A Catch up with our 2019 Winner of Faces of the Future Lesego Bantsheng

CATCHING UP WITH... Lesego Bantsheng,

2 0 1 9 W I N N E R O F T H E FAC E S OF THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN

Q: How has your current portfolio

evolved, and what new projects have you been working on?

A: My current portfolio has evolved in two ways. First, in my plight to become an urban designer, I have to register as a landscape architect professionally. Professional registration has required me to take up projects more geared towards filling the gaps in my competency able. Before working for the Department of Public

Works, my work experience at Newtown

Landscape Architects consisted of intensive design projects. There was a lot of conceptualising, draughting, and site visits. After reassessing my timesheets, I realised I had to gain experience in the categories of professional practice and environmental management. Thus, the bulk of my work in the past year has been more of report writing than design.

In order not to lose my language as an artist and designer, I’ve embarked on personal projects, including painting, illustrations, and sculpting. Through these mediums, I get to continue my search for the African creative expression I was so passionate about in my thesis. The work might not be landscape architectural, but it is a way for me to communicate my love for African heritage.

Q: What do you see happening within the next

two years of your career?

A: In the next two years, I see myself studying urban design part-time or wholly immersed in urban design projects. I want to continue working in the public sphere, especially as an urban designer. I believe that this route will equip me better to make the types of change I’m passionate about in society. I also see myself doing more projects with Uhuru Heritage.

Q: What advice would you give to other young

up and comers like yourself?

A: I would advise young up and comers to be patient with the process. The journey is a reward in itself. The only competition we have is with ourselves. If one continues to better themselves, there is no failure.

Q: How has your move from Cape Town (CPT)

to Johannesburg (JHB) affected you?

A: The move that affected me the most was from Johannesburg to Cape Town. I did my undergraduate in Pretoria, which is close to JHB. JHB is familiar territory for me. Although I miss Cape Town, I understand JHB, and sometimes I feel more comfortable here. I’m closer to my support system, something I did not have in CPT.

Q: How do you see yourself positively

affecting the industry?

A: My contribution to the industry will be to broaden the scope of landscape architecture. To achieve this, I need to be involved in the early stages of project conceptualisation. Unfortunately, landscape architects get involved in projects at the very last minute, and the practice can be perceived as an inconvenience. Working at the DPWI has taught me about the process of identifying work for landscape architects. The trajectory of projects I’ve been involved in has proved the benefits of being an urban designer that understands the need for greener cities. Even as an urban designer, I intend to have a significant impact on landscape architecture.

Q: Do you still have free time to work on

Uhuru Heritage?

A: I make time to work on Uhuru. At this stage, the bulk of our work is research-based. We had scheduled to film a project on climate change before the lockdown. Like everyone else, we

have to be patient and figure out another time to continue. It hasn’t been easy, but my partner Nthustao Maharaswa and I are passionate about our small projects. There is still so much to do, and that excites me.

Q: What would be your ideal project to

work on?

A: My ideal project would be a design framework for rural areas and townships. It would bring me great joy to see these spaces designed as if they are for real living families. In the design realm, we often focus on the city, therefore, numerous other places become neglected. The projects I’d like to do are not the most beautiful or high-profile projects. Instead, they are the most impactful projects tailored for the majority of the South African population.

"If one continues to better themselves, there is no failure.”

SPU’S STUDENT Resource Centre

Location: Bishops Avenue, Kimberley, Northern Cape Completed for use: January 2018 Size: 6,364m 2 Client: Sol Plaatje University Noteworthy: Winner of the SAIA Free State Regional Award, 2019

In 2014, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) opened its doors as the first new university in South Africa’s democratic era. Strategically close to the Square Kilometre Array Telescope (SKA), its initial intake of 135 students is fast expanding, to reach the expected growth of 7,500 students within its first 10 years.

With architecture by Designworkshop and landscape architecture by Insite Group, the resource centre for Sol Plaatje University is located in Kimberley’s Inner City. A progressive Urban Design Framework seamlessly incorporates existing civic, public and education stock with new purpose-built university buildings, positioning tertiary education as an integrated part of Inner City life. Perhaps it’s heart. This progressive project won a SAIA Free State Regional Award in 2019.

Designworkshop was successful in a twostage architectural competition towards conceptualising and delivering a Student Resource Centre as the functional and physical centerpiece of university life, including a library and teaching, studying and social space.

The key question Designworkshop explored was what this emerging typology could optimally be and enable in the South African reality of a globally integrated world.

Ancient images of knowledge-sharing are of people gathered around elders, thought leaders and gurus, in public spaces. Depending on where and when, this could be by the side of a river, under a tree, in a public square or on a street-side. This is learning and knowledge generation in a social setting. Within society and indistinguishable from it, learning is enabled by the practical and perceived reality of life as it’s experienced, often on a platform of traditional cultural practice.

When information was recorded in writing, the emblematic image of learning is often the quiet study table surrounded by books. This is the dissemination of accumulated knowledge, most commonly recorded outside of the direct experience and as a more linear and onedirectional transmission abstract from specific cultural settings. The ‘neutrality’ of science.

The SPU Library and Resource Centre integrates both at the same time – it’s a social place where people make themselves available to wideranging incidental and planned interchange in the course of daily life, both in physical space and online, with and without books, collectively and in solitude, directed and enabled by mentors or among themselves. It is at the same time a tree, the side of a river, a public square, and a street.

Centered on a raked public forum, the ground floor is an extension of Kimberley’s pavements, paths, squares and gardens. It’s a public space sheltered from the cyclical hot and cold extremes of the arid climate. Ascending from public to private, each additional floor is another ‘public square’ accessed from its perimeter to enable three-dimensional exploration of a continuous knowledge-scape.

