Cape Town - The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town has announced its redevelopment plans for the existing craft market and wellness centre.
The Blue Shed, an enterprise development platform, and named for the historical shed at the V&A Waterfront, will see a radical six month transformation.
Its exterior will be redesigned exterior and there will be a transformation in the curated craft, design and wellness products that will find a home in the new space.
The Waterfront has committed R50m to the extensive renovation and refurbishment of the Blue Shed.
This will see the incorporation of the existing (historical) adjacent building to create additional retail, wellness and commercial space.
The Waterfront is the lifeblood of many small scale businesses that use the foothold they are given there to develop sustainable businesses.
As these businesses grow, they create additional employment opportunities.
Success stories include Naartjie, which started in the Blue Shed and is now an international brand.
“Enterprise development is enormously important to us, not simply because we want to see small businesses grow, but also because we have a vested interest in their success," said V&A Waterfront CEO David Green.
"The Blue Shed offering is one of the distinguishing factors from traditional malls. We rely on small business to keep visitors coming back by providing the kind of variety, level of craft and inspired design our local and international visitors find so attractive.”
Current tenants will be relocated to a 900m² marquee on the North Wharf during the development period.
During this time, a curator will work with the V&A Waterfront to realise their vision of transforming this into a unique retail hub, which is a platform for entrepreneurs, innovators and creative thinkers, representing the best of craft and design in Cape Town, South Africa and Africa overall.
The new space is set to be unveiled in winter 2014.
The Blue Shed, an enterprise development platform, and named for the historical shed at the V&A Waterfront, will see a radical six month transformation.
Its exterior will be redesigned exterior and there will be a transformation in the curated craft, design and wellness products that will find a home in the new space.
The Waterfront has committed R50m to the extensive renovation and refurbishment of the Blue Shed.
This will see the incorporation of the existing (historical) adjacent building to create additional retail, wellness and commercial space.
The Waterfront is the lifeblood of many small scale businesses that use the foothold they are given there to develop sustainable businesses.
As these businesses grow, they create additional employment opportunities.
Success stories include Naartjie, which started in the Blue Shed and is now an international brand.
“Enterprise development is enormously important to us, not simply because we want to see small businesses grow, but also because we have a vested interest in their success," said V&A Waterfront CEO David Green.
"The Blue Shed offering is one of the distinguishing factors from traditional malls. We rely on small business to keep visitors coming back by providing the kind of variety, level of craft and inspired design our local and international visitors find so attractive.”
Current tenants will be relocated to a 900m² marquee on the North Wharf during the development period.
During this time, a curator will work with the V&A Waterfront to realise their vision of transforming this into a unique retail hub, which is a platform for entrepreneurs, innovators and creative thinkers, representing the best of craft and design in Cape Town, South Africa and Africa overall.
The new space is set to be unveiled in winter 2014.