Gardner Property Solutions is working with Lurra Capital as their local development partner to help revive the heart of Cape Town. The existing Old Mutual building is a testament to a bygone era. Insular, uninviting, and dismissive of its surroundings, this concrete landmark remains true to its ideological heritage with an almost stoic resilience.

The public domain is kept at arm’s length, interaction with its surroundings is slim, and the urban environment within which it is positioned knows not of what life exists in its presence. A transformation is required, an urban revival.

This is the aim of The Mutual. Revival through transformation: the transformation of the facades, of the spaces within, of the personable and visible experience. The existing solid concrete facade walls are transformed into terraced glass facades and inviting shopfronts that enable public accessibility and visibility. Pedestrians will be able to see the life inside, enticing them, and welcoming them with open arms. The insular spaces at street levels, above and below, are transformed into open, energetic, functional retail spaces that allow public interaction within and around the building. People en route to and from the train station will have the opportunity to do their shopping or have a quick bite to eat, before heading home after a long day of work. The scale and carefully considered design of the building itself will transform the decaying icon into an iconic landmark, drawing interest, drawing visitors, and bringing life to (a desperate delete?) hull of the city.

By reconsidering the building’s place in the city, the proposal for The Mutual seeks to underline the potency of urban-architectural renewal through public interaction, accessibility, visibility, and experience; to serve and service the environment within in which it so strongly announces itself; to enable the lifestyles of the many people who pass by daily. Life can be brought back not only to the building itself but also to its surroundings – an urban landmark standing testament to the catalytic nature of great architectural design.

Link to Conceptual Video: click here
The Mutual – Proposal Submission: click here