PROJECTWATCH
PROPOSED , CURRENT AND FUTURE PROJECTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND ABROAD
PROJECTVIEW
YO RESIDENCES
Situated on the corner of Frederick Road and Pine Avenue in Broadacres , Yo Residences comprises of 27 contemporary duplexes with double garages and 74 apartments with a mix of basement parking , garages and lifts . A clubhouse , swimming pool , children ’ s playground and gym completes the development . Designed by Nico van der Meulen Architects and developed by Domito , the design has a strong focus on light and space , complemented by a minimalist modern interior design . The brief given to the architects was to create a luxurious lifestyle community . Each unit was required to be centered around an open plan living space , promoting interaction between family and friends .
HARBOUR ARCH , CAPE TOWN
There is nothing that more poignantly symbolises the dereliction of Cape Town ’ s foreshore than its unfinished freeway ; a forgotten relic that blights the dynamic landscape of an otherwise world-class CBD . It ’ s an eyesore that has become an unfortunate landmark ; a sobering reminder of what a lack of vision can mean for an urban space .
Fortunately , the construction of the Amdec Group ’ s R15 billion Harbour Arch development at the gateway to the CBD means that this part of the foreshore will no longer be viewed as a wasteland of missed opportunity , says James Wilson , CEO of the Amdec Group . Instead , it will bring to Cape Town a vibrant , 24-hour precinct that offers Capetonians the opportunity to safely live , work and play in an iconic land-mark setting .
It was not that long ago that proposals for another ambitious development , the V & A Waterfront , now Cape Town ’ s most popular tourist destination attracting more than 24 million visitors each year , were vehemently opposed . In fact , those who lobbied for the V & A Waterfront 30 years ago were dismissed as “ idealistic dreamers ”.
Today , they are hailed as visionaries for proposing an urban regeneration project that successfully transformed an under-utilised part of a working harbour into the city ’ s leading tourist , retail and residential destination .
In a similar vein , Wilson believes that Harbour Arch will reimagine another under-utilised foreshore area , and put Cape Town on a par with other iconic cities - London , Sydney , New York , Dubai - where innovative , high-rise developments have pushed the boundaries of design and architecture to become landmarks and attractions in their own right . “ We see how Hudson Yards , a similar large-scale development on Manhattan ’ s West Side , has become New York ’ s newest tourist attraction because of its contemporary design elements . Harbour Arch will do the same for Cape Town , already regarded as one of the best cities in the world to visit .”
Not only will the 5.8ha development inject R15 billion in private investment into the Cape Town CBD , it will also mean a further R100 million in infrastructure upgrades for a rapidly densifying city with projected population growth set to reach 5 million by 2050 .
The development will also set a benchmark for future expansion of the Culemborg site , says Wilson . “ Strategically positioned at the convergence of major access roads , with easy entry points to and from the N1 and N2 highways , Harbour Arch will transform this uninspiring precinct into an iconic gateway to the city .” Harbour Arch will finally
12 Project Watch