Uxolo Apartments

Two Five Five Architects

ARCHITECTS
Two Five Five Architects

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
De Villiers & Moore

QUANTITY SURVEYOR
Peregrine QS

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
MISC Engineering

PROJECT DESIGNER
André Krige

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Frame

MANUFACTURERS
Geberit, Hansgrohe, Corobrik, Gerflor, Polyflor, Aluglass, Kink Design

FAÇADE ENGINEERING
Sutherland Engineering

MAIN CONTRACTOR
JW Hugo, Vredenberg Properties

PROJECT MANAGER
Theo Kruger

JOINERY DESIGN
André Krige, Stephan Lategan

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Conrad Janse van Rensburg

WAYFINDING & SIGNAGE
Su-Elna Bester van Blerk

JOINERY INSTALLATION
Stephan Lategan

FIRE CONSULTANT
De Villiers & Moore

PHOTOGRAPHS
Paris Brummer, André Krige, Carel Nicolaas Smit

AREA
1306 m²

YEAR
2021

LOCATION
Cape Town, South Africa

CATEGORY
Apartments, Apartment Interiors, Residential

Uxolo Apartments is the first completed micro-unit residential development located in the Cape Town CBD. The project consists of 35 residential units ranging between 24m² micro-studio units and 40m² loft units, as well as a lobby and retail area on the Ground Floor on a stand of only 195.5m².

The initial development intention for the project was to create an iconic short-stay accommodation destination in Cape Town, with some long-term tenants, in the same way, that Tokyo has the Nagakin Capsule Tower and Rotterdam has the Cube House.

The Covid-19 pandemic has however resulted in a re-evaluation of this approach, focusing on longer-stay tenants.

This resulted in units that were far more complex in design to meet the considerably more extensive requirements of a permanent tenant. The change in focus required some additional planning but resulted in a building that arguably better responds to a need in the South African housing market.

For residents of South African cities, there are currently few ‘curated’ and cost-effective alternatives to the South African norm of urban sprawl and long commutes.

The project located on Vredenberg Lane, an alley joining Long Street and within walking distance of Kloof and Loop streets, is within easy reach of offices, eateries, transport routes, and amenities.

The relatively small size of the units ensures that they are affordable to a large section of the market.

In order to successfully accommodate a long-term tenant in the micro-units special attention was paid to detailing the interior of the units.

A single joinery unit, almost stretching the length of the unit, accommodates all the possible daily needs and activities of a resident.

The joinery installation was designed, manufactured, and installed by Kink Design, a branch of Two Five Five Architects.

The fact that the joinery installation was conceived and managed efficiently in the same office ensured that the language of the project stayed coherent.

The design of the unit simultaneously accommodates a fully kitted kitchen, built in cupboard, slide-out study desk, abundant concealed storage as well as a murphy bed that stows away to reveal a sofa for the lounge.

There are four of these studio units on each of the eight floors, along with a loft unit on every second floor.

To accommodate these units the small site area available had to be used efficiently, with the building built right up to the 0m building lines.

To allow for natural light in the units glass blocks were used, instead of stepping the façade back for windows.

The resultant flat façade was treated just like that, a flat plain on which a tapestry can be laid.

The design takes inspiration from traditional patterns as seen in the work of Esther Mhlangu, as well as contemporary textile design such as rugs by Ninevites.

The glass bricks on the façade were combined. With different face bricks by Corobrik to create a ‘tapestry’ that is low in maintenance and should age well.

The tapestry façade is punctuated by bright pink ‘marshmallow’ balconies on the street façade.