Barloworld Equipment Head Office and Caterpillar Showroom, Isando, Johannesburg

The Barloworld Equipment Head Office and flagship Caterpillar Showroom is a distinctive landmark on the R24 highway in Isando, Johannesburg. Completed in 2019, the development was designed by Paragon Architects for Barloworld Equipment and developed by Eris Property Group. The campus comprises a 4,500 m² head office together with a 3,200 m² showroom dedicated to Caterpillar’s heavy earthmoving equipment.

The showroom’s striking elongated, bubble-like form was inspired by the curved profile of a Caterpillar excavator track. Its enormous full-height glazed façade provides views directly into the showroom, while the curved steel structure creates the clearance required to accommodate large excavators, bulldozers, graders and other heavy machinery. The building’s prominent position alongside the R24 was deliberately used to create a highly visible architectural expression and a powerful advertisement for the Barloworld Equipment brand.

The adjoining head office consists of two elongated buildings linked by an enclosed glazed bridge and positioned above a landscaped podium. Together, the buildings create an architectural response that combines corporate workspace with the industrial character and functional requirements of heavy equipment sales. The project received recognition including a Gauteng Institute for Architecture Award of Excellence and a 2020 SAISC Steel Award.

 

21 MB