Construction World April 2018

Gerrit Jordaan, Director of Holm Jordaan Architects & Urban Designers.

even reverse, the negative consequences of climate change”. ‘Five principles of Sustainable Neighborhood Planning’, a study compiled

by the UN Habitat, shows that urban form and density, together with an

environmentally-friendly public transport system, will reduce energy consumption, produce fewer carbon emissions per capita, making people less dependent on transport, with subsequent positive impacts on the environment. These principles adhere to the the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This need for a new, integrated approach to urban planning and development, lead Holm Jordaan Architects & Urban Designers to merge with GWA Studio to form a new firm, NEW URBAN. According to Gary White, Director of GWA Studio, said approach would entail the following – high density, mixed-use and transit-oriented development; the design of the public realm through form- based codes and responsive architecture; integrated street networks and the removal of freeways, where appropriate. “Sustainable urbanism is categorised by incremental urbanism through neighborhood development, suburban retro- fit and the creation of walkable streets. Densification, optimisations of systems, and efficient public transport and mixed-use development is a prerequisite”. Adds Jordaan, “Integrated design is not just taking a lot of – sometimes conflicting – aspects into consideration. It is a way of creating urban solutions that use as little as possible means to give as many people as possible the best enabling environment”. It is this goal NEW URBAN, with 80 years of combined experience, aims to achieve – to provide Africa with the much- needed new integrated approach to urban development. 

Ponte City in Berea, Johannesburg, South Africa. It was built in 1975 to a height of 173 m. The 55-story building is cylindrical, with an open centre allowing additional light into the apartments. The centre space is known as 'the core' and rises above an uneven rock floor.

Basil Read successfully concluded a rights offer on Friday, 23 February 2018. The full R300-million required for repayment of the bridge loan and working capital was raised. The sale had opened on 12 February. Mapasa is confident the steps planned to effect a turnaround – for which the rights offer was key – will work. The shares, offered at a discounted price of 22 cents a share, was supported by the company’s major shareholders, says Mapasa. The path to turnaround With R300-million in new cash in its coffers, construction and mining firm, Basil Read is on track to effect a solid turnaround, according to CEO Khathutshelo Mapasa.

Shareholders led by Allan Gray, PSG Asset Management, Prudential Investment Managers, Sishen Iron Ore Community (SIOC) Trust and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) undertook to follow their rights. Mapasa acknowledged that the path to a turnaround is not a short or easy journey.

“With this new cash injection, Basil Read is on a firm path towards recovery,” Mapasa said. “We are cognisant of, and grateful for, the shareholders’ faith in us. There’s hard work ahead, but we’re ready.” 

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD APRIL 2018