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A Creative Haven in the Making: The Lenox Transformation in Cape Town

February 25, 2024

3 mins read

The Lenox guesthouse in Cape Town’s Gardens district is undergoing a transformation into a boutique hotel and artist residency by French organization MEMORIST. The project aims to host up to nine artists from South Africa, Africa, and France, providing an arena for artistic creation and showcase, and a cultural immersion experience for its visitors. Newmark will manage the Lenox as an art-centric boutique hotel, with communal spaces invigorated by the artwork of in-residence artists, offering guests a distinctive blend of art and hospitality. The project is set to welcome the public in 2026.

What is the Lenox Transformation Project in Cape Town?

The Lenox guesthouse in Cape Town’s Gardens district is being transformed into a boutique hotel and artist residency by French organization MEMORIST. The goal is to host up to nine artists from South Africa, Africa, and France, creating an arena for artistic creation and showcase, and as a profound cultural immersion experience for its visitors. Newmark, a well-regarded hotel brand, is slated to take over the management of the Lenox in its new incarnation as an art-centric boutique hotel. The project is scheduled to welcome the public in 2026.

A New Vision for Heritage Preservation

Set against the backdrop of the International Public Arts Festival and the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, an innovative and captivating project has been announced. MEMORIST, a French organization committed to “the safeguarding and valorisation of heritage,” has pinpointed a modest guesthouse in Cape Town’s Gardens district for their latest venture. The perfectly charming Lenox guesthouse is on the brink of an exhilarating transformation into a boutique hotel and artist residency.

Cape Town, a melting pot of creativity and pioneering ideas, continues to attract artists from around the globe. The MEMORIST project is primed to capture this artistic vibrancy by hosting an annual selection of up to nine artists from South Africa, Africa and France. This unprecedented and ground-breaking initiative is structured as both an arena for artistic creation and showcase, and as a profound cultural immersion experience for its visitors.

The Lenox: A Beacon of Artistic Expression

The project entails a thorough makeover of The Lenox. The existing edifice, while still delightful, has seen its glory days, and the planned extensive refurbishment is geared to imbue the structure with renewed energy. The renovation scheme involves not only a crucial modernization of the guest and studio areas, but also an inspiring reawakening of the hotel’s original gardens. Currently serving as a mere parking area, the garden will be transformed into a lush, green oasis, mirroring the overall metamorphosis of The Lenox.

Newmark, a well-regarded hotel brand, is slated to take over the management of the Lenox in its new incarnation as an art-centric boutique hotel. Carl Haller, the New Business Developer for Newmark, envisages a novel, immersive experience for the guests that is both meaningful and enlightening. The hotel’s communal spaces will be invigorated with the artwork of the in-residence artists, presenting guests with an opportunity to appreciate the artists’ creations and engage with the creators themselves.

The Art and Hospitality Fusion

The location of The Lenox ensures an unrivalled artistic experience for guests. The Iziko South African National Gallery, along with a multitude of other prominent galleries and studios, is merely a short stroll away, positioning The Lenox at the heart of Cape Town’s creative pulse.

Sophie Taïeb, the Director of Corporate Development for MEMORIST, revealed that the project will seamlessly integrate South African art, culture and craft, resulting in a distinctive space for artistic expression and community interaction. This venture, combining an artistic residency with a boutique hotel, represents a distinctive blend of art and hospitality, offering a fresh dimension to the city’s flourishing arts scene.

However, the grand reveal of The Lenox is not immediate. The project requires a considerable amount of effort and it is scheduled to welcome the public in 2026. Despite this, the excitement continues to mount, as this trailblazing endeavour is set to inject a novel, inspiring facet into Cape Town’s arts milieu. Until then, the city continues to seduce and beckon exploration, with its vibrant art scene and phenomenal deals for affordable travel.

How many artists will the Lenox Transformation Project in Cape Town host?

The Lenox Transformation Project in Cape Town will host up to nine artists from South Africa, Africa, and France. The aim is to create an arena for artistic creation and showcase, and a cultural immersion experience for its visitors.

Who is managing the Lenox in its new incarnation?

What kind of experience will guests have at the Lenox?

The hotel’s communal spaces will be invigorated with the artwork of the in-residence artists, presenting guests with an opportunity to appreciate the artists’ creations and engage with the creators themselves. The location of The Lenox ensures an unrivalled artistic experience for guests, with the Iziko South African National Gallery and numerous other prominent galleries and studios just a short stroll away.

When will the Lenox be open to the public?

The Lenox Transformation Project requires a considerable amount of effort and is scheduled to welcome the public in 2026.

What is MEMORIST?

MEMORIST is a French organization committed to “the safeguarding and valorisation of heritage.” They have pinpointed the Lenox guesthouse in Cape Town’s Gardens district for their latest venture, transforming it into a boutique hotel and artist residency.

What is the goal of the Lenox Transformation Project?

The goal of the Lenox Transformation Project is to create a distinctive blend of art and hospitality, offering a fresh dimension to Cape Town’s flourishing arts scene. The project also aims to seamlessly integrate South African art, culture, and craft, resulting in a space for artistic expression and community interaction.

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A Creative Haven in the Making: The Lenox Transformation in Cape Town