In the heart of Cape Town lies an ode to new-age culture, artistry, design and buzz. It goes by the name Rockefeller Hotel.
If the name didn’t already give it away, the Rockefeller is premised on luxury, intertwined with art and vibrance. The Foreshore location boasts 39 expertly designed luxury apartments spread over 18 storeys, but this time our focus was on a newer side of the establishment, one closer to the stars (both literally and figuratively).
Soaring to the top of the Rockefeller you’ll find a new rooftop hub that sits above the Mother City in a carefully curated layout. Studio, as the club is aptly titled, comes from various creative imaginings. With its latest top-of-the-world addition, Ryan Joffe’s building has attained another element of luxury-urban celebration, breathing new energy into Cape Town’s nightlife scene.
The rooftop hive was designed for musician Zakes Bantwini’s magic, by architectural designer Tristan du Plessis. Du Plessis’s creativity is felt all over the Rockefeller Hotel and is guided by Joffe’s final calls.
Bantwini says that the spot was something that he could never have imagined being his when remembering himself as a young boy living in a Durban township. However, years and a smash hit later (yes, he’s the man behind Cape Town’s anthem, Osama) Bantwini stands at the forefront of what will definitely be one of Cape Town’s most exclusive spots.
The key word here is exclusive. As much as Studio echoes Bantwini’s dreams for South Africans to unite in the one language we all speak, music, Studio is premised around its ‘in-the-know’ nature. Walk-ins? Not at this luxe-watering hole. You’ll have to book your spot. But if you do, it’ll be nothing short of magnificent, much like the rest of the Rockefeller.
Joffe’s spot is a city slicker’s daydream with attention to detail evident in every corner. On a tour, Joffe tells me that some elements of the hotel had to be redone multiple times until he thought they were what they needed to be. This perfectionism couldn’t be seen more evidently than on the marble-laid staircase. The masterpiece took around twenty attempts and a year to be perfected, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Ashleigh Nefdt.
The Rockefeller is deliciously kitted-out. Full-scale amenities like a private gym, a sushi and candy bar and a rooftop pool all fall part of the experience. You’d be forgiven for thinking that you’d need some kind of elite membership just to walk inside, and may even be curious to learn many professionals actually call this spot home.
Taking this into account, it makes sense as to why boardrooms and co-working areas are scattered in perfect proximity to the busy individuals who reside at the Rockefeller. Laid with technology and sleek designs, the rooms are the perfect nests for resting. What they lack in size (unless it’s the Penthouses we’re talking about) the establishment makes up for with its multiple offerings. The idea is centred around balancing shared spaces and privacy, one of the most current trends for apartment-dwellers on the market right now.
After all, who needs an oversized kitchen to cook when you have multiple dining choices downstairs?
While many locals and travellers may not have the privilege to stay at the Rockefeller, they can still experience a slice of it, even if for the night and it’s all thanks to the king of rooftop palaces, Studio.
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Picture: Supplied