Old Mutual Emerging Markets and Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel, Sandton

This evening photograph captures the heart of Sandton Central at the intersection of Rivonia Road and West Street, with the contemporary Old Mutual Emerging Markets headquarters at No. 1 Mutual Place prominently illuminated on the left and the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel occupying the centre of the scene. The image captures a particularly dynamic moment in Sandton’s transformation into Johannesburg’s leading financial and commercial district, where major corporate headquarters, luxury hotels, retail destinations and public transport infrastructure converge around the Gautrain station.

The building on the left is No. 1 Mutual Place, developed by Old Mutual Properties as the headquarters for Old Mutual Emerging Markets. Completed in 2017, the building formed the first completed phase of the Stella Precinct. Its highly distinctive architecture incorporates a 12-storey office tower together with a lower curved wing, creating a sculptural composition of glass, steel and concrete. The extensive glazed façades are particularly striking at night, when the illuminated office floors reveal the building’s layered floor plates and distinctive geometric form. The project was designed by LYT Architecture, with WSP providing engineering and sustainability services.

No. 1 Mutual Place was designed around a geometric concept in which the building’s floor plates develop from a hexagonal base towards an equilateral triangular form. Its extensive green-tinted curtain-wall glazing, projecting floor plates and curved edges create a strong contemporary identity. Landscaped terraces are integrated into the complex, providing outdoor spaces and helping soften the substantial scale of the commercial development. The building also achieved a 5-Star Green Star SA rating, reflecting its emphasis on energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality and sustainable building performance.

 

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