Location: Khayelitsha, Cape Town
Program: Commerical
Client: Virgin Active SA
Status: Completed
Area: 30sqm

Lufefe Nomjana founded Espinaca Innovations in 2012, starting with nothing more than a borrowed neighbour's oven. Over time he earned the affectionate titles of 'Spinach King' and 'Popeye of Khayelitsha', building a loyal following through his mission to promote healthy eating in the community. The new kiosk at the busy Khayelitsha Mall gives this remarkable story a permanent home — a bold green shipping container refurbished to house a juice bar shopfront and a fully operational bakery kitchen at the rear.

The design concept draws inspiration from the dynamic form of a paper plane — light, energetic, and full of ambition. A dramatic folded roof canopy lifts above the container, creating a generous shaded outdoor seating area, while timber planters lining the façade serve as a vertical herb and vegetable garden, reinforcing Lufefe's farm-to-table philosophy and connecting the architecture directly to the food it produces.

Design Concept

To express the energy and vitality of a healthy lifestyle the Espinaca brand has to offer, the roof of the kiosk is shaped into an aerodynamic form and the side of the container is cladded with a series of timber planters to harvest fresh spinach.