Gatemax VJV Offices

1995
Umhlanga, KZN

Stauch Vorster Architects,- Durban
Team: Ivor Daniel, Francesco Coppola

Gatemax VJV Offices in Umhlanga was developed as a multi-tenanted office building designed to accommodate flexible commercial leasing within a prominent coastal business precinct. The project required adaptable office space capable of subdivision for multiple tenants while maintaining a strong corporate identity and maximising views from the elevated site.

The challenge was to organise separate office wings around shared circulation and parking infrastructure without compromising accessibility, natural light or tenant independence. The building also needed to respond climatically to its exposed location through effective solar control while preserving outward views and transparency.

The design arranged two office wings around a central vertical circulation core containing lifts and staircases. A glazed internal atrium linked by elevated walkways created a shared internal gathering and circulation space, connecting office entrances back to the main ground-floor lobby. Face brick façades with punctured openings established a solid architectural rhythm, while curtain wall glazing terminated each wing. Floating roof planes with projecting gables and cable-supported eaves provided shading and reinforced the building’s horizontal expression.

The completed development delivers a flexible and commercially efficient office environment with strong spatial clarity and environmental responsiveness. Its layered circulation spaces, controlled natural light and prominent architectural form contribute to a distinctive corporate presence within the evolving Umhlanga business landscape.