It was incredibly rewarding to both organise and participate in a Green Building tour that celebrated Intaprop’s visionary approach to creating a precinct centred around human scale, where people truly own the urban space.

Since 2018/19, Oxford Parks has seen remarkable milestones in green building. The first building, 199 Oxford Road, achieved a 5-Star Green Star Certification, setting the foundation for further progress. Today, with refined strategies and lessons learned, each new development within the precinct has incorporated increasingly cost-effective and sustainable solutions.

The 5th and 6th buildings—7 Parks Boulevard and 5 Parks Boulevard—have both achieved 6-Star Green Star Certifications and Net Zero strategies, demonstrating that sustainability can be attained with a cost uplift of just 1,3% to 2,4%. Looking ahead, the 7th and 8th buildings, 10 Parks Boulevard and 55 Eastwood, are both targeting 6-Star V1.1, Net Zero, and V2 Certifications. This dedication reinforces Intaprop’s and Solid Green’s leadership in driving transformation within the African built environment.

Attending the tour, Kamohelo Selepe shared, “The experience was nothing short of inspiring. The day was filled with insightful conversations, networking opportunities, and a deeper appreciation of the precinct’s role in pioneering sustainability in the built environment.” The event provided a firsthand look at Oxford Parks’ commitment to pedestrian-friendly, environmentally responsible urban design.

A particularly memorable aspect of the tour was exploring the integration of art into the precinct’s identity. One standout piece was Usha Seejarim’s striking wing sculpture at the Radisson RED Hotel. Crafted from soleplates of domestic irons, the sculpture symbolises women’s agency and resonates with ancient winged mythological figures. Kamohelo noted:

This thoughtful use of materials transforms everyday objects into powerful artistic expressions.

Intaprop Director Carollyn Mitchell’s words, “Joburg is a city in a jungle, and people own the space”, capture the essence of Oxford Parks. The development harmonises nature, urban design and community ownership, reinforcing Johannesburg’s identity as a dynamic and evolving city where people actively shape their environment.

This journey highlights the collective commitment to green building, setting a benchmark for the industry. As Oxford Parks continues to evolve, it serves as a model for future developments in Johannesburg and beyond, proving that sustainability, innovation and human-centred design are fundamental to the future of urban spaces.

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Learn practical strategies for resource efficiency, master the EDGE green building standard, and enhance your career with internationally recognised skills. Join the movement shaping the future of the built environment – enroll today!

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Contextual Influences and Locational Assessment

Understanding the specific contextual influences of identity is vital in sustainable architecture. Every city and every community holds a unique story, a distinct cultural fabric that needs to be considered in architectural design. Locational assessment, therefore, becomes more than just an environmental or logistical analysis; it is an in-depth exploration of the cultural, historical, and social landscapes.

In South Africa, where the tapestry of culture and heritage is rich and diverse, sustainable architecture has the potential to mirror and celebrate this diversity. The approach starts with listening – understanding the narratives, values, and aspirations of the people who will interact with these spaces daily. This understanding informs design strategies that not only respect but also actively embrace the local culture and heritage in respectful and interesting ways.

Placemaking and Cultural Storytelling

The role of visible placemaking projects in sustainable architecture cannot be overstated. Public Art installations, for instance, serve as visual narratives that connect the past with the present, weaving the story of a place and its people. When local labour, suppliers, and designers engage in the creation of these artworks or cultural elements, the architecture becomes deeply rooted in the locality’s essence.

In urban South African contexts, where history is as complex as it is rich, incorporating elements that tell stories of social and environmental pasts can transform buildings into living museums, echoing the voices of the land and its inhabitants. This approach fosters a sense of belonging and pride, reinforcing the identity of both the community and the city.

Sustainable Architecture as a Platform for Inclusivity

The collaboration between Solid Green’s Sustainable Cities & Research Department, led by Adrie Fourie, and the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), particularly in refining the Places category in version two of the New Build Green Star rating tool, exemplifies the commitment to creating sustainable, inclusive, and connected cities. This endeavour is not just about achieving high sustainability ratings; it’s about crafting spaces that resonate with people and their stories.
The updated version of the Green Star tool will be aimed at empowering project teams to integrate local culture and heritage into their designs, ensuring that green buildings contribute to urban identity as much as they do to environmental sustainability. This creates an exciting opportunity for architects, engineers, and sustainability consultants to be part of a movement that intertwines the green narrative with the cultural fabric of South African cities.

