PRETORIA CAMPUS

Aptly nestled in a spot where human beings and nature thrive together, Future Africa Innovation Campus offers thought leaders from across the continent a space to connect, innovate and transcend boundaries.

VIVID SPLASHES OF BLUE, RED AND YELLOW

SPARKLE LIKE JEWELS IN THE SHIMMERING summer heat of the capital city, offering enticing views from within the Future Africa Innovation Campus across lush pastoral fields and the mushrooming high-rises that dot the skyline of student mecca Hatfield, beyond. Situated in the heart of the University of Pretoria’s Experimental Farm, Future Africa has its sights set on becoming a hub for pan-African trans-disciplinary research – a fresh, co-operative way of doing research where a variety of disciplines can join minds to find new, holistic avenues for their research together.

Very much in keeping with this innovative and collaborative vision, Earth world Architects proposed a design concept that would rise above the conventional to create an integrated live-work environment for post-doctoral students – one that encourages the spontaneous sharing of ideas, as well as the fostering of science leadership. “This space is not an institute or a campus, at least not in the traditional sense... it’s a place animated by ideas,” says Professor Bernard Slippers of the University’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute.

Even at first glance it’s quite obvious that a different energy animates this campus, setting it apart from its traditional counterparts. Beautifully sculpted exteriors define the overall sense of space, while avocado trees and other edible greenery line the pedestrian pathways to encourage human and non-human residents – mostly of the flying and crawling varieties – to “forage for food” as they meander between buildings.

“Our vision for the campus is that it will become a blueprint for urban living,” says project director and architect André Eksteen of Earth world Architects. Buildings were carefully placed in areas unsuitable for vegetation and where they would disturb the existing landscape as little as possible. “We believe that simple interventions like edible gardens and smaller private spaces coupled with generous shared areas can minimise our footprint on the natural environment,” he adds.

The campus consists of 280 one-, two- and three-bedroom living units, interspersed with communal living, research and conference facilities to encourage social interaction and collaboration. Floating steel walkways, colourful balconies and pop-out light boxes playfully punch through the concrete and brick façades, inspiring residents to maintain eye contact with the broader community.

“Our continent is renowned for its vast cultural diversity and the custom of sharing thoughts and ideas around ‘the dinner table’, which was central to the design of the living units,” says Eksteen. To encourage residents to spend dinner time in the “kgoro” or “village centre”, as he refers to the communal areas, the individual living units have limited kitchen facilities, with their design focused rather on being an inner sanctuary to their inhabitants – places for moments of private pause and reflection.

Despite the compact size of each unit, the lounge and study area has a bright and spacious feel to it, with bespoke laminated veneer lumber (LVL) cabinetry providing plenty of storage and desktop space integrated into the overall design. Beautifully detailed wood and steel sliding doors screen the bedroom and bathroom from casual view, adding to the versatility of the space.

Putting an African spin on Fourth Industrial Revolution technology, the industrial look of the residential units shamelessly flaunts the process that defined the open building approach that was followed.The concrete and brick structure was completed first, followed in various stages by the steel and timber “plugin” components of the interiors, which can be disassembled, adapted or reused elsewhere with very little effort. Reflecting on the entirety of the process, Eksteen reveals one of his key design principles: “Our goal is to future-proof our buildings for generations to come,” he says. “That’s why we design with sustainability, adaptability and flexibility in mind.”

THE INTIMATE SCALE OF THE UNIT MAKES IT FEEL LIKE A HIGH-TECH COCOON FOR PRIVATE PAUSE AND REFLECTION.

PLYWOOD AND LVL-DESIGNS WERE DIGITALLY CONVERTED INTO PUZZLE PIECES AND HAND-ASSEMBLED ON SITE.

"WE DELIBERATELY CURATED LOCAL SKILLS INSTEAD OF USING HIGHLY SPECIALISED IMPORTED BUILDING SYSTEMS." – ANDRÉ EKSTEEN

Adding a touch of fun and lightness to the mostly neutral tones of natural concrete, facebrick and steel, bold splashes of colour articulate the places created for spontaneous gathering, chatting, or simply to admire the view.

Floating steel walkways, colourful balconies and pop-out light boxes punctuate the concrete and brick façades of this dynamic living, learning and research environment.

A design collaboration between Earthworld Architects and Raw Studios (rawstudios.co.za), RAW developed and manufactured the stilt-system built-in furniture specifically for this project. It can be disassembled and adapted with little effort, allowing for maximum adaptability. The compact, lightweight table is available from RAW’s standard Meeting range. OPPOSITE Set within raw concrete walls, small round windows filled with colourful glass and a hand woven bean bag from Ashanti Design (ashantidesign.com) brighten the study nook.

A design collaboration between Earthworld Architects and Raw Studios (rawstudios.co.za), RAW developed and manufactured the stilt-system built-in furniture specifically for this project. It can be disassembled and adapted with little effort, allowing for maximum adaptability. The compact, lightweight table is available from RAW’s standard Meeting range.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Ideal for enjoying breakfast in front of the Bo-Kaap view are a wooden-topped café table and vintage chairs that “have just always been around…”. Grouping collectibles in shades of white and cream creates The a rich calming colour effect; of the red the brick artwork panelling is an original and the Flip tactile Coaton textures from of around the WISA-Birch 1965. The plywood small guest room is tucked sliding just door under act as the a privacy eaves. screen The white between canvas the on sleeping the wall and above living the areas, wooden adding pew warmth is the perfect to the counterpoint industrial to the plethora style created of collectibles by the steel and and artworks concrete displayed structure. beneath it.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Bright individual living units have limited kitchen facilities to encourage residents to share meals and socialise in the communal areas; Inside the compact bathroom, slim storage features, minimalist lines and neutral colours are combined with a mirrored cabinet to create an illusion of spaciousness; A retro-style Acapulco Egg chair from Leroy Merlin creates a laid-back feel for the private balcony. Artificial grass rounds off the playful effect; Enabling students to maintain a constant visual connection with each other was intrinsic to the overall design – even when moving between private and public spaces. OPPOSITE Continuing the plywood and LVL theme into the bedroom, the eye-catching bedside pedestal adds extra storage space while creating an element of fun. The modular system used throughout means even built-in furniture can be adapted and added on to by combining with any of the other matching pieces from RAW Studios' Stilt range.