Property JULY/AUGUST 2011
Est. 2004, Issue 223
KWAZULU-NATAL
decor, trends, luxury, design & real estate
Winner of 10 publishing awards
SWIMMING UPSTREAM: A GREEN ARCHITECT
PURE AND SIMPLE
GORGEOUS DECOR & DESIGN TAKES RECYCLING TO A NEW LEVEL
Living on the South Coast THE GREEN ISSU REDUC E:
CARBON FE YOUR AT HOME OOTPRINT AND PLUS! LAT WORK. GREEN TR EST ENDS
KEYS TO PARADISE
9 771811 700007
Linda Erasmus, CEO of Fine & Country South Africa, on interpreting the new consumer laws
11 0 0 7
WHEN TECHNOLOGY & SPACE COLLIDE
TIME TO BUY ON THE GARDEN ROUTE RSA R34.95 (incl. VAT) Other countries R21.90 (excl. Tax) Beach Cottage, St Helier, KwaZulu-Natal South Coast
EXTRAORDINARY:
R830 000
Office: 031 566 6260
12
Contents GREEN
21
14
the ‘man’s world’ of architecture.
TREADING LIGHTLY Eco-sensitive innovations in a success of Melrose Arch.
44
These experts have the goods cost- effective to run.
Durban’s most wanted.
9 45
SOLAR FLAIR Green Star-accredited architect, importance of environmentally conscious design.
TRENDS HOT PLATE The Collective gears up to inspire,
REAL ESTATE 49
Circus Circus hits the beach, and a fro-yo emporium with a twist
VISIONARY INTERPRETATION Guest Editor, Linda Erasmus, CEO of Fine & Country South Africa, explains the importance
The V & A Waterfront’s newest
of getting to grips with the
luxury hotel, the Queen Victoria.
Consumer Protection Act.
BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
50
WIN!
RESIDENTIAL Exclusive developments in Kloof and Umzumbe.
51
COMMERCIAL Matt Black Future Fashions hot
A Bissell POWERwash
new space, Dube TradePort on
POWERBRUSH Select deep
the fast track, and Vintage Hotel brings conferencing to Greyville.
cleaner, valued at R2 999,95!
DESIGN 16
Our pick of the hottest,
A ROYAL AFFAIR
the new Hillcrest Private Hospital
48
A FEEL FOR GREEN greenest decor items.
Celebrating the completion of
Matthew Friedland, on the
10
SOCIETY
56
LUXURY
ROOT TO TIP to keep your home green and
14
August is Women’s Month. We
Essential eco-friendly gadgets –
Cape Town home, and the green
39
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY chat to women who’ve made it in
green universal charger.
24
42
HOT STUFF a clock powered by water, and a
21
33
i
52
OFFSHORE The emerging African cities of
PURE & SIMPLE
Gabarone and Lusaka, a quaint
Joy Brasler updates her beach
villa in Provence, and how to buy
cottage in cool eco style.
property in the UK discreetly.
comes to Florida Road.
12
HOT DECOR & DESIGN Why hoarding is good, local arts and crafts, and quirky items to add spice to your living areas.
ON THE COVER St Helier beach cottage facelift. Turn to page 16 for details.
33
OUR GARDEN OF EDEN
56
The Garden Route, a fairy-tale come to life, is brimming with investment potential.
July/August 2011 | 1
Safe Heaven. Spacious freehold golf villas from $1.25 million Buying a property at Villas Valriche, the double award-winning Mauritian estate, epitomises luxury tropical living. You will own a home in a country: U That boasts 40 years of political stability, with a strong and thriving
US$ based economy and one of the world’s best performing property markets.
U That welcomes and incentivises investment from South Africans, with
no foreign exchange controls, capital gains or inheritance taxes.
U With a world-class infrastructure, that offers a safe environment for
your family and a secure home for your assets.
Thousands of South Africans already invest, work and live in Mauritius. To find out why, send today for our villa information pack with a free copy of the 16-page report “IRS: Why You Want to Invest in Mauritius”.
+27 11 518 0400 0861 113 985 info@villasvalriche.com www.villasvalriche.com VV_PropertyMag_June.indd 1
20/05/2010 13:39
Property
thepropertymag.co.za
EDITORIAL Editor Nicky Manson nickym@medianova.co.za KwaZulu-Natal Bureau Chief Anne Schauffer anne@medianova.co.za Senior Subeditor Yaron Blecher Features Writers Genevieve Fisher (Western Cape) AndrĂŠ Fiore (KwaZulu-Natal)
Gauteng Sales Anine Ehlers, Marc Lahoud, Obed Sealetsa, Damion van Alphen Namibia Sales Mynard Slabbert Traffic Controller Liesl Dodgen
art Art Director Warren Uytenbogaardt warren@medianova.co.za Senior Designer Trudine Scannell Senior Retoucher Tim Lake Junior Designer Madeleine Dreyfuss CONTRIBUTOR Jackie Gray Photographers Val Adamson, Sally Chance, Grant Difford, Tim Lake, Natalie Payne, Grant Pitcher, Waldo Pretorius PRINTING Paarl Media
marketing Circulation Director Vanessa Marks Senior Events Manager Mariska Neethling PUBLISHED BY MEDIA NOVA (PTY) LTD Managing Director Tony Vaughan tony@medianova.co.za Associate Publisher (Namibia) Mynard Slabbert mynards@mweb.co.za Finance Manager Leanne Cox leanne@medianova.co.za Credit Controller Dominique Bendix dominique@medianova.co.za Online Assistant Catherine Riley Technology Coordinator Jean-Paul Siljeur Receptionist Kashiefa Jacobs Driver Willem September, Joseph Khoza
ADVERTISING sales@medianova.co.za Group Sales Director Shanee Smart Western Cape Sales Tharien Nel, Michèle Jones, Justin Lyons KwaZulu-Natal Regional Sales Manager Jenni McCallum KwaZulu-Natal Sales Charles Roets
