effect. Not only does this beautifully profile the building materials traditionally tied to Plumblink’s trade, but it also provides a functional facility for the staff and executives to enjoy and be proud of. The interior features raw exposed surfaces and materials such as polished concrete floors, portable partitions, and exposed roof, highlighting the steel rafters overhead for a chic, clean concept that serves both the warehouse, showroom, and office requirements.
PROJECT DETAILS
- Project Name: Plumblink Waterfall
- Project Type: Commercial Warehouse
- Description: Cladding
- Product used: Eva-Last VistaClad Oasis Palm
- Size: 804 m2 cladding
- Date of Installation: February 2023
- Project Location: Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa
- Architect: Ivan Andonov, Empowered Spaces Architects
- General Contractor: JG van Gass, Archstone Costruction (Pty) Ltd
PROJECT MATERIAL SELECTION
New Plumblink head office showcases best of building materialsSpecialist plumbing, bathroom, and kitchenware supplier Plumblink needed to build a new multifunctional facility in Midrand, South Africa, that combined the company’s 2500 m2 corporate regional head office, an extensive 8 000 qm2 distribution centre warehouse and 700 sqm2 showroom. The three-storey building is situated just off a major highway in a popular industrial park and is north-facing. This convenient location offers amazing views over the city and busy highway, providing a unique opportunity to increase brand visibility to passing traffic by erecting an attractive facility that sets it apart from its neighbours. The challenge was to utilise building materials that showcased what the company does, whilst simultaneously creating an elegant and comfortable facility for its employees and patrons alike.
WOODEN’ IT BE LOVELY
In keeping with the choice of innovative building materials, Andonov wanted a naturallooking material to frame the ‘eyebrows’ of each window portal. Eva-Last’s UV- and water-resistant cladding, VistaClad, in Oasis Palm colour, was mounted inside each frame, providing the desired earthy, organic feel to create a warm, welcoming cocoon for all to enjoy. The authentic looking wooden shade and patterned texture, made from eco-friendly bamboo fibres and recycled plastic, softens the cold, hard exterior. VistaClad is lightweight, fade-resistant, and easy to keep clean and it won’t scuff, scratch, or degrade and discolour, like natural wood would, providing the ideal low maintenance installation, guaranteed to withstand the elements. In addition, the use of VistaClad’s recycled content contributes valuable points to the building’s sought-after 4-star Green Building rating.KEY INFLUENCER QUOTE
“I really wanted to use the different materials’ characteristics to decorative effect, rather than hiding them for what they are. VistaClad’s engineered wood-look colour and texture allowed me to achieve that beautiful, natural feel without the worries of discolouring or maintenance usually associated with real timber over time,” concluded Ivan Andonov.
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