Opened on the 1st march in a repurposed grain elevator in
Cape Town, the Silo (the latest brainchild of the Royal Portfolio) pays homage
to South Africa’s agrarian roots.
Formerly the tallest building in sub-Saharan Africa, the
grain silo’s elevator facility has been converted into a luxurious boutique
hotel. Perched above the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the building was
updated by designer Thomas Heatherwick of London-based Heatherwick Studio, who
was tasked with transforming the tower while also maintaining its status as a
cultural landmark.
Heatherwick overhauled the original edifice with bulging
glass bubbles that protrude from the rooms, creating the illusion of lanterns
in the harbor at night. Functioning as eye-catching art pieces, the
floor-to-ceiling glass spheres offer panoramic views of the city. The
double-height main lobby showcases a whimsical chandelier silhouetted against
the original grain hoppers—an effortless marriage of old and new.
The posh property features 28 well-appointed rooms,
including a 2,012-square-foot (187sqm) penthouse suite with a sizable balcony. Designed
and decorated by hotelier Liz Biden, the rooms fuse handmade crystal
chandeliers, deep soaking tubs, playful colors, curated art pieces, and
full-height window bays to create spaces that are both lavish and livable. An
array of over-the-top amenities await just outside the rooms.
The Granary Café and the Willaston Bar (located on the sixth
floor and managed by executive chef Veronica Canha-Hibbert) greet guests with
flavorful fare and craft cocktails. The Vault, a private art gallery located in
the basement, displays a biannual rotation of works from emerging and
established African artists. A sumptuous spa showcases five treatment rooms and
a sauna, and a rooftop pool overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain. A
trip to South Africa would not be complete without a wine tasting, and the
rooftop bar is the ultimate place to sip varietals and admire a bird’s-eye view
of the Mother City.
The haute hotel (starting at around $1,400 /Euro 1320 per night) is the
perfect home base for those who want to explore Cape Town’s most iconic
destinations, from Lion’s Head to Robben Island. The reimagined grain complex will
also house the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), a non-profit
contemporary art museum that is scheduled to open in September. Established as
a joint partnership between Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and art aficionado
Jochen Zeitz (whose pieces form the initial bulk of the display), the museum
will house the world’s largest collection of contemporary African art.
Rooms & Rates for The Silo
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