Page 15 - JCCI Business Focus Vol.1.3

A WORLD CLASS ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION

oburg Property Company it provides seating capacity for
(JPC), managers of the City of 361 councillors and 158 seats
JJohannesburg (CoJ) property in the gallery for the public and
portfolio, have been instrumental media – 80 seats more than is
in the conceptual design of the currently required, in order to
Speakers Chamber which was cater for future expansion. The
inspired by the Tswana word state-of-the-art audio-visual
“Lekgotla”, an outdoor meeting and delegate system is fully
space which is circular in form. programmable and completely
The JPC was honoured when customised to be updated in line
it was shortlisted in the Public with any future changes in the
Services Development category way that the Chamber operates.
for the IPA awards because of the 500 jobs were created from the
very nature of the building and its surrounding communities.
purpose. The JPC was delighted
and particularly proud when the The form itself is that of a
award was presented to the Joburg transparent drum – a cylindrical
Property Group as the winner in structure enveloped entirely
this category where there were by a glass façade with vertical
14 entries in total for Africa and glass fins covering the curved
Arabia. This award was presented outer skin of the building.
at the prestigious IPA Awards The glass building envelope
ceremony held on 7 September enables an uninterrupted visual
2017 at the JW Marriott Marquis link between the indoor and
Hotel in Dubai. surrounding outdoor spaces. The Speakers Chamber at night
This allows the outside world
Being a part of the IPA Public to have a visual connection The winning designs have been winners were selected. The emerging skyline that is changing
Services Development Awards with the building’s occupants, translated into wooden totems youngest entrants were of a within the Johannesburg CBD
category has shown that the which is symbolic of a constant placed inside the Council pre-primary school age; and and that we will once again have
Speakers Chamber is a world class dialogue between the public and Chamber building. To stand the oldest were mature adults. a city that is world class and
architectural innovation, which municipal officials a chance of being selected, As permanent fixtures woven visited by millions of tourists
is not an anomaly in South Africa citizens were encouraged into the fabric of the Council every year. 
but in a globally competitive One of the unique features to base their designs on the Chamber’s design, these totems
property development of the building was The overarching theme of warmth will stand as testaments to the
environment, stands as one of Council Chambers Totem Art and inclusivity at the new people of Johannesburg and For more information please contact:
Bliss Yeni
the best in its class. This award Competition 2016 (open to both Chambers. More importantly, their heritage. Tel: 010 219 9022
has given us the opportunity to young and old, professionals their totems needed to embody Email: BYeni@jhbproperty.co.za
showcase the Chamber and its and hopefuls) invited artists and represent the distinctive The building stands tall and Website: www.jhbproperty.co.za,
surrounding Piazza. to submit drawings, paintings stories of the inhabitants of proud and those that work Twitter: @jhbproperty
and prints that told a unique and live in Johannesburg are Facebook: Joburg Property Company,
The inside of the Chamber has story about their community their respective communities. reminded every day of the Instagram: jpc_prop
been designed in such a way that and their community’s history. From over 500 entries, 134 Linkedin: Joburg Property Company

IT’S HERITAGE MONTH

he city’s history comes people forced to leave behind Johannesburg Holocaust and
alive in the buildings and the graves of their loved ones Genocide Centre (JHGC) was
Tmonuments that tell stories when they were forcefully built to commemorate the
of important moments in its removed from Juliwe location in victims and survivors of the
formation, making it a unique Roodepoort West to Dobsonville Holocaust and Genocide for
city, with all its historical scars. in the late 1950s. their courage and determination
This Heritage Month, the city in resisting the dehumanising
will, through its entity, the Joburg The JPC has recently awarded and oppressive systems. This
Property Company (JPC), step the Parkmore Community building commemorates the
up efforts to restore, preserve and Association (PCA) a lease to
maintain its historical monuments preserve and use the Driefontein suffering of the people of
for future generations. Rwanda, the Jewish community
Farmhouse, which was built and any other communities who
Current city efforts to preserve by German immigrant Adolf suffered similar atrocities. The
Joburg heritage: Wilhemi in 1906 after the building will house a permanent
The Jabulani Amphitheatre Anglo-Boer War. The association exhibition that is still under
located near the Soweto Theatre is aims to preserve the history of construction and will be opened
currently being restored. It is part the farm and teach children in in 2018.
of a 36 hectare development under the area about the history of the
the management of the JPC. early Parkmore residents. The city plans to upgrade the
Mendi Monument in Avalon
The city will on 25 September Located in Forest Town Cemetery to coincide with the
unveil a plaque to recognise on Jan Smuts Avenue, the centenary of the Men.  Driefontein Farmhouse

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