SAPOA Property Journalism Awards 2011: Winner – Best Property Publication Nedbank Property Association Awards 2010: Winner – Mover & Shaker Award (Tony Vaughan) PICA Awards 2009: Winner – Special Award, Overall Publishing Excellence PICA Awards 2008: Winner – Consumer Magazines, Largely Free Distribution, and Highly Commended: Editorial Excellence, Public Interest Writer of the Year (Ed Suter) 20th SAB Environmentalist of the Year & Environmental Journalists of the Year Awards 2008: Winner – Merit Award, Print & Internet SAPOA Property Journalism Awards 2008: Winner – Best Property Publication, and Special Mention – Property Feature Journalist (Ed Suter) PICA Awards 2007: B2B – Publishing Excellence, Leisure Mondi Magazine Awards 2005: Winner – Foresight SAPPI PICA Awards 2005: Winner – Philip Tyler Trophy for Innovation in Magazine Publishing Brandhouse Media Owners Challenge Awards 2005:Winner – Innovation in Publishing SAPPI PICA Awards 2005: B2B – Highly Commended Mondi Magazine Awards 2004: Industry – Finalist Launch Edition: April 2004 WESTERN CAPE 3rd Floor, 33 Bree Street, Cape Town 8001 PO Box 50601, The Waterfront, Cape Town 8002; Phone 0861 765 833 Fax +27 (0)21 421 7891 GAUTENG 8th Floor, Fredman Towers, 13 Fredman Drive, Sandown, 2196 PO Box 785828, Sandton, 2146; Phone 0861 765 833 Fax +27 (0)11 884 2830 KWazulu-natal Ground Floor, 55 Gladys Mazibuko Road, Berea 4001 Postnet Suite 329, Private Bag X10, Musgrave 4062; Phone 0861 765 833 Fax +27 (0)31 208 5278 Namibia Phone +264 (0)61 248 161 Fax +264 (0)61 245 942 SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES Email subs@ramsaymedia.co.za Online magsathome.co.za Local Phone 0860 100 203 Fax 086 670 4101 International Phone +27 (0)21 530 3255 Fax +27 (0)21 531 7303 SMS 41871 with reference ‘Property Magazine’ (R2/sms) for subscription enquiries EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES General editorial@medianova.co.za Society Western Cape socials@thepropertymag.co.za Society Gauteng socials@thepropertymag.co.za Society KwaZulu-Natal socialskzn@medianova.co.za Hot Property hotproperty@medianova.co.za Published monthly in three regional issues: Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Current ABC Audited Circulation (Q1 2011, January–March): Western Cape – 31 482, Gauteng – 32 275, KwaZulu-Natal – 19 906, Total Nationally – 83 663 Web Stats: over half a million hits (548 668); Property Club Members – 24 884 AMPS Audited National Readership (2011A): 287 815
Property POWER UP
WESTERN CAPE
Property
LIVING ON THE WATER’S EDGE
HOT ECO GADGETS & HOMEWARE
AT BIG BAY
THE GREENHOUSE ORGANIC WINING AND DINING AT CELLARS-HOHENORT
SWIMMING UPSTREAM: A GREEN ARCHITECT
THE GREEN ISSUE:
REDUCE YOUR CARBON AT HOME FOOTPRINT AND WORK. PLUS! LATEST GREEN TRENDS
KEYS TO PARADISE TIME TO BUY ON THE GARDEN ROUTE
GAUTENG
SWIMMING UPSTREAM: INTRODUCING THE JEWEL OF SANDTON’S CBD KATHERINE & WEST
GREEN ARCHITECT PROFILE
CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUSINESS
DESERT STAR!
NAMIBIA’S DREAM DEVELOPMENT
Hollywood meets shared ownership
KEYS TO PARADISE
Property PURE AND SIMPLE
THE GREEN ISSUE:
KEYS TO PARADISE EXTRAORDINARY:
amid the greens
Malls Tiles is the largest independent tile distributor in South Africa and carries the largest range of tiles. We are pleased to announce the launch of our Contracts Division which has been initiated to best serve the tile requirements of Developers, Architects, Construction and Interior Design companies. FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT:
KwaZulu-Natal ˆ 'MRH] 7LEYR email: contractskzn@mallstiles.com Gauteng & Mpumalanga: ˆ %RH] &VMER ˆ 'LVMW -QVEER Western Cape: ˆ ,EQMIH %VGLMI email: contractswc@mallstiles.com
REDUCE YOUR CARBON AT HOME FOOTPRINT AND WORK. PLUS! LATEST GREEN TRENDS
REDUCE YOUR CARBON AT HOME FOOTPRINT AND WORK. PLUS! LATEST GREEN TRENDS
FANCOURT’S NEWEST DEVELOPMENT
Linda Erasmus, CEO of Fine & Country South Africa, on interpreting the new consumer laws
GORGEOUS DECOR & DESIGN TAKES RECYCLING TO A NEW LEVEL
Living on the South Coast
TIME TO BUY ON THE GARDEN ROUTE
THE GREEN ISSUE:
MONTAGU RIDGE
KWAZULU-NATAL
SWIMMING UPSTREAM: A GREEN ARCHITECT
Quietly Tiling Africa
WHEN TECHNOLOGY & SPACE COLLIDE
Linda Erasmus, CEO of Fine & Country South Africa, on interpreting the new consumer laws
TIME TO BUY ON THE GARDEN ROUTE
Linda Erasmus, CEO of Fine & Country South Africa, on interpreting the new consumer laws
On this month’s covers Western Cape: Montagu Ridge, Fancourt, George. +27 (0)44 804 0000, fancourt.co.za Gauteng: Desert Star, Namibia. +264 61 401 536, desertstar.na KwaZulu-Natal: Beach Cottage, St Helier
Rest of South Africa and Countries surrounding South Africa ˆ ,EWWER IQEMP LEWWER$QEPPWXMPIW GSQ ˆ 6ESSJ IQEMP rj@mallstiles.com
Disclaimer The publisher and editor of this magazine give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised within this edition. Copyright Media Nova (Pty) Limited. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Media Nova (Pty) Limited. The publishers are not responsible for any unsolicited material.
