Q & A
Do you have a question? Please email
us
Check back often for updates
- Question - I am a practicing architect based outside South Africa. Can I take part in your design competition?
- Question - I live abroad but am still registered in South Africa with SACAP. Do I need to fill in Form B or Form C?
- Question - Is there an autocad version of the site plan available?
- Question- Is the following calculation correct?
Usable Area [UA] [Given floor area]
+ Workshop Space Support [60% of UA]
+ Core Space Support [75% of UA]
+ Structure [10% of UA]
= Gross Floor Area - Question - If we would like to enter as a practice, do we only enter our details in the "Partnership/s, Association/s _ Associates, Institutions" part of forms A & B?
- Question - Are there any relevant building lines/set backs on the proposed site?
- Question - F4.2.2 Would it be possible to provide the Municipal By-laws pertaining to the provision of parking bays to floor area. (All municipality differ slightly on this).
- Question - Can you be registered in any of SACAP categories
or do you need to be registered as a professional architect? Is it ok if
you are registered as a senior architectural technologist? Can you also
take part in the competition if you are registered as a candidate architect
with SACAP?
Answer - In response to your question, point C1.1 Eligibility on page 11 of the Brief is amplified as follows:
The competition is open to those registered with SACAP, who are qualified at the date the competition closes on the 17th April, 2009, to undertake work in excess of five hundred (500) square metres for the design of a structure or structures as described in the competition brief. The amplified wording also applies to point C1.2
- Question - What is meant by "registered
as architects but not registered in South Africa" in the heading on Form C?
Answer - For clarity, this should be reworded as follows: To be filled in by competitors who are qualified to register with SACAP (See the answer to Question 8). - Question - I am registered with SACAP but my colleagues who
we plan to collaborate with are not registered. Which form do we use to
register together?
Answer - The competition is open to persons registered with the SACAP. See the answer to Question 8. Refer to Point C.1.2 Eligibility in the competition brief.
If your collaborators are not eligible to register with SACAP, Form B should accompany your submission. In the event of your winning the competition then any commission that flows from the award of the first prize shall be made to you and you alone as the registered member of SACAP. Your professional relationship with your collaborators is an internal office arrangement and is analogous to a firm with one principle and numerous assistants.
Where one or more collaborators are registered with SACAP and others are qualified to register but have not done so, then form B (for the registered architect/s) and form C (for the unregistered architect/s) should both be completed and included in the envelope marked "Undertaking" to accompany your submission. - Question - Do we as a Practice need to be registered with
either of the following: Tradeworld / Department of Public Works in order
to enter this competition?
Answer - Please refer to Section C. Eligibility of the brief. The only requirements for architects who enter the competition are that they are registered with, or are qualified to register with, the South African Council for the Architectural Professions, and qualified to do the work specified in the competition brief. - Question - Is there a charge at registration, and if so, how
much?
Answer - There is no registration fee. - Question - JC1 - Schedule of Accommodation (page 18) Support
Spaces refer to "recommended programme of support spaces, I" but section I does not exist. Can you clarify?
Answer - "Recommend programme of support spaces I" is incorrect. This should read "Recommended Ancillary Spaces H".
- Question - With reference to the answer to question No.4 on
the web site: If we understand correctly, to the estimated UA of 6887m2,
we have to add 55 to 65% of workspace support + 65 to 85% core space support
+ 10% Structure space. If this is the case, the total area of building
could be between 15 840 m2 to 17 900 m2 according to the recommended guideline.
Is this correct? The relation between the UA and the total area of building
seems excessive. Can we use our own discretion?
Answer - See Answer to Question 16
- Question - Somebody (not me) asked this question (See below)
and you gave an answer which nobody understands. I showed your answer to
five intelligent people in my office and everyone went huh? I have the
same question and would very much appreciate it if you could answer it
in a way that everyone can understand. It is fundamental that you please
answer this more precisely.
Is the following calculation correct?
Usable Area [UA] [Given floor area]
+ Workshop Space Support [60% of UA] (A)
+ Core Space Support [75% of UA] (B)
+ Structure [10% of UA] (C)
= Gross Floor Area
CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE AREA FOR EACH OF (A), (B) and (C) numerically so that we can all understand clearly what the parameters are?
