CITYVIEWS April 2011
Photo: Supplied
CLEAN | SAFE | CAR I NG
THE BUSINESS ISSUE STATION ROCKERY restored
THE FRINGE Cape Towns innovative district
>> page 3
>> page 6
Cape Town as a
BUSINESS CITY >> page 10
HELP Save electricity
>> page 4
CLIMATE CHANGE Coalition launched >> page 5
NEW
Making
St Georges Mall and other public spaces work for you >> page 2
Earth Fair food market
The Granary
>> page 8
>> page 7
jam-packed
a new lease on life
2
about
town
FROM TASSO
Rethinking a much-loved asset: St Georges Mall
Tasso
S
t George’s Mall, the muchused, bustling pedestrian area in the middle of our Central City, has long held a place in Cape Town’s history as one of the main arteries through the City. Once a street, the mall is now a thoroughfare which links the Foreshore to Government Avenue and the Company’s Garden. A peek into the history books tells us that, before 1830, the street
was called Eerste Berg Dwars Straat (First Mountain Cross Street). Later this was changed to Berg Street and, more recently to St George’s Street. From the late 1600s, houses were built along the street, which became known for being one of the most sought-after roads for the early burghers who came to settle in the Cape. By the end of the nineteenth century, St George’s Street was nicknamed Cape Town’s “Fleet Street”, because a number of newspapers were based there. Independent Newspapers still have their Cape Times and Argus offices at the top of the street. It remained a high-end zone right until the early nineteenth Century, when it became a financial and commercial hub. In 1991/92, the street was closed to traffic and became a pedestrianized walkway or mall. I have recently been imagining St George’s Mall as a well-managed, well-maintained mall, a thoroughfare restored to its former glory of being the Central City’s main high street. It remains a vibrant part of the Central City, with buskers, danc-
ers, drummers and street artists providing live entertainment to the patrons at the mall’s sidewalk cafes and restaurants and the traders and pedestrians who frequent it all day. But there’s no denying that St George’s Mall could do with an upgrade. Apart from the excellent efforts of the Upper St George’s Mall Forum, which plays a huge part in this end of the mall looking good, the rest of it has not seen much capital invested in its maintenance over the past twenty years. Parts of it have deteriorated, and although the upgraded Fan Walk crosses over it, some areas, especially those below Strand Street towards the Foreshore, are not looking good. Various maintenance issues, from street furniture and lighting to the state of many of the traders’kiosks, need to be addressed, and more attractive trading opportunities should be introduced. What will this take? Private investment? A mobilisation by city partners? These are questions which we must start asking about one of our most loved assets. We need to open up the debate around a major
spruce up for St George’s Mall. PS: We have an update on the World Design Capital Bid. We’ve added the final touches to Cape Town’s bid to be the World Design Capital 2014. Our application was submitted to the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) Secretariat in Montreal, Quebec at the end of March. Please visit the Cape Town World Design Capital bid 2014
www.capetown2014.co.za website to get an update on WDC and the bid process. Since launching our bid publicly at Design Indaba in 2010, momentum and support for the bid has grown enormously, with member of both the public and private sectors getting behind the movement to lobby for it. We will continue updating you periodically about the status of our bid. Tasso
CITYVIEWS Published by: The Central City Improvement District (CCID) For more info: Sue Segar: 021 419 1881 sues@capetownpartnership.co.za Website: www.capetowncid.co.za Design: Infestation 021 424 6701
SAVE THESE NUMBERS ON YOUR PHONE CCID Security Manager: 082 453 2942 CCID Deputy Security Manager: 082 442 2112 CCID 24-hour number: 082 415 7127 SAPS Control Room: 021 467 8002 Social Department 082 563 4289
Please direct all queries and comments on Cape Town’s WDC bid to the Managing Director of the Cape Town Partnership, Bulelwa MakalimaNgewana at bulelwa@capetown partnership.co.za or tel 021 419 1881.
COMMUTER NEWS
Reader’s letter Hi there, In response to the call for comment in the City Views paper: I am an avid cyclist and regularly ride into and out of the city. I think the new cycle lanes (particularly along the West coast route) are fantastic! Thank you! What a pleasure to ride in peace away from the traffic. Just a few notes: 1. The maintenance crew who service the gardens on the edge of the cycle path need a bit of training in sweeping up after cutting the grass. I have seen many
Straatwerk has job rehabilitation projects for men and women. 021 425 0140 The Haven’s vision is to get the homeless home. 021 425 4700 The Homestead provides residential care and family integration for boys. 021 461 7470 Ons Plek provides residential care while undertaking reunification process for girls. 021 465 4829 The Carpenters Shop provides rehabilitation services and skills training for adults. 021 461 5508 Salesian Institute Youth Projects provide education, skills training and rehabilitation to vulnerable youth. 021 425 1450
Many children and young adults living on the streets have severe drug addiction problems. More often than not, the money they receive from begging is used to buy their next “fix”. The CCID therefore requests that members of the public do not give money or handouts directly. If you would like to help, please contact one of the listed organisations mentioned.
Contact the Central City Improvement District’s (CCID’s) Social Development Department for further information or assistance. Pat 021 419 1881 | Dean 082 928 3862 Headman Sirala-Rala 082 262 0113 Mark Williams 082 262 0112 www.capetownpartnership.co.za
a cyclist on the side of the cycle path fixing punctures after riding through recently cut grass which is riddled with ‘duiweltjies’. And I’ve had to dodge some scary looking sections where I feared for my tyres. Broken glass is also a bit of a problem but probably very difficult to control. Maybe more bins? 2. I live in the Southern suburbs and the best cycle route is still through Woodstock (after getting off the bike lane at the Church Street bridge). This is quite a dangerous section and there are a number of cyclists
commuting this way so I hope that there is some thought going into how the next link can happen. But in general, this is a hugely positive step for Cape Town. Commuting by bike creates community and interaction on a level that is impossible in cars. I hope we can get more and more people onto bicycles. Promoting cycling to school is a first step, particularly for girls who often feel that they shouldn’t or can’t ride bicycles. Kind regards, Mary Haw Sustainable Building Consultant and Elite Cyclist
Our Cities Ourselves Our Cities Ourselves, an urban visioning programme created by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), showcases how, by implementing sustainable transportation solutions, cities can manage growing urban populations as well as address environmental concerns. It features an exhibition comprising future
visions of 10 of the world’s most fascinating cities from 10 of the world’s leading architects. Underpinning the program is a booklet entitled ”10 Principles for Transportation in Urban Life”, developed with Jan Gehl, the noted Danish urbanist, and Nelson Nygaard, to help national and city leaders and private and public organizations
realize the benefits of sustainable transportation in urban development. The programme also features a series of events and workshops with international experts across architecture, urban planning, real estate development, and municipal authorities. The exhibition is on view at the Freeworld Design Centre in Waterkant Street until 21 April.
CityViews 3
April 2011
Rock girl benches offer safe spaces for girls
W
ith this in mind, Rock Girl, an organisation founded by a group of concerned women who seek to focus the spotlight on the challenges facing girls and women in South Africa, has launched its first campaign - the Safe Spaces Initiative. The campaign is aimed at focusing on increasing the environments where South African girls and women can feel safe – by planting benches in Cape Town that offer a real and symbolic feeling of safety and a freedom from anxiety. Rock Girl is a grassroots movement, which brings together the private and public sectors to work
will have a “sister” bench that is designed with and by a group of girls or women in a previously disadvantaged community. The first Safe Spaces bench, designed by local artists Tim Lewis and mosaiced by Lovell Friedman, was showcased, to great acclaim, in February during Design Indaba in Cape Town. This bench was made possible with the support of Design Indaba and private individuals. If it proves successful, other benches and spaces in city parks, schools, and communities will become part of the programme. Each bench will be linked to a toll-free number that will allow
together on common concerns that affect all South Africans. It works at connecting girls to advocates and resources to help them stay in school, avoid unsafe and unhealthy behaviour, build selfconfidence, and achieve economic independence. The Safe Spaces Initiative is a grassroots public art and education campaign to raise awareness about the need to strengthen and create safe places for girls and women in our schools, communities and CBDs– everywhere we live and work. India Baird, a human rights lawyer, who, with Karina Turok is at the helm of the project, came up with the idea while she was working with young girls at a school in Manenberg, outside Cape Town and held a discussion with them about their vulnerability in some public places. She thought the idea of “eyes on the street” in the form of benches in prominent places, would make cases of assault more visible in communities. To launch the campaign, Rock Girl called on South African artists, designers and architects to design and/or re-purpose new and existing park benches in and around Cape Town. Each bench designed for a public space in the city
Photos: Supplied
The chances of a woman or a girl in South Africa being exposed to violence are very high. Attacks against women take place in homes, at schools and in the streets of the communities where they live.
