NatWeCraft

The architect’s brief from the client was to redesign the existing building into state-of-the-art spaces that convey stability and transparency.

The single-story building with a plinth of 180 square metres sits on 694 square metres and is situated at 102A Samuel Parirenyatwa Road in Bulawayo.

Natwecraft Investments wanted a building that would instill confidence in its clients, and this meant a bold and distinctive design. The architect employed the concept of adaptive reuse, which involves taking into account the existing building and its historical and cultural significance, while also adding a contemporary design to complement it.

Nyatsanza Architects decided to merge the existing colonial Dutch gable with a touch of colour, glass, and steel. The front façade of the building was given such a blend, which makes it stand out while also incorporating the existing colonial Dutch gable into the design. This brought out the transition from old to new, while still taking into account the cultural heritage of the site.