Answer - The calculation is correct. Refer to table 2 on page 7 of the JC2 DPW Space Planning Norms. The guidelines state that (A) workspace support areas are usually between 55 to 65%; + (B) Core Space is usually between 65 and 85% and + (C) Structure is approximately 10% of the workspace. Also see the answer to Question 16.
- Question - Are the ancillary areas already included in the
55-65% of workspace support? Thus, is the workspace support calculation
1: 55-65% of (A+B+C+D+E+F) or 2: 55-65% of (A+B+C+D+E+F+H)? The explanation
of the workspace support and the core space support in the schedule of
accommodation is very confusing. Also you do not answer if the calculation
in QUESTION 4 is correct or not, we know those are the average percentages,
but is the calculation correct?
Answer - This is an answer to questions 14, 15 and 16.
In the Accommodation Schedule, UA is the same as Workspace Area. The total Workspace Area given (6887 sq metres) is an approximation of all the office space required by the Department of Public Works in the new office complex for the Premier of the Eastern Cape.
This total approximate Workspace Area of 6998 sq metres, also includes the areas of specific functions that are support spaces in A, B and C of the Accommodation Schedule, as well as the Ancillary Areas (H).
These particular support spaces have been prescribed by the Department of Public Works.
In all other sections, support spaces have not been specified, but general requirements are listed.
For the sake of clarity, the support spaces areas listed in A, B, C and H should therefore be deducted from the total Workspace Area of 6887 sq metres as follows:.
Workspace Area (including some but not all support areas) = 6 887 Support Spaces listed in A (boardrooms & VIP security) = 85 Support Spaces listed in B (boardrooms) = 100 Support Spaces listed in C (general) = 369 Support Spaces listed in H (recommended Ancillary Areas) = 1 726 2 280 2 280 4 607
This new figure of 4 607 sq metres is the approximate Workspace Area and from which the calculations, using the space norms on page 5 of JC2 can be made, to arrive at the figure for the total construction area. Refer Table 2 on page 7 of JC2.
Workspace Support is therefore 55-65% of (A+B+D+E+F)
Bearing in mind that the figures given are guidelines only, the onus is on the competitor to use discretion when calculating areas. Submissions will be judged on the best use of space to achieve architectural and spatial quality.
- Question - JC3 - Page 20 Directorate: Inter-Governmental Relations:
refers to page No. 22, but this page was not included with the Organograms.
Answer - Thank you for pointing out that page 22 is omitted. The same information can be found on page 16 of the accommodation Schedule F2.c. This states the accommodation required.
- Question - JC1 - Schedule of Accommodation: D4.1.1 there is
a discrepancy between the UA -= 18m2 and the area = 24 m2 - which one should
we consider as correct.
Answer - The guideline of 18m2 is correct.
- Question - JC1 - schedule of accommodation: Programme 1: Institution
Building & Transformation: Section E and Section F - Type of office is not specified. Can
we consider that they are Open Plan offices where office type is not specified?
Answer - The Department of Public Works has prescribed only the areas in A, B and C of the Accommodation Schedule. For all other areas, please refer JC2 Space Norms for guidelines concerning open plan offices. Open or cellular offices are acceptable. Discretion is required.
- Question - Section C of the Schedule lists 'General support
areas' for the Premier's and Director General's Offices - presumably these
are therefore prescribed and take the place of the nominal 60% allowance
for 'workplace support' for office areas?
Answer - Your conclusion is correct. Refer to the answer to Question 16.
- Question - Section H - 'Ancillary Areas' - Is it the correct
interpretation that these areas are additional 'group' or 'shared' support
areas for the complex in its entirety, and have no implication on the 'workplace
support' areas for the other office components, which would be calculated
separately?
Answer - That is correct.
- Question - According to the Site Zoning Schedule in the answer
to Question 6, parking required is specified at 4 bays per 100 m2 total
area. This is lower than the by-law requirement of 6 bays per 100 m2 of
total floor area. Is the stipulation of 4 bays per 100m2 correct?
Answer - NB: A decision has been taken and for the purposes of the competition, it is necessary to comply with the by-law requirement of 6 bays per 100 m2.
- Question - In the Brief - F4.3 (Page 28) - Quantity required
for visitor's parking not fully specified. Does the 4 bays/100m2 include
the visitor's parking?
Answer - NB: The new requirement of 6 bays per 100 m2 (see the answer to question 20 above) does include visitor's parking.
