Construction World July 2017

PROPERTY

Breathing new life into Windhoek CBD Upmarket development in Windhoek’s central business district (CBD) is on the rise and has boosted the revival of this inner-city area. Plans to transform the city into a trendy leisure destination after dark have seen an increase in the numbers of cafes, festivals and night markets, to draw professionals who work within the CBD to spend more time in the city after work hours. There’s also a growing trend of CBD living.

Mayor Muesee Kazapua has noted that despite numerous challenges, Windhoek has seen significant developments over the past few years, including the construction of FNB’s head office and the Hilton Hotel. Addressing a business forum in September last year, he said, “These mixed developments in our central business district area are clear testimony that our business community is positively responding to the City’s call to revitalise the CBD area.” Key developments in the area are the mixed-use 77 on Independence Avenue and the multimillion-dollar phased refurbishment of Gustav Voigts shopping centre. 77 on Independence, which offers a combination of retail, residential and office space, links Independence Avenue to the Old Breweries Craft Market, a precinct that already boasts some high-quality retailers, businesses and service providers, a gym and an art gallery. The three-level Gustav Voigts complex, built in the 1970s and located beneath the four-star Avani Hotel and Casino, was the country’s very first mall. It’s home to established brands such as Mr Price,

Totalsports, Queenspark, Donna Claire and Pep, as well as a Checkers supermarket and local brands like Wecke & Voigts, Nakara and Safariland. Carel Fourie, CEO of Oryx Properties, the owner of the centre, says, “We’ve undertaken this refurbishment partly as a result of the growing demand for upscale inner-city shopping, driven by the professionals in the surrounding offices, banks and government buildings.” 4 th generation Voigts family member and Wecke & Voigts store manager and buyer Adriane Jandrell confirms that there’s been an increase in the number of professionals frequenting the department store, which opened its doors 125 years ago and is the oldest in the country. Noting that the store’s inventory caters for both tourists and locals, Jandrell says, “Because of the rich history and reputation our store holds in Windhoek, we have experienced visits from clients from around the world.”

The hotel’s all-day lunch buffet is very popular, while local artists regularly put on entertainment in the Oasis Bar. “We recently completed a revamp of the casino, and now offer a bigger and modern salon priv é ,” Putter adds. Ronald Uwukhaeb, marketing manager of the Hilton Windhoek, notes, “In 2011, Hilton Windhoek became Namibia’s first five-star accommodation establishment, and since then Windhoek has certainly become a hub for retailers and professionals. There are many plans for the revival of the CBD which are greatly supported by locals and retailers alike.” The new 180-room Hilton Garden Inn is sited next to the existing Hilton Windhoek. “Council stands ready to avail land for developments that will make positive impacts in the livelihoods of our people, particularly in the western suburbs of the city,” mayor Kazapua said. The City has also committed to upgrades to improve traffic flow and improved park maintenance. 

The Avani Hotel and Casino has similarly seen an increase in patrons over the last year, according to general manager Rudie Putter, who points out that the convenience of the location allows for a healthy mix of tourists, corporate and conference guests. Giving SA graduates international head start

These countries presently include Canada, China, Korea, Mexico, USA and a further 35 countries represented by the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) which sits alongside SACAP as one of the seven full signatories. Earlier this month, SACAP became one of seven full signatories current to the CA, during the CA’s 6 th General Meeting in Sri Lanka. The CA facilitates the portability of educational credentials amongst participating member countries by recognizing the similarity of professional architecture degrees between accreditation agencies. SACAP was the only applicant to achieve new full signatory status to the Accord at its recent meeting. This followed a thorough The South African Council for the Architectural Pro- fession (SACAP) has just given all those on its reg- ister, as well as all architectural students from local Architectural Learning Sites (which it validates), a head start should they wish to register to under- take architectural work in countries represented by the Canberra Accord (CA) signatories.

inspection visit by a CA board to SACAP which established that SACAP’s validation requirements and processes with regard to Architectural Learning Sites, as well its organisational systems, records, information systems and registration processes meet the highest international standards. SACAP has a long standing relationship with the CAA, whose members include those of the South African Development Community (SADC). Architectural practitioners from eastern and southern Africa registered with accrediting bodies that are governed by the CAA can therefore also still apply to SACAP for registration in South Africa. Following to the positive outcome in Sri Lanka, SACAP joined the CAA visiting validation panel at Namibia University of Science and Technology. SACAP falls under the purview of the Department of Public Works and is mandated by an Act of Parliament, The Architectural Profession Act, 2000 (Act No.44 of 2000) to, amongst other things, fulfil the function of controlling the standards of architectural education at tertiary institutions for the purposes of professional registration. It does so through visiting validation boards. Marella O’Reilly, SACAP’s Registrar/CEO explains, “Straight ‘Piggybacking’ of qualifications is not allowed. CA signatories

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2017

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