New York-style Loft to Rent

New York-style Loft available to rent in Cape Town: R210 msq: R13500pcm, including 2 parking bays.
(from September 1st 2010)

The Wellington at 96 Longmarket Street is a well-known heritage landmark building in the heart of the City of Cape Town. Built in 1902 by Sir Herbert Baker’s office, it is a tall, narrow, instantly-recognisable structure of striking terracotta that is decorated with ornate carvings of cherubs and heraldic shields. Next door to Mutual Heights, the Wellington was converted into mixed use/ residential in 2005. The block is made up of just fifteen units and is popular with suppliers to Woolworths, architects, film companies, publishing professionals and other creative folk, who use the dramatic spaces as both homes and offices. The Wellington falls within the East City Design District. (see below) At 210 sqm, the New York-style Loft apartment is a huge, entirely unique, L-shaped space that is incredibly hard to find in Cape Town. Loft 2B is on the second floor. It is currently the Australian High Commission in Cape Town.

More photographs here.

Although you enter from trendy Longmarket Street, the property looks down on to bustling Darling Street and the beautiful granite murals and frescos on the side of the Old Post Office building. The main space of 2B consists of a single massive, white-painted room the size of six double garages side by side, with 3.8m high ceilings and gleaming original Oregon pine floors. Lighting is art deco chrome and glass. On the right wall there are modern ankle-height swivel spot lights but no other fixtures or fittings, emphasising the sheer dramatic sweep of space and creating that “oh my…..” moment as you come through the front door. In contrast to the Victorian surrounds, the designer kitchen that runs along the left wall, is modern and white, with a single expanse of white caesarstone work surface, and a white glass splash-back. Fitted cupboards hide appliances and there are no handles to disturb the clean simplicity of the lines. It’s adaptable to either a stylish residential home or a discreet commercial space.

Within the historic building, the second floor has a colourful history of its own; it was once the only “coloured” night club in Cape Town, linked to a restaurant on the first floor by a staircase that has since been removed to create an en suite bedroom & bathroom. The original, double teak doors (with bevelled mirroring) are still in place, and there are lots of fitted cupboards. The bedroom floor is carpeted (including under-carpet heating) and is connected to the DSTV aerial. The bedroom is double-glazed for sound proofing, and is far enough from the street to be remarkably quiet at night. The loft also features a second bathroom, also in the deco style, and there is of course plenty of space to create a second bedroom if required.

2B The Wellington offers great possibilities for residential, commercial or work-from-home. The building is DSTV ready and the apartment has ADSL and two telephone lines. The unit includes two parking bays situated just across the road in The Adderley Building.

Rent: R13000 PCM
Use: Mixed Use – Commercial / Residential – ideally suited to Work-from-Home
Parking Bays: 2
Electricity: metered
Dogs / Pets: Welcome

The Wellington is within the East City Design District. Cape Town design organisations already settled in this area include The Cape Craft and Design Institute and the Cape Town Fashion Council, as well as several small fashion and interior designers’ studios, ICT firms, sound studios and film-related companies. Recently, Charlie’s Bakery took over the building which used to house the much-loved old Jewish bookstore and created a frosted-cupcake landmark next to the Harrington Street parking lot. Live music venue The Assembly draws the crowds at night. The success of an innovation hub rests in the triple helix: a close, sustainable relationship between industry, educational institutes and government. This relationship builds on the strengths and resources in all facets of the design sector, drawing on as wide an involvement as possible from parties interested in innovation. The objective is to create a community, with all the amenities that attract and stimulate designers, entrepreneurs and geeks: cafés, parks, resource centres, IT infrastructure. The traditional “silo mentality” stifles innovation. This “design hub” has the potential to improve quality of life, grow the economy and initiate sustainable economic and social solutions for the City.

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