The award is given in recognition of innovative solutions in property development projects that embody excellence in all the disciplines involved in their creation.
 
Peter Truter, director at R+N Master Builders, the firm responsible for all the restoration and refurbishment, describes the project as the development of a collection of historic buildings, which were restored and converted into a residential village.
 
Amongst these were the old Majestic Hotel, the New Kings Hotel and ‘Klipkantientjie’, a former pub, dating back to the days of the old Masonic Hotel which stood on the site, which was frequented by fishermen and sailors.
 
“The completed development has maintained the charming integrity of the original old buildings and the village that has been created epitomises the laid-back charm and community spirit of Kalk Bay, and showcases the fact that the old can compliment the new and the contemporary can enhance the historic.”
 
Paul Boehmke, director of Argyle Development Corporation, who identified the potential of the project in September 2003, explains that the property had been on the market for nearly five years before he purchased it and set the ball rolling on his ambitious vision of creating a ‘village within a village’.
 
“The site was derelict, absolutely neglected and denuded, and it was terrible to see these grand old buildings going to ruin!”
 
“It took just over a year to get the project off the ground and in that time we handled all of the planning stages which included appointing the project architects as well as the builders who could carry out my ideas,” says Boehmke.
 
“There really was no question about who to choose as Mike Munnik of Munnik Visser Architects (MVA) had been my sounding board on the project before I even purchased the property.  As old family friends I value the opinion and insight of the Munnik’s greatly and was absolutely confident that they were ideal for the job.”
 
“MVA has worked with R&N Master Builders on several high profile contracts in the past with spectacular results.”
 
“R+N possess a sympathy and understanding of old historic buildings that is unrivalled in my opinion.  They are not contractors, rather master craftsmen who nurture a project and ensure it is sensitively executed to exacting standards,” says Paul Munnik, managing director of Munnik Visser Architects.
 
“R+N came on board as so much more than builders,” says Boehmke. 
 
“Peter Truter moved his office onto the site for over two years and became an integral part of the team involved in creating the village.  It was hugely comforting to have someone with such experience and knowledge dedicated to the job.”
 
Truter explains the challenges the R+N’s team of master craftsmen, some of whom have been with the company for over 30 years, faced in returning the old buildings back to their former grandeur: “As the use of these buildings was changing, we had to change the internal layouts, which involved taking out approximately 90% of the original internal walls of the Majestic. This dramatic surgery was done carefully, stage by stage, under the supervision of the Structural Engineer, Andrew Hakin of LC Consulting. Meticulous care was taken to ensure that the integrity of the old building was not disturbed with the introduction of new internal division walls rising from new foundations right up to roof-tile level, supporting each of the three floors on the way up.”
 
“More thought and attention to detail went into every aspect of each of the buildings than was ever contemplated in the planning stages,” says Truter. 
 
“We tried to save as many of the original features as possible and re-used many of the old doors and windows as well as lots of beautiful period features such as leaded lights. The original floorboards from the New Kings were also reused in a number of the apartments.”
 
“I fell in love with the Majestic and put my heart and soul into the project.  Driving past the completed Majestic Village leaves me, my site management team, all our men who were involved in the work on site and indeed the whole of R+N, with a sense of pride and accomplishment which is very rewarding.”
 
Truter, Boehmke and Munnik concur that winning the SAPOA award for the Majestic Village is a satisfying recognition of the teamwork what went into the project, “It’s reward for the risks the developers took, for the architects’ vision in extracting the potential of the buildings, and recognition for the excellent workmanship of the builders in executing the designs and handling the challenges that arose.”
 
“This award is an acknowledgement and affirmation that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has been a wonderful success as a result of effort and commitment,” concludes Truter.
Publisher: eProp
Source: Catalyst for R+N