Cape Town CBD to get second-tallest skyscraper

After more than a decade of planning, speculation, and redesign, Cape Town is officially entering a bold new era of urban development.

The city’s second-tallest skyscraper, a 41-storey mixed-use tower, has received final approval from Building Development Management (BDM), clearing the way for full-scale construction at 1 Bree Street.

Cape Town’s tallest building is the Portside Tower, which stands at 139m.

The landmark project, which has already begun preliminary demolition works, is poised to become a new architectural icon in the Mother City, dramatically altering the skyline and revitalising the heart of the Central Business District.

Ambitious Scale and Vision

Standing at a projected height of 131 metres, the new tower will encompass 66 000m² of developed space.

The building will feature:

• 505 hotel rooms
• 270 residential apartments
• 4 000m² of retail space
• A luxurious 22nd-floor swimming pool with sweeping city views

The design also thoughtfully integrates a heritage building on the corner of the site, merging historic charm with contemporary glass and steel architecture.

‘Acsiopolis 2’: A Nickname for a Landmark

Online fans and architecture watchers have already dubbed the development “Acsiopolis 2”, drawing comparisons to the original high-rise of the same name in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Much like its northern counterpart, the Cape Town tower aims to blend lifestyle, commerce, and hospitality in a vertical format that reflects global urban design trends.

The project is being led by a prominent developer listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), with an extensive portfolio spanning light industrial, retail, and mixed-use assets both in South Africa and internationally, including in Cyprus.

Their experience is expected to deliver a high-quality build that speaks to both scale and sophistication.

With its elegant architecture, diverse functionality, and central location, the 1 Bree Street skyscraper is set to become a flagship feature of Cape Town’s future skyline, reinforcing its position as a modern African metropolis.

If you can’t go sideways, go up … right?

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