One of the Rock Girl benches.
Rock Gir l works at connecting girls to advocates and resources to help them stay in school, avoid unsafe and unhealthy behaviour, build self-confidence, and achieve economic independence.
listeners to hear stories of women and girls, more information about the project and artists involved, and where to go for help with issues of violence against women and girls. Baird said the response to the campaign so far has been excellent. Among others, the Western Cape Violence Against Women Network is going to get involved in raising money for their own bench,” she said. A number of government groupings, corporations and individuals have also jumped at the chance to get
involved, she added. “For instance the Grand Daddy Hotel will sponsor a campaign to raise money for two benches. The Cape Town International Convention Centre is also getting involved.” Baird said the first bench will remain at the Convention Centre and the sister bench will be at G.F. Jooste Hospital in Manenberg. Baird and Turok are seeking sponsorship for additional pairs of benches.
Education Centre, was pleased to be part of the project. He called in the assistance of four horticulture students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, currently gaining work experience at Kirstenbosch. “We saw the project as a perfect fit with the Sanbi outreach greening programme,” Festus said. “We need more gardens in public spaces, especially in the City where nature can often feel removed from the people.” Festus feels that the only thing missing from the area now are some benches for people to sit on. “Right now, people enjoying the garden tend to sit on the rocks of the rockery, and that is far from ideal,” he said. Horticulture student Rebecca Wengrowe admitted to being rather daunted when the project began. “It was amazing how dirty the area was when we arrived. It was full of litter and even a couple of old bowties! But by the second day it was all clean and we could
enjoy planting the indigenous, waterwise plants we had chosen for the rockery.” The garden serves as a reminder of the importance of planting unique indigenous plants rather than costly exotics. “Our indigenous plants are an important part of our heritage,” Festus said. “People need to think local when they are making their gardens. The plants we chose are ideal for the site: they are well adapted to harsh environments and can survive with very little water.” Tasso Evangelinos, COO of the Central City Improvement District, was pleased to offer his organisation’s support for the project. “We made a significant contribution to the cost of the rehabilitation,” he said. “We also want to ensure that this is more than just a temporary facelift, so we are working with the City to find ways that the garden can be maintained and kept looking its best.”
If you would like to get involved, or for more information T: India Baird 082 734 45 69 or Karina Turok 082 335 40 88
New life for station rockery
T
Photos: Supplied
The recent “Infecting the City” outdoor festival inspired more than just creativity in the Central City: it also inspired a group of horticulture students and volunteers to restore the rockery garden at the Cape Town Station – one of the main venues during the festival.
Members of the hard-working team which restored the rockery garden.
he rockery is situated in one of the public spaces which are an integral part of the new station development, but sadly, it had been neglected for years and continues to be vandalised even though the rest of the station property has undergone a massive facelift. By February, when the Africa Centre earmarked the rockery garden as an ideal venue to be included in its Infecting the City public arts festival, it was in a sad state and needed some serious work. Infecting the City is all about public art that demands a response, and it was clear that the rehabilitation of the rockery was an ideal project to form part of the festival. The lines between art and work were blurred as a group of students and volunteers set about their task during the festival week from 21 to 26 February. Benjamin Festus, Senior Outreach Greening Horticulturist at the Gold Fields Environmental
4 a conscious
town
April 2011
H E LP
Photos: Supplied
Y T I C I R T C E CUT EL CONSUMPTION Sarah Ward
T
o help residents cope, to save our resources and reduce the threat of blackouts, the City of Cape Town has set a target to reduce electricity consumption across the City by 10% by 2012. “We have had cheap electricity in the past and people are not used to being energy efficient,” says Sarah Ward, the City’s Head of Energy and Climate Change. To achieve this the City has put a whole lot of projects of place: it has launched an Electricity Saving Campaign aimed at those who fall in the middle- to high-income groups in particular, as these households use a lot of electricity, and have lots of opportunities to save. The City has called on these homes to cut their consumption by between 25 and 40 percent. By means of its campaign,
Electricity is becoming more expensive (with new increases again in July), we need to become more efficient and therefore economically competitive as a city, and there is a threat of load shedding for at least the next three years. From 2010 to 2013 it’s likely that your electricity bill will more than double, or even triple – maybe more – with the biggest increases still to come. The truth is that saving electricity is not just a nice thing some people do to save the environment. Today, you need to save electricity to save your hard-earned Rands. The money you’ll save on electricity is money you can spend on other things – like a holiday, a solar water heater or school fees. The good news is that you can take a few simple actions to reduce the amount of electricity you use, and many of these don’t cost a thing. In fact, you can start saving before you invest a single Rand – now that’s being smart. It’s like money back in your pocket free of charge. And investing just a bit of money will save you even more – and fast.
TOP 10 1
Install a solar water heater.
A solar water heater (SWH) is one of the best ways of saving electricity and money. A SWH uses the sun’s energy to heat the water that you use in your home. A SWH can typically save up to 66% of your hot water bill. This is a lot, since your geyser consumes 40 – 60% of the electricity in your household. Typical examples of payback periods on SWHs are from 3.5 to just over 4 years: A 200 litre SWH that costs R15 000 installed pays back in 43 to 50 months A 150 litre SWH that costs R11 600 installed pays back in 44 to 51 months ESKOM is offering a rebate when you purchase an SABS approved SWH. This subsidy will make the payback period of installing a SWH even faster. For more information, visit www.eskomdsm.co.za
2
Media adverts from the City of Cape Town
which has the slogan “Electricity is expensive, saving is simple”, the City is calling on residents to apply a few simple practises in their homes, for instance by setting their geyser thermostats to a lower temperature, taking showers instead of baths, fitting watersaving showerheads and installing geyser blankets to save up to 15 percent on electricity bills. A 25 to 40 percent reduction by middle to high income households would make a considerable contribution to the City’s overall 10 percent target, says Ward. Ward has called on consumers to see the campaign as “a real opportunity to save money”. “It is up to all of us to save energy and to be more energy efficient,” she says.
The City’s website www.SavingElectricity.gov.za offers practical information on how to save electricity. “Once you’ve taken the first steps for your own savings, be sure to spread the word – tell your family, your work colleagues, people in your community, your neighbours. If you have a domestic worker, help them take action too. Be sure to involve the children in your life, to help them develop smart habits of electricity use and a sharp eye for how to save money – skills that will last them a lifetime,” says the website. “Saving electricity is good for everyone. You can save money, reduce the risk of load-shedding amd make your own personal contribution to Cape Town’s environment.”
Insulate your ceiling.
If you want to be warmer in winter (and cooler in summer), make sure your ceiling is insulated, as approximately 40% of heat loss takes place through the roof. Insulation slows heat transfer and makes your home up to 10˚C cooler in summer and 5˚C warmer in winter.
3
Turn your geyser temperature down to 60° C.
