The Rubik, Cape Town, South Africa
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The brief from Abland Property Developers for The Rubik was to construct a contemporary skyscraper that straddles the heritage of South Africa’s “Mother City” – Cape Town – coupled with creating a memorable mixed-use facility befitting modern city life.This eye-catching 12 000m2 complex constitutes an 11-storey base including two retail levels on the ground and first floors, seven storeys of corporate office space and nine luxurious apartment levels with state-of-the-art finishes.
The challenge was to invigorate the inner-city surroundings, consolidating two adjacent erven and expanding the existing building’s capacity using modern design and materials, whilst preserving the site’s historic edifice – a requirement by the city’s Heritage Council. Simultaneously, the building was not to contribute to the concrete jungle with yet another overbearing, dominant hunk of concrete and steel… a tall order!
PROJECT DETAILS
- Project Name: The Rubik
- Project Type: Mixed Use Commercial, Retail and Residential Apartment Building
- Description: Decking and Lifespan beams
- Product used: Infinity IS decking in Caribbean Coral & Lifespan architectural beams in Savanna
- Date of Installation: 17 May 2024
- Project Location: Cnr Loop & Van Riebeeck Street, Cape Town, South Africa
- Architect: DHK Group
- General Contractor: WBHO
A TALL ORDER FOR A STUNNING CITY SKYLINE
This multi-storey monolith, designed by award-winning architects DHK, features an ingenious rotating core, reminiscent of the “Rubik’s Cube” that breaks up the monstrous 89m “concrete cube” into separate quadrilateral blocks. The structure’s domineering mass and height was further compartmentalized by rotating each volume, providing a 360° view of the “Fairest Cape’s” gorgeous cityscapes.Various mixed modern building materials including concrete and glazing were used on the exteriors, with reflective floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper volume optimizing sunny South Africa’s fabulous climate. A combination of pre-cast concrete with brickwork and aluminium fin infills were retrofitted to the existing lower plinth – an aligning, unifying ‘nod’ to the neighbouring buildings. Soft, natural design elements with the latest material technology were introduced in the minimalist interiors.
A warm, welcoming reception on the ground floor and breathtaking rooftop entertainment area tops the block for the ultimate luxury in modern city convenience.
The result is a distinctive, dynamic form with the necessary scale and structure within the heart of the city’s centre.
ALL DECKED OUT
To break away from the monolithic structure of the building, Eva-Last’s gorgeous Infinity decking, in Caribbean Coral, was selected for a section of the expansive entertainment area on The Rubik’s rooftop.Introducing warm and welcoming grey tones in a streaked, slip- and scratch-proof surface, this ultra-durable and convenient bamboo composite deck provides a birdseye view of the city, guaranteed to withstand the variability of Cape Town’s climate. Made from co-extruded eco-friendly bamboo fibres and recycled polymers with a protective capping, Infinity is an exceptionally weather resistant, low-maintenance deck that won’t warp, degrade, or discolour over time.
Infinity decking was also creatively used for The Rubik’s outdoor seating, to being some warm, grey tones to the surface of the seating, matching the deck, and further softening the hard architectural materials.
A decorative pergola and several slatted screens were erected vertically against walls using Lifespan architectural beams in Savanna colour. These add an ethereal, earthy appearance that perfectly complements the deck. Naturally, these elements also provide much-needed shade and shelter from the sun or wind, a common occurrence in Cape Town, while their outer composite layer needs little maintenance to remain looking as good as when it was installed.
Finally, the lightweight Lifespan beams were also installed vertically as a beautiful backdrop for The Rubik’s signage wall on the first floor.
KEY INFLUENCER QUOTE
“Eva-Last’s natural-looking materials add to the aesthetics of The Rubik, introducing a more natural and warmer interface, breaking away from the monolithic structure of the building,” says Lucienne Myburgh, Senior Architectural Technologist at DHK. “Their eco-friendliness, low maintenance properties and durability were also key considerations in their specification,” he added.
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