It’s been quite an exciting year thus far, especially since our beautiful home-town and mother city, Cape Town has been chosen as World Design Capital 2014.

What is World Design Capital?

“The World Design Capital is an international city promotion project that celebrates the merits of design. Held biennially, it seeks to highlight the accomplishments of cities that are truly leveraging design as a tool to improve the social, cultural and economic life of cities, throughout a yearlong programme of design-related events.”

The central theme behind the Cape Town’s successful bid, ‘Live Design. Transform Life.‘ focuses on the role that design can play in social transformation. You can learn more about the theme and sub-themes: here.

This year Cape Town will host over 460 design projects aimed at transforming the city… and we are proud and excited to announce that we, Design Monarchy, will be involved in one of these super worthy causes! Yay!

We will be assisting with the décor and design makeover of the Acute Care Surgery Ward in Groote Schuur Hospital. 

Groote Schuur Hospital is a large, government-funded, teaching hospital situated on the slopes of Devil’s Peak in Cape Town, South Africa. It is famous for being the institution where the first human heart transplant took place, conducted by surgeon Christiaan Barnard. The hospital underwent major extension in 1984 adding two new wings adjacent to the beautiful main building first built in 1938.

It is in this “new” wing that the Acute Care Surgery Ward is located. Like in most state-funded hospitals it is in dire need of sprucing-up and some features are seriously worn and tired.

The ward makeover project is spearheaded by Head of the Acute Care Surgery Unit, Dr Juan Klopper and assisted by Dr Angela Dell. Dr. Klopper rightly believes that creating a comforting environment can have a positive effect on patient recovery as well as emotional well-being while staying in the unit. One of the challenges of this project will be to continue running the extremely vital and busy 24/7 surgery unit as normal throughout the renovations.

Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa | image via http://www.cput.ac.za/about/visit/groote-schuur-hospital

The façade of the main building built in 1938 | iamge via https://www.flickr.com/photos/hilton-t/5546402017/

The entrance to the “new” Groote Schuur wing | image via http://web.uct.ac.za/old/health/alumni/round_campus.htm

Design Monarchy will be collaborating with PG Bison and Plascon, who is graciously donating materials and paint to this worthy project, as well as Easy Life Kitchens who will be manufacturing the cabinetry and joinery items free of charge.

In order for this makeover to be a resounding success, we still desperately need the help of willing partners…

What we still need:

Furniture – chairs for the waiting room; visitors chairs for the ward; and a handful of office chairs for the doctors & nurses.

Fabrics – for window & privacy curtains; as well as re-upholstery of selected furniture.

Blinds – for selected windows.

Décor & Art – office-type accessories; art – be it paintings or prints; and framing.

Automotive Spray Painting – the wards beds and pedestals needs respraying and automotive would be the most hard-wearing.

If you own or know of a local company or business that is willing to donate some of their time, product or services to this VERY worthy cause, please do not hesitate to contact us. This project is an excellent opportunity to  make a charitable contribution whilst linking your company name to a renowned initiative such as World Design Capital can facilitate brand awareness and an indirect marketing pay-off.

Read more about the Groote Schuur project on the World Design Capital website: here.