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Karigamombe
Centre
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Click link on thumbnail. More images...! . . |
Location
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Harare | |
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Designers
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Clinton & Evans | ||
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Date
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1985 | ||
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Original
Client
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- , | ||
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Style
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Post Modern | ||
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Discussion
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The
tallest building in Zimbabwe, was not greeted with warm embracing arms
as one would expect. A step forward in the design of high rise buildings
in the mid-1980s, the building was initially supposed to be named the
Picadilly centre, a name that was not welcomed in certain political circles.
The buildings itself is a reinforced concrete frame, rendered in black dimontite, with black anodized aluminum window framing to its extensive laminated solar (mirror) glass facade. The tower rises off a three storey podium, that covers the entirety of the footprint of this site, which is at the intersection of two of Harare's most important 'commercial' streets. An arcade links cuts through the building, providing a link for pedestrians across the block, with multiple retail units, restaurants anchored by a major bank. Not content with the miniature of the naming fracas, the designers faced all the shops inwards towards the arcade, and completely ignored the rear of these retail units. The resultant three storey bland wall running more than 40 meters without ornament or detail, gives the disconcerting impression that the building has turned its back to the public, especially so at such an important junction. While extensive use of glass is insensitive to the climate and energy consumption, the detailing of the tower building show better refinement. It was another example of how contextualism was ignored for many years in Zimbabwe. However, the rise of other buildings in the area, like Angwa Centre have made for a more coherent streetscape in recent years. Ref. The Author |
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Web
Resources
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Credits
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www.zvakapressa.com . |
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