If you take a seat on this bench by the water’s edge, it is easy to get entranced by the everyday activities and sights. Gazing out over the harbour, you’ll see the gentle waves, tugboats at work, and possibly a yacht returning from the horizon— perhaps even a resident seal making an appearance. Across the quay, the bustling Robben Island Museum and departure jetty and the flame-red Clock Tower seem to stand like timeless sentinels that would have welcomed visitors for generations. And it can be hard to imagine that not all that long ago, this space would have been accessible only to sailors, seals and seagulls- and the solitary Clock Tower would have stood as a striking, yet solo, landmark on the water’s edge. Back in 1996, visiting that red Clock Tower meant catching a ride on the “Penny Ferry”– a small tugboat manned full-time by a rower who would ferry you across for a penny. In the years before that, besides being largely inaccessible, the harbour would have held little to no appeal for non-maritime visitors or locals. Today, Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront is one of the most-visited public spaces in Africa, and the quaysides before you are connected by a swing bridge that can be crossed on foot, or even while pushing a trolley or pram. For more than three decades, the V&A Waterfront has been welcoming people from around the world to make memories around its working harbour, whilst providing access to various maritime, retail and social experiences. Though the V&A Waterfront neighbourhood has retained its maritime charm, it has become an inspiring, world-class waterfront neighbourhood. This was no accident—the founding vision of the V&A Waterfront was centered around reconnecting the City of Cape Town and its people to the water. The old harbour and docks, once uninviting, stood as a barrier between the city and the sea. The vibrant V&A Waterfront we enjoy today was brought to life over 35 years with the help of countless visionaries, staff, historians, local professionals, and even everyday citizens. Among these visionaries was Rob Meek, the late architect, urban designer, and avid sailor who also played a part in shaping the Waterfront. Rob was a founding director of GAPP Architects and Urban Designers in Cape Town. His passion for sailing brought a unique perspective to the development of the urban waterfronts he worked on around the world. When out at sea Rob would always be sketching and drafting urban designs in his mind while looking back at the V&A from the water. It was this understanding of how quaysides, and whole cities, looked from the sea that made his approach to waterfront design so much richer than simply understanding how things work on the land itself. Understanding that the spaces between the buildings were just as important as the buildings, meant that extra attention were given to create beautiful and pleasant walkways, or seating areas. Within the wider neighbourhood, we’ve dedicated many areas to seating – pause moments where visitors can take in their surroundings and feel the Mother City energy that exists between the mountain and the sea. But this new bench is interesting as it holds within it an unheard story about this neighbourhood. LOCAL CRAFTMANSHIP The wooden seating installation contains within it a happy history of the V&A Waterfront. Just as Rob and so many visionaries, staff and locals spent their days working at the Waterfront, so too did the wood from which this bench has been made. The Balau wood planks, which were salvaged when the V&A amphitheatre was renovated in 2023, have found a new lease on life in this installation. The innovative design sees the repurposed Balau planks sandwiched together with a rubber spacing between each plank. Thereafter, the top 5mm or so were filled with Sika black yacht deck caulking, which is not only practical in terms of keeping moisture out of the gaps, but also refers to yacht deck technology. By using this yachting technology, the bench pays homage to the many sailors, from past to present, that have passed over these waters- and in some instance helped to design and shape the space. This new bench, designed to mimic the decking of a yacht, has been placed alongside the swing bridge, meaning an ever-changing view of boats entering and exiting the Marina as the bridge opens to let them through. This beautiful multi-use installation allows children and adults to get creative about how they want to use the seating provided – ultimately making people the architects of their own lives. On it, the words ‘Blowing in the Wind’ have been inscribed, lyrics from Bob Dylan’s famous song, which is fitting, giving the wind-swept quayside where this bench has been installed. The installation was commissioned by Louise, Claudia and Di Meek in collaboration with the V&A Waterfront. It was designed by father-daughter combo, Mark and Katie, at Mark Thomas Architects and built by Kimon Mamacos of Sentinel Timbers. If you’re curious about the unique design approach and how Rob’s passion for sailing influenced his designs, see the below video. SHARE YOUR STORY It is interesting how something as seemingly ordinary as a bench, can tell such a rich and interesting story about this waterside neighbourhood, and some the people who shaped it. Whether it is a space, an object, or even just a fleeting memory that binds you to our Waterfront neighbourhood, we would love to hear from you. Whether it is an old memory or one you are making right now, email us on mymemories@waterfront.co.za.
