The House of Machines in Cape Town is not your typical bike shop. Nor is it your typical bar, or cafe, or clothing retailer. Instead, the South African store and creative space is a hybrid of all of these things, launched to give the public a place that offers experiences and products unavailable elsewhere in the city.

A collaboration between bike builder Drew Madacsi, fashion designer Paul van der Spuy and craft beer group Brewers & Union co-owner Brad Armitage, The House of Machines is an exercise in clashing ideas together to find harmonious results. The coffee shop that occupies the main space becomes a bar on Thursday and Friday evenings, while a clothing department and machine workshop take up the back section. In the front, punters can get their morning caffeine fix; in the back, a touch of adrenaline, with motorcyclists able to browse and buy customised racers and retro-styled gear.

Although admittedly some visitors might not be able to define what its owners are trying to do, The House of Machines is set up with the idea of fostering a community of people who are interested in each of the elements featured within. Like we've seen with the Belgian multi-purpose space, Wasbar, this symbiotic branding - or, brand within brand - approach is becoming increasingly popular as small companies look to expand from one niche into another. From freshly made coffee to cold beer and the smell of gasoline, The House of Machines aims to appeal and cater to anyone - bikers and non-bikers alike.