Take one old church, add some vision and creativity, and the result is a harmonious fusion of historic and modern architecture – a community gym, not just for getting fit, but for members to work, meet and socialise.
The nave of the Berea Presbyterian Church is bathed in light glowing through the beautiful stained-glass windows, filling the space with heavenly grace. Looking up towards the vaulted ceiling today there’s a chance you will feel the same celestial connection worshippers felt back in 1886. That was the year the red brick building was constructed and its architects could surely not have imagined how elegantly it would be repurposed almost 150 years later.
Ten years ago the Presbyterian flock shrunk so much the church on the corner of Manning and Berea Roads was sold, prompting some locals to fuss and cluck. Wither the church they wailed: a victim of the times and urban decay creeping up the hill from downtown Durban.
Glenwood is valiantly resisting degradation and there are some stalwarts in the battle, beacons of hope, holding the line against crime and grime. Today the old church is one such magnificent monument to property investment on the Berea.
While others are struggling against a tide of litter seldom swept away, the church sparkles. It is a light, bright and tidy place and at the heart of a splendid redevelopment.
In 2012 the building was sold to property entrepreneur Ahmed Hansa, who also bought the adjoining property on Lena Ahrens Road. Among those commissioned in the revamp was interior designer Craig Bennett of Bennett Interior Design Studio.
The adjacent building was demolished, the church was meticulously preserved, and an entirely new modern building was constructed, bolted onto the old one to create 1st Fitness, possibly the smartest new gym in town.
The facility now boasts over 1 000 members. It has two levels of secure parking – one level exclusively for women who have their own private entrance to the gym.
A host of features include a dedicated indoor cycling room, one of the largest weight lifting floor areas in Durban, a below ground “dungeon for mixed martial arts and boxing”, a health coffee shop, lounge, rock climbing wall, aerobics studio for ladies only, an outdoor running track, kiddies playroom and 24/7 security.
Bennett describes 1st Fitness as a destination, and Hansa, also a supplier of gym equipment (Fitness Warehouse), has ensured that 1st Fitness is kitted out with state-of-the-art equipment.
To build on to the church involved sinking foundations 14m deep. Specialist craftsmen toiled to conserve the church’s key elements. Its wooden trusses were bolstered and the windows and masonry repaired.
The result is a harmonious fusion of historic and modern architecture, with huge windows allowing light to flood into the exercise space.
Says Bennett: “This was an extraordinary opportunity to be involved in a one-of-a-kind project that Durban had never seen before. Our client was very involved and had an infectious energy that made the creative process extremely dynamic. “Being an independent gym, I was given the opportunity to design without limitations, and encouraged to challenge my own preconceptions of what a gym should be. Our aim was to create a community gym not only as a space for physical fitness, but a space for members to work, meet and socialise.
“The overall aesthetic success of the project is that if the old church building and the new modern addition were to be separated, they could just as easily stand as independent buildings on their own architectural merits.
“It is a bold contrast between old architecture and new, giving a respectful nod to the building’s history and a new lease of life by promoting health and wellness”
”Hansa’s property portfolio began with a refurbishment project off Musgrave Road almost 30 years ago. Since then he has renovated a host of buildings, including Berea Court, an Art Deco gem that has won several accolades for its restoration.
“I get great pleasure turning buildings around,” Hansa said. “I have been lucky to be at the right place at the right time and to have the partners that I have, like TUHF (the property financing company). The gym turned out to be all I wanted it to be. Training here brings people great joy. It is a happy place, a home away from home.
“It is a bold contrast between old architecture and new, giving a respectful nod to the building’s history and a new lease of life by promoting health and wellness. It is a unique project representing a generous investment in the development of the Berea we are proud of.”
Hansa said Durban’s Berea had inherent value. “It is central, convenient, and has a lot of great community amenities. The returns in renovating here are much higher than investing in new builds in uMhlanga, for example. And it is much quicker to refurb than build from scratch. There are challenges, but there are challenges everywhere.
“We’ve got involved in the UIP and other initiatives. Many people want to live in a cocoon and that’s just not feasible. There are poverty and development challenges all around us and we must apply ourselves to them as best we can. I thank God for the opportunities I have in my space.”