There’s a black dog and kennel at the entrance to The Concierge. About as unusual as razor wire, you’d say, except this dog – and its identical siblings posing around the courtyard is a rather long oversized sleek black dachshund cast from a 35-year-old mould.

In a collaborative, conceptual effort with Durban's Egg Design team, Greg and Roche Dry, Modern Museum created The Concierge Boutique Bungalows. Built on the site of eight heritage-listed buildings, the 1920’s façade remains, but inside you’ll discover modern, high-end luxury with a distinctive, quirky style never seen before. 12 guest rooms laid out in 4 bays are colour themed with design variations, stunning custom finished furniture and shower areas that are best described as being soaked in warm jungle rain. The Concierge Boutique Bungalows is nestled in a cool, leafy courtyard which also houses the equally impressive Freedom Café.

OUR STORY
The Concierge Boutique Bungalows is both name and concept, one that has traveled some distance and taken a long time to pull together into the fabulous space that it is now.

Originally, it was destined to be a creative village, appropriate for the offbeat Greyville vibe. The process of acquiring the eight individual and listed historical homes was a long and painstaking one but, ultimately, all eight have been refurbished and moulded together around a peaceful courtyard, home to a magnificent fig tree which has become nature's centrepiece while the extraordinary, award-winning steel container housing Freedom Café is the man-made one.

There’s been incessant talk over the years about Greyville and rumours of its gentrification remained just that. Businesses bought up listed houses, moved in, moved out; little vintage homes imploded with a sigh; reputations were bought and sold down the little lanes between Lilian Ngoyi (Windermere) and Stamford Hill Roads but, all in all, the area has flourished and grown into something well worth exploring.

This area probably holds more listed buildings and valued architecture than most others in Durban - the charm of the homes and the lanes is always there, just tarnished. Unscathed, the beautiful Union Period St Mary’s Church is not only a visual gem, but the only authenticated Herbert Baker building in Durban.

Alongside it is the original Victorian church, now the church hall, and, together, they present a great face to Lilian Ngoyi Road. The church tower is visible from The Concierge Boutique Bungalows and the bells ring out richly midweek and on Sundays – a wonderful visual and aural juxtaposition of old and new.

Greg and Roché Dry of Egg Designs were responsible for all interior design, décor concepts and elements. Each house has three rooms each with a different colour-way, a shift in design and its own identity. Some have verandahs while others overlook the courtyard.
It is boutique in the true sense of the word, for each piece is custom-designed for the space and the intention. As Neil says "This is a true boutique hotel - we didn't just "boutique" the reception and mass produce the rest".

Collaboration is the order of the day here, particularly when it comes to the graphic identity. All those little details that make it quirky, fun, stylish and interesting - from the fig leaf strategically placed on the clear glass shower enclosures to the hand picked items in the mini-bar and the humorous ‘Do Not Disturb (dog)’ door signs.

The heart of The Concierge Boutique Bungalows is the container, which holds the hotel reception and Freedom Café. Guests can breakfast indoors at the diner-style arrangement or outdoors under the tree while they enjoy cakes and patisseries, drinks at the bar or breakfast and lunch off a set menu.

Outsiders can become insiders too and the area has become a cool spot for regulars to hang out for breakfast, lunch or drinks. Freedom Café is open for dinner on Friday evenings.

A great deal about The Concierge Boutique Bungalows is the result of personal experience. Neil travels and knows what he likes and what he doesn’t. He’s created a venue, a menu and accommodation for others like him – those who seek solace at the end of a hectic day, but still want the options of interacting with the locals, trying new flavours and chilling in the courtyard or at the bar in Freedom Café.

From inside The Concierge Boutique Bungalows, you can see a little park across the lane – it’s clearly visible through the tennis-court fencing, used in preference to a wall – and The Concierge Boutique Bungalows has become its caretaker: ‘We don’t own it but, a bit like the Japanese concept of “borrowed space”, we look after it.’

Pretty much like the role of a concierge.

ROOMS:
DOUBLE ROOM OVERLOOKING COURTYARD
- 26 sqm
- KING SIZE BED
- FREE Wifi
- AIR CONDITIONING
- LCD TV
- DSTV
- INDIVIDUAL DESIGN

TWIN ROOM WITH VERANDAH
- 29 sqm
- KING SIZE BED
- FREE Wifi
- AIR CONDITIONING
- LCD TV
- DSTV
- INDIVIDUAL DESIGN

KING ROOM WITH VERANDAH
- 32 sqm
- KING SIZE BED
- FREE Wifi
- AIR CONDITIONING
- LCD TV
- DSTV
- INDIVIDUAL DESIGN