The head office of Capitec Bank is one of the jewels in our portfolio. This building is a great example of how innovative commercial office design can drive operational efficiencies and can also be cost effective. Located in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, the building is named iKhaya, meaning ‘home’ in isiXhosa. Capitec is one of the largest and most progressive banks in Africa.
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The brief emerged from Capitec’s strategic business decision to move into custom-designed, owned buildings that would better serve its business requirements. One of the key priorities in the brief was creating a head office that would be true to the brand and facilitate high interaction between business units and the executive team.
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Our response was to create a striking, almost other-worldly building that uses effective exterior and interior design to optimise internal flow, foster inter-departmental interactions, manage corporate expenditure and enhance sustainability. Thethree-storey curvilinear building is defined by its dynamic interiorarchitecture, which embodies the company’s progressive outlook and facilitates agileworking
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Completed in 2020, the three-storey superstructure wraps around itself, into a unique ‘doughnut’ shape. A central triple volume atrium acts as an internal social spine at the heart of the building. Internally, wide open-plan floorplates loop around the atrium’s periphery. This is an intentional design element to better connect the various departments, creating opportunities for chance collaborative encounters and personal interactions.
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Various breakaway areas offer spaces to fuel creativity, spark innovation, enjoy moments of solitude, conduct a private meeting or brainstorm ideas in small groups, with the effect of boosting productivity and enhancing efficiency.

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Wieland Gliech - Photographer