One of Durban’s first settled areas, the historic Point Precinct, is now home to a contemporary new building: the headquarters of The Lion Match Company.
The first new building in Mahatma Gandhi Road (Point Road) in decades, the R80m new Lion Match Company head office includes a five-storey, 5,000m² mixed-use development made up of a 2,000m² distribution warehouse, corporate offices, retail space and covered parking.
Originally located in landmark premises in Umgeni Road, when its proximity to residential areas was no longer appropriate for health and safety reasons, The Fasic Investment Company, who bought The Lion Match Company from South African Breweries in 2001, relocated the match manufacturing plant to Rosslyn, Pretoria. However, there was still a need for state-of-the-art offices in Durban and The Lion Match Company became the first blue chip company to put down roots in the Point Waterfront.
Design of the new premises was awarded to Durban-based architectural firm, Emmett: Emmett Architects which was charged with creating a new home for The Lion Match Company.
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
