Consultant Team: ARG Design

Palace Engineers:
Slabber Fick & Associates (Quantity Surveyors)

Contractor: HAS Trading

Period: 2005

Client: Dept. of Public Works (PGWC)

Value: R18m

This new primary school for the Provincial Government Western Cape is located in the residential suburb of Tableview, Cape Town. It is a parallel medium school with approximately 1400 students and more than 50 educators.

The design is centred around a number of linked courtyards, one for each of the three levels of primary school stages with the common facilities at the centre. The buildings and courtyards are intentionally built at a scale that promotes a sense of security, and quiet. The central axis houses the administrative offices, assembly court and hall, with the sports facilities located to the rear of the site. Separate access points have been allowed for the different age groups as well as to separate out public and private usage.

From an environmental perspective, the courtyards and Classrooms have been designed to optimise best orientation, natural ventilation, windproofing, daylighting and natural heating and cooling as well as soundproofing. In addition, the use of natural facebrick reduces maintenance. A plan for water harvesting and productive landscapes was prepared for future implementation.