The Artem: a swanky new development intended as a haven for the arts
The Artem: a swanky new development intended as a haven for the arts
Image: Supplied

Even in the face of adverse drought, Cape Town is sprouting yet another development success story. The once-grimy Adelphi centre has undergone a multimillion-rand revamp in the hands of luxe property group Da’Realty, and has emerged not only with sparkling new balustrades, but also a completely new name: Artem.

Artem — which takes its name from a Latin word that can be translated to mean “to conceal art in its original form” — is a swanky new development intended as a haven for the arts. Once completed, every corner of the centre will be tastefully covered with art, giving visitors a unique chance to enjoy high-value artworks throughout the building. “Deriving inspiration from elements of nature and using Da’Realty’s signature details, we have challenged the artistic angle within the Artem development,” says Ahsan Darvesh, the president of Da’Realty.

Alongside the curated Artem gallery, which opened in February, the development pitches this Sea Point landmark at an elevated echelon of shopping centres, and is expected to house a high-end mix of international retail brands, boutiques, and eateries. The interior is beautifully lavish, with lashings of marble, Italian light fixtures, and an 18kt-gold insignia embedded in the mosaic entrance floor.

The first of the new posh tenants to take up residence is premium coffee emporium, Coco Safar. The store, sprawling over 500m², features a café, an espresso and pâtisserie bar, chocolate and coffee labs, a botanical microbrewery, and retail space. It was conceived by dynamic duo Wilhelm Liebenberg and Caroline Sirois, who plan to roll out their concept to other cosmopolitan centres, including New York, Tokyo, and Los Angeles.

Coco Safar
Coco Safar
Image: Supplied

Coco Safar, previously located in Cavendish Square, has relocated to allow more space for the plethora of ideas Liebenberg has in store. Coffee beans will now be roasted on site in a state-of-the-art Loring Smart Roaster, the first on the African continent. For an added artisanal touch, not only are all the handmade bonbons and pastries made on the premises, but the botanical microbrewery also brews and bottles craft teas (rooibos too) on site. Add the bespoke merchandise and biodegradable capsules, and you’ve got yourself a premium emporium of Paris’ Fauchon Boutique proportions.

As well Coco Safar, Artem will house a Sorbet/Sorbet Man spa, and a still-to-be-announced pet store from Belgium, to name a few tenants.

The attention to detail carries throughout the centre, including the car park. Artem Gallery’s curator, Eugenia Chapman Campbell, spotted the work of artists’ collective Visualiz Khorr on social media, and approached them about using the walls of the Artem parking garage to showcase their artistry. The members of the collective are Lethlogonolo Mathabe, Sam Shaba, Tebogo Qhingana, and Patrick Rulore, who all work under the leadership of founder Khutjo Tsebe, and Visualiz Khorr is set to transform the Artem garage into an expressive city landscape that is likely to be a crowd puller in its own right.

The beautiful centre is open and operational, but more awaits, with a few finishing touches still to be added. “A combination of soft awnings and black metal awnings running along the entire Artem Street front will transform the strip into Rodeo Drive meets the Champs Elysées, in the heart of Cape Town,” Darvesh says.

© Wanted 2024 - If you would like to reproduce this article please email us.
X