Introducing Blok Raw

Urban property developers, Blok, are bringing a new product to the market with Blok Raw – an innovative and creative extension of the Blok brand aimed at introducing a new range of Blok urban homes in a new price band and in new locations within Cape Town’s growing urban centre.

The Blok Raw concept was borne out of the rapid escalation of property prices since Blok’s inception in September 2014 coupled with a response to the need for more dynamic property offerings within the ever-expanding city. Blok’s Managing Director and Co-founder, Jacques van Embden, shares: “As an off-plan developer, we frequently saw this growth in pricing climb drastically from when a project was launched to its handover some 12 to 18 months later. This often meant that whilst buyers who had bought off plan had seen excellent capital growth over this period, they would also have experienced significant changes in their affordability.”

He continues: “We wanted to introduce a game-changing, responsive product to the market that pushes the boundaries and limits of the current narrow understanding of urban property offerings.

Blok Raw enables us to do just that whilst exploring the other side of our design personality. That said, Blok Raw is still Blok in every way. It may have a slightly edgier and more industrial look and feel, hence the name, but Blok’s signature staples of thoughtful design, third spaces, communal living and design innovation are still as present as they’ve ever been.”

As with all Blok developments, each Blok Raw building features site-led architecture, meaning that it is informed by its context. In addition, each urban home features elements that are open to individual interpretation – particularly the third spaces, such as a clever shelf that can be used as a bar, desk, ornamental display unit or TV stand. There are also areas that may serve as dens, auxiliary TV rooms or home offices – a signature of Blok’s design style.

The Blok Raw interior features screed flooring, exposed concrete ceilings and lighting as well as bagged brick walls. A splash of colour is added to each apartment with feature accents of cabernet, denim, olive or turmeric. In addition, the fittings are mostly open and modular.

Blok Raw will be introduced within FORTY ON L- a brand new development concept that responds to the needs of today’s market for diversified urban housing in well located areas through the inclusion of urban apartments that serve the currently uncatered-for middle income market. The site for the proposed development is currently a vacant piece of land in the Bo Kaap.

“We are excited to be pushing boundaries and challenging the role of an urban developer in a growing, changing urban city,” concludes van Embden.