Technical Precision and Creative Expression

Balancing technical precision with creative expression is key in the design of sustainable architecture that shapes urban identity. The technical aspects of green building – energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable materials – supply the foundation.

However, it is the creative incorporation of cultural and historical elements
that breathes life into these structures, transforming them from impressive feats of engineering into landmarks of community identity.

As the industry gears up to work with the Green Star tool v2, there is palpable excitement around the possibilities this offers. No longer is it only about constructing environmentally sustainable buildings; it is about creating spaces that celebrate South African heritage, tell local stories, and foster a deep connection with the community.

Conclusion: Building for the Future

The journey of sustainable architecture in South Africa is as much about building green as it is about creating meaning. As we envision the cities of tomorrow, we see structures that respect the environment while reflecting the vibrant cultures and histories they appear from. These buildings will stand as testaments to a time when sustainability and identity converged, creating spaces that were not only environmentally conscious but culturally vibrant, inclusive, and deeply connected to the African soul.

In this exciting era of sustainable urban development, we are not just architects, engineers, and consultants. We are custodians of a rich cultural heritage, crafting spaces that will tell the story of our time to future generations.

Adrie Fourie

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Initially, Nedbank Namibia’s new head office achieved a 5-star Green Star Office Design certification. As the building was only three points shy of a 6-star rating, the sustainability consultant advised on the additional measures required to realise a 6-star rating. The client gave the go-ahead, and these measures were implemented to achieve the 6-Star Green Star As-built certification.

Marloes Reinink, director at Solid Green Consulting, says that the entire certification process required vision and dedication from both the client and professional team. All professionals and contractors had contractual obligations and targets to implement, track and report on throughout the Green Star processes. Elri Syfert from WCE was the Accredited Professional on the project and assistance was provided by Annelide Sherratt from Solid Green’s side. WCE also assisted Nedbank in procuring an independent commissioning agent to ensure that future maintenance was properly considered during the design process, and that all systems were correctly commissioned before handover.

The Nedbank Head Office Campus in Windhoek, a visually striking sixteen-storey building located at Freedom Plaza on Independence Avenue, is characterised by strong contemporary geometries.

Furthering industry knowledge and capacity

 The 6-star certification is reserved for highly efficient buildings that also address social issues and contribute to the community. Martha Murorua, Managing Director of Nedbank Namibia, mentions that the achievement showcases the quality of Namibian workmanship.

“Our new head office is a symbol of our commitment to supporting the local economy and creating job opportunities for the people of Namibia,” Murorua says.

With 97% of the contract value allocated to Namibian companies, this building showcases the collective positive impact we can have on empowering and supporting local capacity development.

Furthermore, as part of the innovation points achieved on the project, all major contractors, sub-contractors and consultants completed the GBCSA online course for New Buildings. This elevated the understanding, knowledge and capabilities around sustainability within the Namibian market, and set a benchmark for future developments in this respect.

External louvres act as dynamic façade elements and passive shading devices to limit glazing and heat loads.

Landmark sustainability

The visually striking sixteen-storey building, located at Freedom Plaza on Independence Avenue, and covering a total gross floor area of 10,716m², is characterised by strong contemporary geometries. The ground floor accommodates Nedbank’s public entrance and client interface, client service and a coffee shop.

Energy modelling was carried out by Solid Green very early on during the concept design stage. The intention was to identify design measures that would reduce energy consumption. The most significant design changes resulting from this process were:

• changing the East and West façades from solid panels to etched glass, reducing heat load gains by 50%.
• external louvres acting as dynamic façade elements and passive shading devices to limit glazing and heat loads.
• double glazing to the East, West and North façades, which also assists with noise reduction.
• a split between perimeter and internal office heat load zoning.
• blinds on the North façade to allow for better glare control.

The modelling also identified that, by increasing the size of the photovoltaic system on the roof, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would be significant enough to permit the building to target a 6-star As-built certification.

For Rowan McNamara, Director at Kerry McNamara Architects and his design team, the process of achieving a 6-star rating has been very rewarding.

