About

Built in 1878 as a Victorian face-brick barn on one of Upper Woodstock's leafiest streets.

In 2000, myself and three partners purchased the building. For the next 25 years it was home to our photographic studio — four commercial photographers working side by side, servicing the Cape Town advertising industry.

Through the years partners moved on, and ultimately Chad was left as custodian of this beautiful barn. Then Covid changed everything for photographers, and it was time for a change.

In that time Chad repurposed the building as a photographic gallery, but Woodstock was too quiet for passing tourist trade, so he subsequently moved the gallery to Bo-Kaap in the city centre — where it is now a thriving, vibrant space for his work.

That left the barn free for its next chapter.

Chad had a vision to repurpose this amazing space into luxury suites. He brought in architects and designers, and together they conceptualised the preservation and conversion. As it is a valued heritage building the exterior remained, but inside all that mattered was kept — and what the studio never had was added: softness, quiet luxury and space to breathe.

The 1878 is that vision: an unexpected gem in Woodstock waiting to be discovered.

It is also an extension of Chad's gallery, where you stay inside the artwork. The scale of the barn lent itself to going oversized — which is how Chad loves to show his work. In the suites his images are used as large-format wallpaper murals, appropriate to the scale of these walls. Alongside them are original photographs: some favourites from his city-centre gallery, and some that have never been viewed before. It is possible to purchase the works directly from Chad during your stay.

The murals put you inside the picture. Wake up on the street. Step out onto a rooftop. Walk the promenade at sunset. Take the stairs and enjoy the view of Table Mountain.