A skin that protects. Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio
28/12/2020.
[Bela-Bela - Limpopo] South Africa
metalocus, JULIO RODRÍGUEZ
metalocus, JULIO RODRÍGUEZ
Local Studio has designed Limpopo Youth Hostel, a youth hostel, in Bela-Bela, in the Limpopo province of northern South Africa. The study has worked in harmony with Pan Africa Today, an NGO that works to help the African people by bringing people together.
The complex consists of a series of volumes that develop on axes placed in parallel with each other. It is a sustainable project, from its construction with local wood as well as the recycling of the water that will serve to irrigate the environment. However, the idea is raised that the project itself moves away from the municipal energy supply to take a step forward in being self-managed by taking advantage of solar energy with the placement of solar panels on the roof.
The complex consists of a series of volumes that develop on axes placed in parallel with each other. It is a sustainable project, from its construction with local wood as well as the recycling of the water that will serve to irrigate the environment. However, the idea is raised that the project itself moves away from the municipal energy supply to take a step forward in being self-managed by taking advantage of solar energy with the placement of solar panels on the roof.
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio. Photograph by Tristan Mclaren
Site plan proposed. Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio
Site plan as built. Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio
Ground and first floor plan. Limpopo Youth Hostel by Local Studio
The Limpopo Youth Hostel in Bela-Bela designed by Local Studio tries to generate a useful but at the same time attractive architecture where the distribution of spaces, the use of materiality as well as the use and play in the light entrances will be the aspects fundamental for the development of the project.
The project has a lightweight concrete structure Hebel, in turn, the cladding has a Rhinowood skin, native wood treated with wax. This South African pine cladding is developed in a series of vertical slats where a strong contrast appears with the marked horizontality of the volume.
The project has a lightweight concrete structure Hebel, in turn, the cladding has a Rhinowood skin, native wood treated with wax. This South African pine cladding is developed in a series of vertical slats where a strong contrast appears with the marked horizontality of the volume.
Description of project by Local Studio
The Limpopo Youth Hostel project was commissioned by a Non-Profit Organization focused on advocacy training for youth. The organization originally purchased a defunct wedding venue, which included chalets and a dining hall. The brief was to build two new hostel blocks housing 120 beds with communal spaces and to extend the old function hall to cater to the additional people.
This is the first project by Local Studio which attempts to apply some of the firm’s experience in urban environments to rural communities. Over 200 people use this facility at any given time allowing for the application of basic principles of public space and place-making. The only difference is that this project is surrounded by nature rather than extended urbanism.
The two hostel buildings are made up of 14 ‘pods’ of eight students each, in bunk-beds, with each student being afforded a level of privacy by way of screen walls and subtle lighting elements. Most of the bunk beds also have their own open-able window for improved ventilation, creating the irregular array of windows on three of the building facades. Each hostel building has a communal space at ground floor, one being a library and the other an art center.
This project also presents a departure in the way Local Studio normally approaches material usage, having previously focused on industrial materials such as steel, poly-carbonate and corrugated iron. Here, a new material language has been developed which has some of the ephemerality of previous work but with more sensitivity to nature and the capacity to age more gracefully. The building’s primary structure is a lightweight Hebel concrete block – the biggest load-bearing structure built using this material in South Africa – and the cladding is Rhinowood, a local wax treated South African pine.
Working with local timbers in South Africa can be challenging as they are mostly too fast-growing to be used in primary structures. In this case, the Rhinowood was applied to the façade of the building, spaced off the Hebel surface by 200mm. This effect shades the façade, facilitating a comfortable internal temperature for the building in the hot climate of Limpopo, which can reach 40 degrees Celsius.
The buildings are, for the most part, ‘off-grid’. Power is still partially sourced from municipal supply; however plans are in place for a complete conversion to solar power. All black water produced by the residential blocks is recycled for the irrigation of leaf vegetables. The roofs of the building are a rolling series of mono-pitches, which are designed to mimic and blend into the hills surrounding the site. Local Studio is steadily building a portfolio in developing areas. On this particular site a communal laundry and a workshop are being planned to be built in the near future.
More information
Architects
Design team
Thomas Chapman, Crystal Waddell, Alexia Kolatsis, Lize Wessels.
Collaborators
Structural Engineering.- The Structural Workshop. Quantity Surveyor.- EM Heyns. General Contractor.- AMECON. Civil Engineering.- Earthworkshop.
Client
Area
1,350 sqm.
Budget
USD 860,000.
Dates
2018 - 2019.
Manufacturers
AutoDesk, Hebel, Amecon, Atlas Roofing, Rhinowood.
Location
Bela-Bela, Limpopo, South Africa.
Photography
Thomas Chapman. Local Studio
Local Studio is an architecture and urbanism practice based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The practice was founded by Thomas Chapman in 2012 and currently employs 15 full-time staff, conducting projects across the African continent.
Local Studio is a private company registered in South Africa, with a Level-2 BBEE rating. The studio develops projects at different scales where they know and understand the place where they work. Its projects know how to integrate and dialogue with the environment where it is located.
The study has developed numerous projects throughout the South African country, highlighting among them the Limpopo Youth Hostel in Bela-Bela in the north of the country in 2018, it is also important to point out Salvazione, Johannesburg or the 49 Jorissen office building in height. these last two are currently under construction, among others.
Local Studio is a private company registered in South Africa, with a Level-2 BBEE rating. The studio develops projects at different scales where they know and understand the place where they work. Its projects know how to integrate and dialogue with the environment where it is located.
The study has developed numerous projects throughout the South African country, highlighting among them the Limpopo Youth Hostel in Bela-Bela in the north of the country in 2018, it is also important to point out Salvazione, Johannesburg or the 49 Jorissen office building in height. these last two are currently under construction, among others.
