14 Oct Reopening the Old Town House: Designing for Dialogue Between Past and Present
When the Old Town House reopened its doors after years of restoration, it was far more than the return of one of Cape Town’s most historic landmarks — it marked a renewed conversation between the city’s colonial past and its contemporary cultural landscape.
Located on Greenmarket Square, the Old Town House stands as one of Cape Town’s oldest public buildings, once serving as the city’s civic heart. Closed for several years following fire damage and extensive conservation work, the reopening has allowed the Michaelis Collection — an assemblage of Dutch and Flemish Golden Age paintings — to return to public view. However, this reinstallation does more than restore what was lost; it reframes it, questioning it through the juxtaposition of a critical contemporary lens.
The Michaelis Collection now enters into dialogue with contemporary works, creating space for new interpretations of the colonial imagery that helped shape Cape Town’s historical imagination. These centuries-old paintings — once symbols of European prestige — are now encountered through a critical contemporary lens, acknowledging their aesthetic and historical value while also confronting the difficult legacies of empire, trade, and displacement they represent.
New Black and Brown voices must now interrupt this space — not as guests, but as essential contributors — bringing critical discourse that dissects the enduring impact of colonialism and apartheid. Through this process, the collection will actively pair this historical and contemporary dichotomy, creating room for complex, often uncomfortable conversations. These dialogues are necessary to reimagine what such collections can mean today — as catalysts for reflection, repair, and renewed cultural agency.
Studio Form’s Role: Designing for a Living Collection
As part of this landmark reopening, Studio Form was commissioned by Iziko Museums of South Africa to design and fabricate a modular display case system for the new installation of Japanese Hokkusai woodblock prints.
The case needed to protect fragile, unframed prints while accommodating a rotating display schedule — allowing curators to present new configurations without compromising the conservation environment. The result was a custom-built case featuring integrated ventilation, adjustable shelving, and three interchangeable configurations, making it both adaptable and precise.
Each shelf incorporates built-in LED lighting, recessed into the structure to cast a gentle top-down illumination onto the print below, ensuring even light distribution while meeting conservation standards. Safety glass and controlled air circulation protect the works, while the modular design allows for future curatorial flexibility.
Craft, Collaboration, and Care
With appointment confirmed in November 2023 and the exhibition opening in February 2024, the timeline demanded precision, coordination, and creativity under pressure. Working across multiple teams — from fabricators and lighting specialists to conservators and curatorial staff — Studio Form led the exhibition build process with a strong focus on quality control and schedule integrity.
The final result was a cohesive and immersive environment that respected the spiritual depth of Mahlangu’s art while offering visitors an engaging spatial experience. Every design decision — from scale and proportion to material finish — was guided by a commitment to amplify the artist’s voice and visual rhythm.
A Reimagined Space for Reflection
The reopening of the Old Town House — and the reinstallation of the Michaelis Collection in conversation with new works — signals a pivotal shift in how museums in South Africa engage with their collections. Instead of preserving history in silence, The Old Town House now serves as a space for critical dialogue — confronting the painful legacy of colonialism while embracing the perspectives and creative energy of a new generation. It bridges the visible and the overlooked, urging us to look forward with purpose, yet never forget the past
Studio Form’s display design plays a subtle but crucial role in this reimagining — offering a technical framework that supports curatorial storytelling while ensuring the preservation of objects spanning from the 12th century to today. From ancient ceramics to modern interpretations, the display system reflects the museum’s ongoing evolution: a place where history is not merely preserved, but continuously reinterpreted.
Project Details
Project Title: Old Town House Hokkusai Prints Case
Client: Iziko Museums of South Africa
Location: Cape Town
Timeline: 2024–2025
Type: Exhibition Design Display
Studio Form Roles: Designer, Production Manager, Project Manager
Core Services: Design Development, Technical Drawings, 3D Renders, Procurement, Fabrication Oversight, Installation, Budgeting, Stakeholder Coordination