- Question - In the Brief - F4.4 (Page 29) - Is any specific
percentage of the visitor's parking required for the calculation of the
overflow parking?
Answer - NB: The Promoter has advised that there is no provision to be made for overflow parking. Therefore F4.4 Parking Overflow on page 29 of the Brief is to be ignored.
- Question - We require clarity regarding F4.2 Open Air Parking:
Is it correct to assume that absolutely no part of the parking (bays and
access included) may be below floor area OR Would it be acceptable if a
portion of the Parking is under the building i.e. if the building were
to "overhang" the parking bays adjacent to it? (these parking bays would still be open air
parking).
Answer - If the building were to "overhang" the parking bays adjacent to it, the parking bays would be considered to be open air parking.
- Question - The Brief: F4.1.3 - who represent the Executive
Committee?
Answer - The Executive Committee consists of the Premier, Director General and their staff.
- Question - F4.1.3 and F4.1.4 requires 100 basement parking
for the Executive Committee and others assigned to this parking (Premier,
VIPs and disabled) however Open Air Parking F4.1.1 calls for separate undercover
parking for all Provincial MEC's (Executive Committee?); DGs and Cabinet
secretariat (no indication of numbers). Is this not a duplication of VIP
parking, in the basement and undercover?
Answer - There appears to have been a duplication of parking required for the Executive staff. For the purposes of clarity, F4.2.1 should be ignored.
- Question - Kindly confirm:
1. The number of parking bays required
2. These parking bays need to be located near to "A: Premier's Office" - from the Accommodation schedule.
Answer -
1. The municipal by-laws require 6 bays per 100 m2 or total floor area The brief calls for 100 parking bays in the basement and 250 open air staff parking bays. There should be approximately 80 visitors parking bays - competitors should calculate this number according to their total floor area.
2. Staff should have easy access to the Premier's Building.
- Question - Will the Quantity Surveyor get the commission with
the winning architect and if so, should he be included in Form A?
Answer - Should they so wish, architects may motivate for any of the consultants they may have consulted, eg. the Quantity Surveyor, Structural, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers - to get the commission and the names of the consultants can be included in Form B to accompany the competition submission. These consultants will be given favourable consideration by the Promoter provided they have the necessary qualification and registration requirements. Notwithstanding this, the distance from Bhisho could be a reason not to appoint a consultant because of travel and accommodation costs.
- Question - What is the policy concerning the selection and
appointment of other professionals working on the project? Will an interior
designer be appointed for the project or a Landscape Gardener?
Answer - If the architect motivates for an interior designer who understands and interprets his/her requirements and the requirements of the client, the appointment would be given due consideration. In that respect, the interior designer would best be employed under the architect's disbursement arrangement.
Other consultants such as Landscape Architects and Artists would require similar arrangements.
- Question - I am an architect with an independent practice
in India, registered with the Council of Architecture, India and licensed
to practice as an architect. Am I eligible to take part in the competition
and, if so, what is the procedure to follow?
Answer - The South African Council for the Architectural Professions (SACAP) has advised that the system in India and that in South Africa are aligned through CAA/RIBA validation so it is likely that your qualifications would meet the criteria for registration in South Africa, however this would have to be confirmed. Further information is available on the SACAP website at www.sacapsa.com
Should your qualifications meet the SACAP criteria for registration, and should yours be the winning submission, for the purposes of this competition you would be required to enter into an association with a South African architect/s registered with SACAP. See the competition brief C1. Eligibility. You would be required to complete Form C (JG3) to accompany your submission.
- Question - Would it be possible to branch off an access road/driveway
to VIP parking and parking designated for the Premier from the internal
road currently serving the House of Traditional Leaders? The amount of
additional traffic would be minimal since the main component of parking
would be taken from a dedicated access - exit on the competition site.
Answer - The control of access onto the Premier's site is important and it is doubtful whether this could be adequately dealt with from an access road. However, if this is deemed to be a better solution, it would require motivation to convince the judges that there is a real benefit to splitting the entrances.
- Question - Is it possible to go higher than 4 storeys at an
area where there is a possibility for a landmark feature?
Answer - The Promoter has advised that a maximum of five storeys is permissible.
- Question - Is there an explicit reason the building is called
an "Office Building" for the Premier? Could it be described as an "Administration Building" for the Premier?
Answer - An Administration Building would be a more accurate description of what is detailed in the Brief.