P. LE GRANGE & SEUNS/SONS
medianova.co.za
CONTRACTS DIVISION
ED’S LETTER
Photograph Grant Difford
The revolution: it’s green, but you can join it …
One cannot be tickled green, see green when angry or have a green Monday. Those expressions go to the more user-friendly colours – pink, red and blue, respectively. But don’t do away with green just yet, because with the rise of new urbanism, including energy efficiency, sustainability and the importance of reducing one’s carbon footprint, green is the coolest hue on the colour merry-go-round. Welcome to our annual Green issue. Did you know the first use of green as a colour was in the year 700? The word is also closely associated with the verb ‘growan’, meaning ‘to grow’, and represents nature and new beginnings. Quite perfect, really, since this is also my debut issue as editor of The Property Magazine. This month we provide knowledge, tips and ideas aimed at inspiring you to live a more eco-inspired life. Look out for our leaf icon in the pages that follow – it indicates a green interest story.
THE PROPERTY MAGAZINE ONLINE VISIT Browse thepropertymag.co.za for the latest features. FOLLOW US on Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/thepropertymagazine twitter.com/thepropertymag SUBSCRIBE Call 0860 100 203 to learn more about our special subscription offer.
‘Go green’ is the catchphrase of our time. People want to be seen as green; they want to be associated with green … And heaven help you if you don’t recycle! Living a green life is nothing new: former US Vice-President Al Gore emerged as the green cause’s foremost evangelist in 2006. Watching your carbon footprint is no longer just about separating your glass, paper and plastic, or building a worm farm in your back garden. It’s no longer about taking your own shopping bag in lieu of the supermarket’s plastic ones or using energy-efficient light bulbs. All good practices, mind you – but nowadays it’s simply not enough. You need to start from the bottom up, from the bricks and mortar of your home or workspace. Reuse the materials that you already own; install water efficient accessories and solar heating panels; and purchase from local suppliers. There are green building regulations, leases and, thanks to the earth-friendly Green Building Council of South Africa, Green Star ratings, in place to help you. And even better for all the green-blooded people out there, studies by the GBCSA have shown that people in green buildings suffer less from flu and asthma as a result of better ventilation and environmentally friendly paint and furniture. To be honest, there will never be ‘Green Rain’ or Roxanne putting on the green light. And having a Mr Green in Reservoir Dogs just doesn’t have the same ring to it. But, that said, if you look at the immense success of the green movement, and a couple of green superheroes to boot, there is something to be said for the colour green and its powerful PR company. So if you have not already, why not jump on the ‘Save the Planet’ bandwagon and enjoy the ride.
This month you simply must …
0861 765 833
Nicky Manson, Editor
Visit the Marion on Nicol boutique hotel in
Indulge with Savane, a certified organic
Go online and discover Lily Bloom, a
Support Cape Town’s bid to be World
Sandton. The hotel’s decor is a visual feast,
and ethical luxury skincare range. Reducing
handbag and accessories line created from
Design Capital 2014. From 56 hopefuls, Cape
with a black and white palette accentuated
their carbon footprint was the creators’ main
recycled plastic bottles. Hailing from New
Town has been shortlisted alongside Dublin
with deep shades of purple, while the Spa de
aim, and so the product is encased in 100%
York, this is certainly eco-friendly chic at its
and Bilbao and will learn its fate on October
la Veille is a must for rejuvenation of body
recyclable aluminium and has ingredients
most desirable! +27 (0)82 907 9055,
2011. Get on board and make some noise by
and mind. +27 (0)11 783 9952,
such as marula, rooibos, Aloe ferox, and
info@babsdirect.co.za
supporting our Mother City on Facebook and
mariononnicol.co.za
baobab pulp (with 10 times more vitamin C).
Twitter, or download the digital supporter
+27 (0)11 447 6159, savaneskin.co.za
button and spread the word! capetown2014.co.za
4 | July/August 2011
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You tell us
Property involves us all. What’s your view? Email readers@medianova.co.za. ON SHOW
TREND DELIGHT I absolutely loved your June ‘Trends’ section. It was so beautifully designed and so informative with regards to all areas of the home that I have hung onto this particular issue with strong arms to keep my daughter, sister, mother … from stealing it. It definitely is a keeper and will be my style guide when next I get the redecorating bug! Sally Frances, Parkhurst
GREENBACK PLANET
LETTER o
Words Nicky Manson Photographs Karl Rogers
I have read with interest several of your articles where property developers state that the cost of putting up eco-friendly buildings is prohibitive. It is my opinion that this problem applies equally to consumer goods. Why do supermarkets insist on a higher mark-up on eco-friendly products? Your average citizen who wants to do good by Planet Earth quite honestly cannot afford to pay through the nose for such products. Is it a case of supply and demand? That if more citizens were to purchase these ‘green’ products then the price would go down? Currently the message seems to be, ‘You want to be green? Pay the price!’ It’s a very fine line between that and the ‘sin tax’, if you ask me. Alternatively the message is that ‘green’ is a luxury – though we all know that that is decidedly not the case. A company that truly cared about the environment would put environmentally friendly products, price-wise, well in reach of your average consumer. Disillusioned, Parklands
SKY LIVING
f the Month
In the middle of Sandton’s financial business hub, which hums and bustles with activity, is a unique, triple-storey penthouse that oozes sophistication and style, but more importantly, gives off a quiet and peaceful calm. June/July 2011 | 15
SKY LIVING I enjoyed the penthouse living article you published recently. I cannot believe that there are people in this market buying properties for R40 million. I think it’s a positive sign for property sales in the future. This penthouse is particularly stunning. But reading further about Melrose Arch’s penthouses currently being built, with some going for R25 million, I see there is definitely a trend towards penthouse living and there are obviously people around with money to burn. Now to win the Lotto … Mark Grossman, Sandown
WINNING LETTER Write to us and you could win a Bugatti Glamour Range kitchenware hamper valued at R1 500! Thanks to a team of specialist designers, the comprehensive range of products is all about quality, beauty and practicality. italianlifestyle.co.za
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HOT PROPERTY
HOT SPACE
1
2
A royal affair
3
The freshly crowned Queen Victoria Hotel at the Waterfront asserts its place amid Cape Town’s five-star-hotel nobility.
