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We are Niaz and Migyle
We live by the motto that if we can see it, we can build it!
As neighbourhood retail developers, we create contemporary, eco-friendly,
people-orientated spaces (honouring heritage) for brands and businesses to share their story with the world.
Meet our retail developers
The V&A Waterfront is one of the country’s premiere retail destinations, renowned for customer excellence and the kind of variety that guarantees you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for. But to cater to every preference, passion and pocket, our team works hard to curate and craft the perfect retail spaces to give brands a stage to tell their stories.
Our team of retail developers, led by Niaz and supported by Migyle, are expert at building the ideal spaces for modern retailers, while still celebrating the heritage that is deeply rooted in our neighbourhood. Explore how they create welcoming spaces that are sustainably minded and focused on enabling opportunity for all.
As V&A Retail Developers, we see ourselves as a conduit between the boots on the ground (engineers, architects, builders and more), the wants and needs of retail brands, and the values and priorities of our neighbourhood. In developing spaces, there are many stakeholders that need to be considered and it’s our job to make sure that the various parties are happy with the final product.
Because the Waterfront is not your typical space, where you are building from a fresh canvas, protecting the heritage of our storied neighbourhood is a crucial consideration. We work mindfully to preserve the fabric of the past, while ensuring that spaces work for the business and community. We don’t believe that spaces should stand empty, when they have potential to serve the community. Our goal is to bring them to their highest and best use, without disrespecting their roots.
We are also mindful of inclusivity and creating opportunity throughout the way that we develop. We do this through various ways, from prioritising the comfort and functionality of pedestrians and the general public (instead of creating exclusionary retail spaces) and by upskilling smaller contractors to work on bigger and bigger projects, as they prove themselves.
As a neighbourhood, we are active champions of sustainability. We work with the broader team at the V&A Waterfront to plug into the various planet-friendly initiatives and innovations (such as smart water use, waste-wise solutions and re-purposing materials as much as possible) already happening in the neighbourhood. We even work with one of our contractors to make sure that any usable but unwanted materials, finishes and furniture find new homes with organisations in need.
A day in the life
From internship
to impact
From
internship to
impact
Niaz: “When I was younger, someone took a chance on me. Now, that I can enable someone else, I am a firm believer that you have to ‘return the favour’. When I met Migyle, I realised he had immense talent and great potential. I also realized that his strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa, and that we could complement each other. 7 years later, and the proof is in the pudding: Migyle is an impactful and inspiring mover and shaker in this team.”
Migyle: “I started at the V&A straight after my studies, as an intern, in 2018. It was a big break but what really helped to leap-frog my career was the trust of a mentor like Niaz. He saw something in me and threw me into the deep end. I am proud to say that, with help, I’ve learned to swim, and to keep learning and growing. It’s a real blessing to have a mentor like Niaz and to work in an organisation that really cares about the growth of its teams.”
“Working in property, you get to watch something grow. You get to move it from decision and design all the way to completion. That moment when the community steps in and begins to use your space, that makes everything worth it.
Niaz & Migyle / Retail Developers
What’s next for new retail spaces at the V&A?
At the V&A Waterfront, we do things differently. We push our visionaries and the executors of that vision to be bold and to push the boundaries. We encourage innovation and personal growth, through challenging our teams to take things to the next level.
Keep your eyes peeled for exciting developments coming soon. Just like our Granger Bay redevelopment, where we will revolutionise the shoreline. What about another exciting project for your enjoyment? Well, you heard it here first: we’re working on renovating the iconic amphitheatre at the core of our waterfront world to accommodate more visitors. If we can see it, we can build it!
Read the next chapter
Chapter 06
Deidre
Social Impact At The V&A
