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Project Details:
Location - Dube, Soweto Role - Project Architect Project Type - Leisure & Sport Commissioned - 1997 Status - Completed 1998

This community gymnasium located in the heart of Dube Soweto was initiated by the local boxing academy together with Baby Jakes. International funding together with Local Government financial support made the construction of this long awaited project possible. Community involvement became key to this developments overall success, as the selection of interior colours, the buildings overall site placement and form were agreed together with Dube's community leaders.

The building apart from accommodating the boxing gymnasium had to provide adequate space for other community activities. The design thus split the building into 2 levels with the larger hall area on the ground floor for the boxing ring and training areas, the smaller hall on the same floor allocated to the local woman's community forum with the first floor area dedicated as a meeting area for all other local community activities.

External and internal finishes were selected with little to no maintenance requirements in mind. This was necessary to attain a level of sustainability for the future life span of this project as funds for maintaining and running of the building were limited to the provision of services only. The façade treatment to the front of the building became characterised with a human scale, by providing smaller windows to both the first floor and ground floor spaces. The rear of the building facing the open ground sports fields with its large double volume halls had larger window modules; this defined the hierarchy of the building and the orientation within the local community.

Emerging black contractors were appointed to undertake the construction with a large emphasis on labour intensive building methods. The building was used as a training academy for a variety of building trades with expert supervision over the life of the building process. The construction period was substantially longer than normal as this allowed for on the job training. Local building suppliers were elected to provide and manufacture a large portion of the entire building materials needs.

Publications - none

Link - Nedbank Sportlife Project Article