SPECIAL REPORT:

ELPHICK PROOME ARCHITECTS

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ELPHICK PROOME

ARCHITECTS: 21 YEARS IN

THE MAKING

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By Stacey Rowan. From a small office

space that comprised of a bedroom

in a house in Morningside, to a small

office in Berea, and then a self-built

large office building, Elphick Proome

Architects (EPA) has seen itself grow

within the marketplace over the years.

Established in 1989, the practice is in

its 21st year now with the two found-

ing directors, Nick Proome and George

Elphick, still in partnership. After ex-

panding to a 60-persons practice in

the last five years, the practice has

developed another award winning

studio in Westville, where it is cur-

rently located.

“George and I studied together at

the University of Natal in the late 70s

and early 80s and some years after

qualifying we decided to go into

ELPHICK PROOME

ARCHITECTS: 21 YEARS IN

THE MAKING

EPA Studio, Westville, KZN, 2008.

practice. The practice was established

to create appropriate architecture that

responds to function, context, region

and climate and endeavours to create

design solutions which rise to the chal-

lenges of our social and economic

context and that make a significant

contribution to the South African re-

ality,” says Proome.

Defining moments

Within the 21 years in practice, EPA

has seen defining moments that have

made the years that much more worth-

while. “I remember the moment Nick

and I agreed to start a practice to-

gether and the day we moved into our

first office building in Tollgate. The

day we won an Award of Excellence,

nationalities. “We also have projects in

ten countries across three continents.

Our work is distinctive and well recog-

nised both provincially and nationally,”

adds Proome.

In addition, EPA has also received

several awards including an Award

for Excellence for EPA Studio, six Na-

tional Awards of Merit for four differ-

ent building types and four SAISC

Awards, one National Overall Winner

Award and one Special Commenda-

tion.

was also another defining moment

for the practice. I can’t also forget cel-

ebrating our 20th birthday bash,”

says Proome.

Achievements & recognitions

Apart from the fact that EPA is the

largest architectural firm within the

KwaZulu-Natal region, which is an

achievement in itself, the practice also

enjoys a rainbow nation in their studio,

with a personnel of nine different

BELOW, LTR: ABSA Regional Head Office, Durban, KZN. One The Boulevard, Westville, KZN. Deneys Reitz, La Lucia, KZN. BOTTOM: Village Bharoochi, Westville, KZN.

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We are proud to be associated with the development of the Investec Regional Offices – Durban

The first real Green HVAC installation in Durban. The Investec HVAC installation was designed originally to comply with the requirements of a 4 Star GBCSA (Green Building Council of South Africa) rating. This was the original design intent and most of the options and alternatives were incorporated in the final installation. Below are the major design concepts implemented to achieve GBCSA Credits. The air distribution to all offices is via a Displacement System which is based on low velocity higher temperature air being supplied at floor level via the floor void. This provides the ultimate indoor air quality as air is not mixed but flows up via convection to the ceiling return air path, thereby satisfying the IEQ Green Star Credit. In addition, all areas are provided with individual control with variable speed drive motors where required. A central computerized Building Managements System monitors and controls, HVAC, Electrical and other building essential services. This is an essential energy management system required to satisfy the Management Green Star Credit. Heat Reclaim Energy Wheels are used to provide free cooling of Outside Air. This is achieved using free heat transfer between outside air and building exhaust air through the Energy Wheels contributing to the Energy Green Star Credit. High efficiency Screw Chillers using Non Ozone Depleting refrigerants and Variable Primary Pumping further contribute to the Energy and Emissions Green Star Credits. Side Stream Water filtration has been installed to reduce the amount of waste water through bleed off from the Cooling Towers, contributing to the Water Usage Green Star Credit. by Noel Smith – Director and Senior Design Engineer of RPP Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd

Compliance = Green ProcessesSeveral Environmental Management Systems have been implemented in all

of Plascon’s South African Manufacturing Plants and in 2005, we attained ISO 14001 certification at all of our plants.

Plascon South Africa strives to inspire more ecological considerate decisions throughout our business. We have responded to the challenge by innovating unparalleled sustainable solutions based on the 3 fundamental pillars of compliance, sustainability and products.

Sustainability = Green PracticesPioneering ground-breaking processes have been implemented to ensure

that we are starting on ground level. Our processes focus strictly on achieving complete sustainable progression.

