The Mission for Inner City Cape Town has rolled out a series of walkability and public-space upgrades anchored by the launch of a new Walking Routes map.
“Our work is about showing that Cape Town’s inner city is not only walkable but welcoming, inspiring and full of possibility,” says Tim Harris, Co-Founder of The Mission for Inner City Cape Town. “As we head into the festive session, these interventions – from seating and greening to lighting, art and diverse retail – become more important as they create a space where locals and visitors can slow down, explore and enjoy the inner city safely. This is a practical investment in public life that makes the city centre more enjoyable for everyone who moves through it daily.”
Key elements of the 2025 programme include:
- Walking routes and wayfinding Highlighted pedestrian routes and intuitive visual cues are being introduced to improve navigation and encourage exploration beyond commuter paths. The new map, launching this December, brings these elements together to support safer, more confident movement through the inner city.
- Seating and greening
- New concrete planters with integrated seating now activate the area beneath the Bree Street Gallery murals, adding greenery and dwell space.
- Movable timber benches in a red-to-plum gradient and upgraded street lamps have transformed Church Lane into a more welcoming pedestrian space.
- Bree Street Gallery An old electrical substation has become the Bree Street Gallery featuring murals by artists including Kirsten Sims, Yay Abe, Xolani Sivunda, Danielle Clough, Aviwe Plaatjie, Marti Lund, Lelethu Fundakubi and Amy-Lee Tak. The gallery is a key anchor within The Mission’s public art-linked walking network.
- St George’s Mall kiosks Two refurbished kiosks now host new creative and food concepts. The Kiosk of Curiosity showcases locally crafted dioramas while an adjacent food-and-beverage operator brings renewed activity to a corridor used by over 120 000 pedestrians daily.
- Strand Street Crossing A new ground artwork by Skinny laMinx Designer Heather Moore improves visibility at a busy intersection while introducing a distinctive public design element.
- Lighting upgrades Warm festoon lighting from Litehouse and targeted lamp replacements have made Church Lane more inviting after dark with local businesses reporting increased evening activity.
Retail curation By connecting landlords with independent entrepreneurs, The Mission continues to support a more diverse retail mix. Ultraviolet Gallery on Shortmarket Street is a recent example transforming a vacant café into a gallery and framing space.
“These interventions show that meaningful change doesn’t always come from mega-projects,” says Harris. “Sometimes it’s a bench, a light, a planter, an artwork or a thoughtfully chosen retailer that reshapes how people feel about their city. Together these projects help position Cape Town as a benchmark for inclusive urban renewal on the continent.”