The experience has been unsurpassed in expanding our knowledge and commitment to sustainability and green building. A unique and interesting process was the 3D simulation and finetuning of the façade louvres and performance glazing with the team at Solid Green Consulting. This allowed us to achieve excellent external views for the occupants whilst maintaining thermal comfort and energy efficiency. We are very proud to be a part of this sustainable landmark in the Namibian built environment landscape and congratulate all involved in this achievement.

Energy modelling carried out by Solid Green allowed the design team to achieve excellent external views for the building occupants whilst maintaining thermal comfort and energy efficiency.

Innovations and resource savings

Of the 1,600 tons of reinforced steel used for the building structure, 92% consisted of recycled metal to minimise the embodied energy and resource depletion associated with the use of virgin steel. In addition, the use of Portland cement was reduced by an impressive 47%, by substituting fly ash that came from power stations. And 93% of waste generated during construction was recycled.

Peak electrical demand was reduced by 30% due to the installation of the PV system, with an annual production of 262.8MWh. Energy modelling further established that the energy efficient design and the addition of the PV system achieved a 40% energy saving compared to similar buildings. In total, carbon emissions associated with operational energy consumption have been reduced to 27.1 kg CO2/m²/year from 272.6 kg CO2/m²/year – a 90% improvement compared to a conventional building of this type.

Energy efficient initiatives include the installation of 100% LED lighting as well as a lighting control system that allows daylight harvesting – when the light outside is bright, the lights inside will dim, saving electricity and reducing glare in the office space. To further improve occupant wellbeing and productivity, fresh air is supplied at 33% above the minimum required by the SANS building regulations for conventional buildings.

 Submetering of all substative energy and water loads is in place, and a building management system records energy and water consumption for monitoring, reporting and tuning. In addition, energy and water data is displayed as a learning resource in the building reception area to inform users and visitors about resource consumption.

Rain water and airconditioning condensate is collected, treated and stored, together with treated water collected from sinks and showers. Topped up with ground water collected from a sump, this water is then pumped to the roof and used for toilets, irrigation and façade cleaning. In this way, the building uses 20% less water from the municipal supply and 50% less water ends up in the municipal sewer system.

Another exciting feature, and one where Innovation credits were awarded, is the Sun Cycles Innovation. A small shop has been set up in the basement where employees as well as tourists can rent a Sun Cycle e-bike to be used in the Windhoek CBD for short business trips and city tours. Cycling facilities with showers and lockers have also been included to promote sustainable transport. In addition, a green cleaning policy has been implemented to address environmental best practices for cleaning the interior of the building. The building’s waste is also being monitored and reported each year, so that waste reduction targets can be established.

In conclusion

Murorua believes that Nedbank’s commitment to sustainability and positive social impact puts the bank among world-class leaders in building practices, setting an inspiring example of what can be achieved through collaboration. She concludes, “The 6-star rating is testament to our collective dedication and perseverance. Let’s keep pushing forward towards even bigger achievements.”

Project Team

Owner: NedProperties (Pty) Ltd
Sustainability Consultant & Accredited GBCSA Professional: WCE Consulting Engineers / Solid Green Consulting
Project Manager: Emcon Consulting Group
Architect: Kerry McNamara Architects Inc.
Civil & Structural Engineer: WCE Consulting Engineers
Electrical & Mechanical Engineer: Emcon Consulting Group
Quantity Surveyor: Herselman Van Greunen Quantity Surveyors
Independent Commissioning Agent: Ecolution
Main contractor: Namibia Construction (Pty) Ltd

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The keynote address was delivered by the Minister of Works and Housing, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea, who charged some of the relevant professional bodies to ensure extensive training and adoption of green building principles and technologies by their members. He also intimated that government was willing to support green building projects with land and other resources.

The Honourable Minister was among eight other speakers and eight panelists who made presentations and discussed alternative material use, rating and certification, green finance and the creation of sustainable smart cities. Chilufya Lombe, Director at Solid Green, presented on ‘High Performance Buildings for Ghana’ and conducted a post-summit workshop that looked at the detailed application of building physics for improving performance of buildings.

Chilufya Lombe, Director at Solid Green, presented on ‘High Performance Buildings for Ghana’

The event aims to continue to engage key stakeholders to achieve the main target of public sensitisation, access to green funding, and certification of residential and non-residential developments. The Summit was organised by Yecham Property Consult, with the IFC-EDGE as major partner.

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