L
ocated along Portswood
to the bespoke scent that wafts
locally sourced. The menu is concise,
the aesthetically pleasing dishes he
Road, a main artery into the
through the passageways. Presented
well priced, and changes every few
creates and the dramatic interiors, this
world-renowned Victoria
with a splendid palette of grey, taupe
weeks as new ingredients become
principle is expertly adhered to.
& Alfred Waterfront, the
and silver with regal purple and lilac
available. Stephen and his team even
majestic Queen Victoria Hotel lies in a
accents, a dramatic three-storey spiral
went the extra mile by sourcing
of the Queen Victoria Hotel is its
precinct of heritage buildings elegantly
staircase, marble-clad walls, glass
a home-grown, 18-month-mature
location, says Newmark Hotels MD Neil
perched between Cape Town Harbour
elevator, crystal chandeliers and the
cheddar called the Queen Victoria from
Markovitz. ‘Although you are in the
and Table Mountain. And, yes, you
South African-designed interior, which
a dairy in Prince Albert.
hub of the Waterfront, it doesn’t feel
guessed it: it has what are arguably
jump out at you, you really do feel as if
the best views in Cape Town. Most of
you have arrived. Francois says injecting some South
Words Genevieve Fisher Photographs courtesy Queen Victoria Hotel
the 35 rooms look out onto either the
The interiors of Dash complement
But the most striking feature
like it. The quiet and calm ambience
the sense of drama Stephen achieves
of the Portswood precinct makes you
with the contents of the oval, uneven
feel as if your are away from the hustle
sweeping mountain or the dock, and
African flavour into the interiors was
plates. The artwork is supplied by the
and bustle,’ he says. When choosing
the hotel itself is a sight to behold.
one of his main aims: ‘Jacques Erasmus
Everard Read Gallery across from the
the site for the new hotel, Neil and
designed some lighting fixtures;
Portswood precinct and every few
his team felt it was important that
transformation into the chic,
there are Gregor Jenkin tables in the
months it gets replaced with new
guests experience five-star tranquillity.
contemporary, luxury Queen Victoria
restaurant; Louise Gelderblom ceramics
work by local artists. The parquet
‘The Queen Victoria is in an exclusive
Hotel was achieved by a dedicated
and fynbos-print wallpaper,’ he says.
wooden flooring, black leather seats,
position, giving high accessibility to
The heritage building’s
quirky black Gregor Jenkin tables,
Cape Town’s leisure and entertainment
Cohen of Peerutin Architects and
the 36-seat restaurant and bar, Dash,
signature royal-purple bar stools and
nucleus, the Waterfront, which
interior designer Francois du Plessis.
named after the queen’s beloved
otherworldly mirrored wall unite to
amplifies its five-star offering. Not to
The result is a glamorous enclave of
King Charles spaniel. Executive Chef
create an intimate, provocative space.
mention that every guest is treated like
sophistication and opulence where
Stephen Templeton takes a classic
Stephen believes that dining out
royalty,’ says Neil.
every detail has been considered, from
French approach to cooking and, apart
should be a formal occasion with a
+27 (0)21 418 1466,
the wallpaper decals of Queen Victoria
from the caviar, all the ingredients are
theatrical element to it, and between
newmarkhotels.com
The culinary offering at the hotel is
creative team comprising Tarryn
Dash restaurant wags with class. 2Views from the presidential suite – the Queen Victoria’s positioning within
Visit thepropertymag.co.za for more hot new
1
venues in your area.
the Waterfront is one the hotel’s crown jewels. 3The sweeping spiral staircase leads upwards from the atrium.
July/August 2011 | 9
HOT PROPERTY
HOT PLATE
A coffee stop that inspires, a beach stop for all hours, a hearty winter buffet, organic cheese, and fro-yo with a twist.
KEITH FRISLEY is the new executive chef at The Terrace at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa in Sandton. With this award-winning chef at the helm, patrons can look forward to dishes that are honest, pure and true to the produce.
Q You used to cook on the Trans-Karoo. Do you prefer working in a less mobile kitchen? I had just started my career then – working on trains – but I got married soon after. I prefer having my feet on the ground because I have someone special to go home to!
Q Your achievements include coming first place in the Golden Chef ’s Hat Awards. Are there any awards you still covet?
It is important for young chefs to take part in competitions as it builds character and confidence. As for me, the only award I am interested in now is having a satisfied customer every day and, of course, all the accolades that are bestowed on The Terrace at Fairlawns.
Young blood
The newly launched Collective, an artSPACE Durban initiative, is an art gallery created for the promotion of young artists under the age of 35 within the Durban area. The wrap-around veranda that flanks the gallery is being turned into a coffee shop with Wi-Fi, providing a venue where artists will be surrounded by like- minded individuals and inspired by the space around them. Not only does The Collective promote the visual art spectrum, but also music, poetry, and art forms that are not usually given a platform, such as street art and graffiti. The Collective will also act as an agent for many artists around Durban, promoting their work in other parts of South Africa. That way, The Collective will help them become established artists and sustain their vibrant, fresh art forms. +27 (0)31 303 4891, thecollective-durban.com
There is much more attention to detail in a boutique hotel in every way, from taking the call for a reservation to seeing customers off after their stay.
Q Describe a satisfying three-course meal.
Seared tuna loin with soya mayonnaise, cauliflower and caramel popcorn; springbok loin with red cabbage, mustard and parsley, and then sinful chocolate with Black Forest ham, hazelnut and cherry. Terrace Restaurant, Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa. +27 (0)11 804 2540, fairlawns.co.za
10 | July/August 2011
Cheese with a conscience
Just outside Ficksburg in the Free State is the family-run Uitkyk Farm, home to Green Goose Organics. Foodies around the country cannot get enough of the Goose’s organic Ficksburger reblochon, asiago, halloumi and mature boerekaas. The milk is produced by the happy, 100%-grass-fed cows that live on this eco- sensitive farm, so it’s a given that the taste and texture of the cheese is ambrosial. +27 (0)82 925 2770, greengoose.co.za
Compiled by André Fiore, Genevieve Fisher and Nicky Manson
Q You were apprentice chef at the Hilton. What is the biggest difference between cooking for a large hotel group and cooking for a boutique hotel?
