‘Monstrosity’: R1bn V&A Waterfront hotel sparks backlash

[dualmeister]

Cape Town residents have expressed their disapproval of the development, particularly the design, of a new R1 billion hotel at the V&A Waterfront.

Late last year, hospitality conglomerate Marriott International and the V&A Waterfront announced plans to build an ultra-luxury R1 billion hotel, known as the Cape Town EDITION, the first of its kind on the African continent.

It forms part of the Quay 7 development, on the eastern side of the V&A Waterfront, and is part of the much larger expansion of the Waterfront and Granger Bay area.

It is not to be confused with the R1 billion refurbishment at the Table Bay Hotel, also at the Waterfront, which has recently reopened.

According to Time Out, the EDITION Hotel will feature

• 142 hotel rooms and suites
• 6 serviced private residences
• A rooftop bar and pool
• A luxury spa
• Destination restaurants and dining
• High-end event and lifestyle spaces
• Extensive views towards the harbour, ocean and Table Mountain

It is expected to open in October 2026.



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[dualmeister]

I've been watching them build this for while now and was thinking WTF.

As someone said it looks like a gulag

 

[konfab]

Cape Town residents have expressed their disapproval of the development, particularly the design, of a new R1 billion hotel at the V&A Waterfront.

Late last year, hospitality conglomerate Marriott International and the V&A Waterfront announced plans to build an ultra-luxury R1 billion hotel, known as the Cape Town EDITION, the first of its kind on the African continent.

It forms part of the Quay 7 development, on the eastern side of the V&A Waterfront, and is part of the much larger expansion of the Waterfront and Granger Bay area.

It is not to be confused with the R1 billion refurbishment at the Table Bay Hotel, also at the Waterfront, which has recently reopened.

According to Time Out, the EDITION Hotel will feature

• 142 hotel rooms and suites
• 6 serviced private residences
• A rooftop bar and pool
• A luxury spa
• Destination restaurants and dining
• High-end event and lifestyle spaces
• Extensive views towards the harbour, ocean and Table Mountain

It is expected to open in October 2026.

View attachment 1929299

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Looks like it belongs on Robben Island

 

[Agent_Smith]

It looks like a Formula1 hotel...

 

[Scooby_Doo]

I've been watching them build this for while now and was thinking WTF.

As someone said it looks like a gulag

Is it supposed to try match the aesthetic of the silos?

 

[sensus communis]

The world is losing its color

 

[Neuk_]

Cape Town residents have expressed their disapproval of the development, particularly the design, of a new R1 billion hotel at the V&A Waterfront.

Late last year, hospitality conglomerate Marriott International and the V&A Waterfront announced plans to build an ultra-luxury R1 billion hotel, known as the Cape Town EDITION, the first of its kind on the African continent.

It forms part of the Quay 7 development, on the eastern side of the V&A Waterfront, and is part of the much larger expansion of the Waterfront and Granger Bay area.

It is not to be confused with the R1 billion refurbishment at the Table Bay Hotel, also at the Waterfront, which has recently reopened.

According to Time Out, the EDITION Hotel will feature

• 142 hotel rooms and suites
• 6 serviced private residences
• A rooftop bar and pool
• A luxury spa
• Destination restaurants and dining
• High-end event and lifestyle spaces
• Extensive views towards the harbour, ocean and Table Mountain

It is expected to open in October 2026.

View attachment 1929299

Source

 

[Cray]

Yeah, that's pretty hideous. Looks like a government school building.

 

[Gordon_R]

Looks like a bastard child of the Good Hope Center, and the Werdmuller Center:

The Werdmuller Centre is a striking Brutalist building at 167 Main Road in Claremont, Cape Town. Designed by architect Roelof Uytenbogaardt and opened in 1975, the complex struggled commercially for years before closing in 2012.

 

[dualmeister]

 

[ToxicBunny]

That is a special breed of hideous for somewhere like the V&A.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

ChatGPT says

The Cape Town EDITION has a very unusual form. The two dominant design elements are:

• A warehouse-like gabled roof
• A long, low-profile waterfront building
• A repetitive triangular façade
• A central cylindrical element
• A design inspired by Cape Town's historic harbour sheds and industrial buildings rather than by a conventional luxury hotel. The architects are Neri & Hu working with StudioMAS.

These are comparable because the Cape Town EDITION appears to borrow from:

• Northern European harbour warehouses
• Dutch dockside architecture
• Cape Town's historic grain-storage and dock buildings
• Contemporary adaptive reuse projects such as Zeitz MOCAA

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

if I was a scientologist heading to the mass suicide pact with my cult to usher in the return of xenu ... this is exactly the design of building I'd expect to arrive at

 

[Brian_G]

if I was a scientologist heading to the mass suicide pact with my cult to usher in the return of xenu ... this is exactly the design of building I'd expect to arrive at

Plenty of commies visiting this country now, maybe built for them

 

[vigras rojara]

Tom Eaton described it well:

 

[Sargeant]

It really will be a pleasure to stay at on those days where the glorious fishy smell permeates the air

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

Plenty of commies visiting this country now, maybe built for them

right next to the heliport as well, convenient quick escape for commies, but how many well heeled guests want to constantly hear choppers buzzing around their room???

 

[WanderingMind]

That's ugly; those blocks with gaps are what our local post office had back in the 90s.

 

[Cius]

No idea who would want to stay there anyways. Not much to do around the VA anymore other than be overcharged for everything. Traffic in is a nightmare. No thanks.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

No idea who would want to stay there anyways. Not much to do around the VA anymore other than be overcharged for everything. Traffic in is a nightmare. No thanks.

I am sure it will have decent occupancy, no matter what opinions about architecture. Name Mariott generally sells.