Turning down the thermostat of your geyser by a degree or two will really make a difference. If you turn your geyser temperature down from 70˚C to 60˚C, you are likely to see a 6% reduction in your hot water electricity bill.
You can switch off your geyser to reduce peak demand for
?
Have questions about saving electricity at home? E: savingelectricity@capetown.gov.za SMS: 31220 T: 0860 103089.
TIPS TO SAVE ELECTRICITY electricity and to reduce the risk of blackouts and load shedding. However, Eskom tests show that switching off your geyser at certain periods saves only a little, if any, electricity. Eskom does not recommend installing any gadget that will control your hot water cylinder, as it does not save as much as the salesperson might claim. However, definitely switch off your geyser if you go away for four days or longer.
4
Use less hot water.
You can make real savings if you reduce your hot water use and insulate your geyser and pipes. If you like to sing in the shower, sing shorter songs.
5
Switch off equipment when not in use. There is a golden rule that applies to saving electricity at home. If you’re not using it, switch it off. Leaving your TV, DVD player, computer and printer on stand-by mode means that they still use up to 50% of their operating power. Rather switch them off at the power button on the wall. Unplug your cell phone charger or it will continue to draw power, and cost you money.
6
Reduce your pool pump’s operating hours. The filter pump is often one of the largest consumers of electricity at home, accounting for up to 20% of total usage. Reset the pump control clock to fewer hours so the pump runs only as long as needed to keep the pool clean. Using a filter longer than necessary can be very expensive, because it wastes electricity. Set the pump control clock so that the pump is not on
between 06:00-09:00 and 19:0022:00. These are peak electricity use hours and doing this will help reduce blackouts and the need for load shedding.
7
Reduce excessive heating or cooling. Dress for the weather: wear a jersey and use a blanket if you are cold – before switching on a heater. Use a hot water bottle that you fill by heating water in the kettle. If you still need warmth, use a two-kilowatt fan heater or an oil heater to efficiently heat single rooms. They are the best appliances when considering cost, health and safety. Under-floor heating is the most ineffective way to heat a room. During hot months, keep curtains closed on your north, east, and west windows. In winter, let the sun in and at sunset you can close the curtains to retain the warmth. In summer, use fans whenever possible instead of air conditioners. Fans cost less to use.
8
Install an energyefficient showerhead.
These specially designed showerheads use less hot water and therefore less electricity. Energyand water-saving showerheads will not compromise your shower experience.
9
Insulate your geyser and the water pipes leading to it. Use a geyser blanket to prevent heat loss from your geyser and save electricity.
10
Install energyefficient lighting.
CityViews 5
April 2011
Climate Change Coalition launched at ICLEI Africa* Conference
* Local Governments for Sustainability
authorities in respect of climate change issues and preparing for their active participation at COP17.
In a bid to help make Cape Town a more sustainable city which is working towards dealing Coalition represents with the challenges of an alliance of organisaclimate change, the Cape tions The Climate Change Coalition Town Climate Change represents an alliance of organiCoalition was launched sations and partners, including private sector organisations, govon 2 March 2011 at the ernmental and non-governmental Kirstenbosch National organisations, researchers and who came together to Botanical Gardens, as educators, support Cape Town’s bid to host part of the Local Climate COP17. Solutions for Africa 2011 Inaugural members of the coalition, who contributed to Cape Conferenc (LOCS2011). Town’s COP 17 bid, include the
Cape Town is vulnerable to climate change Keynote speaker at the conference was Cape Town Partnership Managing Director, Bulelwa MakalimaNgewana. In her address, Makalima-Ngewana stressed that, as a coastal town, Cape Town is vulnerable to climate change. “The fact that some of our CBD land is from reclaimed land makes the city extremely vulnerable to the threat of sea rises,” she said. The conference focused on preparing local leaders in Africa to participate in the COP17 climate change conference to be held in Durban in December. It served to assist municipalities in building resilience for a more sustainable future in the face of the certainty of climate change impacts. The conference saw leaders of African cities and local governments, and world climate change experts working towards enhancing the capacity of African local
“We have already set challenging targets regarding the reduction of our carbon footprint and will now look at how best we can respond...” Town (African Centre for Cities and Graduate School of Business), University of Cambridge – Programme for Sustainability Leadership, University of Stellenbosch, University of the Western Cape, Wesgro and the Western Cape Provincial Government.
Cape Town Partnership welcomes the formation of the Coalition
Makalima-Ngewana, who, with the CTP, supported ICLEI in hosting the conference, has welcomed the formation of the Coalition. The Cape Town Partnership took about 40 delegates from all over Africa around Cape Town’s Central City for a walking tour of the city. They were joined by Councillor Elizabeth Thompson, the City’s mayoral Committee Member Cape Town Partnership MD Bulelwa Makalima Ngewana speaks to for Transport, Roads delegates from all over Africa during a walking and Major Projects. tour of Cape Town’s Central City.
Photos: Bruce Sutherland
T
he conference, which took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 27 February to 4 March, was coordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability – and a session of the conference was co-hosted by the City of Cape Town.
Cape Town Partnership, Accelerate Cape Town, Cape Chamber of Commerce, Cape Higher Education Consortium, Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town Routes Unlimited – Cape Town Convention Bureau, Cape Town Tourism, City of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, Fedhasa, International Polar Foundation, Optimal Energy, SANParks – Table Mountain National Park, University of Cape
The Cape Town Partnership took about 40 delegates from all over Africa for a walking tour of the Central City.
“It was a most constructive exchange – with a real continental flavor,” Makalima-Ngewana said.
Coalition partners pledge to work together to manage climate change issues The Coalition partners have agreed to continue to work together towards ensuring that Cape Town and the Western Cape region take full advantage of the hosting of COP 17 and to building Cape Town citizens’ understanding of and commitment to managing energy and climate change issues in a resilient manner. They will also work towards proactively positioning Cape Town as a leading environmentally sustainable city, committed to practices that enable the city to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, so protecting and enhancing the natural, cultural, social and economic environment.
LOCS 2011 Conference sees African mayors sign declaration on Climate Change The conference concluded with the adoption of the African Mayors’ Declaration on Climate Change. The Declaration recognises the common and differentiated responsibilities held by African
cities in mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. It also appeals to national governments to recognise the role played by local governments in implementing the climate change convention and to support their local governments in achieving this. Governments in Africa are challenged to translate their verbal commitments into action. The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Planning and the Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt said the City of Cape Town is committed to take the declaration seriously. “The City has also been asked to work with Durban to use its offices and networks to ensure that the high level segment at COP17 adopts the precepts and principles of the declaration. “We have already set challenging targets regarding the reduction of our carbon footprint and will now look at how best we can respond to the call of the Declaration,” said Alderman Nieuwoudt.
African leaders praise conference African leaders from 23 countries were unanimous in praising ICLEI Africa and the City of Cape Town for their work on convening and hosting the conference. The conference focused on immediate and quantifiable steps taken by local governments. Accordingly, the City organised and coordinated a series of mobile workshops or site visits during
the conference that showcased a wide range of projects, including integrated urban water management, urban mobility, energy efficiency, mitigation of the carbon footprint of major events and the business case for biodiversity. In addition, the City of Cape Town has resolved to support and work closely with Durban, Johannesburg and national government to ensure the success of COP17, not only for South Africa, but the whole African continent and indeed the world. LOCS highlighted the need for Africa cities to work closely together in order to succeed in responding to this imminent threat of climate change.
Cape Town Partnership will assist with Climate Change measures Makalima-Ngewana said the Cape Town Partnership is looking forward to assisting the City of Cape Town with measures relating to the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. Makalima-Ngewana said it was groundbreaking to have 250 delegates – mayors from all over Africa – in a room together to look at issues facing Cities. On behalf of the CTP, she shared with delegates the partnership’s role in urban regeneration over the past 12 years. “The issues facing African cities in terms of climate change are overwhelming. We need to start by educating the younger generations,” she said.
