96 Rivonia Road by Boogertman + Partners

As director at a residential property development company based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Laurence Grigorov keeps abreast of development news and information. Current and upcoming commercial and residential projects offer Laurence Grigorov an insight in residential and commercial market trends.
The Sandton CBD in Johannesburg is a fast –growing commercial and residential hub that has many exciting projects that are of particular interest to Laurence Grigorov.
The new home of anchor tenant, Werkmans Attorneys, is the first building to be developed on the site of the new mixed use precinct in the heart of Sandton known as The Central. Continuing their long standing relationship with Werksmans, Investec Property sought out a high profile address for the development of an iconic building that would house the law firm for many years to come.
The Central will eventually include 100,000m2 of mixed use rights, which will include retail, office, residential and a hotel. Located opposite the Sandton Gautrain station the site is easily accessible and the construction of the massive multi story basement will ensure that the precinct has buildings with podiums that are pedestrian friendly and allows for public spaces.
“96 Rivonia Road is the result of a close tenant driven relationship between Investec and Werksmans that has accommodated the firm’s history and ethos into the design,” says Gavin Bernstein of Investec Property.
The original client brief was the need for a 20,000m² landmark building. Once Werksmans, as primary tenant, came on board with their designers – Stephen Rich Interiors, the brief was defined to an envisaged concept presented by Stephen Rich Interiors.
Investec Property and Boogertman + Partners developed the concept based on an understanding of the client’s culture & ethos and the design elements presented. With Werksmans as the primary tenant in this landmark building in Sandton, the concept for 96 Rivonia Road is derived from the firm’s historical and current legal prowess and dominant presence in the legal services marketplace. The stone base of classical form and proportions lays the foundation of the firm’s history which then projects into the future with the modern, clean lines of the black box. Almost as if it is a handshake between the old and the new in a promise to build on the past while striving into the future.
96 Rivonia Road stands as an iconic anchor building for the rest of The Central precinct and sets the standard for what is a world class addition to the Sandton CBD.

Photo and words courtesy of Architect and Builder magazine.

96 Rivonia Road