Revitalising Muizenberg’s historic post office into a modern workspace

For generations, it was the place where letters arrived, news was shared, and daily life quietly passed through its doors.

Now, Muizenberg’s nearly century-old post office is preparing for a new chapter - one that will see the much-loved landmark carefully restored and transformed into a modern collaborative workspace, while keeping its historic character intact.

The old Muizenberg Post Office, which has stood on Main Road since the 1930s, is being repurposed into Workshop17 Muizenberg, a shared working environment set to open in August.

The development aims to balance contemporary ways of working with the preservation of one of the suburb’s most recognisable heritage buildings, Paul Keursten, CEO of Workshop17, said.

The post office was built in the 1930s, at a time when Muizenberg was expanding and strengthening its role as a link between Cape Town and the deep south.

Instead of constructing a purely utilitarian structure, the Public Works Department designed a building intended to serve both a practical and civic function within the growing suburb.

The project was led by Public Works Department architect W.B.T. Newham, who advocated for the inclusion of locally produced art in public buildings.

The result was a structure incorporating hammer-dressed sandstone, arched windows and a combination of Cape vernacular and Art Deco design elements.

Prominent ceramic panels by artist Isa Cameron remain visible on the Main Road façade. 

Inside, many original features still tell the story of the building’s past.

According to Mr Keursten, the Muizenberg space will include 12 private offices and 51 co-working or hot-desking seats, along with six meeting rooms, phone and video-call booths, pause areas and wellness facilities.

A café run by Ou Meel will operate from the building and will be open to the public, while meeting rooms will also be available for non-members to book.

“All original heritage elements, including the parquet flooring, sorting table and mailboxes, will remain intact in the final design,” Mr Keursten said, adding that the aim is to preserve the building’s history and make it visible and meaningful as it takes on a new function.

Parking for members and visitors will make use of existing public parking areas around the building, including spaces on both sides of the railway line and across the road from the site.

"We intend to work closely with the local community, partnering with nearby businesses, entrepreneurs and organisations, and hosting events and initiatives that support sustainable growth in the area," Mr Keursten said.

Independent heritage practitioner James Hallinan described the project as an example of how heritage buildings can be adaptively reused without losing their significance, while contributing to the broader renewal of historic Muizenberg.

For more information, visit www.workshop17.com or email info@workshop17.co.za.