OPEN to the public in March 2010 the Joina City is a building that is formed by a column studded basement for parking and deliveries as platform levels and layers so called numbered elevator floors. Each layer or level being unique in character and design so called floor levels. The columns extend upwards holding each concrete floor level, each concrete deck (floor level) hosting electrical/communication cables, plumbing, lighting and the largest lift
elevators and escalator installation in the country which are numerous in number and composition from the basement up.
The building slim-lines upwards from level to level in a built excitement as the concrete and reinforcement steel moulded inside take shape as an expression of structural integrity. The concrete form rises to a crescendo atop a circular ring under which the mass concrete structure evolves into concrete sheathed in glass. The building high-rise mass abuts a generously spaced concrete sidewalk where there is a hustle and bustle of pedestrians and vehicles along intersecting roads which created a grid block in the central business district with Joina City .
The core entrances to Joina City radiate east to west where the west wing entrance has a swooping skywalk bridge overtop a major highway and the east entrance gently composes itself up a few stair flights onto a wide corridor making its way to the core. The two entrances cumulate at the core which is the building extravaganza where floors are carved out to make a varied height platform level which composes and hosts an extensive light-well fun-filled with communicating elevators, escalators and staircases. The core light-well gives rise to columns of varying heights and is surrounded by balcony walkways with shops of variety on the four platform levels which are abuzz with grocery stores, fashion retail, technology stores, fast food and sit in restaurants, health bar, gym, cinema(scheduled to open September) and numerous corporate spaces. The staircases, escalators and elevators rotate around the core moving the masses from one platform level to another into the variety of shops.
The sub core juxtaposed north-east of the main core light-well zone is marked with numerous elevator shafts which extend themselves from the second floor upwards to the nineteenth floor. The sub core zone is more elaborate and distinct making way or giving way to an extension upwards to the more secluded, private and secure corporate tower. This zone has a higher noise ordinance and more considered sentiment of security check points and lends itself to being a high corporate space/zone and as follows the interior design in these large expanses or spaces are more corporate design considered. The interior design lends to interior spaces cased in glass frames as considered office block configurations and/or sheik walls in expressive forms, and vintage oak > structured office spaces which are considered the finest detail within interior design and all of this cumulates in this zone as you go upwards from floor to floor all the way up to the nineteenth floor. This corporate zone is a highlight of serenity and the finest of configured interior design spaces and is the main delight in the Joina City where clients are well nestled into the highest end of corporate display.
Joina City has the highest level of health, fire and safety ratings as it was planned to host the largest foot traffic numbers in Zimbabwe. Building analytics record 1 million people per month utilise the six hundred (600) parking bays four (4) levels of retail and commercial space and sixteen (16) levels office space. The fourth to nineteenth floor being office and the twentieth being rooftop deck. All backed and supported by an 850kva generator, boreholes and water reserve tanks and over one hundred and twenty (120) CCTV cameras supported by 24 hour manned security. In all these amenities and services are composed, structured and contained in the heart of the City under one roof, Joina City.
Words: Tatenda Nyagura
From: S&D ISSUE 25
