The Somerset Road entrance to the Cape Quarter Extension show the facades of the previous buildings which have been retained.
The new square in the extension of Cape Quarter in De Waterkant opened on October 1 and the developers believe it will attract shoppers, diners and investors to Green Point.
The anchor tenant, Cape Quarter Food Spar with 1 600 m2 of space, will have its own entrance off Somerset Road as well as access through the centre. Tenants catering for health and beauty needs include the Zone gym, Palladium Hair and Heaven, organic cosmetic products. Fashion and accessories stores will include Big Blue, Democratic Republic, Desray, Giovana Shoes, Vogel and Aitken.
Other tenants include Pierre Cronje, Victorian Bathrooms, Banks Kitchen Boutique, Muralto @ Jo Carlin, LimeGrove, Nap Living, the Caroline Gibello Photography and Galleria Gibello Gallery, Heartworks, and Imiso Ceramics.
Restaurants will include Cru Café-Wine Bar and Restaurant, Vanilla, Voila!, and LAZARI on Jarvis Street, and visitors will be able to have their cars washed at Ryan’s Car Wash – a much needed service in the area.
The extension has more than 10 000 m2 of retail space and 8 700 m2 of office space. Accounting firm Deloitte has relocated its Cape Head Office here, taking a lease on 5 000 m2.
Developers Bob Knight, Paul Moxley and Ross Stegmann say:” We wanted to give residents and visitors a lifestyle experience while retaining the architecture and village atmosphere of the area. Our tenants are all individual, independent retailers and restaurants, each with a distinctive character that fits the building. Only one store is part of a chain and that is the Spar Gourmet Food Store but it is not like any other Spar.”
The Cape Quarter Property Company has used the old industrial buildings, warehouses and service yards that encompassed the block of Somerset Rd, Dixon, Jarvis and Napier Streets to create the new Cape Quarter. The traditional Cape architecture has been retained in the external facades. From Art Deco lintels to sash windows, arches and raw brickwork, the building is far from the slab of concrete that usually signifies shopping malls, says Knight.
“Enhancing the area has been the core of all design decisions and the Propfin Design team has taken this a step further by ensuring that space, light and harmony take precedence. Once inside, the atrium reaches high into the sky and the roof garden on the top level is in full view as you look upwards. Integral in this development has been the recycling of materials from the old buildings originally on this site.
A quick park ’n shop area has been created on the corner of Somerset Road and Napier Street, allowing for late evening shoppers to buy goods quickly and efficiently. From Jarvis Street walk straight on to The Square, which forms the soul of the building. Open to the sky the area has a water feature, a stage area, trees and wrought iron décor.
The office space above the square offers mountain and harbour views and on the north western side trees screen the building from the sun. Many of the design features avoid the over-use of air-conditioning, says Knight.
Multiple exits and entrances off three roads give easy access to different levels and there is ample parking, relieving some of the congestion in the area. The Jarvis Street precinct becomes the link between the original Cape Quarter and the extension, creating greater pedestrian access as the building has been set back from the road, and street parking is still available.
The grand opening of the Cape Quarter Extension will take place from November 7 to 15, with art, fashion, music, live performances, competitions and promotions.
