The Blouvin Residential Apartments Phase 2 in Somerset West involves the extension of an existing 2-level building, originally retail on the ground floor and residential above, with additional residential floors. Aertec AAC was specified to continue the lightweight construction strategy established in the original building, minimising the additional structural load on the existing foundations.
The existing foundations had limited capacity for additional loading, making the choice of a lightweight walling material essential for the viability of the upper floor extension. At 400 kg/m³, Aertec AAC blocks are approximately one quarter the weight of clay brick, enabling the additional floors without structural reinforcement of the existing foundations.
The project demonstrates AAC's significant structural advantage for building additions and extensions where existing structural capacity constrains the available walling weight.
