Construction World July 2017

CONSTRUCTION WORLD

JULY

2017

The hotel’s all-day lunch buffet is very

popular, while local artists regularly put on

entertainment in the Oasis Bar. “We recently

completed a revamp of the casino, and

now offer a bigger and modern salon priv

,”

Putter adds.

Ronald Uwukhaeb, marketing manager of

the Hilton Windhoek, notes, “In 2011, Hilton

Windhoek became Namibia’s first five-star

accommodation establishment, and since

then Windhoek has certainly become a hub

for retailers and professionals. There are

many plans for the revival of the CBD which

are greatly supported by locals and retailers

alike.” The new 180-room Hilton Garden Inn

is sited next to the existing Hilton Windhoek.

“Council stands ready to avail land

for developments that will make positive

impacts in the livelihoods of our people,

particularly in the western suburbs of the

city,” mayor Kazapua said. The City has also

committed to upgrades to improve traffic

flow and improved park maintenance.



PROPERTY

Mayor Muesee Kazapua has noted that

despite numerous challenges, Windhoek

has seen significant developments

over the past few years, including the

construction of FNB’s head office and

the Hilton Hotel. Addressing a business

forum in September last year, he said,

“These mixed developments in our central

business district area are clear testimony

that our business community is positively

responding to the City’s call to revitalise the

CBD area.”

Key developments in the area are the

mixed-use 77 on Independence Avenue and

the multimillion-dollar phased refurbishment

of Gustav Voigts shopping centre.

77 on Independence, which offers a

combination of retail, residential and office

space, links Independence Avenue to the

Old Breweries Craft Market, a precinct that

already boasts some high-quality retailers,

businesses and service providers, a gym

and an art gallery.

The three-level Gustav Voigts complex,

built in the 1970s and located beneath

the four-star Avani Hotel and Casino, was

the country’s very first mall. It’s home

to established brands such as Mr Price,

These countries presently include Canada, China, Korea, Mexico,

USA and a further 35 countries represented by the Commonwealth

Association of Architects (CAA) which sits alongside SACAP as one

of the seven full signatories.

Earlier this month, SACAP became one of seven full signatories

current to the CA, during the CA’s 6

General Meeting in Sri Lanka.

The CA facilitates the portability of educational credentials amongst

participating member countries by recognizing the similarity of

professional architecture degrees between accreditation agencies.

SACAP was the only applicant to achieve new full signatory

status to the Accord at its recent meeting. This followed a thorough

Breathing new life into Windhoek CBD

Upmarket development in Windhoek’s central business district (CBD) is

on the rise and has boosted the revival of this inner-city area. Plans to

transform the city into a trendy leisure destination after dark have seen

an increase in the numbers of cafes, festivals and night markets, to

draw professionals who work within the CBD to spend more time in the

city after work hours. There’s also a growing trend of CBD living.

Totalsports, Queenspark, Donna Claire and

Pep, as well as a Checkers supermarket and

local brands like Wecke & Voigts, Nakara

and Safariland. Carel Fourie, CEO of Oryx

Properties, the owner of the centre, says,

“We’ve undertaken this refurbishment

partly as a result of the growing demand for

upscale inner-city shopping, driven by the

professionals in the surrounding offices,

banks and government buildings.”

generation Voigts family member and

Wecke & Voigts store manager and buyer

Adriane Jandrell confirms that there’s been

an increase in the number of professionals

frequenting the department store, which

opened its doors 125 years ago and is the

oldest in the country. Noting that the store’s

inventory caters for both tourists and locals,

Jandrell says, “Because of the rich history

and reputation our store holds in Windhoek,

we have experienced visits from clients from

around the world.”

The Avani Hotel and Casino has similarly

seen an increase in patrons over the last

year, according to general manager Rudie

Putter, who points out that the convenience

of the location allows for a healthy mix of

tourists, corporate and conference guests.

Giving SA graduates international head start

The South African Council for the Architectural Pro-

fession (SACAP) has just given all those on its reg-

ister, as well as all architectural students from local

Architectural Learning Sites (which it validates),

a head start should they wish to register to under-

take architectural work in countries represented by

the Canberra Accord (CA) signatories.

inspection visit by a CA board to SACAP which established that

SACAP’s validation requirements and processes with regard to

Architectural Learning Sites, as well its organisational systems,

records, information systems and registration processes meet the

highest international standards.

SACAP has a long standing relationship with the CAA, whose

members include those of the South African Development

Community (SADC). Architectural practitioners from eastern and

southern Africa registered with accrediting bodies that are governed

by the CAA can therefore also still apply to SACAP for registration

in South Africa. Following to the positive outcome in Sri Lanka,

SACAP joined the CAA visiting validation panel at Namibia University

of Science and Technology. SACAP falls under the purview of

the Department of Public Works and is mandated by an Act of

Parliament, The Architectural Profession Act, 2000 (Act No.44 of

2000) to, amongst other things, fulfil the function of controlling the

standards of architectural education at tertiary institutions for the

purposes of professional registration. It does so through visiting

validation boards.

Marella O’Reilly, SACAP’s Registrar/CEO explains, “Straight

‘Piggybacking’ of qualifications is not allowed. CA signatories

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2017