Old Station Building Renovation
Vredenburg, Western Cape
The original train station building dates back to 1914 and had fallen into disrepair. Through the municipality's Regional Social and Economic Programme (RSEP), Urban Concepts prepared a heritage application to uncover the building’s history and obtain approvals to renovate it. The design retains the historic external form and roof shape, adding timber shading elements over the windows, while internal alterations make the spaces practically useable in a modern setting and small timber details differentiate new interventions from historic fabric.
The building now serves as the offices of Saldanha Bay Tourism and its opening attracted local dignitaries, travel bloggers and community members to celebrate the new life that has been injected into this long-derelict structure. This project is a good example of unlocking the potential of a building many would have deemed unsalvageable.
Typology
Public, community, heritage, architecture
Client
Saldanha Bay Municipality
Location
Vredenburg, Western Cape
Year
2016
Team
Urban Concepts - architecture and heritage
Element Consulting Engineers - structural engineering and project management
Contractor
Masiqhame Trading 1555 CC
Image credits
Drawings, graphics and site photographs by Urban Concepts