The Shul Shine-Up

Welcome to the story of the upgrade to the Marais Road Shul in Sea Point, Cape Town—a project I fondly call the “Shul Shine-Up.” This was not a renovation to reinvent, but a thoughtful restoration meant to honour the building’s original architecture while breathing new life into it. The goal: upgrade and renew, not redo.

This approach aligned perfectly with my personal ethos—repurpose where possible, elevate where necessary, and always work with the soul of the structure. We added new materials, but only to enhance and support the beauty that already existed.

“It’s looking a little bit tatty!” were the exact words of the generous donor who single-handedly funded the entire upgrade. That was my cue—to breathe new life into this grand old dame of Art Deco architecture, a true landmark on the Sea Point skyline. I hoped the result would not only revive the Shul but inspire the community too—because as they say, change is as good as a holiday. And we know where the word holiday comes from... Holy!

Not Everyone Loves Change

One thing you learn on a public project of this magnitude: not everyone welcomes change—even when it’s well-intentioned and lovingly designed. No matter how much training or experience goes into each design decision, suddenly everyone becomes an interior designer.

I've dealt with this dynamic before, but never in such a public and emotionally charged forum. Still, every opinion was heard and considered with compassion. Ultimately, the original scope had to be kept front and centre. As the appointed interior designer, I saw my role as team leader—navigating the maze of opinions while keeping the vision intact.

A Sudden Opportunity

Like many of my projects, this one came with a tight timeline. But this deadline would top them all.

It all started with a call from a dear friend—the kind who makes me laugh until my stomach hurts and joins me for cold-water swims. “Dan,” she said, “there’s someone who wants to fund a Shul upgrade. What can you put together for me to show him?”

“When do you need it by?” I asked.“Like… the day after tomorrow.”

Yikes.

Two days later, I had assembled a comprehensive presentation: a lookbook, existing photos of the Shul, mood shots from past projects and Pinterest, colour and material samples, a proposed scope of work, and a rough budget. We had a Zoom meeting with the benefactor to flesh out the vision. It went well, and in principle, we had the green light.

The Waiting Game

Next came internal meetings with the congregation’s volunteers—the people responsible for the Shul’s financial oversight. Understandably, there was some back and forth; after all, this project carried both emotional and financial weight. But in time, we aligned on the vision, scope, and budget.

By then, it was almost the December industry shutdown. We would have to wait for the new year.

The Countdown Begins

On January 10, 2025, I landed back in Cape Town from a trip to the UK—and hit the ground running.

After several conversations with the Rabbi and the Shul’s President, we set a deadline: Pesach (Passover). That gave me three full months. Tight, but doable.

Then came the curveball:“Dan, we have a wedding booked for March 18. Can you be ready by then?”

What could I say? This was someone’s wedding day. Of course I would make it happen.

And so I did. With full focus, unwavering dedication, and some serious Divine intervention, we delivered the project in just 8 weeks.

Transformation Begins

The Marais Road Shul went from “adom”—the Hebrew word for red, which once dominated the space—to a sanctuary of modern light, all while preserving the soul of this 99-year-old structure.

• Six-storey scaffolding was erected to repaint the ceiling bulkheads—a nerve-wracking sight!

• The central chandeliers were carefully removed by harnessed workers, cleaned, and restored from decades of sea breeze corrosion.

• We clad walls in marble, added sacred geometry patterns like the Seed of Life to subtly remind visitors of our collective unity.

• All 1,276 seats were unpicked and reupholstered. Along the way, we discovered treasures: flyers from the 1960s, an old tram ticket, sweet wrappers—forgotten mementos of lives lived in these pews.

• Elegant wrought iron balustrades were custom-made in the spirit of Art Deco, and new joinery uncovered 1963 newspapers inside the walls—history frozen in time.

• We installed new carpets and vinyl flooring, cleaned up the courtyard, alleyways, and road-facing façade, and replaced all signage to create a cohesive design.

  
  

The entire space was reimagined to feel as though it had always been this way—as if every detail had been part of the original plan.

A New Chapter

The result? A Shul ready for its next chapter—light-filled, warm, inviting. A space that encourages a youthful energy, sows new seeds of growth, and honours every layer of its history.

This project reminded me that true design is not about tearing down and starting over. It’s about honouring what’s already there. About elevating the old bones of a structure with thoughtfulness and care.

It’s easy to throw things away and begin anew. But that’s not the society I want to be part of. Preserving heritage—and finding beauty in the details of the past—is food for the soul.