Property

Construction underway for R1 billion ultra-luxury Cape Town apartment building

Kirsten Minnaar • 18 June 2026

Construction has entered a major new phase on the R1 billion 240-unit ultra-luxury apartment tower, The Paradigm, in Cape Town’s CBD, with work beginning on its signature cantilevered pool deck.

Designed by dhk Architects and constructed by Tiber, The Paradigm will comprise 240 luxe, ultra‑modern apartments, ranging from short‑stay‑friendly studios to larger two‑, three‑ and four‑bedroom homes.

And at the top, two penthouses will form its crown, each with private terraces and plunge pools that overlook the city bowl and Table Mountain.

According to Tiber’s managing director, Jose Correia, the building will feature several high‑spec services. These include:

Full backup power for all apartments and common areas
Electric vehicle charging bays in the basement
Fibre‑ready infrastructure with redundancy
Water‑saving systems and smart metering
A design framework aligned with Green Star sustainability principles

“People want certainty,” Correia said. “They want to know that the lifts will run, that the lights will stay on, and that the building can operate independently when it needs to. We’ve designed The Paradigm to meet those expectations from day one.”

Located at 100 Buitengracht Street, the development sits between Heritage Square, Bree Street’s restaurant district, the Company’s Garden and the V&A Waterfront corridor.

The address that will allow residents to walk to major employment nodes, hop on public transport, and access the city’s cultural institutions, cafés, eateries, and shops without needing a car.

“In the middle of a working city, but with the mountain always in view, this is the real magic of The Paradigm – the site,” Correia said.

Along with its residential components, The Paradigm will also feature a double‑volume lobby with 24‑hour concierge service, high‑tech access control, underground parking, co‑working areas, and a pool deck.

Residents can also enjoy a curated mix of ground‑floor retail, including a restaurant and deli, a coffee shop, a gym, a wellness spa, a laundromat, and a pharmacy.

“These are the amenities that support the way people live and work in the city today,” Correia pointed out. “You can live, work, train, shop and relax without needing a vehicle.”

Supported by a R1 billion funding partnership with FNB, he said this reflects confidence in the development and continued growth of the Cape Town CBD residential market, as well as the investment potential yet to be unlocked.

Work begins on The Paradigm’s luxury pool deck

Following the recent completion of basement works and bulk excavations, The Paradigm is becoming an increasingly visible component of Buitengracht Street’s cityscape.

Now, Tiber has moved into another complex phase of the development – the construction of the seventh‑floor cantilevered pool deck.

The pool deck, which is set in a cantilever over the street and surrounded by breathtaking views, is among The Paradigm’s most defining features.

“The pool deck is a structural challenge in its own right,” Correia said. “You’re suspending a significant load above a busy urban corridor, which means the reinforcement, the formwork, and the sequencing have to be flawless.”

He explained that navigating the steep, traffic‑bordered, heritage‑sensitive site is no easy feat. “This is one of the most technically demanding CBD sites we’ve ever worked on,” he said.

“You’re building a high-rise on a narrow urban footprint, with heritage buildings on one side, a major transport corridor on the other, and a steep fall across the site, so every part of this project has to be planned and built with precision.”

Correia explained that for him and his team, the move from excavation to vertical build is a significant milestone.

“Once you come out of the ground on a site like this, the choreography changes. You’re managing crane logistics, concrete pours, traffic interfaces and pedestrian safety simultaneously. It’s a live environment,” he said.