MY DOMAIN , SALT RIVER
The Swish Property Group ’ s boutique student housing development in Salt River , developed on behalf of My Domain , was recently completed . The brief was to follow on the previous successful development of bespoke student accommodation for My Domain and refurbish the iconic heritage building that was known as House of Monatic . This previous textile factory was with innovative mindsets ‘ fit for re-purpose ’.
The property is made up of three individual buildings . Two buildings , completed in 1948 , formed part of the original development - namely the iconic House of Monatic Factory Block and the Staff Block towards the rear of the site . The third building , facing Main Road , was built in 1965 ( The 1965 Block ).
Being a good example of Modernist architecture and also the last largerscale garment factory operating in Salt River , necessitated the submission of a heritage impact assessment to Heritage Western Cape . This process shaped the architectural design constraints within which the development team had to operate .
Fire regulations required a 1m fire separation between the units . This was resolved by installing a metal fire break which was painted dark so as to blend in with the fenestration .
The Staff Block was allowed to have an extra lightweight floor added on , but in return one half of the existing top floor was to be retained in its original form , being
one of the staff canteens . This section has been converted to the Master Chef kitchen and is furnished with replicas of the original staff canteen tables .
Finally , a student amenity bridge link was added over three floors to link the Staff Block to the 1965 Block .
On a site that is zoned mixed-use 2 and allows 22,000m 2 of bulk , less than half has been developed as a result of the heritage constraints . The final built form has allowed for the creation of 344 fully fitted student apartments , with 2,000m 2 of communal facilities and 85 parking bays .
The building has been transformed into a modern , state-of-the-art student residence that incorporates world-class amenities for aspiring young professionals .
Students have access to a rooftop recreation area , a swimming pool and braai pods where they can interact and socialise . Other facilities include vibrant lounge areas , an events bar , a canteen & coffee shop , TV lounges & games rooms and a Master Chef style communal kitchen , as well as quiet study areas and a spacious library .
Development Manager : Swish Property Development Quantity Surveyor : BTKM Architect : Jacobs Parker Architects Structural & Civil Engineers : Welby Solomon Consulting Engineers Mechanical Engineer ( HVAC / Lifts / Fire / Wet Services ): Ekcon Engineers Electrical Engineer : RWP Traffic Engineer : Trafficon Land Surveyor & Town Planning : David , Hellig & Abrahamse Heritage Practitioner : Claire Abrahamse Architecture + Urban Design Main Contractor : Isipani Construction
News Watch 5