Swakopmund building cannot carry itself, says developer defending refurbishment plan

By: Victoria Ashipala

Property developer of the planned hotel at the old Swakopmund municipal building said the current foundation of the 120-year-old structure does not support the structure’s existing weight, therefore it requires an internal refurbishment. 

The building’s owner Rakhat Darmesh explained that every building has a lifespan, and just like this 120-year-old heritage site, they want to give it a second life. 

Darmesh said the plan includes preserving the exterior of the building while demolishing the rear section and doing internal refurbishment. 

Darmesh’s sentiments come after the Namibia Heritage Council reportedly blocked plans to demolish the former municipal building and post office on Erf 989 in Swakopmund for conversion into a hotel. 

However, Darmesh said the building, in its current state, poses a serious health and safety risk, adding that the proposed refurbishment is based on a structural engineer’s report.  

“The structural engineers report states that the current foundation of the building cannot hold the current weight of the building already. If I am not mistaken about the numbers, as far as I remember,  the current payload of the building three times exceeds the actual carrying capacity of the foundation,” explained Darmesh.  

He stated that after receiving approval from the Swakopmund Municipality for the development to go ahead, they had hoped the process with the Heritage Council would be handled in a similar manner. However, they were informed that they would not be allowed to make interior changes, which prevents them from complying with health, safety, and fire regulations.  

 

“Once I would have made my submission to the Tourism Board and to the govermental instituitions that govern the hospitality sector of the economy, I would not be able to pass health and safety, fire regulations,” said Darmesh, adding that companies that manage hotels will also refuse to manage the property because they are not complying with the health, safety and environment requirements. 

 

Darmesh further stated that all items inside the building that have historic value will be donated but will seek guidance from the municipality and the Swakopmund Residence Association.

 

However, built heritage officer Jurgen Kuhanga, said the building’s current structure is still intact and does not require massive construction. He added that the heritage value of a building does not only lie in the visible exterior but also in the original structure, material, spatial layouts, and historic fabric of the building.  

 

“The available assessments indicate that the building is structurally sound and the need for large-scale demolition does not arise from inherent structural failure of the historic building itself,” remarked Kuhanga.