- Question - In the Schedule of Accommodation, the workplace
support space (55-65% of workspace) lists various items to be included
e.g. reception areas, stores etc., but does not include parking. However,
in the Department of Public Works 'Space Planning Norms', it also includes
parking (5.1, item no. 3).
Are we therefore to include parking in this calculation? (and if so, how, as not all the offices require underground parking, and because of the large area that parking requires it will obviously skew the 'workplace support space' figures enormously for those buildings that require it?)
Answer - Notwithstanding what is written in JC2, for the purposes of this competition, parking is dealt with separately. See the answer to Questions 22 and 23.
- Question - Practices entering the competition do so at their
risk and need to carry our fee earning work simultaneously to survive and
pay the bills. Is there any chance that the deadline can be extended?
Answer - Careful consideration has been given to the request for an extension of time for the submission of designs and your concerns are noted. I regret that there can be no extension because the judges of the competition have committed to the adjudication period immediately following the final submission date of 17 April 2009, and some will not be available at a later date.
- Question - The brief calls for 100 basement parking bays and
330 on grade parking bays. Are competitors only allowed to have 100 parking
bays in the basement or could some of the 330 bays also be provided in
the basement?
Answer - Whilst in principle there can be no objection to more than 100 parking bays in the basement, the cost of providing more could possibly reduce the cost effectiveness of the project.
- Question - Would the promoters of the competition consider
allowing some of the parking to be located on the vacant site to the south
west of the competition site, or should all parking be located on the subject
site?
Answer - The vacant site on the south west of the site has been earmarked for a future development. All parking is to be on the competition site. Please also refer to answers to questions 22-28 regarding parking requirements
- Question - What net to gross ratio should we assume for the
ancillary areas?
Answer - Some of the ancillary areas listed are Workspace Support Spaces (see page 5 of JC2 for examples) and should be calculated at between 55 to 65% of workspace area. Other ancillary areas are Core Space or Organisation Support to be calculated at between 65 and 85% of workspace area.
- Question - I realise that we have missed the deadline for
registrations, but we would really like to enter the competition. Is that
possible?
Answer - The main purpose of requesting competitors to register within a specified time is to allow for the planning of the adjudication with regard to venue and time requirements for judging. Another reason for the deadline is to ensure that competitors have enough time to send in questions - the deadline for questions is 03 March 2008 - and to complete their designs in time for the submission deadline of 17 April, 2009. However, a concession will be made, which allows all architects still wishing to enter the competition to do so, with the proviso that notwithstanding the acceptance of a late registration, no extension will be granted regarding the submission deadline of 17 April 2009.
- Question - What is the building outline shown on JA2.2 "Site
Plan showing Site Influences" intended to suggest?
Answer - The layout shown is just an example intended to demonstrate that the buildings designed should respond to the shape of the site, the contours and the two parallel roads running in a north east direction.
- Question - How does the site relate to the House of Traditional
Leaders?
Answer - Please refer to the Site Plan JA2.2 which shows the relationship of the site to the House of Traditional Leaders. This drawing should be read in conjunction with drawing JE1, which shows a site division as a dotted line with a dimension on it of 239.16. The boundary between the proposed site and the "vacant land to be developed as office complex" can be seen on drawing JA2.3.
- Question - Would Ikamva Architects be prepared to release
the Site plan/Drawings of the House of Traditional Leaders in AutoCad format?
Answer - The Promoter has requested the Site Plan from the Architects and this should be available shortly.
- Question - Would it be possible to have an autocad version
of drawing JE1 - site survey of the House of Traditional Leaders?
Answer - Download drawing JE1 here.
- Question - Do you have a cadastral drawing of the Bhisho Site?
Answer - Download Cadastral drawing of the Bhisho Site here
- Question - JC1 schedule of Accommodation refers to C1.4 VIP
Restaurant.
a. Who will use it?
b. How often will it be used?
c. Will this be a full restaurant where the food will be prepared?
d. The Kitchen seems to be too small for a restaurant of this size.
Answer -
a. The senior management listed under A and B and their guests.
b. Daily.
c. This will be a catering restaurant where meals will be prepared at a different location and only served in the restaurant.
d. Over and above the 12m2 competitors are required to use their discretion and provide an additional support area, as they deem fit, i.e. for pantry
- Question - Please can you advise regarding the provision of
parking for VIP visitors. Surely VIP visitors would be parked separately?
