Eastgate Centre
Location
Harare, Zimbabwe
Principal Use
Commercial
Design Architect
Mick Pearce + Ove Arup & Partners
Anything about the engineers? Facade consultants?
Ove Arup and Partners (structural and mechanical)
Gross Floor Area
Reason(s) for inclusion
Building Name
Eastgate Centre
Address
Robert Mugabe Avenue & Second Street, Harare, Zimbabwe
Description / Additional Information
Describe the key innovation and technology aspects of the project
Project Narrative
No air conditioning — the first large building designed around the passive ventilation principle of African termite mounds. Massive brick walls with 48 chimney stacks flush out accumulated heat through natural convection at night. Uses 90% less energy than comparable air-conditioned structures and saved $3.5M in HVAC costs. Designed by Mick Pearce with Ove Arup — a landmark of biomimetic architecture and climate-responsive design for Sub-Saharan Africa.
General Information
Year completed (or major renovation)
1996
Construction Cost
36000000
Climate Zone
Temperate
Other Design Features
Energy Performance
Construction Type
Construction Type
- Massive Facade Construction
Prevalent Glazing Type
- Single Glazing
Main Cladding Material
- Brick/Terracotta
Skin Type
Skin Type
- Single Skin Facade
Solar Shading
Solar Shading Strategy
- Glazing-integrated Shading
Ventilation
Is there natural ventilation through the facade?
Yes
Type of Ventilation Strategy
- Stack or Atrium-enabled
