More than 7 000m² of space has been sold at Buchanan Square, Redefine Properties’ refurbished commercial property in Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, says sales executive Ivo Nestel.
Demand is high and space at Buchanan Square is priced from R7 500/m².
The Western Cape branch of the Inscape Design College is one of the high profile buyers in the building, with more than 380m² of space. Inscape’s other college is in Johannesburg and another subsidiary is in the square’s refurbished armoury building.
Inscape, which has been in existence for 28 years, is the oldest privately owned multi-disciplinary design college in South Africa, says principal, Mornay Schoeman. It offers three year courses in interior design and graphic design and 10 month part time courses in interior decorating and architectural draughting.
Aware of the discrepancies in the standard of living in SA, the school makes a point of involving its students with disadvantaged communities.
Meyer + Vorster Architects has bought more than 280m² on the third floor of the historic armoury building in Buchanan Square. Tiaan Meyer, who founded the firm in 2002 with Jan-Heyn Vorster, says the premises suits the firm admirably because the entire precinct is fast becoming recognised as the new creative centre in Cape Town – from advertising, photography and modelling casting to furniture and fashion sales, ceramics and custom designed kitchens.
With a staff of seven, Meyer + Vorster offers architecture, urban design and interior design/décor services. Meyer says the firm has always has a strong orientation towards avant garde housing but it has also been involved with big projects like the Northpine Secondary School, the Ina Paarman kitchen at Constantia, the Kuyasa Transport Interchange at Khayelitsha and the Orient Restaurant at Melrose Arch.
The third new occupant is the Best Blind Company, which has purchased over 300m² in the newly refurbished Hills building part of Buchanan Square.
Founded by sisters Tracy and Debbie Hutchings, The Best Blind Company creates blinds, curtains and soft furnishings for projects as far afield as London, New York, Mauritius and the recently completed Villa Orpheus in Mykonos, Greece.
“After seeing a lack in the local market of quality, contemporary poles and fittings we designed our own exclusive range of stainless steel fittings which we supply to the industry locally and nationally. The growing reputation of Buchanan Square as home for innovative, creative entrepreneurs – in a variety of disciplines – suits our operation and has given us the opportunity to open a retail space to sell our diverse range,” says Debbie Hutchings.
“The easy access to freeways and all the suburbs makes doing business here easy,” she says.