Answer - VIP visitors would park in the basement where some of the bays will be allocated for VIP parking. This could be separate from the staff parking. Underground parking bays will also be allocated to for Executive (Senior) Staff and for disabled parking. See F4.1.3 regarding elevator access for the Executive staff and others who may park underground.
- Question - Is it imperative that the Quantity Surveyor who
prepares the cost estimate is REGISTERED?
Answer - Yes it is a specific requirement of the competition rules that all consultants should be appropriately registered.
- Question - If I have registered individually, but now wish
to team up with an architectural practice, how do I change my registration
details?
Answer - If you wish your associates in the group to feature as principles, should you win the competition, then you should submit a revised registration Form A including all the names of those who are eligible to do so. See the brief Clause C1. Eligibility. Please also refer to Section C.5 Undertaking for detailed instructions regarding the submission of Form B.
- Question - What kind of a space is the tele-media room (76
m2) listed as a support space to A & B? Is it for storage, meeting, broadcasting?
Answer - Merely provide the tele-media room as specified in the brief in what you consider to be the best location. It will be adapted to whatever uses are required.
- Question - Sub Directorate of Media production and Library
Services. In this section is there a library required for the Librarian
and Assistant Librarian? If so, what type of media would be kept in such
library and how large should it be?
Answer - This has not been specified. Competitions should use their discretion when planning for support spaces for this area, bearing in mind that the design shall be cost effective.
- Question - The Accommodation Schedule calls for privacy and
small meetings in offices. Should this be interpreted as an office that
allows for up to four people meetings inside the office?
Answer - Cellular offices should be large enough to accommodate four to six people meeting around a table. There should also be conveniently positioned meeting rooms to accommodate tables to seat ten to twelve people, based on the number of employees in that section.
- Question - In the Accommodation Schedule - Do the support
space planning percentages relate to the total complex or individual component
departments such as Admin, Institutional Building & Development etc?
Answer - Support space is between 55 to 65% of the workspace for a particular department.
- Question - With regard to Clause C17 - in the event of disqualification
does the intellectual property / copyright revert back to the architects/designers?
When does the copyright become the property of the Client?
Answer - The brief states that copyright of only the three winning submissions becomes the property of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government. Therefore, copyright of all other submissions - whether disqualified or not, or in the case of no prizes being awarded - remains the property of the competitor. The ownership of the copyright of the winning submissions becomes the property of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government once the winners have been announced.
- Question - Open Plan office space is easier than cellular
offices to heat and cool and to allow natural light penetration. How rigid
is the brief in terms of interpretation of cellular offices?
Answer - Notwithstanding the contention that open plan offices may be easier to cool and heat, cellular offices are required for privacy.
- Question - Could the current south side vehicular access on
the Traditional Leaders Site be mirrored to the north, to allow easier
pedestrian access between these two sites?
Answer - Provided that this does not impact negatively on the security of both buildings, competitors are free to decide.
- Question - Does one plan for possible future expansion?
Answer - To the extent that the accommodation requirements are met and the site is large enough for future extensions, this would be a good strategy.
- Question - May we propose additions to the brief?
Answer - Yes, provided an adequate motivation for this is provided and any additional cost can be shown to be cost effective.
- Question - Would it be possible to have an autocad version
of the General Layout of the House of Traditional Leaders?
Answer - Download autocad version of the Drawing 2 JE2 here
- Question - Could I have zoning information regarding the site.
Answer - Please see the answer to question 6
- Question - Could you supply a Surveyor General's plan.
Answer - Download available SG information here
- Question - How big must the building be?
Answer - The building must be large enough to accommodate the requirements of the Premier's office - see accommodation schedule - JC1 in the brief.
- Question - I would like to know how many registered entries
there are for the Bhisho competition and ask if the list of entrants is
going to be circulated?
Answer - There are 121 registered entries for the competition. At this stage the anonymity clause (see clause C6 on page 13 of the brief) prohibits publication of the names of entrants. This list may be published after the announcement of the winners, with the exception of the names of those competitors who have elected to remain anonymous.
- Question - Due to the size / length of the building and site
the drawings at scale 1:200 do not fit on the proposed layout (see page
10 of briefing document) using A1 sheets. A solution would be to either
add another row of A1 sheets or reduce the scale to 1:250 for the part
2 submission.
