FROM OFFICE TO FLAT

THE ART OF POST-COVID SPACE CONVERSION

#HelloLifestyle

by: Carly Ritz Images: Juane Venter; Supplied

Upended by Covid-19, the real estate sector found itself in major flux as offices stood empty for months on end, and now having to re-imagine what’s next as more companies either allow employees to keep working from home or downgrade their physical office needs.

It’s an interesting conundrum, with a vast amount of office spaces standing open, particularly in big metros, according to Jonathan Reader from Ithemba Property. But while there are a lot of empty spaces, it is only the minority that are suitable for residential conversion.

When it comes to converting an office space into a living space, there are a host of elements to consider. From the building size and floor plan to the location. So, what makes it possible?

CAN THE BUILDING CARRY THE WEIGHT? According to Reader, the right floor plan and a building structure that can handle the additional weight load are key elements when looking at converting a building into a residential space.

Residential buildings have a far greater weighting than commercial buildings. Hence, it is important to know whether the building can carry the weight of new internal apartment walls. Unfortunately, the answer is often no.

FACILITIES AND FUNCTIONALITY Other crucial aspects to keep in mind include the availability of adequate elevators in the building, and whether they are the correct size. One also needs to check whether there are enough parking bays and if there is ample water, electricity, and sewage capacity for an apartment building filled with people. Furthermore, green spaces for gardens and pets are other things to consider when planning on converting an office building into a residential building. Then, only once all of these aspects have been considered and evaluated, the final decision-making factor and ultimate question follows: Do people actually want to live in the location of the building, and can you persuade them to do so?

THE EXPECTATIONS When an office space is successfully converted into a residential building, there are even more factors to look into. People who move into a converted building evidently expect better value for their money. If, for example, the apartment space is compromised due to the initial purpose of the space, the buyer might want to pay less. For instance, the apartment might be slightly longer and narrower than an apartment in a built-tolive-in block.

Most buyers or renters looking at these spaces are also looking for other amenities and facilities, like a great on-site gym, an extensive retail offering on the bottom floor, or cool rooftop spaces that would be characteristic of today’s corporate buildings.

And of course, there is the location and the story of the building. SUCCESS STORIES Mutual Heights in the Cape Town City Centre – once the headquarters of Old Mutual - is not only one of the first conversions in the country. It was converted into a fully functioning apartment block and is so on-trend, you might wake up thinking you’ve landed in New York! The building now offers its members a concierge service, a gym, state-of-the-art access control and best-practice security services. Furthermore, it has incredible historical value, with the design elements of the building - like the lobby and the floorto-ceiling windows - that are very hard to recreate.

The multinational technology company, Amazon partnered with a nonprofit organization to turn one of its headquarters buildings in Seattle into a homeless shelter and community support centre.

Another success story is the Voco Hotel in Rosebank. It has been transformed from a traditional bank to the ideal accommodation option for business travellers. Now a stylish, upmarket hotel, the old financial institution lends itself to chic accommodation with floor-to-ceiling windows, valet parking and luxury bathroom amenities that guests write home about.

No one ever said transformation is easy. With a bit of luck, some of these office buildings might just become iconic residential spaces over the next couple of years. H