Building a sustainable future at Conradie Park.

Conradie Park is a new mixed-income, mixed-use housing development conveniently located near main arterial roads,  in Pinelands, Cape Town. The R3 billion, 22-hectare development – a partnership between developers Concor and the Western Cape Government – comprises more than 3 500 homes.

The development makes extensive use of ceramic clay brick. Clay brick doesn’t fade, rot, chip or rust, making it low- maintenance.

“Different colours and shapes of face brick have been specified to create texture and variety in the façade,” explains Mark Schonrock, property development manager at Concor.

“The natural masonry walls add character and texture to contemporary materials like cement. Patterns are created by using bricks of different shapes, or with varied orientation. As the light changes during the day, the masonry provides a constantly changing display of sculptural light and shadow. ”

A perforated design is also used for the brick walls in front of drying yards, letting through light and air while also giving an attractive texture to the building façade. The laying of face bricks requires skill and attention so the most experienced artisans are allocated to this.

Suited to community living

The density and mass of ceramic clay bricks makes them a natural sound barrier with high acoustic protection - ideal for schools and community buildings. Brick homes keep suburbs quiet even with high-density living. The acoustic insulation of clay brick ranges from 43db to 49db.

Bricklaying Skills Training

“Cape Town still offers a good pool of bricklaying skills,” says Schonrock, “but the long period of depressed conditions in the sector is going to be felt in skills supply as building activity improves. As part of its corporate contribution to skills development, Concor conducts a range of training on its Conradie Park site.

“Through the National Youth Service programme, we are training six local bricklayer learners,” he says. “The first course started in November 2020. After completing the six-month training course, graduates were placed with selected sub-contractors to work on the current project.”

Now under construction: Paarl Rock

Upon completion, the 8 storey Paarl Rock block will comprise 266 apartments in an affordable model for first-time homeowners. It will include ground-floor retail space, two lifts, and a rooftop deck on the sixth floor facing westwards at Devil’s Peak and over the Cape Town central business district towards Signal Hill.

Next under construction: Kings Blockhouse

The sixth residential block to commence construction soon will be Kings Blockhouse will be for sale at prices starting at R700 000. This block have manned security access, bio metric access control and undercover secure parking.  There is an private, landscaped courtyard for the use of residents.