Cape Town’s creative landscape has been in the global spotlight this week, as both the International Public Arts Festival and the Investec Cape Town Art Fair lit up the city.
And it’s a week that has seen the announcement of a thrilling new combination of art and hospitality. MEMORIST, a French-focused organisation dedicated to ‘the preservation and valorisation of heritage’ has announced plans to transform an existing Cape Town guesthouse into a groundbreaking boutique hotel and artist’s residency.
In a building dating to 1897, The Lenox – in the suburb of Gardens just above the city centre – is currently a cheerful, if dated, guesthouse that is set for a wholesale rejuvenation.
This unique project plans to provide a platform for artistic expression and exhibition, by offering a creative haven for up to nine artists annually, drawn from talent spanning South Africa, Africa and France.
In addition to the artist residencies, The Lenox will open as an arts-focused boutique hotel operated by leading hotel brand Newmark. Extensive renovations will restore the original gardens of the hotel – currently a parking lot – and create both guest and studio spaces.
‘Our guests travel with purpose and this will be a uniquely immersive experience,’ says Carl Haller, New Business Developer at Newmark, who says that guests will have the opportunity to interact with the artists in residence, and admire their art and work in the public areas.
Set just a short walk from the Iziko South African National Gallery, as well as other leading galleries and studios, The Lenox will be in the heart of the city’s creative landscape.
'The overall project will be imbued with SA art, culture and craft – we envision it as a place for artistic expression and a meeting place for local people,' says Sophie Taïeb, Director of Corporate Development for MEMORIST.
It’s an exciting new addition to the city’s arts offering, but don’t pack your bags just yet. There’s plenty of work to do on The Leonx, and the hotel is set to open in 2026.
Don't miss! Esther Mahlangu's retrospective at the Iziko South African National Gallery.