The Apex on Smuts – a new, Manhattan-style apartment building in the heart of Rosebank, Johannesburg – has proven to be a market-leading residential development in one of the city’s hottest urban nodes. With its prominent position and striking, contemporary architecture, this recently-completed building offers the modern city dweller everything they could want in chic, urban living – and buyers are taking notice.
Designed by Messaris Wapenaar Cole Architects (MWCA) the arresting, wedge-shaped building is hard to miss. The prominent site on the corner of Jan Smuts and Hood Avenues, with its unusual shape, presented the architects with the opportunity to design a building with real urban presence. “We felt it was important for the building to address its position at an urban scale and to have iconic character,” comments André Wapenaar, the partner in charge of the project at MWCA.
The wedge-shaped building extends into the point of the triangular site, creating opportunities for attractive balconies with sweeping views. The three large rectangular panels on the façade echo similar existing forms in the adjacent building, and fulfil the functional purpose of housing sun louvres. The building is raised off the site at ground level, allowing for parking below the building whilst maintaining visual connectivity from one side of the site to the other across the corner.
Internally, a central atrium which extends the full eight-storey height of the building provides light into the interior of the building, and is landscaped at first floor level for the enjoyment of residents. The 72 apartments are designed in a variety of types, ranging from one-bed, one-bath bachelor units to two-bed, two bath units. The apartments in the apex of the 7th and 8th floors have been combined to form a unique four-bedroom penthouse apartment. The interiors are chic but minimalist and finished in neutral tones, forming an understated but sophisticated ‘canvas’ onto which residents can imprint their personal styles.
A rapidly-developing residential market
The Apex on Smuts is the one of several contemporary apartment buildings to go up in Rosebank. This established and gracious suburb has always had a residential component around it. Although the CBD in particular became a rather tired at one stage, Rosebank has been undergoing rapid rejuvenation and has regained its former lustre as a commercial, residential and retail hub, thanks in large part to the construction of the Gautrain station, which has reinforced its practicality as a central location.
Fulfilling sustainable goals in the ideal urban location
The Apex on Smuts has an ideal location in terms of its centrality and accessibility. With the Rosebank Gautrain Station within walking distance, residents of the building have quick and easy access to nearby Sandton and to the centre of Johannesburg, as well as to O.R. Tambo International airport on the Gautrain itself. The additional bus network, including Gautrain buses, extends the possibilities of quick and easy local travel even further. There is a Gautrain stop in very close proximity of the entrance to the Apex.