The Good Hope Centre in Cape Town was once at the heart of a thriving convention and events business. However, over the decades, its place has been supplanted by the likes of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and new development in Century City.
Now, ambitious plans are gearing up to revive the Good Hope Centre and adjacent areas. According to James Vos, mayoral committee member for safety and security in the Western Cape, the revival will bring in large investment, create jobs and benefit local residents.
GOOD HOPE CENTRE IN CAPE TOWN
When the Good Hope Centre was conceived back in the 1960s, it was considered iconic. Its architect, Pier Luigi Nervi from Italy, penned something brutally modern and appropriate of the time. But the domed exhibit hall still displayed a tacit link to great Italian architecture of the past, like Michelangelo. However, in the intervening 60 years, it’s been left to decay.
Now, NovaNews reports that the City of Cape Town will officially put the property on the market through an open and competitive public auction early in 2026. As such, Vos explains that revival of the Good Hope Centre precinct represents one of the most significant inner-city regeneration opportunities in Cape Town.
AREA OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
“Private-sector developers will provide a forward-looking solution to this precinct’s economic potential. And allows us to safeguard the site’s legacy, while enabling broader public benefit,” Vos said. Plus, there’s a 2.4-hectare mixed-use site adjacent to the Good Hope Centre, which is currently underutilised. This offers significant potential for residential, commercial and retail development, too.
Currently, the Good Hope Centre is classed as a Grade 3B heritage resource. Therefore, the city must preserve and adaptively reuse key architectural features, including the iconic dome. As such, any redevelopment must be endorsed by an impact assessment committee. This will ensure all work on the site is done in a respectful and contextually appropriate manner.
But what do you think? Is Cape Town’s Good Hope Centre an icon that should be left alone? Or will a sympathetic redevelopment breathe new life into it and the area? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below …