6 CityViews
April 2011
SPECIAL FOCUS
THE FRINGE Cape Town’s Innovation District gains momentum The Fringe, the proposed design and informatics hub planned for the area in the Cape Town Central City previously known as the East City, is fast gaining momentum, with interest among designers, innovators, small business owners and educators growing all the time.
Yehuda Raff,
The vision for the project, which first took shape in 2007, has been to create “the premier African environment for design, media and ICT innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship”.
The area is rapidly growing with The Granary, an important heritage building, currently receiving a makeover as a creative hub with key tenants the Bandwidth Bar Barn (BWB) expected to take more than 2000m2 from September this year.
Project Manager for The Fringe, Yehuda Raff gave City Views an update: CV How is The Fringe coming along? YR The Fringe is moving ahead at a phenomenal pace. Part of what is so interesting is the different ‘channels’ we need to work on at the same time – working with provincial
government and City departments responsible for the planning, property, roads and other areas with which the project will intersect. As expected, we have had a phenomenal response from Cape Town’s designers and small innovation businesses. The education institutions have been very busy using the space as their laboratory for testing their innovation and design thinking. We’re past the foundation stages and now really starting to build a design community in the area.
What feedback have you had from the sectors you will be catering for? CV
YR
Everybody is really
excited about the prospect of a design / ICT / innovation precinct in Cape Town. We live in a city that provides inspiration to designers and offers a quality of life that appeals to entrepreneurs and technology start-ups. The Band Width Barn is the perfect example of design, technology and an investment in urban fabric all coming together. We are looking at ways to make this area more appealing to these businesses and develop a centre of creative business in Cape Town. CV What are some of the challenges facing the project? YR One of the challenges is finding spaces that are affordable for young
business or individual designers who need too little space for landlords to accommodate them. We are looking at ways of solving this problem. Watch this space. More importantly, though, are the social challenges. There are a number of homeless people in the area that need to be taken care of, and are, to some extent, by the Services Dining Room and Fruit and Veg City, but there are other issues relating to the very cheap alcohol that is available in the area; the safety and cleansing in the area is provided by the CCID but there is little we can do about these business practices. And parking is a problem! I know it’s not a new
problem but it’s one we realise we need to tackle if we are to really unlock the value that The Fringe could offer the city and the region.
What would I do if I wanted to locate my business in The Fringe? CV
YR There are a few buildings in the area that are developing space for creative and technology businesses. Contact us and we would be happy to direct you to an appropriate building or broker in the area.
For more information contact Yehuda Raff E: yehuda@capetownpartnership.co.za T: 021-4191881
Fringe business owner
welcomes developments
The Castle Hotel
“Very exciting.” These are the words of Dean Hubbard, owner of The Castle Hotel in The Fringe,to describe developments in the area.
W
e are meeting in the Castle Coffee Bar,
opened very recently at the hotel in a room which, historically, was a men’sonly bar in the 100 year old hotel. Hubbard, who took over the hotel a year and a half ago, is just one of many business owners who are thrilled with the new buzz in The Fringe area. “When we first came here, there was very little happening. The area was virtually derelict. We had to
Photos: Supplied
Photos: Sue Sega
INTERVIEW
turn the lights on,” he quips. “But recently, we have seen Charly’s Bakery move here, we have seen the Harley Davidson clubhouse opening, we have seen the crowds gathering at the Assembly Night Club, among other great developments. “There’s even an entrepreneur who pulls open a garage shutter door at the end of Constitution Street, to run a French coffee and patisserie outlet to feed the hungry revellers on Friday nights.” According to Hubbard, the area where the Castle Hotel is situated was, previously, more of an industrial area. “The Harley Davidson club was a motor mechanic’s workshop. “Now the area is growing all the time – and fast,” he says. A quick tour of the hotel shows that Hubbard is moving with the times. “We opened our coffee bar yesterday – and we were packed.
This area is full of students – both from the nearby technikon and from the university. A big student residence recently opened here. The bar will be aiming it largely at the students who flock to the area,” he says. “They can come here for filter coffee and a jumbo muffin at R19.50. They can also come here for what I believe is the cheapest breakfast in Cape Town – a fried egg, bacon, toast, baked beans and tomato, all for R7.50 – and pub meals, such as a hamburger and chips for R14.95. “My business philosophy is good value for money.” The hotel also boasts what Hubbard is convinced could be the smallest bottle store in Cape Town, as well as seven bedrooms – which can sleep 28 people in a backpacking set-up - for people wanting to spend a night in The Fringe.
He has sub-let space upstairs in the hotel to a lounge bar, the Sugar Hut – and is working with the manager of a nearby spaza shop to move the shop out of a container and into the hotel .
“They can come here for filter coffee and a jumbo muffin at R19.50. They can also come here for what I believe is the cheapest breakfast in Cape Town...” Hubbard believes The Fringe precinct is the place to be. “It has huge potential. “ “The exciting thing about this part of Cape Town is that there is still so much opportunity for growth, and lots of vacant land. It will be particularly exciting when District Six is redeveloped and can join up with that part of the city.”
CityViews 7
April 2011
creative and cultural industries. This dovetails with the City’s commitment to nurturing the creative industries a number of which are already resident in the area designated as The Fringe.
Creative and cultural tenants
The Granary
A new lease on life for the creative hub in Cape Town
For over a decade, Buitenkant Street’s heritage neo-classical building known as the Granary has been vacant. There have been several attempts to restore the decaying property, built in 1814 and occupying a chunk of prime real estate in the newly renamed Fringe district.
Early beginnings The Granary started life as the Customs House and later became home to the post office. In 1820, after a decree to erect an observatory at the Cape was issued, Fearon Fallows, a young Cambridge mathematician, astronomer and clergyman set sail for Cape Town with a cargo of astronomical instruments. He was met with a refusal by the authorities to pay for any of his expenses or to provide storage space for his instruments. It was only the intervention of President van Breda of
the Burgher-Senate that prevented the ship’s captain from dumping the unbuilt observatory’s first load of instruments on the beach. Fallows was then allowed a room in the Granary to begin his observations of the southern skies.
For most of the 19th century the Granary housed the magistrate’s
court, the police station and the House of Correction. This infamous women’s’ prison was described by the prostitute Mary Cowie, one of its more outspoken inmates, as “a den of infamy”.
A networking point “We are very excited,” Vermeulen says. “We hope to become the gathering point – the hub in the area – for meetings and discussions and networking.” As an extension of the virtual space model, Bandwidth is looking at providing plug-and-play facilities when they move into the Granary. “This means that you can drop in and use a desk for a morning or afternoon,” he explains, adding that the rates for the 2 500 square meter area are still under discussion. The area to be occupied by Bandwidth is in the rear of the building in a section of the property which is believed to have been built in the 1940s or 1950s. As for the 1320 square meters in the historic front section which dates back almost two hundred years – Robinson says that there has been tremendous interest. There are plans for a restaurant and wine bar, looking out onto the courtyard which links the old and newer sections. Negotiations are also underway for the use of parking bays in the Harrington Street parking lot behind the Granary.
A hopeful future The revamping of the Granary augurs well for the revitalisation of the area, which is slowly com-
The Granary project is not simply a renovation job to make an old building look pretty - but is placed to create a functional space that will generate income and draw people who want to be part of a vibrant and exciting Central City. ing together, block by block. The Fugard Theatre, across the road from the Harrington Street parking lot is pulling in crowds. Woodheads leather merchants (established 1867)which
is a few doors down from the Fugard is doing a brisk trade and Charly’s Bakery on the opposite side of the parking lot is so busy one can often not get a table. There is a heady mix of old and new. Developers are taking what is there already and making it work. The Granary project is not simply a renovation job to make an old building look pretty - but is placed to create a functional space that will generate income and draw people who want to be part of a vibrant and exciting Central City.