HOT PROPERTY
HOT SHOP
Big top
Hot croissants and steaming muffins are just some of the offerings at the stylish,
Inspired choices to warm you up from the inside out.
new, ‘sunrise to sunset’ Circus Circus Beach Café, just down the strip from Mini Town risers and morning walkers, the menu
THE BEST OF BRITISH
turns from just-baked pastries and other
Vivienne Westwood has
breakfast treats to beach-style lunches –
fashioned a three- piece silk
wraps, fish, salads – as the day progresses.
coat modelled on the Union
A safe kids’ entertainment area and inviting
Jack to adorn the bottles
indoor/ outdoor decor and furnishings make
of a limited edition of the
it a great place to unwind and indulge in
super- premium Chivas
Durban’s year-round seaside appeal.
Regal 18-Year-Old Gold
+27 (0)31 337 7700, circuscircus.co.za
Signature Scotch whisky.
on Durban’s Promenade. Perfect for early
+27 (0)21 408 8800, chivas.com
SUAVE SUEDE Superga has launched a men’s suede boot shoe in various shades, adding a pop of colour to the winter blues. +27 (0)11 608 0023, superga.co.za
Winter warmth
LIVING LORE The just-launched book, Mooi Loop, details
As winter edges in, Green with Envy is rolling out its Sunday lunch buffet.
the life, opinions, memories and messages of
Served in the sunny restaurant, the spread includes home-made soup,
legendary Kalahari artist, Vetkat Regopstaan
freshly baked breads, health salads, roast lamb, roast chicken, chicken and
Boesman Kruiper. Accompanying Vetkat’s
prawn curry, roast veggies, pilaf rice, butternut and sweet potato lasagne,
artwork and text is poetry by his wife, poet
and a tempting array of desserts. For R110/person, and kids under 12 half
and author Belinda Kruiper. Three hundred
price, we think it’s a ‘yes please’! +27 (0)31 201 3779
copies of the limited first edition are available at R280 each. +27 (0)82 652 7091
Cool operation
The international fro-yo movement has landed in Florida Road. Wakaberry Frozen Yogurt Bar is the only self-service fro-yo bar in the country and offers 98%-fat-free, soft-frozen yoghurts in six delicious flavours plus a wide spread of tempting toppings, including chocolates, nuts, cereals, sweets and fresh fruit. Take away a cup (R10/100g) or eat in situ. A former art- galleryturned-hotspot, the flagship Wakaberry store is brightly decorated with
GUCCI GOES RETRO
imaginative wall art and hip style. Cool kids’ room, free Wi-Fi and chill-out
Taking its cue from the hard-edged glamour of the late ’70s, Gucci’s
zone. +27 (0)31 303 4157
Pre- Fall 2011–12 collection has just hit SA. +27 (0)21 421 8800, gucci.com
July/August 2011 | 11
HOT PROPERTY
HOT DECOR & DESIGN KATIE THOMPSON
Add some interest to your living areas.
of interior design and
has the gift of being
Boho flair
able to transform
bright colours and an interesting mix of patterns
the ordinary into
and prints. We love these pom-pom scatter
the extraordinary.
cushions and richly coloured glass goblets.
She tells us why
086 010 0987, woolworths.co.za
upcycled- furniture company, Recreate,
Spring/Summer 2011 at Woolies is all about
hoarding is not such a bad habit, and gives us her top tips for upcycling old interior pieces.
Q How did the idea for your company, Recreate, come about?
Quick fix
Running from 28 July to 18 September, Meeting the
Recreate happened very quickly and hasn’t
Makers at the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg is
really stopped. A combination of a few factors
an exhibition of works from crafters throughout KZN. It provides
led to the original idea. I always wanted to start
decor enthusiasts the opportunity to pick up covetable pieces
my own business. I have a background in and
by established designers, such as Andrew Early, Egg Designs,
a passion for interior design. And I’m a hoarder
Guido and Coralie van Besouw and Sibusiso Mbhele, as well as
with an overactive imagination! Being offered
items by unknown artists from remote parts of the province.
a space to exhibit at Decorex Cape 2009
The exhibition showcases the traditional alongside the new,
made the idea a reality – I started Recreate in
with 150 works by some 100 crafters. The works range from
February 2009 and launched with a range of
traditional Zulu ceramics to contemporary lighting to jewellery.
products at Decorex Cape three months later.
The exhibition is being sponsored by the National Arts Council and features an accompanying book containing images of the
Q How do you implement green strategies in the day-to-day running of your business?
artworks and background information on the exhibition and the artists and crafters involved. +27 (0)33 392 2801, tatham.org.za
Being a hoarder really helps! I don’t throw anything away, from paper to envelopes to bits of string to bubble wrap to old boxes and everything in between. Envelopes are reused as envelopes again. Boxes and other store packets are recreated into our own brand of packaging and price tags. Paper is reused until there is not much left to write or scribble on: if it looks pretty, I keep it to make gift cards; if not, then it’s recycled. All glass jars and plastic containers are kept for storage – we haven’t and will never have a need to buy Tupperware
Q Any tips for people wanting to upcycle their old furniture?
Other than giving sentimental old pieces a
new lick of paint and adding modern finishes
Burning the candle at both ends Yuppie Gadgets introduces the Tanglabra,
to bring them back to life, you can change the
a candelabra that can be twisted into
function of a piece that no longer serves its
curves, loops and knots. The flexible
original purpose. I constantly ask myself: Will
chrome stem supports two candles in any
it work upside down, sideways, or inside out?
position you choose. +27 (0)83 641 7259,
Does it work hanging on a wall or from the
urbangadgets.co.za
ceiling? If yes, then it could be a light. Does it have a door – if not, why not? Does it have hinges – if not, why not? … And I see it as a cupboard. Does it have a straight surface? If yes, then it could be a shelf. Anything is possible. +27 (0)21 447 0007, recreate.za.net
12 | July/August 2011
Compiled by Genevieve Fisher, André Fiore and Jackie Gray
or other office storage. Need I continue?
