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The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town will add a new urban park to its offering in October.
Battery Park will be part of the Canal District and is described as a gateway to the V&A Waterfront.
The initial Waterway House development was an investment of R700m, while developing the new Battery Park and garage and preserving the remnants of the old Amsterdam Battery was an investment of R300m.
Furthermore, R25m is being invested in the Canal Plaza and to improve the flow of traffic; R70m is being spent on the Queens Hotel, Amway Building, old Dock Road and landscaping; R10m is being spent on additional pedestrian links in the Canal District.
'New heritage site'
According to David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront, a key objective of the V&A Waterfront has always been to re-establish the connection between the city and the sea. This has been done with the pedestrian path that runs alongside the Canal.
The ruins of the historic Amsterdam Battery have been retained in the park as a new heritage site.
"Our overarching vision, though, was to provide a functional, convenient, comfortable, safe and unrestricted space with recreational activities for all age groups," Green said in a statement.
Each area of the park contains public walking paths and benches.
It will integrate Cape Town’s CBD and the V&A Waterfront through a series of pedestrian routes, including one alongside the canal. Visitors to the park will also be able to engage in a range of outdoor recreation, entertainment and retail activities in various public spaces.
Access to the 12 000m² park will be offered from Dock Road (V&A Waterfront), Fort Road (near the Promenade), Ebenezer Road (starting in Green Point and entering the Waterfront near Dock Road) and Alfred Street (De Waterkant).
A four-story public parking facility is being constructed beneath the park with entrances via Alfred Street or Dock Road. When it is complete, the parking facility will offer 1 206 bays for public, residential and tenant use.
(Supplied)
Amsterdam Battery
The site is of archaeological importance as it still contains the rear ramparts of the historical Amsterdam Battery, one of the oldest structures in Cape Town. It was constructed by the Dutch in 1784. Archaeological digs of the area were undertaken prior to construction of the park, and they uncovered the two circular walls which have been retained.
Apart from a range of water sport activities, the canal also provides a link between the V&A Waterfront and the Cape Town International Convention Centre through water taxis that ferry passengers between both points.
The Piazza part of the park will consist of retail outlets (including food and beverage retailers), pedestrian paths, benches and gardens.
The park is fully accessible to disabled visitors and also offer youth activities and a children’s playground. A pavilion will host entertainment periodically.
The commercial hub of the Canal District is Waterway House, an office block designed according to best practice green design principles.
The south wing of the prime grade office space houses the head office of multinational company British American Tobacco, while the north wing is occupied by Ernst & Young and Stonehage Fleming.
The ground floor of Waterway House is occupied by retail, including showrooms for Ferrari, Porsche and Baultaup.
The old Queens Hotel nearby is currently being refurbished and when complete in the first quarter of 2019 will, together with the revamped old Dock Road, accommodate shops and eateries.
(Supplied)
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