Heritage Square hotel was originally built in the 1780’s – nearly 242 years ago!
The building originally housed Tobacconists, snuff makers, gunsmiths, bakers, coach makers and wheelwrights. There was a rope warehouse, several retail outlets, a boarding house, chapel, and an undertaker!
The challenge was to install multiple kitchen ventilation systems that would meet or exceed COCT municipal regulations and SANS 1850 in terms of performance, filtration, structural integrity, and noise levels at the same time preserving the architectural heritage of one of the oldest buildings in South Africa.
Whilst being surrounded by brilliant contemporary artworks and furnishings, the kitchen canopies, ducting & diffusers had to be welded, flanged, riveted and finished to maintain an authentic Georgian/industrial warehouse aesthetic,
Ducting, grilles, and custom made brackets were all CAD designed and cut with the latest CNC plasma cutting machines. Riveted joints and flanges were hand forged in a nod to now lost techniques and finally finished by an artist skilled in recreating an aged rust patina that evolves and improves over time.
Kitchen extraction canopies and filters, all in CNC punched stainless steel are complemented by energy conscious LED lighting and are designed for ease of operation and maintenance so that chefs can get on with the job of preparing a mouth watering variety of cuisines, both local and foreign.
The same approach was taken in the provision of ventilation for the open delicatessen market: massive overhead ducts, forged lobster-back bends and rotary diffusers all in patinated rust finish supply whisper-quiet fresh air to the shoppers below and blend in with the original old warehouse style cast iron roof support pillars.