Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
75 Harrington is city’s most happening and hip work hub
Eastern promise at street level in resonant part of Cape Town CBD
CAPE Town’s east city precinct has taken a further step in its revamp revolution with a slew of creative entrepreneurs moving into the vicinity of Harrington Street over the past few months.
With anchor tenant the Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI) moving round the corner from the premises it has occupied since 2006, a new breed of entrepreneur has moved into the vacant space of 75 Harrington Street.
Factor in additional businesses such as the bustling Field Office café and workspace, New York Bagel and outlets such as Black Fabrics selling fine textiles, leathers and wallpapers and it is clear that this area is becoming a location for fresh energy and inspiration.
The natural professional environment for many of this new breed of entrepreneur is the flexible working space found at 75 Harrington Street. This communal hub for creative start- ups and established enterprises is a joint venture by the CCDI and Steven Harris of design collaborative The Bank.
The new workspace comprises a multi-purpose ground floor area for exhibitions, seminars, installations and events, topped by three storeys of co-working areas. These already house more than 20 tenants whose diversity and multi- disciplinary skills have won them an entrée into this cultural melting pot that is flavoured with touches of art, science, technology, craft, design and engineering.
These innovators, makers, producers and thinkers are installed in office and work areas that range from hot desk spaces hired for a few days a week, to offices consisting of a couple of rooms. Three kitchens, meeting and board rooms, Skype rooms and fast internet bring t o g et her a community t hat i s notable for its diversity and multidisciplinary talent.
The flexible pricing model frees people to build their businesses, says Harris. And CCDI executive director Erica Elk says this venture is linked to the intention of leaving a tangible and sustainable legacy of World Design Capital 2014, within the context of the Western Cape Design Strategy.
“Economic growth and job creation in the creative industries and related sectors are key, as the province aims to unlock innovation and drive competitive advantage. It’s about creating a dynamic, fluid environment, that is ripe with services and networks and opportunities – and most importantly, that remains open for people to dip in and out of as they have things to offer or support they need,” she says.
“The first six months were tough, but we have now built our core community on each floor; and each floor is starting to talk to the other,” says Harris.
These are the young people to watch, he says, pointing to a growing client list next to the lift. It has intriguing names such as Curiosity Campus, Pomegranate, Add-On and Platform, with people working as coinventors, online presence consultants and other jobs that their grandparents could never have imagined.
Like many of her fellow tenants, Janine Johnston, who returned to South Africa a year ago after several years in Sweden and Switzerland, has got multi-tasking down to a T. She is the local co-ordinator for the Maker Library Network, works in sustainable design skills development as head of The Shift, and undertakes creative project management and pop-ups through JaJa Consulting.
“It’s a powerful position to be in, sitting on the street – the ground floor area is open to the street, with security outside to ensure peace of mind – in the heart of the neighbourhood. I get to do some really remarkable things,” she says.
“The calibre of people and projects I have met in this building has been game- changing – creative entrepreneurs, tourists, venture capitalists and people walking in off the street, who are simply curious. The level of connection around this table is a springboard for very innovative ideas.”
Add- o n Di g i t a l Marketing founder and chief executive Ashton Hayes says: “The obvious thing to me, after working in the southern suburbs for seven months, was the opportunity to meet people and to network. There are so many disciplines and skill sets here from the creative industries, and we are meeting people to do business and collaborate with. ”
Nii-Amar Larea, Add-On’s digital planner from Ghana, says: “Steven is the connector between everyone and has been valuable. He’s always bringing people around and makes sure we engage and meet others. It makes such a difference with someone like that.
“Since I’ve been in this space I’ve met people that before I only fol- lowed online. Being in this place, in the creative hub, adds validation to your company. .”
Sebastian Thompson of Gravity behavioural change agency says that networking opportunities are above any co-working space he’s ever worked at. “The east city design precinct is growing, there’s lots of talk about it – it’s moving. It’s intriguing to be involved.”
Sebastian Bosman of The Braai Tool met Harris at his Cape Peninsula University of Technology endof-year exhibition and was offered a co-working space. “Here everyone seems to have quite a broad knowledge of quite a few industries, so you connect with business and through meeting lots of people. There’s always an event happening, it’s not an office space, more of a communal hub.”
The first African Co- working Conference will take place in Cape Town on July 23 and 24, and 75 Harrington Street will be a venue. More than 100 delegates from Africa and beyond are expected to support the development of African co-working awareness.
Email Steven Harris at steven@thedesignbank.co.za or call 082 445 3246.