HOT PROPERTY
HOT DECOR & DESIGN
Plenty of pickings for you to customise your comfort zones.
Sleeping beauties
New to Coricraft is their Sleep Studio, a facility that allows customers to style their bedrooms from a range of seven key looks that include everything
Back from the shed
from linen and headboards to bed-ends and chests. 086 111 4779, coricraft.co.za
Proudly Durban-based, dodo is the just-launched design fledgling of Carine Goss, and she’s already making waves and turning heads with her four fresh ranges of furniture: pop, whimsical, chic and sprogs. Salvaged, refurbished and restyled in line with modern home decor trends, all furniture is sourced in South Africa and then meticulously decorated and hand-painted to create the kind of fabulously original pieces that have friends drooling with envy. Peep at her website for starters. +27 (0)79 906 0303, dododesign.co.za
Child’s play
Just a few months old, i love bokkie offers a trendy and fun option for kids’ decor and living spaces. Designer Wendy-Lee Douglas describes her work as ‘a home-grown, made-in-Durbs, true-to-SA antidote to “made in China” kids’ brands’, and her products range from funky kids’ furniture to ‘lovelies to be loved’. With her strong eco-friendly slant, Wendy-Lee also has a knack for turning the ordinary – rulers, formula spoons and bubble bath bottles – into wacky, put-a-smile-on-your-dial decor items. Easily available online, or contact Wendy-Lee for an outlet near you. +27 (0)82 890 2032, ilovebokkie.blogspot.com
Art stop
Recently opened in Botha’s Hill, Collections Gallery showcases works by the fine artists and crafters of the area. With arresting collections, in a variety of media, by established and upcoming artists, this is a stop for small as well as serious purchases. +27 (0)84 668 6174
This is a stick-up
Our love affair with vinyl wall stickers continues. My Wall Tattoos now offers inspiring quotes and phrases as part of this growing trend. +27 (0)21 802 4215, mywalltattoos.com
July/August 2011 | 13
HOT PROPERTY
HOT STUFF
RECHARGE THE LOT Mobile technology company, Idapt, has announced its latest creation: the Idapt i1 Eco Dual Universal Charger. Made from recycled materials and suitable for most electronic devices, this eco-friendly charger is designed to minimise your carbon footprint while you recharge your gadgets. It meets Energy Star standards and has an ‘auto-off’ function that powers down the device automatically when it’s not in use or when charging is finished. A car adapter, which comes included, means you can use the charger not only when
EGG TIMER
you’re at home or in the office, but also when you’re on the go. The Idapt i1 Eco has two points of charge, a USB port and an interchangeable ‘tip’
Tell the time the natural way with the Gaia Egg
port, making it compatible with over
Water Clock. Based on the latest long-life H2O
4 000 different devices, including
technology, this nifty, egg-shaped gadget is
iPads, iPhones, BlackBerries,
powered by water and tells the time through a
Nintendo PSP, XBOX controllers,
clear LCD display. Simply add water to the body
GPS systems and Bluetooth
of the egg every 6 to 12 months to activate it,
products. Order it online for
and enjoy free energy. The Gaia Egg Water Clock
$24,99 (about R170).
also has an alarm, and a temperature gauge in degrees Celcius. R155 online.
Gaia Egg Water Clock: +27 (0)21 701 2028, sustainable.co.za | Idapt i1 Eco Dual Universal Charger: idaptweb.com
WHAT’S ON Mr Price Pro Ballito Beach Festival, 4–10 July Catch the world’s top surfers as well as defending champ, Jordy Smith, at the Mr Price Pro at the Ballito Beach Festival. Another focal point for extreme-sports enthusiasts is the Mr Price BMX Riot Jam. There’ll be something for everyone, including food and craft stalls and various family events. mrpricepro.com
Durban International Boat & Lifestyle Show, 15–17 July Ballito Prawns & Jazz Festival, 8–10 July This year’s festival features the Mazda Aerobatic Team performing some of the most hard-core stunts in their ultramodern Extra-300 aircraft. Brad
Demos, cruises, entertainment and competitions join the boating and lifestyle exhibits, stands and moorings at the Durban International Boat & Lifestyle Show at Durban Marina. durbanboatshow.co.za
Bennetts and Ellis Levin are the only team in SA to perform the Mirror
Durban Airshow, 16 July
Loop and Mirror Stall Turn as part of their heart-stopping show. On a
Performances involving aerobatics, civilian jets, passenger airlines, skydivers and
calmer note, there will be gourmet prawns by local restaurants, cold beer
more are among the thrills to be had at the 55th Durban Airshow taking place at
at the Castle marquee, loads of local jazz, a performance by Watershed
Virginia Airport. Tickets available online: R90/adult; R40/child. durbanairshow.co.za
and a show by Glen Bo and his stand-up comedians. For children, the Kids’ Carnival will have a Jelly Tots maze, Simba shows, four- wheeler
Block A, Thokoza Women’s Hostel, 26 July – 20 August
rides, a climbing wall, gyro ball and archery. And take along a basket and
Presented as a large-scale installation, this exhibition of 700 images by Durban
fill up at the Craft and Farmers’ markets. Tickets: R60/adult; R30/child
photographer, Angela Buckland, depicts the beauties, intimacies and poignancies of
(6–12 years); children under 5 free.
the hostel dwellers’ living spaces. Discover it at KZNSA Gallery. +27 (0)31 277 1705,
ballitoprawnfestival.co.za; strictlytickets.com
kznsagallery.co.za
14 | July/August 2011
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PRIME PROPERTY
AND
SIMPLE Words Anne Schauffer Photographs Sally Chance
Shake the sand from your feet and stars from your eyes – this little gem is architect Joy Brasler’s beach cottage.
