The Rawson Property Group’s head office on Main Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, will be expanding into their parking lot on Klipper Road from early 2016 when the group takes occupation of a new extension to their current building, for which approval has been given by the Cape Town City Council. The new building, which will link in with the existing building, will have two floors of offices and basement parking for 40 cars.
The design of the building was discussed at length with the heritage authorities by Derek Wiid (the Rawson Property Group’s architect for this project), Bill Rawson, Chairman of the Rawson Property Group and Tony O’Brien, the Rawson Property Group’s Property Portfolio Manager. Heritage Western Cape has given the final design their complete approval.
According to O’Brien, considerable sensitivity was needed in conceiving the design because not only is the existing building with which it has to tie in over 100 years old and therefore not easily assimilated into a new design but also because the entire area is subject to heritage controls, Klipper Road in particular having many charming old houses.
The heritage authorities, said O’Brien, specifically requested that the new building should be modern and not in any way try to replicate the old existing complex although they encouraged the designers to incorporate certain design nuances from the old building into the new one.
The new building will have floor to ceiling glazing with balconies across its entire north facing façade which looks onto Klipper Road and many sections will have magnificent views of Devils Peak. The ground floor will be flanked by entrances and exits to the two separate parking levels.
A striking feature of the design is that the façades will be supported by structural steel which not only frames the complex but gives it a light look.
“The design is in every way clean and modern,” said O’Brien, “and it will be complemented in the interiors by light filled open spaces in which 80% of the floor area will be open-plan.”
The project is expected to cost R12 million and to accommodate 40 staff. The Rawson Property Group’s finance/bond origination division, run by Mike van Alphen, and their new rental management division, run by Mike Fresen, both currently housed in the Cardiff Castle building in Newlands, will be relocated to the new complex once it is finished.
The construction work will be handled by members of the Rawson Construction team who are currently busy with the completion of ‘The Beaumont’ and the start of ‘The Premier’, both sectional title developments close to the Rawson Property Group’s head office.
