32 on Kloof forms part of the historic Longkloof Precinct in Cape Town. The precinct incorporates six adjoining erven acquired by Growthpoint Properties between 2010 and 2024,with an accumulated site area of 16,500m². The precinct was previouslylandlocked with minimal street frontages and restricted public access tocommercial buildings. It had become fragmented, lacking spatial cohesion andconnectivity. Growthpoint envisioned Longkloof as one of the most importantcreative hubs within the city; an attractive address for innovative businesseswithin a vibrant mixed-use precinct.

 The client brief for thiscatalytic adaptive reuse project was to increase premium rentable space maximises the floorplates and revive the windowless basement. The scheme established 32on Kloof as the attractive front face of the greater precinct, which isconcealed from Kloof Street.

Givenits origins, the building was subject to heritage conditions. designed in 1922by prominent architecture firm Parker & Forsyth for the United TobaccoCompany (South) Limited (UTC), it originally housed the administrationdepartment and was one of several buildings that formed the UTC campus.

Our design response wasconceived to respect the original building’s heritage and intentionallycontrast its existing form with a new contemporary addition. This conceptallows for an honest dialogue between heritage and contemporary elements,introducing a contrasting order and rhythm and forming a hybrid of architecturethat politely enhances the building’s street presence.

An existing hippedred-tiled roof had been added in a renovation during the 1990s. This was removedto allow for a two-storey orthogonal addition above the heritage masonrybuilding. The two distinct levels provide a clear distinction between old andnew. This references but does not replicate the building’s heritage. Theaddition increased the building height and increased the extent of commercialspace. The glazed façade showcases the property’s postcard views of TableMountain and the City Bowl.

A two-storey annexe building had beenconstructed behind the building during the 1990s. In our scheme, this annexewas demolished and the existing courtyard was aligned with the basement level,creating a welcoming new public space.

Acontemporary glass-clad lift and stair core was inserted into the sunkencourtyard, stitched into the footprint of the heritage building. Relocating thevertical circulation from inside to out expanded the required floor spacewithin the main building footprint and created an open-plan layout to accommodatesplit tenancies. This maximised the usability and quality of the rentableoffice area without detracting value from the historic building.

Overall, the redevelopment of 32 on Kloof respectfully enhances the streetscape of Kloof Street. It creates frontage for the Longkloof Precinct behind it, and protects, preserves and celebrates the heritage of the building by marrying the historical context with the more contemporary interventions. Popular co-working brand Workshop 17 now occupies the building, giving emerging creative and tech-focused businesses a world-class building in a spectacular setting.