I
t began as a simple shed. Well, that’s what Joy Brasler calls it, and if you pare away the layers, its uncomplicated lines and shapes are there at its heart. It remained that simple shed for eight years, with all the carefree attributes and basic drawbacks of the old South Coast beach cottages: little ’50s windows, one bathroom for all, sunfilter curtains, everybody’s second-hand furniture and what Joy describes familiarly as ‘boerewors’ carpeting throughout. But there comes a time when this lifestyle needs to move up a few notches, when more privacy is needed, layers of comfort are required and amenities need to be introduced, or at least tailored. Realistically, our needs have
shifted quite substantially in the last decade, particularly in the realm of communications, security and sustainability, and these were important drivers for Joy’s reinvention of ‘the shed’. The KZN South Coast is, above all, unpretentious, and there can’t be many coastlines worldwide that offer kilometre after kilometre of perfect, tucked-away escapes such as this one. Half an hour from Durban, light years from the city, when the gate of St Helier’s cottage glides shut behind you, you’re invisible to everyone other than those at sea. The ocean (and that includes worldrenowned dive site, Aliwal Shoal) and all of
its moods are the permanent live theatre, and the curtain is always up. Joy’s design concepts were premised on the family’s determination to retain the existing scale of the house: ‘We didn’t want a vast, double-storey mansion; we love the “bungalow” thing and the ease of it.’ That meant she could stretch the shed, but not raise it. For Joy, the relationship of building to landscape and sea was a constant consideration. Most properties fronting the coastline are set on sloping or undulating plots, so level land is limited. Dunes are telling features of the landscape, so while Joy reshaped the land to gain additional space, she retained these
signature contours wherever possible. It felt important to collaborate with the landscape, so together with friend and passionate landscaper, Dennis Dyas, she created a dune. Joy says, ‘I remember shaping that dune with our hands, and when had we finished, we asked each other how it looked. It looked as if it had always been here, as if nothing had happened.’ Perfect. Dune and local foliage were sourced tirelessly by Dennis – ‘He even scoured the muti market for bulbs,’ says Joy – and he replicated elements of the landscape with extreme attention to detail. The rear vegetation-covered dune not only creates privacy and a water-wise, wind-resistant
Opposite The wall on the far left is built from stone sourced from a local quarry and encloses a relaxed, feet-in-the-sand outdoor eating space. Alongside it is the deck, where multipurpose shutters provide filtered light for life on the outdoor deck, while the pool and sea beyond colour in the vista.
July/August 2011 | 17
PRIME PROPERTY
‘The rear vegetation-covered dune not only creates privacy and a water-wise, wind-resistant environment, but has also become part of something bigger: plant material has become a living element of the architecture.’
18 | July/August 2011
PRIME PROPERTY
Opposite, clockwise from top Sunrise to sunset, the house is wide open to the sea; the uniformity of the smoked-oak laminate flooring and panelling contributes to the calming lack of clutter; double bunks times two – always room for friends to overnight. This page, left to right The elemental indoor/outdoor bathroom; a vast mirror ensures this bedroom retains a sense of place.
environment, but has also become part of something bigger: plant material has become a living element of the architecture. The west side of the house is berthed into the dune, and where the new shower rooms extend out from the old structure, Joy has created towering cathedrals that will soon be covered in foliage. Effectively, with tactile wood decking and panelling, there’s a joyful outdoor feel to the showers, and the foliage will provide green privacy. One of the key features of the cottage’s revival was the guest suite, and Joy chose to level the front garden and excavate beneath. From the rear of the property there’s a particularly Japanese approach to the front, with grassed stairs leading up onto the perfectly flat lawn and defined incisions down to the lower level. The intention was for the guest suite to be ‘another world’, and it is – descend through the upper lawn and
there, bedded into the contour, is a private, self-contained haven with its own deck and glorious sea views. Joy admits to a certain sense of freedom when it came to establishing a limited footprint: ‘My own property, I could explore unproven technologies in a way I can’t do with clients. I could question my design, ask myself whether things could be handled in a more minimalist way without losing amenities. The bigger things are, the more service, cleaning, moving is needed.’ A shrug. ‘Makes me wonder why the typical house is so big, because it feels so perfect here, and we can run it by ourselves.’ Joy played with ideas and materials, installed solar panels, submerged rainwater tanks and concealed dumps in the deck for recycling glass, plastic and so on. The solar control (shutters) doubles as security, and there’s maximum use of cross-ventilation in the home. Effectively,
when all the doors are open, the living room is another veranda. Joy loves the Swiss-Army-knife analogy for the house, and it’s clear why. With the shutters in particular, the cottage is designed to open up, unfold, discharge people, fun, all the elements needed for the day … and then later, fold down compactly for security or when they’re not there. Inspired quite simply by the setting, the ocean, the interiors have a quiet, understated palette. The furniture inside and out is the same, and everything, bar small detail, is standardised and customised. Texture is as much a player as colour and shade, so surfaces include honed Carrara marble, beach pebble floors, grey oak, sandblasted timber and ‘chunky carpets for rolling around … like a pebble beach’, says Joy. ‘The palette is deliberately subdued – everybody arrives with noisy cossies, children, mags, pool
toys and kikois. It’s a stage for all that.’ It’s true that we see these weekend hideaways as something outside of our real lives. Joy prefers the idea that this is their real life: ‘It’s where we play Monopoly with the kids, do some real parenting and treat each other well, as opposed to the rush and precision that defines our Monday-to-Friday lives. Coming here is a grounding experience, feet in the sand, a place where we pick mussels, cook together, entertain far more than at home, and relish the simpler elements, like fire, water and sunsets.’ And then, on cue, the hallmark South Coast train. It’s kind of familiar and comforting, and although it’s below the sight line, it’s there, close, tucked into Dennis’s wonderful world of indigenous plants, and marks time that otherwise would pass entirely unnoticed were it not for the changing light over the ocean.
Visit thepropertymag.co.za for a look at other
With thanks to …
extraordinary homes across the country.
