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Hammarsdale Traders Container Shelters

Client / Owner / Developer: Economic Development Unit, Ethekwini Municipality
Architect: Architecture Department, Ethekwini Municipality
Structural Engineer: Architecture Department, Ethekwini Municipality
Quantity Surveyor: Architecture Department, Ethekwini Municipality
Project Manager: Architecture Department, Ethekwini Municipality
Main Contractor: Junev Construction
Steelwork Contractor: STS Steel Projects
Structural Steel Detailer / Detailing Company: Scott Mac Millan
Cladding Supplier: Junev Construction
Electrical Engineer: Architecture Department, Ethekwini Municipality

The project is part of the Hammarsdale Public Realm Upgrade, which is a three-phased project to improve facilities for commuters and informal traders within the commercial Town Centre of Hammarsdale. Phase One consists of new trading shelters for those who are currently trading from containers.

The shelters consist of a series of over-sailing roofs over platforms which house the new, fully fitted converted shipping containers. Each container is equipped with electricity, plumbing, display shelving and, depending on the retail activity, with gas burners and sinks. Seating areas are provided outside each container for traders and their patrons. The structure is a three-dimensional space frame canopy with central supports at 12-metre centres.

IMG_7589 IMG_7592

Tubular sections were used for their torsional resistance, structural strength and to meet the Architectural design concept. The design concept was “Tree Architecture” and the structural elements were designed to resemble a tree with the tapered concrete column base as the tree trunk base, the circular hollow section steel column continuing as the trunk, the circular hollow section steel struts/portals as the branches and the roof resembling the tree canopy.

Once all the members were fabricated a full mock-up of the structure was assembled in the fabricator’s workshop to ensure that the structure met the architectural and structural concept.  Once accepted the mock-up was dismantled and members transported to site and erection completed.

One of the major challenges was the steep site which sloped in two directions forming part of the road reserve as well as the multitude of electrical and telecommunication services running below the site. Most of the services were unknown to the respective service providers so the Contractor had to carefully excavate proving trenches to expose the services and protect them from damage during construction. Drawings were subsequently prepared to map the services. Additional manholes and cable sleeves were provided to protect and provide access to the services post construction.