Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa December / Jan 2016 | Page 53

Jacques launched Blok in September 2014 to focus on
property development and urban innovation projects, to
meet this exact need. Its intention is to not only provide
beautiful and intuitively designed urban apartments for
young adults, “empty nesters” and families, but also to
become the industry leader in the category of urban
living through innovation, integrity and design.
Blok sees it as paramount that a property buyer
should have a close relationship with their developer; to
not only meet once to see a property or plans, and once
again to sign papers. They are intent on this relationship
being a mutually beneficial one in which buyer and
developer experience the excitement of choosing an
urban way of living together - from the minute they
walk through the door for the first time to the minute
the keys to their new home are handed over. The buyer
is buying into Blok’s expertise in Thoughtful Design,
urban living and urban development.
When asked where he sees himself in 10 years,
Jacques lists growing and innovating within the
urban South African residential property space as his
number one priority, and developing his team at Prime
Residential as his second.
During the course of 2015, Jacques has spoken at the
EcoMobility World Conference in Sandton amongst
international speakers; at the GTP (Greater Tygerburg
Partnership) Business Breakfast on how Blok used the
principles of innovation and design thinking to move
beyond selling apartments to to developing urban living
in Cape Town; launched an ongoing partnership with
BMW whereby Blok will be the first private location
in South Africa to install an electric charging station
at their Sea Point exhibition space; and also launched a
series of urban interventions including:
• A reinterpretation of the Sea Point library’s
outdoor public area with the City of Cape Town,
• The (Park)let that Blok is constructing for public
enjoyment outside of the exhibition space on
Regent Road in Sea Point, that will challenge the
high street edge and hopefully encourage more use
of the street,
• Bicycle parking to install along the Sea Point
Promenade to encourage people to get out of their
cars and cycle the city.
“I attribute a large part of the success of Blok to the
fact that we are more than just property developers. We
are innate urbanists, we believe in the improvement and
beautification of the city as well as the development
of community, both inside our blocks and in the
neighbourhoods in which we develop. As passionate
www.reimag.co.za

JACQUES VAN EMBDEN
MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF BLOK

urban citizens, we believe intrinsically in the truth of
the above statement, and how our surroundings have
absolute influence on ourselves. In order to live in a
city we must embrace the city and what that means;
the proximity to our neighbours, the ability to change
modes of transport from car to bicycles and feet instead
of driving to your destination, the increased security
and sense of community due to the denser population,
and the list goes on. Add in the fact that getting to
know your butcher, baker and flat white maker makes
for a more connected and safe community.
Because of this we continually strive to improve
the areas around which we develop, not only the sites
that we own and are converting to urban apartments.
To date we have invested in and are rebuilding a park
in front of our Green Point project, SEVENONT,
and we are working with the city on other initiatives
including RoboBlok (our branded Segway that patrols
the promenade in Sea Point daily to address crime and
grime issues).”
Considering that Blok has already launched seven
developments and have another one already planned
for early 2016, and that sales to date exceed R500m,
this doesn’t seem too hard to believe.

RESOURCES
www.blok.co.za
DEC/JAN 2016 SA Real Estate Investor

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