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An ingenious collaboration between the Design Indaba, Beefeater Gin SA and I Love The Dough sees a trendy new public space, The Parklet, come to life.

As the hospitality and restaurant industries come together to rebuild, spaces like The Parklet, which recently launched on International Gin and Tonic Day 2022, become so integral as we learn to navigate this “new” normal life after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Situated in front of Bree Street’s I Love The Dough, the buzzing central location aims to rejuvenate the Mother City’s CBD by welcoming a unique kerbside attraction to the mix.

“Beefeater Gin’s brand purpose is to ‘refresh your love for life in the city’ and we were looking for meaningful ways to help rebuild the hospitality industry while reconnecting with our brand community in their beloved city spaces in the aftermath of the pandemic,” says marketing portfolio head, Grant Hendricks. He adds that the brand has had an ongoing relationship with I Love The Dough, which shares the brand’s desire to make an impact in their community.

Cast in a quirky pink neon hue from I Love The Dough’s signature glow with an eye-catching timber frame, The Parklet, designed by Thomas Chapman, an award-winning architect and former Design Indaba conference speaker, is a kerbside attraction like none we’ve seen before!

About The Parklet

The Parklet’s striking design embraces sustainability and promotes green spaces by bringing a unique timber frame to an unassuming parking spot in the city.

The timber is derived only from harvesting alien materials, a process specified by Design Indaba and called Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), which aims to rid water-draining plant life from catchment areas by removing alien vegetation from the Western Cape landscape. The end goal is to build a more sustainable future.

“It is incredible to see how Thomas and his team have completely transformed an urban pavement into an urban oasis. What was once merely a parking spot is now a testament to the power urban design interventions can have on city improving city life. We’re elated to see our mantra ‘a better world through creativity’ realised in an effective way. We look forward to seeing people out and about on the streets and enjoying the parklet – after all that’s what it’s for!” says Design Indaba founder, Ravi Naidoo.

I Love The Dough and Beefeater 

Signified by epic sundowner sessions, signature wood-fired pizza, and views of Table Mountain in an exceptional inner-city spot, The Parklet is where urban living celebrates interaction through shared community spaces.

“It’s amazing to see what this partnership with Beefeater, the world’s most awarded gin, has allowed us to achieve with our unique landmark. What a pleasure it is to see people sitting outside our Parklet and enjoying warm days and balmy evenings. Over the summer months the sun sets later and later, and it will stay light outside until 9pm, which means you can enjoy an extended sundowner session or supper while hanging out in The Parklet,” says I Love The Dough’s director, Marco Picone.