Architecture and interior architecture group Paragon racked up four major wins at the SAPOA Property Development Awards for Innovative Excellence 2019. The winners were announced at the 2019 SAPOA Convention at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 18 to 20 June.

Paragon Group’s first project for an international hotel chain, the Mbabane Hilton Garden Inn in Swaziland, won the International Development category. This 124-room, eight-storey development in the heart of the capital has been designed specifically as an iconic building for Hilton’s entry into the Swaziland market.

The Retail Development category was won by the Flamingo Shopping Centre in Modderfontein, Johannesburg, with its striking concrete ribbon undulating across the façade. This was refined during the design development and construction phases, resulting in a unique and elegant design solution compared to that of conventional strip-mall architecture.

Interior architecture company Paragon Interface, part of the Paragon Group, saw its work at 1 Discovery Place in Sandton receive both the Interiors Award and the Overall Award. The main feature of 1 Discovery Place is the open and welcoming main entrance, which reflects the corporate values of the client. Internally, the building is divided into three main atria, namely a central atrium, and one each on the left and right side.

The central atrium allowed Paragon Interface to explore the concept of a concourse, driven by Discovery’s requirement for the building to be active. This was not only translated effectively into a dynamic design aesthetic, but also into an active public street populated with seating areas, cafés, streetlights, and tree canopies.

Hosted by the South African Property Owners’ Association (SAPOA), the awards is the most prestigious programme of its kind within the South African commercial real-estate industry, aimed at defining excellence in the property sector.

The awards provide public recognition, as well as setting a benchmark, for top-quality design and functionality. Outstanding contributions from world-class owners, developers, and built environment professionals are showcased at the annual event.

Last year, the Paragon Group was Overall Winner in the Commercial Office Development category for 140 West Street, while Alice Lane 3 received a Commendation. Both are flagship projects in the redevelopment of the central business district in Sandton.

“Our ongoing success at the SAPOA Property Development Awards for Innovative Excellence is testament to both the quality and diversity of the projects we undertake. We are very proud of all of our hard-working team members involved with these iconic developments,” Paragon Group Media Manager Hugh Fraser concludes.