For more information, contact the Cape Heritage Trust T: 021 424 0287.
A new vision The CTHT’s vision is not simply to spruce up a new building but to make the Granary a hub of innovation and creativity which interfaces with the new impetus driving growth in The Fringe - Cape Town’s Innovation District. The district sits between Roeland and Darling Streets, Buitenkant and Canterbury Streets and connects the Cape Peninsula University of Technology to town through Longmarket Street. The CTHT – an independent, private-sector, non-profit organisation set up by the City and Province in 1987- got involved with the Granary eighteen months ago and is currently taking over the lease from the City. CTHT’s executive director, Laura Robinson, explains that under the terms of the lease, the City retains freehold ownership and the building must be used by the
The City retains freehold ownership and the building must be used by the creative and cultural industries. This dovetails with the City’s commitment to nurturing the creative industries a number of which are already resident in the area designated as The Fringe.
The Granary
Photos: Supplied
N
ow it looks like the Granary’s bad days are over. The Cape Town Heritage Trust (CTHT) is currently restoring the building to its former glory and has secured the Bandwidth Barn as anchor tenant. Bandwidth Barn is scheduled to open for business on 1 September this year. The building has a proud pedigree. It was built in 1814 according to a collaborative design by architect and military engineer Louis Michel Thibault, architect Herman Shutte and sculptor Anton Anreith. The trio worked together on many projects, including the Slave Lodge at the top of Adderley Steett and the Drostdys in GraaffRienet and Tulbagh. The Granary was one of the last Thibault buildings, completed just a year before he died of pneumonia. Thibault Square on the Foreshore remains a tribute to his substantial contribution to the city.
Robinson is delighted with the Bandwidth Barn’s innovative plans for its new premises. Established in 2000, Bandwidth is a business incubator and subsidiary of the Cape IT Initiative (CiTi) - the cluster development agency responsible for developing the IT industry in the Cape. It runs mentorship and training programmes and is active in the start-up and development phases of a range of businesses. A variety of factors are taken into consideration when determining pricing, explains Bandwidth general manager, Chris Vermeulen. A fully serviced chunk of office space (include secretarial, phones, cleaning, and security) can cost more than R6000 a month: a figure which is out of reach of many startup companies. Bandwidth provides reasonably priced and accessible office space with entry level packages for “virtual space” at about R650 a month. Bandwidth answers the phone in the client’s name, receives mail and provides meeting rooms. To encourage clients to cycle, walk to work and make use of pub-
lic transport, the new premises will include showers and a gym.
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CityViews
W
I LIVE IN THE CITY”
Olivia Hedley, 20, a photography student and aspiring artist, tells City Views about living in the Central City.
hen Olivia Hedley was offered the opportunity to take up a room in an apartment in the Central City, she did not hesitate. “I chose to live in the Central City because I love the vibe and the proximity of everything,” she said in an interview with City Views. “My apartment was not very expensive and it is so much easier to get around the City I love.” Olivia, a former Silwood student who is now studying photography at the Ruth Prowse School of Art in Woodstock, also loves doing chalk pastel drawings and whiles away many hours in her room doing just that. “I know artists are only famous when they die, but I love what I do,” she smiles. She shares the apartment with four male friends who are studying in and around the City. “The building we live in is beautiful, with old wooden
floors and a great balcony. There are businesses and offices below us, as well as an English school. I love my room and have made it really pretty. “We have a beautiful view of the end of Table Mountain. At night it is actually surprisingly quiet, but the mornings are noisy with traffic, sirens and sometimes the wind. I need the city sounds to wake me up in the morning. It’s a good way to start the day.” Olivia rates Neighourhood Restaurant and Bar in Long Street as a fa-
vourite spot for “great cocktails and chilli poppers” “I also love Fiction in Long Street and The Assembly for the live bands.” Her restaurant of choice is the Royale Eatery for its milkshakes and sweet potato chips. “I also enjoy going into Greenmarket Square to try out a new place for lunch,” she says. “I love watching the musicians who mull around the
“I love living here and exploring the streets, the shops and the cafés. I enjoy strolling through the Antiques Arcade and up and down Church Street, looking at the ... things for sale.
square and who sing and play their instruments.” For clothes buying, she chooses the trendy shops at the top of Long Street, “like Milk, Misfits and Journey” where she prefers to buy clothing made by South African designers. “I love living here and exploring the streets, the shops and the cafes. I enjoy strolling through the Antiques Arcade and up and down Church Street, looking at the jewellery and other things for sale. I enjoy strolling past the different
April 2011
galleries and seeing the different paintings on display. I enjoy walking in the Company’s Garden.” While she likes to try different spots, she rates Crave as a good place to get a good cup of coffee. Olivia, who has travelled extensively in Thailand, Laos, Israel, the United Kingdom and Israel, is crazy about Cape Town. “I have never appreciated Cape Town as much as I did when I returned from travelling. I realise how lucky I am to live in the most beautiful city in the world.” Olivia’s big dream is to one day join forces with her sister and to open a restaurant in the Central City. I would like to run a funky café, which serves amazing healthy food, using inter-esting and unusual recipes. We would sell artwork and clothes produced by local people. “That is something I would love to do in the next few years,” she says.
CHECK IT OUT
Earth Fair food market a big hit “Absolutely jam packed!” This was how Aoife Gormley of the St George’s Mall Forum described the first few weeks of the new Earth Fair Food Market on Upper St George’s Mall.
T
he open-air fresh food market kicked off on 17 February and, according to Gormley, has hit the ground running. “It’s going really well. Loads of people have attended and we have received a tremendously positive reaction,” Gormley told City Views. The market, run by the organisers of the fantastic Earth Fair Food Market in Main Rd Tokai, offers a range of fresh, and organic food. The choice spans speciality sausages, homemade pies, farm cheeses, fruit and vegetables, biltong, pâtés, organic nuts and grains, breads and a host of other products from small producers and artisans. The concept of the market is to provide a healthy and viable alternative to supermarket shopping for fresh produce. By supporting the
local artisan producers, people can enjoy delicious fresh produce at good prices. Once all the shopping is done, marketgoers can enjoy a delicious crepe, sushi or empanadas and sit back and enjoy the historical ambience that the city has to offer. “People like to come here to have something to eat, but also to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. We will be bringing in more shopping items such as fresh fish and meat as the market grows and develops,” says Jacqui Simpson of Earth Fair Market. The organisers said the popularity of the market has growtn from strength to strength. “We haven’t spent a huge amount on marketing – it has been a mouth to mouth campaign. We have relied on social
The market is “more of a fresh food destination market and not a lifestyle market.” media and referrals which has worked for us,” they said. “We have had hugely positive feedback from City officials and both locals and internationals, so much so that we are already being pressed to extend the market! The long-term plan is to trade at weekends but we want to make sure this one is sustainable first. “The whole idea is to get people
back into the City Centre. We want people to travel to come to this market – and we also want them to stay in town after work, to have a nibble and to do their food shopping, all the while avoiding the traffic. What better way to spend an hour after work?” Gormley added that the market will also be beneficial to the businesses in the area.” Earth
Fair and St Georges Mall Forum collaborated on the project. “We invited the businesses in the Mall to take part in the market so that they too benefit from the Earth Fair brand and increased footfall in the area. So beside the fresh fruit you will also find a Doppio stall selling fresh bread and coffee and Taj showcasing their superb Indian cuisine.”
