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NAME: Point Bastille
LOCATION: Durban Point
STATUS: U/C
FLOORS: 5
HEIGHT: n/a
USE: Mixed Use (Residential and Retail)

Nearly complete. The first of the 2 blocks has been painted and internal fitting is underway

This has to be one of my favourite buildings at the point. to think that they are changing a prison into this is too amazing for words!!!! Update pics will be up soon!

http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/adac/pb2005-10-02-01.jpg
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http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/adac/pb2005-10-02-03.jpg

very cool, look like nice big lofts with loads of natural light.
Does the public access on the cornish link all the developments?

great pics mate, no need for mine now :)

what do u mean giles??

Construction Update - 29 November 2005

The Dev is nearing completion of building one.


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very cool development. What I man is can th public access each development along a common public acess or cornish on the water side of all plots?

Their are very few off limits areas to the public. All the buildings along the canals have retail on their groundfloors. You can walk along both sides of the canals, and there are bridges the cross over the canals at regular intervals.

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The Point is really transforming big Time! Once everything is ready it will be lovely just to take walk around the whole place with all the shops & restaurants the Buzz will be amazing!

i totally agree! just walking around there yesterday was so relaxing!

From prison to paradise

The renovation of a previous prison into an immaculate mixed-use residential complex has demonstrated the extreme versatility and creativity of the professional team involved in this unique development.

A complete 360-degree change is how the transformation of a derelict 20th century prison to R42 m luxury apartments can be described. The vibrant, coastal development, Point Bastille, originated from Durban Waterfront Prison built in 1932 and was revamped into a four level mixed use complex.

Commencing in November 2004, this masterful make-over was completed in October 2006 and comprises of one level of retail and three levels of residential apartments. An interior courtyard, four (150 sq m) retail shops and parking space was created on the ground floor by pairing the four old prison barracks, doubling its heights, then enclosing them.

The three floors above the shops and garaging accommodate 32 sectional title units, including eight super luxury, four bedroom double volume loft/penthouse apartments. The penthouses each have double lock up garages, while owners of the remaining 3 bedroom units each are assigned secure under cover parking bays. Air-conditioning is standard in all units and the complex is guarded on a 24-hour basis by security guards who are assisted by CCTV cameras and monitors.

Amazing results

Not only has the building’s transformation been extraordinary, but the sales component has also received amazing results. Horst Keil, Co-Developer and Managing Director of Realty1 Parsons Property Group, mentions that 90 percent of the apartments have been sold. Prices range from R1.85 m for a spacious 3 bedroom apartment of 150m2 to R4.2 m for a 260 sq m four bedroom double volume penthouse. A Subsequent resale of R6,1m has been achieved for a penthouse apartment. The first new residents at the Point Bastille in Durban’s Point Waterfront Precinct have taken transfer and the body corporate has been formed."I believe the prison was built in 1932 to house African prisoners who served out their sentences as dockworkers," continues Keil, "Turning the old listed building into an attractive apartment block with shops and restaurants while respecting its historic value was an enormous challenge. The big and chunky walls of the old building, however, leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that the building was once a prison!"

Challenges

Keil expounds on some of the challenging aspects to the construction. A structural or environmental feat was the process of stabilizing the ground to support the additional two levels the professionals needed to build atop the existing structure due to the fact that the ground was not very solid and had a high water table being so close to the sea.


Yet, the bureaucracy of the processes and design applications between the Architectural Review Committee and AMAFA / Heritage KwaZulu Natal was cited as the most challenging aspect of this project. Years ago the ’residents’ of the site were prisoners yet, now Point Bastille is the home of a vibrant tenant mix that accommodates permanent residents with holiday vacationers that will use the apartments as a holiday destination.



Professional Team

Client Vista Homes

Main Contractor Norvo Construction

Architect Cooper Architects

Quantity Surveyor Africost

Electrical Engineer BFBA Consultants

Structural Engineer Allpass Engineering

Project Management Global Property Investments

Mike are we gonna see water taxis that will join Umhlanga, The point etc. That will be a great idea.

That requires construction of a dock at Umhlanga. (The new pier will be too high above the water, for obvious reasons.) And given the surf conditions, the taxi would need to be operated by a fairly large boat so that passengers don't get tossed around on the breakers. If you spend time watching or riding the tourist launches and Sharks Board boats that operate from the Umhlanga beach, you'll see how rough the breakers can be on many many days. The boats bounce over the breakers, especially on the outbound trip.

All in all, such a water taxi would be a very expensive proposition.

^^ and in my opinion very unviable, and basically not used.