From Classic...To Contemporary : Introducing The Raffles

Taking a building with history, and working with it to create something contemporary and stylish, presses all the right buttons today. The irony is that, particularly structurally, it’s usually far costlier to upcycle and remodel, than to demolish and rebuild. It was certainly the case at the brand-new residential development, The Raffles, but the developers chose to work with Hilken Centre’s legacy, rather than erase it. 

How many remember the early days of Hilken Centre at 49 Hilken Drive, with its row of shops on the ground floor, and flats on the upper floors? Designed in 1975 by local Umhlanga architect, Mr A Cooper & Associates, the building was developed by two names synonymous with Umhlanga history: Ken O’Connor, an early mayor of Umhlanga, and his sister, Kay Hill nee O’Connor, both the owners/developers of the legendary Oyster Box Hotel and Hillcon Centre in the borough’s ‘CBD’. The “Hilken” in Hilken Centre and Drive was the amalgamation of their two names. They also donated the Park which lies in front of The Raffles, to the borough of Umhlanga, as a permanent green space for the town’s residents.   

Over time, the building was sold, and the new owner converted the flats into office suites.

In 1993, the present developers bought Hilken Centre, and together with PGA Architects, reworked the dated building into a residential space by taking full advantage of glorious sea views, introducing a lift shaft, allowing for ample parking, and crafting it into a stylish 21^st century apartment block. That old 1975 structure was pulled back to the original solid concrete grid, then reconstructed and extended with a new roof, new electrical and plumbing. Brand new, with the solidity and legacy of old. This small gated complex, The Raffles, as it’s known, now stands at over 5500 square metres, and includes 20 luxury apartments of varying sizes and configurations – 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms - all with expansive patios to capitalise on the sea views.  The elevated position is superbly convenient, half way between the Umhlanga beach and promenade, and the bright lights of Gateway, with King Shaka airport an easy 20-minute dash away. 

Something rather satisfying about enjoying panoramic views over so much of what that legendary Umhlanga family, the O’Connors, was instrumental in pioneering.  For new residents, there’s literally a solid bit of Hilken Centre in The Raffles, just enough to retain the wonderful history and nostalgia.