The single storey semi-subterranean laboratory on the hill at Cape Point, was built to be totally unobtrusive in its highly sensitive natural environment of the Table Mountain National Park and world famous tourist attraction.

The project included renovation of two historic lighthouse keepers’ cottages, an historic pathway and rehabilitation of previously damaged nature area. This was the first project where local stone “loose pack” technique was used in the Cape Point Nature Reserve with the intention to encourage the local flora and fauna to gradually inhabit and camouflage the walls. The roof was designed as a green roof with fynbos vegetation cover.