15 Belvedere Avenue Oranjezicht 8001 [email protected]

8TH March 2016

Attention: Andrew Berman Urban Design services (CIA MEM). [email protected]

CAPE TOWN CITY HALL LIFTS REFIT:

A Heritage Statement and permit application for the City Halls Lifts Refit (erf 4942) in terms of section 27 of the NHRA was tabled at the CIBRA Conservation Panel on the 7th March.

CIBRA endorses the ’s recommendation to the heritage consultants, Urban Design Services, dated 24 February that the HRS is in support of the proposed remedial and refurbishment work to the lift cars and the architectural elements associated with the lifts in the corridors.

The necessary replacement of the metal folding doors with appropriate safety glass material that has sandblasted detail referencing to the previous design is also supported. The current City Hall program focusing on short, medium and long term issues, including the compilation of a Conservation Management Plan and an Operational Management Plan is noted.

NB/KI p/p Barry Smith

CHAIRMAN CIBRA CONSERVATION PANEL

7 March 2016

The Secretary CIBRA

BY HAND

Dear Sir/Madam

CITY HALL LIFTS REFIT: HERITAGE STATEMENT FOR COMMENT

Heritage has asked for your comment on the heritage statement. The City Hall is a PHS, although the lifts were not specified in the original gazetting of the building as a National Monument.

The 2 lifts do not comply with current safety regulations and the proposal is to replace the redundant machinery and upgrade the lift cars. The original 1905 Art Nouveau lifts were replaced in 1936 with the current models. The cars have metal concertina gates (now not considered safe) and veneered timber pull doors with a viewing panel, to the lift openings. This arrangement is very awkward and restricts access including that of wheelchairs.

We will be replacing the concertina metal gates with clear glass sliding doors (etched to reference the diamond pattern of the metal gates), and a similar glass sliding door to the lift openings (etched to reference the original panel doors to be found elsewhere in the City Hall). These will operate as modern automatic sliding doors do, yet retain a sense of transparency. The surrounds to the openings retain their original 1905 timber architraves and skirting. The interiors of the lift cars, (timber paneling etc) are to be refurbished.

We have obtained a comment from the City (Mark Bell) which is included in the report.

The City currently have a contract running with a company to repair the lifts at the and , and to include the City Hall in this contract there is now some urgency for getting the necessary heritage permit as soon as possible. Unfortunately the earliest we can get an appointment with your on-line diary is the 4th of April. If you could provide a comment earlier it would be most appreciated.

Yours faithfully

ANDRE PENTZ