Warehouse & Office Park Development
Sector
Commercial
Location
Booysens, South Africa
Type
Commercial - turnkey project design and project management
SQM
12 000sqm
Goal achieved
Circular economy – recycle, reuse and repair
This project represents a complete transformation in both scale and purpose. What began as a chemically contaminated, agriculturally zoned site was, over the course of two years, reimagined into a highly efficient industrial campus comprising 10,000 square metres of warehousing and 2,000 square metres of offices.
Set on a 22-hectare site in the south of Johannesburg, the property is strategically located just eight minutes from Sandton and two minutes from a major arterial route. Bordering a residential area, the brief required a considered architectural response that balanced industrial functionality with sensitivity to its surroundings. The result is a development that sits confidently within its context while remaining disciplined, robust and visually coherent.
Generous window proportions and carefully planned layouts give the offices a strong connection to the landscape. Each workspace is filled with natural light and framed by 180-degree views of mature trees and greenery, creating the sensation of working within the landscape rather than apart from it. Access to meeting rooms, kitchens, canteens, bathrooms and pause areas was carefully planned to support cognitive ease, movement and informal interaction.
​
The technical infrastructure was designed to meet demanding operational requirements. State-of-the-art telecommunications are supported by a central server room. The sawtooth roof is finished in charcoal clip-tight sheeting, complemented by raw concrete columns, fibre-reinforced floors and charcoal powder-coated steel. Fire protection systems were integrated throughout, including fire tanks with a capacity of one million litres of water and a network of exposed red pipework beneath charcoal insulation.
​
The result is a high-performing industrial environment that aligns architectural rigour with human experience, demonstrating how neuroscience-informed, biophilic design can elevate even large-scale industrial developments.
The design approach was informed by neuroscience and biophilic principles, recognising the measurable impact that light, proportion, materiality and views to nature have on focus, wellbeing and long-term performance.
A restrained palette of charcoal, white and ochre raw face brick established the framework for a smart industrial aesthetic with low maintenance requirements. The buildings carry a strong, purposeful presence without excess, reflecting both durability and intent.
​
Salvage and reuse were fundamental to the project. Every viable brick was cleaned and retained, paving bricks were carefully lifted and reused, ceiling tiles and light fittings restored, steel window frames ground back and refinished and all salvageable steel beams and cabling reincorporated. This approach significantly reduced waste while preserving material integrity.
​
The entrance to the office complex is defined by a recessed wall of black steel-framed glazing and doors, set behind the original façade of three architecturally strong arches. These retained elements establish continuity with the site’s past. Internally, the original wide passageways define the office layout, while the boardroom floor was created using reclaimed parquet uncovered beneath former laboratory carpets.
