In a just over a year from now, members of the public are expected to be able to access the courtyard, one of the hidden components at the site which until recently housed the "Shipping House." The whole site will soon be undergoing major transformation.

According to the managing director of Locus Architect, Mr Alex Ellenberger, the young Seychellois architect who designed the plan of the new infrastructure to be erected on Benezet Street in Victoria, the decision to open up the courtyard is to provide a haven where shoppers can find some peace of mind away from the bustling Market square.

The Shipping House is an old building formerly owned by Mahe Shipping Limited and which has been in existence for almost half a century. The redevelopment project of the two-storey building is being promoted by a new proprietor, Gonsalves Investment (Pty) Limited.

Instead of doing away completely with the building which holds some elements of traditional Creole architecture, the new developer has agreed for its partial demolition to make way for major renovation work to further enhance the quality of its structure and give it a new modern look.

Once refurbished, the two-storey building will house nine units to be turned mainly into antic shops on the ground floor and a café with table and chairs to be accessible from the courtyard area, and commercial outlets will replace the offices on the first floor. Not expected to attract hard-core commercial electronic-type-shops, the ground floor of the new complex is to offer the ideal premises for arts and crafts entrepreneurs selling souvenir items, jewellery and can also be an interesting spot for bookshops.

Speaking to Business Nation, Mr Ellenberger said that what attracted him at the building's site was an enclosed courtyard which had over the years been turned into a car park with a number of smaller sheds erected within the compound.

"We explored the idea to basically open up the courtyard and turn it into a public place," he said, adding that the area would be turned into "a kind of square with a lively decor of plants, a special retreat – something that is lacking at the moment – from the streets and noises within the town area."

In view of high public movement and concentration along Revolution Avenue and on Benezet Street, especially on Saturday mornings, the plan has been designed to open up the courtyard into a route-through or a short-cut linking Revolution Avenue with the market, Business Nation was told.

Opening up the courtyard will also give members of the public access to shops from the inside, and this will help to reduce pressure from pedestrians on the pavement along Revolution Avenue.

Another two-storey block will be added on to further shape-up the courtyard.

The construction of the complex will be sub-contracted to different parties and will take place in stages.

Most of the building's tenants have moved out and the remaining two shops still operating there will do so in due course.

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