dhk Interior Design has successfully completed the refurbishment of a new campus for Good Hope Studies, an internationally accredited English language school located in the Cape Town city centre. The project exemplifies how workspaces in an existing, bustling inner-city older building can be reimagined to create a dynamic learning environment to facilitate contemporary learning.
The new facility, covering approximately 1 200 square metres, has been completely redesigned to ensure optimal comfort for students. The campus was previously used as a tenanted commercial office. The space has been redesigned to include 11 classrooms, a library, study break areas, a prayer room and a deli that caters for people with diverse dietary needs. dhki started work on the project in July 2024 and students moved into the new premises in late September.
This is the third educational-focused project for dhki, who has previously designed the award-winning MySpace residences in Stellenbosch, and a new academic learning centre for Bishops Diocesan College in Rondebosch.
Embodying the spirit of Cape Town
The brief was to create a school campus that embodied the spirit of Cape Town. Good Hope Studies focuses on providing a relaxed, fun learning environment for foreign students. The goal was to create a contemporary educational space that also showcased Cape Town’s unique character and that would be instantly recognisable to international students.
dhki Director Lisa Bridgeford explains: “We’ve been deliberate in selecting materials, colours, and graphics to reflect the vibrancy and diversity of Cape Town’s CBD. Our design incorporates elements that refer to the cityscapes of Cape Town, the harbour and the fauna and flora of Table Mountain. These elements are translated into the forms, shapes and colours you see in the final design.”
Good Hope Studies was established in 1995, with its first branch opening in Newlands, Cape Town. Soon after, a second branch followed in the Cape Town City Centre at St Georges Mall. After years of growth and success, the founders acquired new premises at 2 Long Street to relocate the city centre branch.
dhki was appointed to the project after successful response to a request for proposal (RFP). Alexander Kratochwil, Director for Good Hope Studies, noted: “We wanted a designer who could make our students feel at home in their learning environment while far from their own homes. dhki’s design proposals reflected our full vision for the project, and their implementation on time and on budget has been a real asset to our expansion.”