Broad Based Design

25/12/2025

As the year comes to a close, we’ve been looking back at the moments and projects that stayed with us. One, in particular, stands out—not because it was the biggest, but because it meant the most.
Alostro Coffee Club became our favourite project of the year.
What made this project especially personal is that it began as a concept by our Director, Mlondolozi Hempe, marking the start of a new journey into hospitality. It was an opportunity to bring together years of designing thoughtful spaces with a growing passion for crafting meaningful, everyday experiences.
Located at The MARC Retail Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg, Alostro sits within one of the city’s most established mixed-use precincts—known for its curated retail and dining offering, premium offices, and steady daily footfall. The MARC’s role as a meeting point for business, lifestyle, and urban movement made it a fitting setting for a space designed around pause, connection, and return.
From the first ideas to opening day, Alostro was shaped by a simple question: how should a space make people feel? Every detail—layout, materials, light, and flow—was considered through the lens of comfort, connection, and return.
This project reminded us that design is not only about what you see, but about what you experience over time. It reinforced why we do this work: to create spaces that feel honest, welcoming, and deeply human.
We’re grateful to everyone who trusted the vision and shared in the journey. This project marks not an end, but a beginning.

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19/08/2025

A get away retreat nestled in the Karoo Designed to take advantage of the views while providing comfort in the hot summers and cold winters . Using natural materials, warm to the touch . For Architecture aimed at Eternity . Drop as an email at [email protected] to collaborate on your vision

13/09/2024

We are happy our Design Director will be sharing knowledge at this years purposed built student accommodation summit later this year dealing with the below topic.

In the context of South African student accommodation, the integration of sustainable design principles emerges as a pivotal strategy to enhance both human comfort and cost-effectiveness. I will explore the multifaceted benefits and challenges associated with implementing sustainable design practices in student housing, focusing particularly on the concept of integrated design.

23/08/2024

Earlier this week Broad Based Design had the opportunity of presenting our design concept to the City of Cape Town Urban design depart as it was one of the Golden mentions placing in the Top 10 of the Now Now Competition for Future Khayelitsha.

CONCEPT - Spine Road Commerce

Our architectural design for Spine Road, Khayelitsha, envisions a
vibrant and sustainable urban environment that harnesses the potential
of high-density planning, strategic investments, and robust social
infrastructure. By transforming Spine Road into a dynamic high street,
we aim to create a bustling hub of local businesses, public spaces, and
amenities that will invigorate the community and stimulate economic
growth.
Our design prioritizes safe, pedestrian-friendly zones, fostering a sense
of security and community engagement. By integrating schools,
healthcare facilities, and community centers, we ensure that essential
services are accessible to all residents, promoting overall well-being
and social cohesion.
Investments in infrastructure and local enterprises will not only create
jobs but also attract further economic activity, boosting the local
economy. Embracing the principles of a dense city, our design
minimizes commute times and maximizes the efficient use of space,
paving the way for a sustainable and interconnected urban lifestyle.
Through this comprehensive approach, our design for Spine Road will
future-proof Khayelitsha, preserving jobs, supporting local businesses,
and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.

18/08/2024

Cabin in the wilderness. Spirit sketches .

11/06/2024

Defining street edges .

27/07/2023

With the AI technology going around, one can’t help themselves but to get sucked in and see what all the fuss is about. At Broad Based Design one of our integral principles is curiosity of learning. We took a hand at exploring how AI can influence our early stage sketch design processes to get a better understanding of our concepts early on without the friction of modeling. We took one of the many sketch to render AI tools, https://mnml.ai/ and tried it on a concept we are developing for a potential mixed use development in Joburg Rosebank . The next slides were the result.

Swipe>>>> .

As much as we understand AI can never solve all architectural processs but we think this is a step in the right direction to improve efficiency in one of the many architectural processses .

For your humane architectural solutions on your next development project. Email us at [email protected]

30/03/2023

What can urban daylight tell us about daylight availability in our buildings at early stage design and can we optimise our building orientation using this metric ?

In this high level study for a proposed affordable housing project with convenient retail we looked at urban daylight as one of the Metrics of study at massing level.

Looking at, what is the possible orientation to Maximize daylight in the residential spaces . We noted a simple twist of the building improves daylight for building 1-5 and it reduces the performance for building 6 and 7 which were performing better prior . Although this iteration worked but it did not work for all the building which is also a lesson learnt.

We noted this helps give the site a bit of character VS the original layout and its character that is informed by a data driven metric not just aesthetics .

These are some of the benefits of early design studies when the correct design questions are being asked. Data driven design decisions are taken with confidence for the desired outcome.

We shall be exploring this study further to see how to better optimise building forms , Window to wall ratio and best utilise the site.

Benefits of daylit spaces :

Productivity
Energy savings
Occupant wellness

Project done in collaboration with PJC+Partners who specialize in building performance design.

24/03/2023

Architectural Design and Draughting services for the residential market

Email : [email protected]

For quality design work.

www.broadbaseddesign.com

See price guide👇🏾

22/02/2023

Sustainability as a Design Driver, subscribe to our newsletter email [email protected]

The City of Cape Town’s participation in the C40 Reinventing Cities Initiative has progressed to the final stage with a shortlist of 13 bids invited to proceed to the detailed bidding stage of the competition.

25/10/2022

Movement and Space . In between space..