Isivivana Centre

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Project Details

  • City: Cape Town, South Africa
  • Year: 2016
  • Client: Equal Education
  • Value: R52.1million
  • Discipline: Architecture
  • Sector: Civic and cultural

Against all odds, this building was completed after 6 years of planning and construction in order to give the activist organisation Equal Education a new home. In collaboration with Katlego Motene and interior design team Platform Design, GAPP Architects sought to design a building which would be a catalyst for transforming the Khayelitsha Business District (KBD) into an area of opportunity.

This community centre accommodates specific requirements for five key organisations, as well as retail space, a community hall, an auditorium, library and a classroom. A protected internal parking courtyard doubles up as a netball/basketball court and an outdoor amphitheater.

Funds were provided by the Atlantic Philanthropies, a New York based group committed to laying foundations for change by helping human rights organisations. The design was focused on expressing, in built form, the values of the NGOs, namely equality, dignity, respect and safety. The user brief also called for a building with the vibrant character of a newsroom – which translated into an architecture that is ‘young’, hip and edgy. Both dynamic and restrained, the building makes a substantial contribution to the quality of the area and to the lives of the people living there.

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WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

"Britam Tower remains the most iconic building in Kenya and has continued to excite the market. Further, GAPP’s service delivery has been exemplary throughout the life of this project. They have also been very responsive on all matters despite the distance."
Jacqueline Nyaguthi – Britam Life Assurance
"The work that GAPP has produced for the V&A Waterfront Company over the years has always been of the highest standard and they understand and service our brand, our business, and our needs very well. We are happy to recommend GAPP’s services for urban design and architectural work and believe them to be reputable, professional and innovative."
Martin Kearns – V&A Waterfront Company
"We have no hesitation in recommending GAPP’s services as they have proved themselves as professionals able to deliver a 5-star luxury product."
M J Vietri – Faircape Property Developers
"GAPP has proved to be the most knowledgeable and professional in the field of town planning. The knowledge and attention to detail that Mr. Erky Wood possesses are second to none. Given the scope and nature of the projects handled by GAPP, they were always willing to assist and deal with requests outside of their appointed brief."
Aveshni Ponnusamy – Gauteng Spatial Development Framework 2011
"Throughout the design and construction of the Isivivana Centre in Khayelitsha GAPP worked interactively with the trustees and were responsive to requested changes to design and usage, even last-minute ones. The lead architect, Sally Tsiliyiannis, and her team were always professional in their advice and execution of their mandate and went the extra mile."
Jill Singer – Isivivana Centre
"The design and management of the construction of the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre in Bellville were done professionally and efficiently by GAPP, as demonstrated by the fact that the project came in under budget and fulfilled all requirements set out by the end-users. The building continues to serve as a benchmark for educational institutions on how to incorporate inviting educational environments with sustainable design and operation."
Sven Pietrangeli - The South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre

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