Answer - Competitors may use 1:200 or 1:250 scale provided that the scale used is clearly specified and in addition a bar scale is included.
- Question - I believe the scale of the plans/site
plan was not checked when preparing the brief... We cannot fit the required
layout drawings and sections onto the A1 sheets at scale 1:200... You may
have presumed it is a small footprint setting in the middle of the site.
It only just fits at 1:250 but leaves no space for sections etc.
Answer -This answer replaces the answer to question No. 65. The limiting of the competition to 12 A1 foam boards and the display format on page 10 is to facilitate the handling both for delivery of submissions to the competition administrator and when these are hung or moved around at the adjudication venue, to suit the judges' requirements. It was and is not intended to influence the design or to limit the footprint of the building.
Therefore the following instructions are issued that shall apply to all submissions
- on page 6 of the Brief B2.1, Requirements: Part 2 - Sketch
Design - is amended to read:
- B2.1.1 Plans: To a suitable scale
- B2.1.2 Sections: To a suitable scale
- B2.1.3 Elevations: To a suitable scale
- B2.1.4 Site Plans to a scale of 1:500.
- Having changed the scale from 1:200 the plans, sections
and elevations shall all be to the same scale. "suitable" in the above context means:
- sufficient to describe the design and character of the proposed structure; and
- for notes on drawings to be legible without having to resort to a magnifying glass.
- If the footprint of the proposed building is such that
the twelve A1 foamboards are insufficient (in the opinion of the competitor)
to fully describe the submission, competitors may include a thirteenth
board (numbered 13 in the bottom right hand corner), that together with
their report will be displayed on a table in front of the 12 board submission,
provided that where scale is relevant on a drawing, each shall
- Clearly state the scale used; and
- On each drawing, there shall be a bar scale.
- With reference to the presentation format shown on page
10 of the brief, competitors are asked to number
- 1 to 4 on the top row
- 5 to 8 on the middle row
- 9 to 12 on the bottom row and
- 13 (if this applies) will be displayed together with a competitor's report on the table placed in front of each of the competitor's twelve hung foamboard submissions.
- The thirteenth board will be placed on the table.
- on page 6 of the Brief B2.1, Requirements: Part 2 - Sketch
Design - is amended to read:
- Question - In respect of the answer to Question
29, we believe that this is unacceptable since the quantity surveyor is
unlikely to produce this detail of work at risk without the potential benefit
of being involved in the commission and it is a considerable cost for the
architect to cover in a competition scenario.
Answer - After consultation with the Promoter it has been agreed that the quantity surveyor who has assisted the architects judged to be the winner of the competition and who the winner recommends shall be appointed provided:- The quantity surveyor’s CV shall be submitted to the promoter of the competition;
- The Promoter is satisfied that the nominated quantity surveyor has the necessary experience; and if not
- The Promoter may require that the quantity surveyor shall enter into an association with a registered quantity surveyor of his choice who is acceptable to the Promoter.
- Question - The parking requirements are not clear
– on one hand the brief calls for 100 undercover parkings plus 250 staff
parkings, plus 80 visitors’ parkings, giving a total of 430 parkings. However,
if the by-law requirement of 6 parkings per 100 sq m Gross Leasable Area
is followed, the number of parkings required is significantly increased…
this will have a massive impact on the site (resulting in either an undesired
‘sea of parking’ or significant increase in costs to supply extra basement
parking.) Please can you confirm definitively if this 6 parkings per 100
sq m GLA applies and therefore the 430 parking requirement elsewhere referred
to is irrelevant.
If the 6 parkings per 100 sq m by-law is to apply, what about the other parameters that differ significantly in the Government Gazette to what is given in the Site Zoning?
Answer - The special nature of the building makes it difficult to assess the Gross Leasable Area, therefore, please adhere to the allowance of 430 parking bays as specified in the brief.
With regard to the Site Zoning guidelines, please adhere to those listed under the answer to Question 6 as set out hereunder for ease of reference (with the height limit set at 5 storeys and not 4 as stipulated in the answer to question 33.)
Zoning: Business Zone III Primary Use: Offices Permissible Floor Factor: 1.5 at most Permissible Coverage: 50% at most Height Limit: 5 storeys at most Street Building Line: 5m at least Side Building Line: 3m at Least Parking Required: 4 bays/100 m2 of total floor area
- Question: With regard to question
16, workspace + core support. Please can you clarify whether the following assumption is correct: The 2280 sq metres that is included in the accommodation schedule, but is also
considered ‘workspace support’. Should not require a further 55-65% workspace support added to it, however should
have 65-85% ‘core support’ added?