The Earth Fair Food Market @ St George’s is open every Thursday from 12.30 until 18.30. Contact Jacqui for more information on Earth Fair E: jacqui@earthfairmarket.co.za Contact Aoife for more information on St Georges Mall E: aoife@eurocape.co.za
CityViews 9
April 2011
RETAILERS BUOYANT after bumper festive season
Gene Lohrentz of Geocentric Information Services. “So we decided to ask retailers why they had experienced an increase or decline in revenue. Although this was an open question to the retailers many provided answers of a similar nature.” Most retailers attributed their increase in sales to more customers and higher sales. This is followed in frequency by retailers that experienced more tourists and/or a continuance of the positive influences
Town and Singapore are both “gateway cities”, with Cape Town playing the role of gateway city into the African continent and Singapore playing that role in Asia. He said Cape Town and Singapore have much in common and much to learn from each other. Reinforcing Cape Town’s vital role for the whole of Africa, afro optimist Christo Wiese said many people forget that Africa is a continent with a land mass bigger than Europe, the US, China and India put together. He said Africa’s collective GDP in 2008 was $1,6 trillion, while, in the same year, the combined consumer spending amounted to $860 billion. The number of new mobile phone subscribers who have signed up in Africa since 2000 is a whopping 316 million, he said, to further
illustrate the vast economic and growth potential of the continent. With Africa’s collective GDP predicted to be $2,6trillion by 2020, Wiese concluded, people and countries which recognise the continent’s potential will, undoubtedly, reap benefits. A highlight of the breakfast was a presentation by Elim Chew, the founder of the 77th Street retail group, who spoke about her rise as head of one of the most successful fashion chains in Singapore. Her advice to young entrepreneurs: “Just go out and do it. Experience is key in what you do. Go out and get experience before you start your own business.” All in all, a highly constructive exchange of expertise between Cape Town and Singapore.
19%
34%
23% 24%
More Capetonians More South African tourists No Not sure
Business expectations for the rest of 2011 120
109
100 80 60 40
52 33
20
1
0
Expected same level of business
“The survey is based on the opinions of the retailers rather than empirical research. ”
Retailers experiencing more support from local (Capetonians) and South Africa tourists
Not sure
The primary aim of the survey, carried out by Geocentric Information Systems, was to establish the retailers’ opinions on how their businesses performed during the 2010/11 festive season in the light of the mid-year World Cup, the climate challenges that restricted international travel during the December 2010 period and in the wake of an economic recession. The survey is based on the opinions of the retailers rather than empirical research. The six survey questions included one which was designed to establish whether the Central City retailers had noticed more South African tourists and holidaymakers in their stores. In the light of the economic environment, retailers were also asked what their business outlook for 2011 is. As a last follow-up to the World Cup, retailers were also asked for their opinion on new or improved infrastructure created in the Central City. A total of 874 retailers are listed on the CCID’s database. A total
of the World Cup. A similar number of businesses attributed the increased revenue to better marketing, advertising and promotions. Those who experienced a decrease had similar reasons: the economic climate, fewer customers and tourists and no business after the World Cup were the top four reasons for the decline. Interestingly, 58% of the retailers indicated that they experienced more local support for their businesses while a further 19% were not sure. “During the World Cup, many people returned to the Central City and were amazed at what had been achieved,” Evangelinos commented. “The results of this survey show that these people are still choosing to come into town for their shopping.” This perception of the Central City is echoed by the retailers. The legacy projects of the World Cup, specifically public space, roads and pedestrian walkways and sidewalks all received almost unanimous approval from City traders. The future looks bright as well, with 109 of the 198 retailers declaring that they expected business to improve for the rest of 2011. A further 52 expected the same level of business as they had experienced during 2010. Only 33 were more pessimistic, expecting a below average year, and one respondent was not sure what to expect. “There is great value in these surveys, especially in the year-on-year comparisons that we are now able to carry out,” Evangelinos said. “I am confident that our Central City retailers will continue to see improvements in sales, especially as Cape Town establishes itself as an events destination, bringing more and more people to experience our unique retail mix.”
Expected business to improve
T
he results of the latest Retail Opinion Survey commissioned by the Central City Improvement District (CCID) were a clear indication that the work so many of us are doing to make Central Cape Town a better place to live, work and play is paying dividends,” said Tasso Evangelinos, COO of the CCID.
of 25% of these, in 19 categories were chosen to be visited by field workers carrying out the survey. These 224 retailers were reduced to 198 due to some having moved out of the Central City or being unable to compare results from the previous festive season. Many retailers had expressed a concern that the artificial ‘high season’ of the 2010 Fifa World Cup ™ would result in poor returns during the 2010 festive season. The survey clearly indicated that the opposite occurred: Of the 198, 55 (28%) retailers indicated that they had better business results while 76 (34%) indicated no change. Seventy six (76) retailers representing thirty eight percent (38%) of the respondents indicated that business was worse compared to the previous festive season. The retailers that experienced an increase in sales reported that profits were up by between 10 and 30%. Those who fared less well also reported an approximate 30% decrease over the same period. “We found these results intriguing,” said
Below average year expected
Don’t be surprised if you are met with smiling faces in the retail establishments in Central Cape Town. Reports of shop owners whistling as they work are not exaggerated: the mood in the City is upbeat and positive.
SPOTLIGHT
Photos: Supp
lied
Singapore comes to Cape Town
ct’d the Conne Guests at eakfast br n w To Cape
“When you bring two gateway regions together, it makes so much sense.” This was the consensus among key business players from Cape Town and Singapore at a packed International Business Networking Breakfast organised by Connect’d Cape Town on 18 March. The breakfast was held as part of the Spotlight Singapore event which ran from 16 – 19 March. Spotlight Singapore is an international trade programme that creates business opportunities between Africa, South East Asia and the Far East. The breakfast, held at the Mount Nelson Hotel, brought key business representatives from Singapore and South Africa together. Guy Lundy, CEO of Accelerate Cape Town, reminded delegates that Cape
10
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CityViews
April 2011
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Grill your own meat at new
GALBI RESTAURANT Photos: Sue Sega
T newald, the partners at Louis Smit and Coenraad Groe urant in Long Street the helm of the new Galbi resta
There’s always something new cropping up in Cape Town! This time it’s a new restaurant in Long Street based on a novel concept from Asia. Fancy the idea of braaing at your own table in a restaurant? Well, if you do, then make your way to Galbi, at 210 Long Street.
he restaurant was opened last month by friends Louis Smit and Coenraad Groenewald. “The concept of the Galbi restaurant comes from Korea and refers to a range of grilled dishes in Korean cuisine, made with marinated beef or pork ribs in a sauce,” Smit said in an interview with City Views. “In Korean, galbi literally means “rib”. Smit explained that the galbi style of eating is a “social and interactive” way of dining, where the customers grill their own meat or tofu at a grill that is built into the middle of the table. “We are doing a wide range of food, from beef to venison to lamb to chicken and even tofu. “Our menu will also be adapted with the seasons as we only use fresh, locally-sourced products There is no lack in options and we cater to all tastes and needs,” he said. Smit said a copper extractor fan system runs through the entire shop, ensuring that there is no smoke around the restaurant. “The restaurant came about while Coenraad, my business partner, was living in South Korea.
He saw and experienced the concept and loved it from the start. He phoned me and, a few weeks later, I was on the plane over there to check out the concept. I also just loved it.” Smit said he has been working in the food industry for many years, starting out as a barman in Plettenberg Bay before becoming a bar manager and, later, manager of a restaurant in Bloemfontein. “Coenraad went the path of Hotel Management, which he studied and completed in Bloemfontein. He worked in several luxury hotels and also spent some time working on cruise ships, picking up a lot of experience. “Coenraad is our chef in the kitchen, and with a wealth of experience, has created one of the most unique and truly awesome menus in Cape Town,” Smit continued. Both Smit and Groenewald are from Bloemfontein. “We have been family friends for as long as I can remember and also attended school together. We have done a fair amount of travelling which I feel helps us in always staying ahead of the trends. This
is the first restaurant of its kind in South Africa and we would like to stay original and fresh.” Smit continued: “When we started with the idea for the restaurant a year ago we thought that Cape Town would be the ideal venue for us. Cape Town is a city that likes and embraces new ideas. It is South Africa’s only truly metropolitan city and we feel that is the crowd that we are aiming at. The reason we went for Long Street is because it is a vibrant place with an endless amount of soul and charm. We wanted to be in the middle of the action and there is no better place for that than Long Street.” The pair, who also live in the Central City, are thriving on the night life – and hope that people who are out to enjoy an evening of live music or comedy will start their evening off with a meal at Galbi to “get into the spirit.”
