27Boxes Melville

by Cathy Gatland, Johannesburg, South Africa

A new shopping centre called 27Boxes opened up recently in the bohemian suburb of Melville, one of my favourite sketching haunts. It’s made entirely of shipping containers and aims to encourage young designers, artisans, craftspeople and entrepeneurs to set up shop in the funky new spaces.

At first I was distracted on the roof of the shopping area by familiar scenes seen from the different high viewpoint. An antique shop in an old house, with Melville Koppies in the background – wintry trees, the Dutch Reformed Church and electricity pylons festooning the hills.

And looking down at 4th Ave shops with the huge Charlotte Maxeke (formerly Jhb General) Hospital in the background

At last I faced the complicated angles and perspectives of one of the facades of the centre – and chickened out of trying to make sketching sense of them. I concentrated instead on mostly back views of tenants and customers who came outside to admire the new development, some dancing to the great music (70’s, yeah!) being played by a local radio station that was there on this official opening day.

Time for lunch in a box – a light filled Italian café where I sketched from our tiny square table over soup and coffee, still avoiding tackling those constructional details that would’ve taken me all day.

Finally, a couple outside on the steps, enjoying some of Paul’s Homemade Icecream in the ever present and welcome winter sunshine.

I guess I’ll have to go back to draw the actual 27Boxes, when I’m feeling stronger architecturally.