Citiq invests further in the container lifestyle
BRAAMFONTEIN - PROPERTY development group Citiq is leading the way with its plans to develop the first shipping-container retail centre in the country, 27Boxes.
Similar to the Box Park in London and a retail park in Christchurch, New Zealand, Critiq plans to build an aesthetically-attractive shopping centre that will give smaller business owners the opportunity to occupy affordable space in a high-end centre in Melville.
Paul Lapham, CEO of Citiq, said many have been very skeptical of the concept of building a centre with shipping containers, but those who have seen the end result are more open to the idea.
“Our first shipping container construction was in Randburg three years ago and even then, there was a bit of apprehension from residents. Once complete, both tenants and surrounding residents were happy with the end product which I believe is very special,” he said
“Since then, we have taken on other projects whereby we’ve built with shipping containers, including the conversion of the Newtown grain silos into student accommodation, and the successful shipping container apartment block in Windsor.”
Lapham said shipping containers allow for a quick construction of any building’s superstructure.
“Even when building with shipping containers, building regulations are still taken into consideration. This is not a short cut to skip having to go through the process of ensuring the checking and approval of designs and building plans,” he explained.
27boxes will have something to suit all tastes – an art gallery and studios, a couturier, a bakery, a micro-brewery, a furniture manufacturer, a restaurant and a coffee shop, as well as a boutique garden centre, a kiddies’ playground, walkways and an amphitheatre.
The shipping containers are onsite and construction has started with the excavation of the underground parking. 27Boxes is due to open in April this year.
