modern landmarks (2010-present)
portside
2015 represented a year of convergence between progress in the CBD and the studio’s own evolution. The Central City Improvement District’s State of the Central City Report reported just over R1.8bn in development underway in the CBD in that year. Among those projects was dhk’s landmark contribution: Portside, the striking tower at the entrance to the CBD. Designed as one of Africa’s most sustainable buildings, it achieved a 5-Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), and earned the accolade of being the tallest green star rated building in Africa. This project encapsulated the energy of a rapidly evolving world-class city, with progressive architectural design features and high sustainability credentials, within a unique location and landscape.
The building was designed to be an urban marker, responding to its context in the greater CBD as much as its immediate surroundings, through its urban form, massing, height and composition and its relationship with the urban environment. A vibrant mix of cafes and restaurants occupy the ground floor of the building, revitalising street life in the area.
35 lower long and the rubik
The resurgence of the Foreshore precinct was gaining momentum by the time dhk completed the elegant tower at 35 Lower Long Street. A couple of blocks up, at the corner of Loop and Riebeek Streets, stands dhk’s most recently completed tower: The Rubik. The Rubik is situated in the heart of Cape Town’s city centre on the corners of Loop, Riebeek and Sea Streets. It is a 27-storey mixed-use development situated on a tight 821m² site that bridges the city’s financial and heritage districts, offering retail, commercial and residential spaces.
The design of this building is an example of how innovative design approaches can positively respond to rigid site constraints in terms of urban aesthetics, site planning, land uses and internal design configuration. 35 Lower Long and The Rubik were completed in 2022 and 2024 respectively.
longkloof precinct on kloof street
Although slightly outside the Cape Town CBD, the historic Longkloof Precinct in Kloof Street symbolises another significant area where dhk has made a major impact. The redevelopment was completed in early 2024 and is about five minutes away from the Cape Town city centre.
This project is an example of how adaptive reuse principles can be used to reimagine urban spaces. The original site contained a complex of existing historical buildings which have been refurbished, alongside new construction and against the backdrop of a newly designed urban square.
This multifaceted project started life back in 2015. It comprises many phases – including a sensitive architectural adaptation of the historical building at 32 on Kloof completed in 2020. This was the first element of the broader project to be completed and is now home to Workshop 17’s coworking spaces. A central feature is the 154-key hotel by a leading international hotel operator which opened in February 2025. The precinct is integrated into the ground level retail environment facing Park Street, a small but busy street. A retail alley leads to the central square, which is the manifestation of a comprehensive urban design and landscaping strategy. The result is a welcoming, open urban oasis within the precinct.