TAMBOURINE
Located on Harrington Street in Cape Town’s East City precinct, Tambourine occupies a former church parsonage dating to the early twentieth century. The area forms part of District Six, a neighbourhood defined by layers of social, cultural and architectural history.
Located on Harrington Street in Cape Town’s East City precinct, Tambourine occupies a former church parsonage dating to the early twentieth century. The area forms part of District Six, a neighbourhood defined by layers of social, cultural and architectural history.
Project: Tambourine
Location: District Six, Cape Town, South Africa
Type: Restaurant
Status: Completed 2025
Architecture & Interior Architecture: Hours Clear Architects
Team: Annemie van den Heever, Stefania Siniscalchi
Client: Gorgeous George Hotel
Photography & Videography: Honeyman Films
The building itself has continuously adapted over time — from parsonage to creamery, and now a contemporary dining room for small plates and shared tables — reflecting the layered urban condition of its surroundings.
The project is conceived as a layered collaboration rather than a singular architectural gesture.
Architecture, art and light operate in quiet dialogue, allowing multiple authorships to coexist. A ceiling-mounted light sculpture by Ralph Borland anchors the interior, while façade artwork by Marti Macfly and custom light fittings by Greg Marshall contribute to an atmosphere that feels informal, social and familiar.
An outdoor dining area extends the restaurant into the surrounding urban fabric. Here, locally manufactured clay tiles by Klay introduce texture, warmth and tactility, grounding the project in material honesty and local production.
Designed to attract a younger, relaxed dining crowd, the interior avoids overt nostalgia. Instead, material restraint, use and time are allowed to define the character of the space, creating an environment that feels as though it has always belonged there.
