Welcome to a world of intrigue…

Arriving on a sunny Autumn afternoon, I am inside the power station with one of the strangest experiences in heritage tourism – witnessing the transformation of a rusty and dilapidated hulk of the former power station into a fascinating and luxurious 5-star boutique hotel. It is wonderful when it feels like a hotel has just moved into an already existing building, especially when the building is as captivating as this one. It felt extraordinary that an old, industrial structure could create such an exceptional canvas for a hotel.

The conversion into a luxury hotel was a meticulous project that preserved the industrial heritage while creating unique and stylish accommodation. All the old machinery which was used in this power station has been lovingly restored and forms an integral part of the hotel’s aesthetics.

Steamy history

To get a feel for what the Turbine Hotel is, we needed to understand a bit of the history of its location. The hotel stands on one of the Thesen islands – a series of flat, reclaimed islands in the middle of the Knysna lagoon.

It had been 24 years since the 3 chimneys of the Knysna power station belched out smoke, generating electricity. Built in 1939 and fuelled by wood waste from the local sawmill, it was decommissioned in 2001. In the beautiful location in the heart of South Africa’s iconic Garden Route, the community watched the slow-motion decline of the derelict power station building.

As a museum concept never materialised, the site was sold in 2007 to the current Hotel owner and operators, Geoff Engel and Dandre Lerm-Engel. The hotel development was an ambitious project which took three years to transform the old power station into a unique luxury boutique hotel offering guests exceptional cuisine, stunning views and world-class facilities.

Powering up at the Turbine

It was exciting exploring the hotel as the industrial backdrop of bare bricks and huge whitewashed walls is softened by a sense of playfulness in the decor. So lovingly was the old machinery restored that it forms an integral part of the hotel’s aesthetics. The pipes and former working parts are painted not just for decor but for what they were used for, green and blue pipes represent salt and fresh water. The actual working parts have been left in place, and the hotel is built around them, hence the eclectic nooks and crannies, rooms and dining areas.

Walking into the foyer, we were greeted by a glass section of the floor that reveals the island’s original level several meters below. The original wood boiler, four electricity generators and much of the equipment have been fully restored and blend in with the hotel’s décor themes.

The hotel features bright colours, exposed brick, eye-catching art, combined with elements of the original power station equipment, all creating a visually striking and memorable experience.

My husband worked on power stations as a young engineer, so he felt like an excited child exploring all the generating equipment of old.

The large bare factory walls are the perfect backdrop for large canvases for emerging South African artists in the lounge and foyer areas, and are for sale. The hotel takes pride in supporting local talent and accepts works for submission, displays and sells the artwork on their behalf.

Accommodation & Facilities at The Turbine Hotel

Although there is an industrial element to the architecture, it blends seamlessly with luxury. The 26 rooms – luxury suites and standard rooms, a glorious honeymoon suite and two spacious self-contained suites adjacent to the hotel that are ideal for those in search of a little extra privacy. The palette is mostly white with splashes of colour, wood coloured laminate flooring and stylish unusual mirrors. Each bedroom has been individually decorated and is themed and named to reflect the rich cultural, historical and geographic diversity of Knysna.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly initiatives

Since its inception, The Turbine has made every effort to be as eco-friendly as possible and has been committed to responsible and sustainable tourism. It has maintained a relatively light footprint over the years due to a range of energy and water-saving measures. The rooms and public spaces were designed to maximise natural light and ventilation, rainwater is harvested, water shut-off devices are fitted, and water-saving fittings are included in all bathrooms. The renewable energy solutions like the 22 new solar panels, the kitchen runs off gas and all paper, cardboard, glass and plastic are recycled, and the kitchen’s organic waste to sent to a local pig farm.

Culinary adventure

Island Cafe

With head chef Greg Coleman at the helm, dining at the Island Cafe is a memorable interaction with food. I felt that the name of the restaurant did not do justice to the exceptional food that he produced. He gently explained the menu options to us with appropriate wine pairing. His suggestions of venison carpaccio, poached prawn on soya noodles, steamed black mussels in a fragrant coconut sauce and roast springbok in a cauliflower cloud and forest mushrooms were sublime.

The unusual, gourmet breakfast menu selection was also outstanding. Instead of a buffet table for fruit, cold meats, cheese and pastries, these were served in high tea-type three-tier cake stands, making the start to the day feel very elegant.

He ensures that the hotel’s food follows a farm-to-fork and ocean-to-table philosophy. The organic herbs and salads come from local farmers, and with his hobby being beekeeping, he tries to use honey in many of the dishes.

Continuing the industrial feel, the Island Cafe restaurant is where the three main turbines are situated. We could sit under and among the turbines for breakfast, lunch and fine dining at night. The decor takes on the quirkiness of the building by combining heritage dining chairs in different colours with the bright red, orange, green and blue painted pipes as well as paintings by a well-known local Knysna artist.

Gastro Pub

The vibey and interesting pub offers classic pub meals, on tap draught beer, an extensive wine selection and glorious lagoon sunset views. Friday night happy Hour during the season also has live music.

Turbine Spa

The spa is situated in the heart of the hotel and has a wide range of treatments. Feeling very pampered, I enjoyed an afternoon relaxing, having an aromatherapy massage. Gentle music, soft lighting and an excellent therapist made for a superb afternoon of pampering. There is an exotically mosaic-tiled Rasul steam room, and an impressive range of body and facial treatments for men and women is offered. The hotel offers pamper packages for couples that include a delicious lunch too.

The outdoor swimming pool on a wooden deck allows guests to enjoy relaxing views of the lagoon and alfresco light meals.

Access & Location

The Turbine Hotel sits on Thesen Island, a multi-award-winning marina development in the scenic Knysna Lagoon. It is just a short walk across a causeway from the Knysna Waterfront and town centre, where there are some lovely shops and restaurants.

It is approximately a 50-minute drive from George Airport.

The hotel stands out among other hotels in Knysna as it is a living testimony to the past of this unique operation and site. Once again, it resumes its place as part of the Thesen Islands and Knysna community, as a heritage site and haven for both locals to drop in and for tourists passing through this extraordinary destination.

Your time is not up yet

Old building, new ideas. When “listening to a building”, adaptive reuse enriches the future and is an opportunity to impact not just individual structures but a continuation of the building’s evolving story.

If you enjoy exceptional and unconventional luxury, then this restored and ingeniously converted power station hotel will inspire and electrify you.

W: Turbine Hotel
T: 044 050 3500
E: Reservations

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Written by Diane McLeish for Luxuria Lifestyle International