In 1922, Cape Town built its first Iron Works on one of the city’s most historically iconic streets, Victoria Road. As a result of its prime location and the fact that it is a fine example of the industrial architecture of that era, it has been listed as a historically significant building worthy of protection.
OBJEK’s brief was to convert the existing building into a mixed-use hub, with retail spaces on street level, parking and office space occupying the floors above it, and the newly developed 4-storey, residential section finishing off the building’s rejuvenation.
In order not to compete with the building’s original 3-storey facade, the new residential addition is set back from the street edge with a monochromatic facade to complement the red brick base.
The residential addition consists of 136 apartments ranging in size form 53m² to 103m². Each apartment includes a balcony and a secure undercover parking bay. Set high above the road, all apartments have beautiful views. The development is situated within the UDZ (urban development zone), which serves as a tax incentive for investment buyers.
The existing building is one of the only breaks in the retail strip along Victoria road. The revived retail component offers a continuation of the retail strip by utilising the street edge for the Deli that opens up directly onto Victoria Road.
ARTICLE by Louise Fenner-Solomon
www.archibuild.com