The 1054 – a pavilion to the street edge

The 1054, strategically named after the property’s ERF number, firmly places itself on Main Road, Walmer, as a pavilion to the street edge. Main Road has been established, as part of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Spatial Development Framework Plan, as a new business precinct within the bay and is expanding rapidly. Although business is growing along this main feeder route, many houses have merely been face-lifted with a false façade that has really watered down the potential for the strip.

DMV Architecture says there were two main drivers behind the buildings design.

Firstly, The 1054 needed to spark conversation about what is being developed, or not being developed, for that matter, along Main Road. The building needed to initiate discussion around what and how the potential of the road should be maximised by creating intrigue. Buildings along this popular feeder route should become destinations along the road, which sadly, the currently renovated houses do not offer.

The 1054, is the first building of its kind along the 2.8km stretch of road and within 12 months of the building’s completion, both property owners and developers have started to consider more exciting additions and alterations, and in some cases, new builds that are adding positive value to the street.

Secondly, as always, budget was extremely tight and GLA needed to be maximised. The site enabled 1 700m² of lettable area over the two floors, and the building costs needed to be around the R6 500/m² mark to offer the short term returns that the developer required.