For more information contact the Plascon Advisory Service: 0860 2040 60 or visit our website www.plascon.co.zaor www.plascontrade.co.za

Products = Green Products Plascon is dedicated to provide industry-first solutions, through quality, environmentally-aware products, which do not compromise the finished product performance or our world.

• Plascon Premium Brands – Double Velvet (white and pastel tint base), Cashmere (white and pastel tint base) and several of our Plascon Professional products all have VOC levels lower than 16g/ℓ when tinted with Plascon Inspired Colour colourants

• Plascon Cashmere was voted No.1 in the Product of the Year 2010 Paint Category for its Triple Action Bead™ technology. Cashmere diffuses light and hides imperfections, it’s washable and stain resistant and retains its stylish, plush matt finish over time.

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EPA is also recognised for its service.

In maintaining a positive and close

client relationship from inception to

completion of all projects, EPA is com-

mitted to providing a comprehensive

and effective professional service

which facilitates quality on time and

within budget constraints.

A normal day at EPA

“Depending on who you are at EPA,

or what position you hold, the day

might seem long or short! Our studio

is a busy place with a real buzz at times

as we simultaneously tackle up to

30 projects. Days are full of meetings,

design sessions and presentations for

our architects and our interior design-

ers,” says Elphick.

The work process at EPA, on a daily

basis, places a strong emphasis on

collaboration. The design of each

project concept is initiated by a di-

rector and developed within a team

structure led by a project architect.

Design review sessions are under-

taken in all design phases, ensuring

both an innovative and responsible

approach to the design development

process.

Vaal Studio, Vall River, Free State.

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“A normal day as an architect I expect

would vary considerably across the

world depending on circumstance,

location and client base. Typically

though, architects work hard, spend

long evening hours designing, day-

time hours chasing work, interfacing

with clients and consultants and man-

aging staff. It is a rich and varied career

experience,” says Elphick.

The future of EPA

With corporate offices and private

residences, amongst others, being

EPA’s speciality and what they are

best known for, there is no end to

their projects and new develop-

ments. “We have recently complet-

ed the new Investec Regional Head

Office in Umhlanga, a 6 500m2 land-

mark corporate office building con-

sidered to be the finest office build-

ing Investec owns worldwide. In

design phase is a new global show-

piece facility for an international

corporate in Riverhorse Valley and a

number of new office buildings in

Durban and Johannesburg. Under

construction are a group of cutting-

edge private houses in Cape Town,

the Southern Cape and KwaZulu-

Natal,” says Elphick.

Also on the practice’s architectural

plate is “…generating our own de-

velopment projects which have car-

ried us through tough times. We are

also building a very unusual villa on

the island of Zanzibar and a corpo-

rate office in Lusaka, Zambia,” adds

Proome.

Idwala Lodge, Elandslaaget, KZN.

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Proudly associated withElphick Proome

Ridge 63 Goba, Umhlanga, KZN.

ABOVE LEFT: Standad Bank, Kingsmead, KZN. ABOVE RIGHT: Investec Regional Offices, Umhlanga, KZN.BELOW: Gottlieb Group of Companies, KZN.

With private houses in Cape Town,

the Southern Cape and KwaZulu-

Natal and many office buildings in

the works for the near future, what

is the distant future looking like for

EPA? “We now have five directors in

EPA and the future augers well as

we tackle more challenging projects

both small and large. We intend de-

veloping our design approach to

embrace sustainability as a key as-

pect of all projects. This is a moral

decision and demands clear vision

and a practical approach to built

outcomes in this South African con-

text,” concludes Elphick. <

BELOW LTR: Quayside Point Waterfront, KZN. Spinnaker Point Waterfront, KZN. Protea Hotel Umhlanga Ridge, KZN. BOTTOM: Studio Elphick, Westville, KZN.

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Palace was registered in 1992

Contact details: 031 464 6595

We have completed works such as Reserve Bank, Sugar Mill Casino, Sibaya ,Suncoast Casino and currently involved in

Umfolozi Tusk Casino.

Investec new offices at Umhlanga, Durban and have worked on all Netcare hospital in Natal.

We specialise in Suspended ceilings, partitioning and shopfitting

We do work ranging from small contracts to the larger ones.

We are BEE compliant with a level 2 contribution

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