Vital statistics

摘要

The Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) office in Pretoria plays a key role in the thriving Republic of South Africa's journey towards becoming one of the most important emerging nations. By building a new headquarters for Stats SA's 3,500 employees, at a cost of €100 million, the country has acknowledged the importance of the national statistics office. The 31,800m2 office building on the outskirts of the government district and a short walk away from Freedom Park, was designed by South African architecture firms GLH and Terra Ether. In addition to integrating different historical structures, the aim was to visualise the work of Stats SA. The architects opted for a design with references to the country's culture and tradition. The result was a building reminiscent of a gigantic drum with five fingers. The zigzag roof of the main entrance is evocative of the graphs which Stats SA uses to present the results of its surveys. The five surveys are represented by five finger-shaped blocks arranged one behind the other. Each of the fingers has its own identity created through colour and the shape of the roof.