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PRO J EC T # 1 V īB CAPE TOWN
Vīb Cape Town’s façades are crisp and white with contrasting gloss black detailing and dark tinted glazing.
Vīb as in vībrant Known for sculpturally curvaceous buildings, Robert Silke & Partners did not hold back when designing the newest addition to The Best Western Vīb collection – a first for the Mother City and the only Vīb in the Southern Hemisphere. PHOTOGRAPHY DAVE SOUTHWOOD AND LINLEY MEAVERS
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s architects for the iconic Tuynhuys apartments opposite the Cape High Court, as well as the upscale Onyx apartment hotel on Cape Town’s Foreshore, Robert Silke & Partners is known for its sculpturally curvaceous buildings that transcend the ascetic functionalism of the developer norm. Vīb is pronounced “vībe”, as in “vībrant”, and the Best Western brand concept calls for design excellence and smart, svelte new buildings on tight sites in AAA-grade locations around the world. Vīb is targeted at the young, smart, tech-savvy traveller to
whom wi-fi speeds are far more important than the big old motelstyle rooms of yesteryear. The voluptuous and curvaceous architecture of Vīb Cape Town references the upbeat tropical modernism that marries serious European design of the 1920s and 30s, with the flamboyant luxury of the great coastal resort cities of Miami, Rio and Honolulu. Cape Town’s Vīb is one of only four around the world, and this one is instantly recognisable by its gigantic rooftop pool-deck that playfully cantilevers 25m over Main Road Green Point, sporting aquarium-grade portholes in the
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bottom and a giant plexiglass smile on the front. Vīb Cape Town evokes the grand tropical modernism of Sol Kerzner’s original seaside hotels. ART HOTEL
Vīb Cape Town further distinguishes itself as an art hotel, inspired by The Betsy Hotel in Miami. Jaffer Modern is the dedicated, purpose-built modern art gallery located immediately below the rooftop pool, with dramatic vistas over Green Point Common towards the sea, as well as playful porthole views up into the actual pool, akin to a human aquarium – making this the world’s
first art gallery with its own en suite pool-deck. ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTION
Vīb Cape Town smartly packs a king-size bed, a study area, a large-screen TV and a state-of-the-art en suite bathroom into 72 smart and compact 18m2 guestrooms. In addition, there are three 36m2 senior suites, as well as an accessible 27m2 junior suite. Rooms are generally flexible and can be joined together to create family suites. Continued next page
