Overview

Renovating old buildings and converting them into residential accommodation is one way that Johannesburg is responding to the city's dire need for housing.

Completing conversions by using GypWall and related products for internal walls offers the developers of these projects a cost- and time-effective solution, as seen at 37 Quinn Street, in Newtown.

"The key consideration in rejuvenating Johannesburg's old buildings is the load that their foundations can bear," says Carl Bartleman of Saint-Gobain Construction Products. "At 37 Quinn Street, the developer wanted to create apartments using the existing shell office-block structure to create six apartments on each floor, and a penthouse in the unused loft. However, this had to be done without having to reinforce the structure and foundations. This meant that any thought of doing the alterations using brick were impossible.

"The lifts in the building are also not rated to carry the loads that would have been required in a conventional construction process, but they were rated sufficiently for us to transport the GypWall systems to each level."

Because GypWall* products are supplied in sizeable sheets, crane-time to bring products to site was reduced. The mess and building rubble normally associated with a project of this nature was significantly less than if the project had been built conventionally - an important consideration for a project in the middle of a busy, developed area.

Each apartment has been carefully designed to offer an upmarket appeal, within an affordable price range. GypWall* systems were effectively used to separate the apartments, as well as to clearly define the spaces within them. The main bedroom in each apartment is separated from the living area by a detached partition rather than a wall, in order to maximise the feeling of openness, and to increase the space's suitability for dual use as a home or an office.

All the elements in the bathroom were created with Gyproc RhinoBoard MoistureResistant plasterboard treated with Weber Tylon preparation systems for tiling. Kitchens are upmarket, with granite surfaces and an imposing GypCeil bulkhead located over the hob and its island.

GypCeil** ceiling systems and Aerolite were used throughout to provide a slick finish with insulating properties.

While material costs are not that different from traditional building methods, a significant saving on labour costs was seen, as the project was completed approximately in half the time it would have been had conventional building methods been employed.

GypWall* systems offer effective insulation leading to energy efficiency and reduced energy costs. It also offers a better sound insulation rating than that offered by traditional building materials - a key consideration in an apartment building.

Even though these apartments are pitched at those entering the property market for the first time, the versatility and flexibility offered by GypWall* products has enabled the developer to offer slick interior design and an upmarket finish to the apartments.

Highlights

• GypWall* is a lightweight building solution. This allowed the developers to re-purpose this building without having to reinforce its foundations.
• GypWall* is lightweight enough to be transported via conventional lifts, saving money on haulage.
• Building the internal walls with GypWall* took much less time than it would have, were more conventional methods used. This saved time, money and project management fees.
• GypWall* offers good sound and heat insulation properties.
• The cost savings achieved by using GypWall* products enabled this developer to bring affordable yet visually appealing housing units to the market.

* Gyproc RhinoBoard^® FireStop^® 15mm, Isover cavitybatt^® insulation, Donn UltraSTEEL™ Stud and Track.
** Gyproc RhinoBoard^® 9.5mm, Isover Aerolite Gyproc RhinoLite Multipurpose.