Galbi will be open from 18:00 till late every day except Mondays. The restaurant will also be open for lunch from 12:00 till 16:00 on those days. T: 021 424 3030.
Mount Nelson Hotel enjoys a Renaissance And the new Planet is thriving
“Set in beautiful gardens on the lower slopes of Table Mountain, the hotel keeps on attracting some of the world’s most famous people, from politicians to royalty, to actors and models” “I wanted to change the demographics of the restaurant and to start drawing a slightly younger crowd. We also wanted to move away from the perception that when you eat in a hotel, the food is heavy …” According to Liebenberg, the restaurant is going “fantastically”. “It has a modern, minimalist – but slightly eccentric – feel,” he said. Since welcoming a new managing director, Sandro Fabris, refurbishing 32 rooms and launching Planet Restaurant in December, as well as appointing a new manager at the Librisa Spa, the hotel is turning heads in the international travel industry. Set in beautiful gardens on the lower slopes of Table Mountain, the hotel keeps on attracting some of the world’s most famous people, from politicians to royalty,
to actors and models. These include Morgan Freeman, Charlize Theron, Bono, Paris Hilton and Tiger Woods, to name just a few. With R6,3 million recently invested in the Planet Restaurant and over R20 million on twenty-four new bathrooms and thirty-two refurbished rooms - the OrientExpress mother ship is clearly supporting the initiative to bring the Mount Nelson Hotel stylishly into the twentyfirst century. Sandro arrived in Cape Town after fifteen years in Portugal and Madeira, managing Orient-Express’s Quinta do Lago, Lapa Palace and Reid’s Palace hotels. Expanding on the concept of the successful Planet Bar, Planet Restaurant’s elegant classical architecture and magnificent star-spangled space belies the restaurant’s relaxed ambience which invites you to linger over just one small dish or a seven-course tasting menu from Liebenberg’s kitchen. Prepared in an authentic way to enjoy the true flavour of the ingredients, the menus emphasis is on local foods which are brought in fresh every day. Dishes include rooibos cured ostrich, crayfish ceviche with red crab remoulade, roasted lamb loin with braised lamb shank; springbok pie or a dessert degustation menu. Rumour has it that Liebenberg’s tomato variation dishes are legendary and that his daily soufflé and indulgent degustation menus for vegans are unforgettable. And then there’s the Librisa Spa, where recently appointed manager, Anja Liebenberg promises an experience which, in her words “is as pure, fresh and clean as the Cape breeze”. Librisa uses two completely organic and natural skin care products – the local Africology range and the Australian Sodashi range. “Both believe that our environment already exposes us to too many chemicals that stress our bodies and our minds, and therefore their products are hundred per cent chemical free,” says Liebenberg.
The sparkling ceiling inside Planet
Photos: Supplied
I
t might be considered a grand old lady, but you’d be pleasantly surprised at the buzz which one of Cape Town’s most famous luxury hotels, the Mount Nelson Hotel is causing among young people who have discovered the hotel’s new Planet Restaurant. The Planet, run by chef Rudi Liebenberg, is just one of the new innovations which have been part of a general “Renaissance” at the hotel. “The old Cape Colony restaurant had an old feel about it. Now, in the new space of Planet, you could be in New York or any big city restaurant in the world,” Liebenberg told City Views.
Inside Planet restaurant
April 2011
on the
CityViews
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11
Ceviche Peruano
RESTAURANT
600 grams white fish fillet 18 limes 4 red chilies Salt 1/2 teaspoon chopped parsley 1/2 teaspoon chopped coriander 1 medium size onion, chopped finely 300 grams sweet potato
Great Chefs
of the Central City, Cape Town
1. Cut the fish into small cubes. Add salt to taste. Let it sit for 5 minutes. 2. Add the lime juice and the chopped chilies to the fish. Add the finely chopped coriander and parsley, as well as the onion. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and serve with the sweet potato. Decorate with lettuce.
A series featuring chefs who are doing great things in the Central City. Arturo Melendez
Causa Limeña
to beef to chicken and many types of grains. Examples include Peru’s flagship dish, z de Arturo Melen Ceviche (cubes of fish marinated in lime juice with chillies), Aji De rturo Melendez is the Gallina (shredded chef at Keenwä, chicken on a spicy cream sauce, Africa’s first Peruvian served with rice and boiled restaurant at 50 potato), Cause Limeña (mashed Waterkant Street. potato with lime juice and chillies, Keenwä was established by layered with chicken, mayonnaise Peruvian model, German de la and avocado,) the famous Tiradito Melena. Keenwä is the phonetic (thinly sliced fish with lime juice spelling of the grain quinoa, a and chillies, but spicier than grain you can expect to find quite Ceviche), Lomo Saltado (strips of a lot of on the menu. beef fillet sauteed with onions, Chef Arturo Melendez hails tomato and french fries in a soy from Trujillo, also in Peru. sauce. I could go on forever.
Photos: Supplie
A
What’s on the menu at Keenwa? HV You will find dishes from fish CV
What brought you to Cape Town? HV German de la Melena, who CV
started Keenwä, got hold of me in Peru when he was looking for a chef. To cut a long story short, I decided to come and be the chef at Keenwä. Previously, I ran a cooking school, called Blue Ribbon, in Peru as well as worked as a chef in a range of restaurants. Who comes here? People who are interested in finding out what Peruvian food is like. People who like interesting, home-styled cooking, done with passion. People who appreciate good food and who are good critics. The opinions of my customers are very important to me and I take them seriously. CV
HV
CV What are your favourite ingredients? HV Quinoa is one of them – which explains the name of
500 grams potato 6 limes 4 tablespoons yellow pepper blended 1 teaspoon red chilli paste Salt and pepper to taste
our restaurant. Beef is another favourite. The beef in Cape Town is amazing. Other favourites are gooseberries and good spices.
Filling
CV What trends do you foresee in food in the next couple of years? HV People will return to their roots and to home-styled, healthy food. There’s also a big move towards vegetarian foods. There is increasing concern about health and natural food. Fusion is a trend, but, in my view, fusion food loses the reality of cooking. CV What is your philosophy on food? HV My top priority is quality. I cook to satisfy my customers and to make them happy. And, of course, cooking without love is not real cooking.
250 grams chicken breast 100 grams mayonnaise 1 Avocado Mash 1. Boil potato. Peel and mash. Do not make it too mushy. 2. Once mashed add lime juice, yellow pepper paste and chillies. Add salt and pepper to taste. Filling 3. Boil the chicken breast. Shred it and mix with mayonnaise. Place a tall ring on a plate. Put the mash at the bottom and then add the chicken and the sliced avo then cover with the rest of the potato mash. Repeat 5 more times. Decorate with an olive and some ground boiled egg.
