Hansgrohe and Barloworld: Partners in sustainability

Hansgrohe and Barloworld: Partners in sustainability
Hansgrohe and Barloworld: Partners in sustainability

Sustainability and style come together at Barloworld’s state-of-the-art head office

hansgrohe has always been at the forefront of creating state-of-the-art, sustainable kitchen and bathroom fittings that conserve our most precious liquid resource. Add to that hansgrohe’s unmistakeable flair for world-class design, and you have the ideal partner for modern green building projects with their own striking aesthetics.

So when Barloworld Equipment – respected supplier of Caterpillar earthmoving machinery – undertook to kit out its impressive new head office and Equipment Showroom with sustainably-designed fittings, the earth moved when Paragon Architects came on board and chose hansgrohe sanitary fittings to enhance the building’s design and sustainability features.

The team left no stone – or detail – unturned as they took on the mammoth project. Project Architectural Technologist and Project Leader for Paragon, David Cloete, says, “Tackling a project of this magnitude was uniquely exciting for us. Beyond the overall design, we took a long, hard look at the minutiae that all add up to make the building more sustainable.

“For example, we have constructed the building as north-facing, to cut down drastically on energy requirements. The roof structure has made provision for solar panels, and low-rated sanitary fittings were installed to ensure minimal water usage. That’s where hansgrohe’s products were the perfect fit. hansgrohe mixers have the perfect energy- and water-efficiency ratings to support our green approach to the project.”

Barloworld’s imposing new showroom looks out over the R24 in Isando, Johannesburg. This striking new presence on the Johannesburg skyline features Paragon’s trademark two-tower building approach, with the office plates being linked by an atrium and linking circulation bridge. The building is breaking ground in other ways, too, as it is the first showroom in South Africa that is entirely dedicated to large earthmoving equipment.

While the building’s height has been restricted due to its proximity to OR Tambo International Airport, the Paragon team has admirably optimised the space in the one three-storey and the other two-storey section. Gleaning inspiration from classic Caterpillar earthmovers, the bubble-shaped buildings glisten in glass, floating on a podium above the parking level with a glazed-glass bridge linking it all.

hansgrohe’s sleek, minimalist EcoSmart mixers not only add to the beautifully modern and minimalist aesthetic, they reduce water consumption and energy costs on a grand scale. hansgrohe taps require just five litres of water per minute. They also decrease hot water consumption and cut down hugely on energy consumption costs. CO2 emissions are also minimised due to lower energy use.

hansgrohe is proud to be associated with this iconic new project and hopes to contribute to a more a sustainable approach to building for years to come.

hansgrohe – Sustainable by Design!

 

About the Hansgrohe Group

With its brands AXOR and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group, based in Schiltach/Southern Germany, enjoys a reputation as a leader in quality, innovation and design within the bath and kitchen industry. The Hansgrohe Group brings form and function to water with taps, showerheads and shower systems. The 116-year history of the company is marked by innovations such as the first hand-held shower with multiple spray types, the first pull-out kitchen tap, and the first wall bar to hold a hand-held shower. The company holds more than 17,000 active propriety rights. The Hansgrohe Group stands for long-lasting quality products. With 34 subsidiaries and 21 sales offices supplying products in more than 140 countries, the company is a reliable partner to its customers around the world. The Hansgrohe Group, its brands and products have won numerous awards, including more than 500 design prizes since 1974. Sustainable production of resource-conserving products is central to the company’s business activities around the globe. The products of the Hansgrohe Group are featured in projects around the world, such as the luxurious ocean liner Queen Mary 2, and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The Group’s high-quality standards are ensured by five wholly-owned production facilities: two in Germany, one each in France, the United States and China. In 2016, the Hansgrohe Group generated a turnover of EUR 1.029 billion. It employs more than 4,800 people worldwide, about 60 percent of whom work in Germany.