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February 2015
Bricks & Paving
A
panel of broad vivid yellow,
orange, greenandwhite stripes
at the front entrance is the only
clue that Heideveld Primary School
in Heideveld, Western Cape is not
your average government learning
institution.
As part of the Department of
Education’s Accelerated School In-
frastructure Delivery Intiative (ASIDI)
the Western Cape government was
assigned the task of completely
renovating the 40 year old school. The
renovation took almost two years.
Commenting on the complexi-
ties and logistics of the site, Meyer
& Associates Director, Tiaan Meyer
explained, “Integral to the project
was the demolition of the old exist-
ing structures to prepare the site for
the new school buildings.” However,
pupils and teachers needed to be
accommodated in new temporary
buildings before contractor, Basil
Read, could start the new building
operations. The upgrade included: 23
new classrooms; four Grade R class-
rooms; four specialist classrooms, a
computer lab; amedia centre; art and
music room; and a new school hall,
which accommodates a kitchen; with
anadministrativebuildingoffices and
staff room and offices on the perim-
eter of the space.
Christie van Niekerk, Corobrik
Manager Western Cape, said that
bricks
Warm, earthy tones of Corobrik’s Bergendal Satin Light face
brick is punctuated by vibrant blocks of colour to ensure
that the Heideveld Primary School designed by Meyer &
Associates Architects and Urban Designers will inspire young
South Africans!
taking into account the harsh natu-
ral environment of the Cape Flats,
“Corobrik Bergendal Satin Light face
brick was a good choice of product
and ideally suited to the modern,
uncluttered design of the school. Its
attractive warm colour, low mainte-
nance and durability will ensure that
the school will endure and remain an
exciting place of learning.”
In total Corobrik supplied:
438000ROKliteplaster bricks; 208000
Bergendal Satin Light FBS face bricks;
16 500 73 mm Wheatstone Pavers
PBand and 26 000 50mmWheatstone
Dark Pavers PB.
Simplicity was key to the design
and minimalist perimeter blocks are
broken and contrasted by creative
elements, which have specific func-
tions and significance, including a
timber canopy entrance and screen
walls with circular opening detail all
coded in bright colours.
The buildings are traditionally
arranged around quads or enclosed
covered courtyards that offer protec-
tion prevailing south easterly winds
and rain. And, although the inclusion
of quads and courtyards are a tradi-
tional element of many South African
schools, there’s nothing institutional
about these spaces at Heideveld
Primary. The school has brightly
coloured staircases, circular benches
and striking signage. Corobrik’s
73mmWheatstone Pavers and 50mm
Wheatstone Dark Pavers compliment
the Bergendal Satin Light face brick
finish of the buildings and were used
in all internal courtyards and external
paved areas.
Climate control and sustainable
principles played a large part in the
design of the facility with most of
the classrooms enjoying north/south
orientations. The upper floors of the
classroom blocks provide generous
overhangs over the north facing
windows cutting out direct sunlight.
The eastern and western facades are
articulated with perforated brightly
coloured vertical sunscreens in deep
recesses. Borehole water is stored in
water tanks and the water is used for
all the ablution facilities. The face
brick and off-shutter concrete meets
the need for a high quality lowmain-
tenance sustainable facility.
Van Niekerk says, “The durability,
resistance to fire and natural sound
proofing qualities as well as the
earthy palette and textures of the clay
face brick walls significantly reduces
maintenance costs.”
To a community historically
stripped of its sense of value, the
creative design of the new school at-
tempts to give back a sense of dignity
and pride. Van Niekerk summed up
the project by stating: “We are ex-
tremely honoured to be part of a col-
laborative effort which has resulted
in an environmentally sustainable
school with a unique design aesthetic
that will stimulate and encourage
students far into the future.”
In 2013 a further two Corobrik
factories received ISO 9001 accredita-
tion with another three receiving the
accreditation this year, bringing to 11
the number of factories with certifi-
cation. The ISO 14001 accreditation
is an environmental management
system to assist companiesmaximise
their environmental impact. Last year
one factory received the accredita-
tion, and the total number of factories
with this accreditation are now five.
A further five factories will receive
accreditation in 2015 and the balance
in 2016.
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