2.2 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

MASSING:

The building should be carefully massed, with a sensitive scale. It should in no way dominate the landscape, although it needs to be perceived as a place of national significance. It may be divided into separate components, but these would need to be carefully integrated so as to give visitors the experience of having visited one place.

HEIGHT:

The building should in no way detract from the significance of the koppie on which the grave is situated. It is preferable that the building be modest in scale so that the sacredness and importance of the gravesite is enhanced.

SECURITY:

Security to all parts of the building is important, but this should be implemented as subtly as possible.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:

Since the climate of Hankey and the Eastern Cape is moderate with no extremes, artificial climatic control is unnecessary and also inappropriate in the context of this design. The exhibition spaces should however, be climatically controlled in accordance with museum standards.

The building(s) should be as energy-efficient as possible and achieve environmental control through the use of natural and architectural devices. Passive thermal insulation and natural ventilation are therefore requirements, as well as the use of solar energy as far as possible. Rainwater harvesting should be incorporated into the design of the building where possible.

Protection from the prevailing winds (south-west) should be given attention and wind lobbies should be considered.

LIGHTING:

The use of natural light as an architectural component is strongly encouraged. Most lighting should be natural.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS:

The appropriate and innovative use of use of construction materials represents an architectural challenge in the design of the Centre. The use of natural materials is recommended, although other construction materials may be used.

LANDSCAPING:

Landscaping should be viewed as an integral part of the design challenge , including the manner in which the building(s) connects with the natural landscape, and spaces between buildings.

Integration with the surrounding natural environment is an architectural challenge.

EXTERNAL SPACES:

Due to the nature of the design brief, the design of external spaces should be considered with as much attention to detail as the internal spaces.

CIRCULATION:

Attention should be paid to thresholds, arrival spaces, linking spaces and circulation spaces, in order to create the experience of a continuous journey through the Centre. Appropriate provision should be made to accommodate disabled persons.

The intention of the accommodation schedule is not to be prescriptive, but rather to allow personal interpretation. Suggested floor areas are given below. The total area of the building(s) must fall within the total area given. However, the total area given for the building excludes circulation space and spaces for which sizes are not given.

SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND PLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS:

The site may be seen as consisting of a north and a south section, separated by the tarred road. Activities on the south side of the road should be minimal and restricted to those of sacred and cultural significance, while activities on the north side of the road should be of economic, educational and social significance.

Vehicular traffic must be restricted to the north side of the road. A pedestrian underpass will link the two sections and should form part of the design.

Latitude is provided for minimal development on the south side of the road, which should be considerate towards the sacredness of the burial site of Sarah Bartmann.

NON-ASSIGNABLE AREAS:

These are areas for circulation, ablutions and servicing which have not had specific floor areas assigned to them. They are referred to as n.a. in the accommodation schedule and are left to the competitor's discretion, but are not to exceed 30% of the assignable total area.

ASSIGNABLE AREAS:

This refers to all named spaces in the accommodation schedule for which specific floor areas are given.