CONSTRUCTION
There are age-old proven methods of creating greener buildings , going back to nomadic structures that were oriented and built to a height that would provide shade for cattle . Similarly there are exciting ways to reuse and upcycle materials happening all around us , as smart people and communities find ways of creating exciting opportunities with items that others may see as worthless .” said Quraishi .
So , Amdec ’ s approach to green building goes beyond active green building technologies to also incorporating more subtle elements of green building in design and orientation .
While tree-lined streets , such as those found at Melrose Arch , are beautiful , what may not be immediately apparent is that they also play an important role in green building . The tree canopies provide shading on the front of buildings , helping to keep them cool . The bottom level of a building , and the upper levels , are usually the hottest . The trees mitigate the heat of the sun that bounces off the road . This increases comfort inside the building and decreases a building ’ s cooling costs .
With Melrose Arch , and Amdec ’ s next R4 billion mega development of Westbrook , a 128,000ha mixed-use suburb in Port Elizabeth , it is taking the opportunity to explore the latest technologies in sustainability . In fact , Amdec hopes to take Westbrook entirely off the grid .
Melrose Arch -The Piazza
Reducing electricity consumption Among the solutions Amdec has identified is the gas-powered trigeneration plant , which is only
Melrose Arch -The Galleria
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