The site of Cape Town’s old Conradie Hospital is today buzzing with the sounds of a community being built, with over 1,250 families now enjoying new homes and the final phases of construction lying ahead.

Concor has pioneered the Conradie Park project in close partnership with the architectural consortium of dhk Architects and Jakupa Architects and Urban Designers. This has ensured a holistic urban design philosophy that underpins the planning and construction work and creates a firm foundation for its success.

Mark Schonrock, Property Development Executive at Concor, highlights that the project was made possible by the Western Cape Provincial Government’s Better Living Model Game Changer initiative, which was driven by the Premier’s office.

“A key directive was to create a mix of tenures including open-market housing and grant-funded or affordable units,” says Schonrock. “This allows the project to cater to different income groups, promoting economic inclusion and improving lives.”

dhk Architects Partner Peter Stokes says it was important to include a multidisciplinary team of urban design experts, architects and landscape designers in the conceptual and planning stages of Conradie Park.

“We were guided by global best practice, drawing inspiration from understanding the developmental context, and referencing urban planning models in cities like Barcelona and Amsterdam,” says Stokes. “These environments prioritise walkability, security and access to public spaces – which is the approach we have taken at Conradie Park.”

Gabs Pather, a director at Jakupa Architects and Urban Designers, reflects on the many lessons learned throughout the project: “While the approach is in the natural course of development in mature cities, curating the mixed-use, mixed-income neighbourhood required considerable testing and tweaking to ensure the viability of the financial model and the development’s buildability.”

These lessons included managing housing standards and consequential architectural qualities, using architectural expression to blur income disparities. “The result is a very liveable environment for children and adults alike. Watching the neighbourhood come to life brought us endless joy, reinforced by our learnings and the tools we have developed so that the model can be replicated elsewhere,” he says.

One of the defining features of the project, for instance, is the use of perimeter block typology which is aesthetically pleasing and also addresses critical issues like safety, accessibility and community interaction.

“The use of perimeter blocks and well-defined streetscapes creates a hierarchy of defensible spaces that enhance a sense of security and connection between residents,” he explains. “We also used landscaping to deliver functional green infrastructure such as surface waterways and swales to act as stormwater channels while also enhancing the aesthetic value of the neighbourhood.”

The project’s mixed-use character facilitates a self-sustaining neighbourhood, with schools, retail spaces, green areas and sports fields giving residents access to essential services on their doorsteps.

Construction on the remaining development – The Pines – will begin in 2025 and will include five residential towers and 12,000 m2 of retail space designed for convenience and accessibility. In addition to the retail facility will be 2,200 m2 for co-working facilities and play areas, 230 open parking spaces at ground level and 330 covered parking bays on the first floor.

The residential buildings around The Pines will add another 650 units to the Conradie Park complex. Completion is expected in early 2026.