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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
AUGUST
2016
to all units. Since power supply can be unre-
liable, each unit has the ability to be fitted
with an inverter. Water tanks installed around
the complex are able to provide 1 200 litres of
water a day to each household for three full
days in the event of a water supply problem.
Storm water runoff is being managed by
means of a walled-off basketball court which
functions as an attenuation pond after a
downpour. The team even had to provide for
proper sewage disposal from the site, which
has been done by means of sharing a prop-
erly designed mini sewage treatment plant
with a neighbouring development.
Detailed co-ordination and
planning required
Whilst MWCA has undertaken all the concep-
tual and design work on The Edge, the full
professional team in Uganda also includes
a Ugandan architect of record, as required
by law. This architectural firm, SASA
(headed up by Dr. Kenneth Ssemwogerere)
is actively involved in daily site manage-
ment. Cole reports that the working process
as a team has been smooth, comfortable
and collaborative.
“We have had many workshop sessions
together to ensure that everyone is able
to implement best practices and to work
optimally as a team,” he says. One of the
aspects of the job which has needed more
attention than usual has been the develop-
ment of generic specification documents for
the contractor to work from. “Uganda doesn’t
currently have legislated building codes,
although the authorities are working on
implementing something in the near future.
However, because of our experience in Africa,
we are familiar with the process of generating
functional and performance-based specifica-
tion documents which are largely based on
British or European standards.
For example, rather than specifying a
branded product, the specification needs to
describe how the product must perform and
what materials it must be made of,”
he elaborates.
While projects such as this may not
afford architects from South Africa the
comfort of the familiar systems and formulas,
MWCA’s philosophy is that adaptability, flex-
ibility and the willingness to learn ultimately
make for a stronger practice all round. Old
and accepted ideas in one’s familiar envi-
ronment can be challenged, while everyone
involved in a project which presents
unfamiliar aspects, has the opportunity to
broaden their knowledge. It is clear that this
approach, combined with the firm’s long-es-
tablished reputation in the residential market
and its African exposure, have served it well.
While The Edge is progressing smoothly,
the company has since been appointed
by the same client to undertake another
upmarket residential development near
Lake Victoria. “We look forward to applying
what we have learnt on The Edge on this new
project, to improving on that knowledge, and
to deepening our relationship with HL Invest-
ments as a client,” Cole concludes.