PROFILES CAPE TOWN’S TAJ HOTEL


CAPE TOWN’S TAJ HOTEL


HISTORY TAKES CENTRE STAGE BY: NICK DALL


The Taj Cape Town only opened in 2010, but the buildings that comprise its lower floors are integral to South African history. Rather than gloss over the buildings’ previous lives, the owners have celebrated them – to dramatic effect. The Taj is housed in two historic buildings — the first South African Reserve Bank building and the Temple Chambers (original offices of the country’s Supreme Court advocates). A 12-storey modern addition known as The Tower straddles these two venerable supports. Renowned Cape Town architects DHK were charged with the multi-million-dollar restoration job. During


the


renovation of the historic buildings’ facades they strove to keep modern external interventions to a minimum, while internally “every effort was made to remain faithful to the historic fabric, maintaining and restoring as many of the important historic rooms as possible,” they said.


And they have achieved this goal with aplomb.


The hotel’s history is evident from the moment you walk in the original front door of the South African Reserve Bank, complete with ornate brass surrounds and plaque. The hotel lobby is in what used to be the bank’s main hall (there is even a tiny balcony where musicians once entertained queuing customers), and the reception desk has replaced the bank tellers. Although the flooring had to be redone, marble in keeping with the original cream and brown Portuguese Styros marble columns was used. Original teak panelling adorns the walls of the hotel’s signature restaurant and cigar lounge. Every aspect of the heritage section of the hotel is a homage to the past. Old photographs of Cape Town hang in the public areas. The hotel’s quarterly newsletter The Wale Street Journal (a reference to the hotel’s street address) is


101


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