Positioned on the uppermost reaches of one of Cape Town’s oldest and most symbolic city streets, this Bo-Kaap development faced the challenge of integrating with the existing architectural identity of its historic setting, while simultaneously establishing a contemporary sensibility all its own.

With its cobble-stone walkways and picturesque, vividly-hued terrace houses, the Bo-Kaap’s distinctive character is an amalgamation of Dutch, Cape Georgian and Islamic Malaysian influences—making it a site of architectural, political, cultural and religious significance for nearly three centuries.

In response to this unique context, the development’s colourful façade and quaint, classical details serve as a modern interpretation of its surroundings, while its semi-detached design and narrow proportions mimic the architectural language of the area’s original “huurhuisies” (rental houses). Slender, sculptural volumes offer residents privacy from their adjacent neighbours while wooden cladding adds a playful, textural tone to the existing suburban fabric.