These blocks will be divided by pedestrianised streets lined with small café’s and retail stores. Designed by DHK Architects, Culemborg Quarter will have a modern feel to it, with large glass towers of between 7 and 20 storeys fronting onto tree-lined boulevards and tasteful landscaping.

The precinct will be developed according to the “live, work, play” model that is popular in major cities the world over. Thus, each tower will consist of ground floor retail space, followed by office space above, and residential apartments to round each block off. This will allow employees to potentially live within the precinct, shop, as well as enjoy the wide variety of entertainment options on offer within the greater Cape Town CBD as a whole, including the likes of the V&A Waterfront.

Culemborg Quarter will be set in a very convenient location. Currently occupied by car showrooms, the site is accessed directly off of the N1 inbound highway, and will offer businesses exposure to both of the passing N1 and N2 highways due to the height of most of the towers.

Asked about his thoughts on the development, Mark Gedrych – Cape Town CBD broker at Galetti Commercial and Industrial – said that “Culemborg Quarter has all of the key elements required to completely transform the Culemborg foreshore area into a high-sought after office node. With approximately 200 000 square metres of bulk, the ability to build up to 7 unique free-standing buildings, as well as sea and harbour views and great signage visible from the highways, I am confident that this development will attract some large heavyweight tenants! Getting the right mix of office, retail and residential tenants will be key to its long-term success.”

Buyers and tenants will have the added advantage of being situated close to the city’s new Artscape/Convention Precinct, which is a massive redevelopment due to commence next year that will see the section of the CBD from the Artscape theatre through to the Cape Town International Convention Centre upgraded. A host of public transport options are also located within the near vicinity, including the MyCiTi Civic Centre station, Cape Town Station, the Golden Arrow bus terminus and taxi cabs that are on call.

The City of Cape Town has granted approval for the development, which will commence once a suitable tenant is secured that is large enough to activate construction of the first of the seven buildings.