Henry Fagan Consulting Engineers & Project Managers undertook prize-winning work on two buildings in the historic Klein Constantia Estate, five years apart.

The work for the winery included assistance in the concept design. The building consists of a basement level built of meticulously detailed brick vaults and a reinforced concrete frame above floor level which supports a steel roof structure. The internal access platforms are elegantly suspended from the roof structure.

Henry Fagan Consulting Engineers & Project Managers’ involvement for the 6000 m³ bottled wine Maturation Cellar included full concept design, as well as acting as Principal Agent for the project. Due to the temperature requirements of the cellar and its proximity to the historic manor house, the proposal involved a precast concrete structure in a large excavation to be subsequently buried under ± 2 m of soil. A vaulted precast panel was custom-built and all wall and roof elements were cast on site before being tilted or lifted into position. The internal columns were also precast in a local precasting yard. Unbonded post-tensioned tendons run through the roof elements, ensuring high serviceability under the considerable soil load.

The innovative structural solution resulted in high quality finishes, a majestic aesthetic, minimal running costs and a short construction time. The cost-effectiveness of the concept was tested by allowing alternative tenders; Henry Fagan Consulting Engineers & Project Managers’ concept produced the cheapest tender by about 8%.