Answer - Any competitor who may be in doubt should make their own assumptions and in their reports (see page 8 of the brief) they should explain what they have assumed. No competitor will be penalized for what the judges decide to be a reasonable space requirement. - Question: I refer to point
B1.4.6 in the Final Brief. We've labeled our rooms on the plan according
to the Schedule of Accommodation, putting the title of whoever the office
belongs to or the purpose of the room (canteen, store room etc ) plus the
area of the room. You also call for an attached key to describe the use
of the room. This is a bit confusing as if the room/office is labeled for
instance "Admin Officer" or "Stationery Store", there isn't much need for a key describing the purpose of the room as its self
explanatory. What other information do you need in the attached key?
Answer - The key is in lieu of information on the plan. - Question: Point B2.3.1.1 in
the Final Brief, calls for a schedule of spaces plus descriptive annotations.
Is this the spaces in whole or total, say all offices will have these finishes,
materials etc and all public spaces will have these finishes etc? Also
what descriptions are necessary for this point, finishes, materials?
Answer - Please supply sufficient detail to fully describe your proposal. - Question: The Brief: B2.4.1
asks for “elemental estimated quantities and prices”. Does this mean a
detailed bill of quantities or could it be a breakdown of costs in a summarized
/ itemized form?
Answer - I am loath to give a ruling on the interpretation of the item B2.4.1 at this late stage. Therefore note what stated in the opening paragraph of the item B2.4.1 of the Brief. This reads as follows: "…a priced approximate quantities elemental estimate by a registered Quantity Surveyor is required to enable the competition judges to compare designs submitted, one to another, on a “value for money” basis in relation to what each submission offers relative to the cost effectiveness of each submission". - Question: Are movable partitions
considered to be loose furniture. Dry wall partitions are dismountable
partitions – should they be included in the cost or not?
Answer - I recommend that if you choose not to include demountable partitions in the cost, your quantity survey should state clearly that you have assume that this item is considered to be loose furniture. A quantity surveyor has been appointed to advise the judges on the estimates submitted and if your submission is considered for an award he will be asked to estimate the cost of the demountable partitions to compare with other submissions that might have included demountable partitions in the estimated cost.
Answer - You would be eligible to take part in the competition. Point C.1 Eligibility, on page 11 of the Brief, states:
C1.2 If a person has the required professional qualifications to be entitled to register with the SACAP to undertake the work described in the brief, but has failed to register or has allowed his/her registration to lapse by reason of his/her domicile outside the borders of South Africa, or for any other legitimate reason, he/she may enter the competition provided that he/she shall complete the Undertaking, Form C (see JG3 - Section J Additional Information) which will accompany their submission.
Answer - An architect registered with SACAP should use Form B. Clause 2.2 of the Undertaking on Form B refers to the requirement of architects whose practice is far from Bhisho. It is quoted here for ease of reference.
2.2 I/we agree that if the Promoter is not satisfied as to my/our capacity to carry out the project alone, either because of lack of professional experience or because of the geographic location of my/our practice, then I/we shall nominate for the approval of the Promoter, a SACAP registered architect of my/our choice based in the Eastern Cape (or other approved SACAP registered architect located within easy reach of Bhisho) to assist me/us with the completion and execution of the project.
Answer - Download the autocad version of the site plan below.
Autocad version of site plan
Answer - The above formula uses the average percentage of recommended guidelines for workspace support space provided on page 5 of the document JC2 - Space Planning Norms and Standards for Office Accommodation used by Organs of State, issued by the Department of Public Works.
Answer - Yes. That is correct.
Answer - The site zoning is as follows:
| Zoning: | Business Zone III |
| Primary Use: | Offices |
| Permissible Floor Factor: | 1.5 at most |
| Permissible Coverage: | 50% at most |
| Height Limit: | 4 storeys at most |
| Street Building Line: | 5m at least |
| Side Building Line: | 3m at Least |
| Parking Required: | 4 bays/100 m2 of total floor area |
Answer - F4.2.2 - A copy of the Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 1895 23 May 2008 - Buffalo City Municipality Zoning Scheme Regulations is available for download below
Download Provincial Gazette here.