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fabricated in slender tubular steel elements and
spans some 24 m – between the east and west
wings of the building.The three-layered ETFE instal-
lation incorporates a layer with a high-density print
and the large free-form cushions of the material can
be inflated or deflated to control light penetration
and glare by adjusting the shading created by the
printed layer. As an insulating membrane, the roof
also limits heat build-up within the atrium space.
It has the further benefit that, because it is
transparent, it allows people working in the building
to feel connected with the external environment –
the movement of the sun, the changing weather
and the changing seasons – which makes for a
healthier workplace.
Flexible ways of working
dsgn design was appointed to design the interior
of the building to reflect the Multichoice brand and
corporate culture, to portray a progressive, forward-
thinking multi-media company, considerate of its
employees, and to provide for flexibility in working
scenarios, recognising how the work environment
is evolving, with technology in the forefront.
Open plan office space is organised around
the light-filled atrium. Along the atrium ‘street’ at
ground level and overlooking this central volume,
various pause areas and breakaway zones, casual
clusters of seating and futuristic meeting pods
where staff and visitors can interact animate the
space. Bridges and stairs criss-cross the atrium
at different angles and levels connecting the vari-
ous departments. This planning approach creates
a dynamic interior and provides for flexible ways
of working, increasing the range of places where
informal interactions, spontaneous conversations
and a creative exchange of ideas can occur.
The atrium also meets the client’s requirement
for a place where large staff gatherings can be
hosted for new product launches or other corporate
announcements.
Congruent with the concept of flexible ways of
working, dsgn introduced organic shapes – in the
customdesignedmeeting pods, for example, aswell
as other furniture – and bright colour, which appeals
to the senses and reflects the Multichoice identity,
is used in accent walls, furnishings and rugs.
The building is fully equipped with advanced
information, telecommunications and media tech-
nologies supporting 24/7 global connectivity and
it provides a host of amenities for staff, including
a gym on the fourth floor and a coffee shop which
spills out into the atrium at ground level.
costs. At the same time, the insulating effect of
the ETFE roof supports the efficient thermal per-
formance of the building, thus also contributing to
energy conservation.
The atrium roof
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene is a copolymer that
was developed originally as an inert coating mate-
rial for use in the aerospace industry. In building,
it found applications initially in agricultural green-
houses before being adopted in much more ambi-
tious projects: the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, in
the late 1990s, the Allianz Arena in Munich for the
2006 Soccer World Cup and the Aquatics Centre,
otherwise known as the ‘Water Cube’, for the 2008
Beijing Olympics demonstrated the architectural
potential of ETFE.
As a roofing material, ETFE has a number of
significant advantages.
- While the film has a high tensile strength which
makes it structurally resistant, it also has a high
elasticity.
- It is significantly lighter in weight than glass
while offering exceptional light transmission
with 90% to 95% transparency.
- It has a low surface friction coefficient, so it
does not hold dust or dirt which simply washes
off in the rain.
- It does not discolour or degrade under exposure
to ultraviolet light, environmental pollution or
extremes of temperature – all plus points for a
South African Highveld application.
- It also has far better acoustic properties than a
hard roof surface such as glass or metal.
- And it can be recycled.
The raw granulate is extruded into sheets, referred
to as film, and these can be applied in single-layered
form or in double- or triple-layered applications. In
multi-layered applications dry air is incorporated at
low pressure between the layers of film, creating
inflated cushions that provide an effective measure
of thermal insulation as well as increased structural
stability against wind loads. Under typical loading
conditions, ETFE cushions can range from 1.5 m to
3 m wide and up to almost 7 m in length.
Additionally, a frit pattern can be incorporated
on one or multiple layers to adjust the solar perfor-
mance of the material to requirements, providing a
further degree of controlled shading and protection
against glare and internal heat gain.
At the Multichoice building the transparent roof
is supported by a shallow arched structure that is