It's Heritage Month in South Africa, and we are shining the spotlight on The Barracks, one of our most exclusive developments in Cape Town, as well as one of the oldest heritage buildings in the Mother City. 

As South Africans, heritage is of great importance to us. After all, we are the rainbow nation, and every one of us has a heritage that makes us who we are. Celebrating our heritage means recognising the cultural wealth of our nation. 

"Living heritage is the foundation of all communities and an essential source of identity and continuity." 

The owners and developers of The Barracks, Casey and Mike Augoustides, knew that restoring the building to its former glory was not going to be an easy task. The brothers approached Gabriel Fagan Architects, highly respected architects who worked pro bono for the Lutheran Church over many years. They also approached Dr Steve Townsend, a Heritage Specialist, to share their passion and vision about the conservation of this unique site. Regaining heritage significance for this previously neglected building was one of the most important factors the developers, architects and specialists took in consideration, and ultimately, the heritage significance has been highlighted during the restoration and regeneration process.

This development is truly a celebration of heritage. Visual Impact Assessments and Heritage Impact Assessments were taken to guide the conservation approach. Fagan then came up with a brilliant concept to allow the old and new to co-exist successfully, having taken meticulous care to conserve the history of the building. 

The Old Warehouse

The old warehouse was rehabilitated and restored to enhance the authentic historic aspects of the building. When entering The Barracks, the yellowwood beams from the 1700's, natural clay bricks, and the sea sand and shells in the walls are showcased. 

The warehouse is a commercial space which now boasts quality cafes, restaurants, and shops. This space is already operational and guests visiting will experience the heritage The Barracks holds.

The New Structure

The new structure is said to look very futuristic, and that was exactly the point. The modern building looks as if it is floating above the old warehouse, further reinforcing the separation between the old and new, highlighting the juxtaposition of modern society, which is built on a strong foundation of heritage. 

"The result is an exciting experience of an 18th century block from the street, and the modern new component above blends in with the surrounding modern townscape."

The new structure will be a beautifully designed residential space, comprising 65 bespoke units offering studio, 1, and 2 bedrooms and of which only a few are left. The rooftop wellness centre will invite guests to absorb the most exquisite corners of the Mother City, all whilst sitting gently on a 300-year old foundation.

Short-Term Letting at The Barracks

Having now seen the beauty of its heritage, what makes The Barracks even more lucrative as an investment is its location and the fact that it caters for short and long term leasing. 

TPF Hospitality has been appointed as the short-term letting operator at the Barracks. In a brief interview with the Director, Roelof Troskie, we look at the current short-term letting returns and the forecast thereof for the future. 

Troskie holds that the current short-term market has shown exceptional resilience during 2022 with strong support with visitors from the Gulf area and film production companies. Add to this good growth in travelers from the USA and domestic tourism, we have achieved close to 90% of the pre-covid, 2019 numbers.

We asked Troskie what he envisions for 2023...

"We are very positive about the tourism prospects for 2023 as we can see encouraging support from all our traditional source markets and good pre-bookings from international tour operators selling package tours to SA for 2023.

We anticipate average occupancies of 70% plus for the next 6 months, there is exceptional demand for furnished apartments from film production companies in the City area which is reducing the number of apartments available for short term lets.

On-line booking sites like Booking.Com / Airbnb / Expedia / TripAdvisor / Lekkerslaap have shown that luxury serviced apartments are in high demand from all types of travelers."

The Barracks is ideally located to benefit from the expected upturn in tourism. To be managed as Luxury serviced apartments with the option of having breakfast included, The Barracks will appeal to the full range of travelers to Cape Town. By offering a hotel experience with the independence of having a fully equipped apartment, we know demand for The Barracks will be high.

That being said, for this heritage month, we are beyond excited to celebrate not only our own Mother City, but the special, secret spaces she has to offer.

Find out more about investing in The Barracks!

Written by: Hayley Kellerman