Green Park in Johannesburg, South Africa

November 20, 2010 Category: Parks, Urban Design

Green Park that located in Johannesburg, South Africa, was designed by A3 Architects. The design has been carefully developed to prioritise both the spectacular aspects of high rise architecture and the urban spaces formed at pedestrian level. The interface zones, such as quiet, private apartment balconies directly above vibrant, busy public retail arcades proved to be rather difficult to solve. Placing a whole range of functions next to or even on top of each other, such as a rooftop pool on a hotel, which in turn rests on a spa, restaurant, gym and finally a parking basement becomes a bewildering puzzle, especially when one considers the diverse structural and servicing requirements of each component.

The intimidating scale of large, high rise buildings have been mediated by carefully articulating the volumes and stepping them back from the retail courtyard spaces, behind garden decks. Unlike classical buildings which generate symmetrical, static forms, these buildings respond to the dynamic, complex forces of nature to become unbalanced, exciting sculptural forms which the architects hope will contribute positively to the growing skyline of Sandton in the future.

Green Park design by A3 Architects