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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
SEPTEMBER
2016
in Windhoek
GEOTECHNICAL
Furthermore, in order to minimise
its geographical footprint, the
multi-storey building will have a
basement staff car park.
Analysis of the mica schist (a crystalline
metamorphic rock) formation was under-
taken by Stefanutti Stocks Geotechnical and
its design engineer, and indicated that the
material dipped in a northwesterly direction.
This meant that the excavation’s
southerly and easterly walls would be most
vulnerable and as the excavation will also be
at its deepest here (18,9 m high at its highest
point with a 200 mm thick off-the-gun gunite
finish) precise lateral support is required.
Bulk earthworks and site preparation
for the building saw a total of 53 000 m
3
of
rock removed. However, as the excavations
progressed the soil conditions required the
appointment of a blasting contractor.
Some 10 000 m
3
of hard rock was blasted
over weekends due to local blasting regula-
tions (which specify the evacuation of within
a 500 m radius) and the site’s proximity of the
Ministry of Finance and Parliament.
Once the excavations were completed
Stefanutti Stocks Geotechnical began with
the installation of the lateral support to
It provides a tranquil setting and
caters for all the needs of the more
senior citizens, providing facilities
like a well equipped restaurant where you
can enjoy nice meals, an onsite laundry, a
day care centre, pharmacy, physiotherapist,
biocineticist and a high care centre (should
it be necessary).
During the planning stages it became
evident that earth retaining measure would
be needed to stabilise the exposed embank-
ments resulting from excavation activities.
Steffanuti Stocks, the main contractor on
site, approached Namwall, Windhoek based
Namibian licensee for Terraforce, to provide
a design for Terraforce block retaining walls.
Says Chris Schutte, of Namwall: “We
consulted with Terrasafe, Terraforce’s profes-
sional design service, and had a design ready
in no time.
Most of the proposed rock face block walls
were pretty straight forward, with the higher
ones requiring a double skin of L12 blocks for
extra reinforcement. In addition to the walls
inside the property, a river running alongside
the retirement village needed erosion control
EYE-CATCHING RETAINING WALL
Auas Hills Retirement Village, situated in Auasblick, is a sought
after Retirement Village in Windhoek.
retaining walls, in case of heavy water run-off
during the rainy season. In total around 25 000
blocks were installed.”
The project was completed in Febuary 2015,
with landscaping by Andre’s Landscaping adding
the final touches to the walls.
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LATERAL SUPPORT
Source: Niel de Klerk
The new office of the Prime Minister of Namibia is being
constructed next to the existing Ministry of Finance
building. The site location overlooks the city of Windhoek
from a hilltop and inspired the architect’s vision of
designing an environmentally friendly building, rising out
of the Khomas Hochland.
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