Solid grass-reinforced moulded mud forms typify South Africa’s interior vernacular brakdak construction. The library scales this heritage up into a 22cm thick freestanding concrete shell, rising up to 36m high and lifted off the ground to reveal a single hollowed-out volume ascending upward to its highest point overlooking University Square.

The inverse of Kimberley’s iconic Big Hole diamond mine, the building is a distinctive sculptured object, arising from the endless horizontality like a koppie, brakdak house, or mine shaft. In a single material, concrete is structure, enclosure, climatic attenuator, flexible useenabler, extended tradition, and noble experience.

In everyday university life, the building is a refuge, a 24 hour winter lounge and summer verandah. In a world of scarce resources, it is highly energy efficient, allowing in the right amount of natural light with significantly mitigated heat-gain or loss, the internal temperature further moderated by hot and cold water pipes embedded into concrete floors. In the city, it’s a landmark of democratic learning, social and cultural exchange, and a generator of economic potential which always comes from empowered knowledge and ideas.

SUPPLIERS

Lighting:

Regent Lighting Solutions – 011 474 0171

Instant lawn:

Evergreen Turf – 011 948 7913

Nurseries:

Floriculture – 081 464 5147 Just Trees – 021 871 1595 Random Harvest Nursery – 011 957 5354

Irrigation:

Turf-Ag – 012 030 0157

Paving:

Corobrik – 010 248 6000 Inca Concrete Products – 021 904 1620

Concrete furniture:

Gallo Precast – 012 546 6067

Insite explains its involvement on Sol Plaatje University as developing the hard and soft landscape component for mainly Central Campus, and with input on the sports facilities on South Campus.

Insite also offered its design input on hard landscape construction details and the maintenance specifications that go into these spaces. The landscape brief for the precinct was to provide a comfortable outdoor living environment for students enrolled at the University. The precinct includes residences, lecture halls, office spaces, a library and study halls. The design resolution was informed by the urban design layout for Central Campus by Ludwig Hansen Urban Designers. The design was also inspired by the surrounding environmental and landscape attributes which were included in the landscape design, to celebrate the Northern Cape and surrounding Karoo landscape and cultural characteristics. The landscape design included gathering and socialising spaces as well as efficient circulation routes.

“The key question Designworkshop explored was what this emerging typology could optimally be and enable in the South African reality of a globally integrated world."

Designed hard and soft landscaped spaces were required in all areas surrounding the new buildings for the precinct. Due to the confined space available between the new buildings, functional and hardscape circulation areas dictated the design. Street furniture was introduced within the outdoor spill-out spaces and circulation routes to provide sufficient lighting during the night and comfortable seating spaces.

Functional use of the spaces was the most important design consideration due to harsh climatic conditions, limited space, storm water drainage requirements, and the need for storm water attenuation where possible.

As a part of the design procedure, Insite presented design concepts to both the client and Designworkshop for approval and for broad coordination, once all parties were in agreement

MEET THE TEAM

Architects:

Designworkshop

Landscape architects:

Insite Group

Project landscape architect:

Neal Schoof, Ferdie Haefele Ilze du Preez, Su-Ann Burschen

the final concept plan was created. Once tender and construction drawings were produced, extensive interaction and coordination was required with other consultants to achieve appropriate solutions responsive to the site.

Challenges included that most of the central campus is very flat, so directing stormwater flow in the landscape was important. Also, most of the campus is underlain by shallow rock which made tree placement design and planting difficult. Tree placement and the hard landscape design was also impacted by the fact that all the different building's underground services ran in the sometimes narrow pedestrian corridors.

The solutions included level adjustments, incorporation of stairs, adjustment to finishes and aesthetic coordination of services. The design process was complex and challenging in perpetuating the original design intent whilst simultaneously keeping the solutions cost effective, practical and available at a fast pace. Hard landscape design included new paving, walkways, landscape lighting, benches, bollards, bins, bicycle racks and drinking fountains.

Landscape contractors:

GreenSight Landscapes Steelwork Contractor – Mawele Metal Works

Greensight Landscapes, the landscape contractors company, received access to the site when construction was about 80% complete. The team started with site clearance and preparation, then moved on to earthworks and trenching for irrigation. Next came the installation of irrigation mainlines and lateral lines. After this, paving went in, followed by the installation of the granite and concrete products as well as irrigation.

The team was then able to start filling in topsoil and planting trees, shrubs and groundcover, and maintained it until the handover to the client. The Southern Campus has a multitude of facilities and land uses, and in particular, will provide a number of sporting facilities for the university.

The design scope of the landscape architectural works incorporated: Soft landscape design, between the playing tennis courts and the new multipurpose sport fields (Kikuyu lawn, trees and landscape berms); irrigation design and sleeve coordination; design input and detailing of drainage systems; design input on earthworks and soil preparation.

The overall design and implementation of this project has seen the realisation of a space that is exciting, functional and a centerpiece to student life at SPU. It has rightfully garnered much attention, and we expect to see many more awards for this project in the coming year.

ABOUT INSITE

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

Insite is a landscape architectural practice which has world class experience in creating inspirational, dynamic and authentically engaging spaces within a local and international portfolio. Insite believes that landscape design creativity adds value to any project and the team strives to implement innovative design solutions. It is a creative ideas company, passionate about landscape architecture and conservation, with the ability to deliver excellent services within the entire spectrum of landscape architecture.

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“We who are alive and understand what is happening are called to restore the earth’s natural systems.” - John D. Liu