Gorgeous George Hotel

In the heart of Cape Town’s bustling CBD, the property at 118 St George’s mall is a consolidation of two landmark buildings. A “Cape Edwardian” building, estimated to have been completed in the early 1940s and an Art Deco counterpart which was designed by the architectural firm Walgate & Elsworth, who designed the Table Mountain Cableway stations.

The brief resolved into 32 rooms (ranging from studios to 2-bedroom suites) across 4 floors, with the first floor set aside as a conference/meeting space and the sixth-floor a bar and restaurant that spills onto the roof terrace of the corner building.

The rooms combine elements of the original concrete and steel structure and historic windows with contemporary design that showcases the immense talent of a range of local artists and designers while still keeping elements of classical grandeur. Interior design of hotel rooms and restaurants by Tristan Plessis Studio A.

South African designers are present throughout, with pieces by David Krynauw, Gregor Jenkin, Egg designs, and more, while works by internationally renowned South African artists, such as David Brits and Porky Hefer, abound.

The lower portion of the original Broseley clay tiled roof was refurbished and a steel pergola structure clad with sun-control glass extends the original roofing profile, appearing as solid and almost invisible during the day transforming into a transparent structure at night. A new pool was constructed inside the original corner tower, a unique feature of the hotel, being both a view point and a landmark at the same time.

Design: Urbane Citizen Architects
Photography: courtesy of Urbane Citizen Architects