Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa January/February 2015 | Page 70

INTERIOR

iiNet Contact Centre
This creative and dynamic working environment, designed by dhk, successfully
creates a zany taste of Australia in the heart of Cape Town.
INTERIOR DESIGN: DHK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: WIELAND GLEICH

D

esigned for leading business process outsourcing
provider Merchants, the new iiNet contact centre is
located in a former industrial building and heritage site,
the landmark Rex Trueform building in Salt River, Cape Town.
The existing building was built in 1948 for Rex Trueform,
once the largest clothing manufacturer in Southern Africa, and
sustained a vibrant community. When the factory closed down as
a result of economic pressures faced by the textile industry, the
surrounding area also suffered.
The new contact centre for Merchants services the Australian
internet service provider, iiNet, and the development has been

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key to unlocking the potential of this exceptional site. The
refurbishment of the building and its new use as a commercial
office development has brought people back to the area and an
injection of new energy into Salt River.
The designers created the concept iiNet Raw as a reference to
the industrial context and original function of the historic building.
A stimulating and flexible working environment references the
Australian brand’s values and provides geographical connection
to the continent.
The centre currently takes up three floors of the building, and
each floor comprises open plan office space, with breakaway

iiNet