Inn On The Square to undergo a major R30 million refurbishment The Inn On The Square, located in the heart of Cape Town’s historic Greenmarket Square, will undergo a much-needed make-over this year, resulting in a significant upgrade. The R30 million refurbishment of the hotel’s rooms and facilities will begin on 1 May and continue until 31 August, in time for the 2011/2012 summer season. “The Inn On The Square is a marvellous property. However it does require a make-over, something which we believe the impending refurbishment will provide,” said Three Cities Group CEO Mike Lambert. While the hotel undergoes its refurbishment, guests with current bookings will be moved to the nearby Hotel On St Georges, which Three Cities also acquired in 2010. Once the refurbishments have been completed, the hotel will feature a selection of 165 chic new rooms, all equipped with air-conditioning, selected DSTV channels and direct dialling from each room. Project Manager Donovan Brown (Coffee Projects) in association with Blacksmith Interior Inspirations will be responsible for the new look and feel of the new rooms, incorporating a sophisticated contemporary de-
sign, suited for the modern traveller. The new decor will feature crisp white-washed walls, modern artwork and state-of-the-art LCD flat screens decoratively enchased in dark wooden recessed tvpannels, while the bathrooms have been adorned with mosaic pebble tiles. Apart from offering guests the option of enjoying the rooftop swimming pool, sauna and a fully-equipped gym with breathtaking views of the city, the hotel’s newly-launched restaurant, “Dish”, offers guests a world-class dining experience, equipped with an open plan kitchen. Guests will be able to dine inside or on the sun-lit terrace over-looking the cobbled square. For those wanting a more relaxed atmosphere to wind down, the hotel offers a signature whiskey and cigar lounge. The inn, which is known for providing visitors with
“Guests will be able to dine inside or on the sunlit terrace over-looking the cobbled square.”.
the ultimate Mother City experience, is located so as to
enable guests to explore the beauty of Cape Town on foot – with the V&A Waterfront, the Cape Town Convention Centre and bustling Long Street all being within walking distance - ensuring that every detail of this extraordinary city can be appreciated to its fullest. And with the coming upgrade, guests will be able to do so in even more comfort.
Photos: Supplied
d
Potato mash
Inside the Inn On The Sqaure
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CityViews
The Wild Ones
April 2011
by Anne Hirsch
David Niven once said: “Stardom is like making love in a hammock – a happy experience but one of uncertain duration.”
I
totally disagree with him of course. With the right balance and focus, a hammock can lend itself to hours of fun, but that’s a different story. This one is about the Mother City’s comedians. Some are ‘funny-ha ha’ and some are just ‘funny-weird’. I’ll focus on one who is ‘funny-ha ha’ for now. The devilishly talented, Mr Rob van Vuuren. You might know him better as Twakkie from The Most Amazing Show’s comedy duo, Corné and Twakkie or the winner of Strictly Come Dancing, or the presenter on SA’s Got Talent– yes, this man is not just a hat rack! Being one of the city’s most talented performers means that Van Vuuren hasn’t got much time on his hands. Well, he has a watch on his left hand but that’s about it. Nonetheless, we decided to meet up at Jardine on the corner of Bloem and Loop Street. It’s a trendy little deli which serves some of the best baked goods in town. I arrived slightly early at the hot spot deli, thinking that I would look ready and prepared when Rob joined me. I had my pen and paper handy, pretending to jot down notes but secretly I was writing my shopping list: 1 x Milk. 1 x Marmite (I need to buy a lifetime supply, so one tub will do).
My old Nokia, circa 1800, suddenly rang. It was Rob. “Anne, I’m so sorry. I’m running late, have a voiceover, will be there as soon as possible”. I resigned myself to twiddling my thumbs until he arrived – a talent I picked up in my Grade 6 maths class. Finally Rob appeared right in the middle of my 23rd twiddle. Not a great start to our meeting but we got cracking. I decided to kick off with some hard hitting journalism: AH What’s your favourite restaurant in Cape Town? RVV Café Royale in Long Street for the best burgers in town. AH Good thing I brought you to Jardine then? RVV You can make it up to me by grabbing me a cappuccino. Off I scuttled and 10 minutes later I had our cappuccinos. Well, one latte and one cappuccino, the order was a bit complicated for the understaffed deli. AH What comes to mind when I say ‘comic genius’? RVV Rob van Vuuren. AH You’ve recently joined the team at 2Oceansvibe Radio, what are you up to there?
RVV Well, I do a Drive time show on Thursdays from 3 – 6pm with fellow comedian Martin Evans. It’s all very anti-establishment and fun. At the moment we are desperately looking for sponsorships so please tune in and spread the word.
COMEDY
AH You’ve become a father, how’s parenthood treating you? RVV It has irreversibly, irrevocably changed my perspective and priority list. I have learnt to love and how to be loved. It’s the most beautiful lesson. Plus sleeping is overrated. Give me nappies over sleep any day! I dug into my bag to see if I perhaps had a nappy but then remembered I hadn’t worn those since the early 80’s and probably won’t wear one again until my early 80’s. AH What are Corne and Twakkie up to these days? RVV At the moment, they’re preparing for the Grahamstown festival and also just making a mess of things. At least Corne is and Twakkie is cleaning it up. As I got up to throw away my box of juice I noticed that Rob started tweeting on his Blackberry. The man is a Twitter champion; I mean there are literally donkeys walking aroundin cyberspace without hind legs! We continued.
Rob van Vuuren
AH Any up and coming shows?
I’m currently working on my one man show Rob van Vuuren Live. I’ll be taking it to George and then hopefully to a theatre near you. RVV
AH George? RVV We both sat in silence for a few moments: him perhaps pondering why he chose to take his show
to George and me wondering why George even exists. The sudden silence marked the end of our interview. After all, Rob had to be in a million places and be funny – he truly is a comical genius! And on a more personal note I wanted to continue my thumb twiddling – I have a record of 192 to break.
FOCUS ON
My Cape Town Central City: Hannerie Visser CV What is one of the highlights, for you, of working in the City? HV Walking through the Company’s Garden.
How’s Church doing? HV It’s doing very well and exceeding all our expectations – we’re having so much fun. CV
Hannerie Visser
Plans for Church in the months ahead? HV We’re including a food section, starting with great foodie finds from Argentina, such as chilli sauce and dulce de leche and amazing koeksisters from the man who makes the best … as well as a range of wonderful things to eat. CV
Hannerie Visser is the co-owner, with Peet Pienaar, of design studio The President, which has offices in Cape Town and Buenos Aires. The President publishes, amongst other titles, Bruce Lee and Afro magazines, hosts the Toffie Pop Culture Festival and also owns Church gift shop in Spin street.
CV What are some of the funkiest objects in the shop for gifts? HV Commes des Garçons perfumes and antique animalshaped ceramic wine decanters from Buenos Aires.
day always starts with a coffee from Bread Milk & Honey! CV What song best sums up Cape Town for you? HV Walking on a Dream by Empire of the Sun and Thanks India from Bateleur, a fantastic new Cape Town band.
Your favourite restaurant? CV
HV
Dias Tavern
CV What are your favourite design features of Cape Town? HV The rose garden in the Company’s Garden and I love the new Thai massage place En Masse in Hope street – we sell their vouchers in Church.
Your favourite night spot? HV My house or the balcony for braais at our office
CV Which areas of design in the city could be improved upon? HV Fewer shopping malls.
CV What are your shopping vices? HV Anything you can find in a bookshop!
CV What are your favourite cities abroad and what have you learnt from them? HV Buenos Aires – keep it simple and real.
CV Who is your favourite clothes designer in Cape Town? HV Richard de Jager
What’s missing for you in Cape Town? HV Small shops specialising in old-fashioned crafts. CV
CV Describe a typical day in your life in the City. HV It’s never the same but my
CV Where do you go, in the city, for a decent cup of coffee? HV Bread, Milk and Honey or Deluxe.
CV
CV Where do you prefer to shop in Cape Town? HV Anywhere that’s not in a mall.
CV What’s the best kept secret of Cape Town? HV Sunday lunch at the restaurant in the Company’s Garden.
CV What are you reading at the moment? HV Gentlewoman magazine’s second issue CV What building would you happily demolish in Cape Town? HV Wembley Square
If you could pass any law in the City, what would you do? HV No more cars. Everyone should walk everywhere. CV
CV What is the trait you like most about Capetonians? HV Their diversity. CV What is the trait you dislike most about Capetonians? HV Cape Town cool. CV If you could choose to live anywhere else in the world where would it be? HV Buenos Aires.