The latest project completed by dhk Interior Design (dhki) is an elegant and functional customer service desk located at the centre of Canal Walk, Cape Town’s largest shopping centre. The design is inspired by the movement and flow of people in the busy centre. dhki is a leading interior architecture and design firm working across the hospitality, commercial, education and residential sectors.
The front desk is located opposite the 4,600m² H&M store, and has been designed for Hyprop Investments, the owners and operators of Canal Walk, which is located in the Century City Precinct. The desk was officially unveiled in late June 2024, marking the end of a two-year design journey.
In 2022, Hyprop tasked dhki with creating a common feature that could be implemented across all their properties, starting with Canal Walk. Their goal was to establish a recognisable insertion in a prominent location in the centre, which is visited by thousands of people every day.
While the project is special to the entire dhki team, it has particular resonance for Lisa Bridgeford, one of dhki’s founding directors. Her first project as a young architect was Canal Walk. Her insight proved invaluable in ensuring the reproduction is historically accurate and true to form.
Lisa explains: “At the moment, the two design aesthetics in Canal Walk are Classical and Victorian, which I researched extensively when I first worked on the Canal Walk building as a young architect. Now, 20 years down the line, dhki was asked to introduce a new element that would serve as a unifying thread throughout the mall.”
Creating a golden thread
In trying to find a thread that would tie the old with the new, dhki developed a concept that pays homage to the shopping centre’s 20-year history. The desk features the beautiful stones used in the original Canal Walk development, such as the Rosa Verona marble, the green Malachite stone from Zimbabwe and Crema Marfil marble. The pebble shaped design emerged after watching the flow of people moving through the centre.
“We likened it to a pebble in a stream,” says Lisa.
She says: “The desk is right outside the H&M store, which is a very busy anchor tenant in the centre. In that node, we looked at the flow of people and how they moved through that space, both vertically and horizontally. It was important that when you come down the escalator, the desk makes an impression, and when you’re in the space, it doesn’t obstruct the natural flow of people. These two factors guided us. The shape is organic and references a pebble in a stream shaped by the flow of water.”
However, dhki always prioritises function as much as form. “In the end, the desk can be as beautiful as possible, but it must fulfil a function,” says Lisa.
The large reception desk accommodates several functions, with sufficient capacity to support operators throughout the year, and especially during the busy festive period when there’s increased foot traffic. Key considerations were ergonomics, functionality, good sightlines and durability to ensure the desk lasts for the next 20 years. The desk functions primarily as an information centre and also includes storage spaces for tourism pamphlets and wheelchairs.
The design also accommodates higher and lower counter tops for different uses. Lisa adds: “For instance, there’s a standing section for quick interactions, but if someone needs to fill in forms or receive direct attention, they can use the lower section. So, the height is determined by the function of that part of the desk.”
To bring the vision to life, dhki collaborated with Infin8 Surfacing, a company specialising in engineered surfaces for residential and commercial properties. The Maitland-based firm crafted the desk using a resin-based material and stone chips.
The customer service desk exemplifies dhki’s commitment to translating client needs into exceptional designs. Lisa and her experienced team approach each project with a holistic view of context and culture. Their dedication to quality, longevity and sustainability is evident in projects like this distinctive customer service desk, built to stand the test of time.
