International micro-living trend breaks new ground in Cape Town

Breaking ground at 1 On Albert, Woodstock

Once completed, the apartments - which were designed by architects, Louis Karol, and the interiors designed by hotel room designer, Grant Gillis - will range in size from entry level 21m² studios, at a cost of R1,095 million, to 75m² two-bedroom units, at a cost of up to R2,650 million. All the apartments will contain features such as SMEG appliances, flat screen smart TV’s and uncapped, unshaped 100megs per second fibre internet.

The seven-floor development, with its 133 units, will also feature communal recreational spaces, shops, a food court, laundromat, heated swimming pool and more - all part of a new conceptual design in living known as integrated living solutions.

Rob Stefanutto, group managing director of Dogon Group Properties, the sales agents for the development, explains that micro-living units have been popular internationally for several years and we are now embracing this trend in Cape Town.

“Cape Town is following the trend seen in cities such as Berlin, London, New York, Barcelona and Paris with the development of these state-of-the-art micro-living apartments – the first of their kind in the city.”

“What is interesting to note with the 1 Albert Road development is the lack of demand for parking bays,” says Stefanutto. “We have sold 80 apartments so far but have only had requests for 30 parking bays. This is relatively unique in Cape Town as parking is usually highly sought after. What we are seeing is that the micro-living trend comes hand in hand with central city living where residents can commute to work on a bicycle or use public transport. 1 Albert Road is located on a MyCiti bus route and with an Uber point at its doorstep.”

1 On Albert is expected to be completed by April 2020 and a show unit has been constructed on-site, complete with all fixtures, finishes and furnishings.