The range and calibre of retail architecture is wide and generally underappreciated in Cape Town’s city centre.  Architects include Harrods of London’s designer, Louis Blanc, to Cape Town’s pioneering modernist, Max Policansky.

This tour is led by Brett McDougall. His retailing career includes senior positions at Massmart, Builders Warehouse and SPAR. Brett is passionate about South African architectural history. He received the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation lifetime award. He now chairs Muizenberg Heritage.

Brett has researched fascinating facts and stories; he has great observations and reflections.  Eccentric retailers, intergenerational enterprises, ”facade-ism”, mega businesses, market stalls and how shopping has changed.  Some of us may recall our grandmothers putting on their best (including gloves), driving to the local station in the suburbs and going to the department stores with purchases hand delivered later in the day.

Brett published with architect Shaun Gaylard, RSA365 – Drawings of South African Architecture. Brett researched and wrote most of the text accompanying Shaun’s 365 drawings. (He will bring the book to sell and personalise, to the tour.)