Joy Brasler Architects, +27 (0)31 208 7810
July/August 2011 | 19
32485_prop_mag_150_250.fh11 7/7/11 10:49 AM Page 1
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GREEN BUILDING
Treading lightly ‘Green’ is not a new buzzword, but it certainly is still current, and residential and commercial properties are now being built with green measures and initiatives firmly in place. Words Nicky Manson, Photographs Tim Lake Additional photographs courtesy Melrose Arch
HOT TIP Save money o! utility bills a n household run nd costs with the ning of eco auditohr elp and consultan s ts.
W
hen it comes to reducing the country’s carbon
So it makes perfect sense that for our Green issue we visited GBCSA
footprint, the first name that comes to mind is the
CEO Bruce Kerswill at his newly built home, which personifies the best of
Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). With
green architecture and design. Bruce also shares some tips on how you
the backing of the South African Property Owners
can make your own home greener. And when it comes to commercial
Association, the GBCSA is responsible for creating an awareness of
buildings, Melrose Arch is considered the frontrunner of new-urban
how buildings, neighbourhoods and cities increase our carbon footprint,
developments in South Africa. We explore how this popular Gauteng ‘live,
and for the development of rating tools that will help us to reduce the
work, play’ node is helping its residents and commercial tenants reduce
environmental damage caused by urbanisation.
their energy consumption and carbon footprints.
July/August 2011 | 21
The GREEN HOUSE effect Bruce Kerswill heads up the Green Building Council of South Africa, so its only natural that his newly built home sets the standard in sustainable, eco-friendly residential design.
B
Words Genevieve Fisher Photographs Tim Lake
ruce Kerswill is fervently evangelical
of architects, contractors and engineers. And do
concrete was reclaimed from the previous house
about being sensitive to our natural
ample research, of course. ‘Working with the team
that stood on the property. What isn’t apparent
environment in everything he does.
of professionals that I did, there were very few
to the naked eye is the way in which the design
Two years ago, Bruce, executive
challenges. The pool of skills and expertise available
complements the green functionality of the home.
chairman of the Green Building Council of South
through the professional team made the process
The south-facing windows, for instance, are double
Africa (GBCSA), decided to build his family a home
so much easier and the enthusiasm and excitement
glazed, to retain heat in winter, while the glass doors
that was as eco-friendly as possible, to serve as
for the project from all parties involved made it a
in the north facing conservatory conserve heat in
an example to others. ‘Through my work with the
pleasure,’ says Bruce.
winter..The discreet, intelligently designed gutter
GBCSA I spent a lot of time dealing with people
Standing in the landscaped garden, the first
system along the exterior walls catches rainwater,
and organisations, trying to persuade them of the
thing you notice about the house is its size. With
which flows through various box filters before it
merits of green building, and I felt it was important
a generous floor area of 540m2, the double-storey
is channelled to the 10 Jojo tanks at the back of
that I put the green building principles that I am so
house in Newlands looks more like a chic boutique
the house, which can hold 50 000L of rainwater
passionate about into practice within my own home.
hotel than a residence, let alone a functional,
at any given time. Patches of roof garden planted
I also felt it was important to showcase what can be
eco- friendly one. The second thing is its aesthetic
with indigenous flora assist in insulating the home,
done on a domestic front and to show other South
appeal, which can be attributed to Rohan Young
encourage biodiversity and are watered via a drip
African homeowners how they too can “go green” in
of Young Architecture, who worked in consultation
system that minimises evaporation.
their homes,’ says Bruce.
with Venon Collis of Collis and Associates the
Almost anything is possible, says Bruce, provided you work with a professional and enthusiastic team
22 | July/August 2011
One of Bruce’s favourite features of the home
sustainable systems consultant. Much of the building
is the natural-looking swimming pool. ‘We enlisted
material, such as the bricks, wooden beams and
the help of Jerome Davis from Aqua Designs, who
GREEN BUILDING
BRUCE’S TIPS FOR GREENING YOUR HOME • Get help from a professional to guide you through the process of greening your home. • Consider your budget, as well as your focus area, such as the kitchen, the living room or the garden. • Look at reusing materials wherever you can, as this can save you a lot of money. • Look at ways to decrease the use of electricity. Use gas for cooking and wood for heating, for example. • Collect or save water by using rainwater barrels and low-flow shower heads. Monitor how much water you use in your garden, when you use it for how long, as this will help you save water. • The most important things to consider are your behaviour and consumption patterns. You can throw a whole lot of technology at greening your home but if your usage is not being monitored, then it’s pointless. Watch how much water and electricity you use. Switch things off when you are not using them. Just by changing your behaviour, you Clockwise from opposite left The home is a symphony of sustainability; not a drop of rain-water goes to waste; the kitchen
can make a difference to greening your home.
has solid bamboo cladding, countertops of reconstituted CaesarStone and FSC-certified flooring; most building materials were reclaimed from the first house on the site; gas for the hob is generated in the biodigester (bottom left); solar panel meters.
designed a pool that has two sections,’ he explains.
solid bamboo cladding on the cabinets and recycled
and reconstruction’. He says, ‘We took down the
‘The swimming area drains into the reed bed with is
CaesarStone countertops, as well as a gas hob
previous house layer by layer and labelled all the
own natural ecosystem, like a mountain stream.’ He
fuelled by an underground biodigester in the
materials in each layer, which took six weeks. No
adds, ‘Although the water looks murky and brown it
backyard. Dual-flush toilets help conserve water.
bulldozers were used and the materials we didn’t
is drinkable.’
Bruce’s favourite feature within the home is
need were given to the builders for their personal
the flooring. Here, a layer of recycled under-felt is
use. The result is that much of the timber and
make full use of natural light. Rohan has placed large
topped with timber that’s been approved by the
old bricks from the previous home have been
windows across the upper half of the living spaces,
Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC. ‘I love the entire
incorporated into the walls and beaming in this one,
and these catch the sun at all the best angles as
house. But if I had to choose my favourite feature
even the fencing of the old pool has been employed
the day progresses. When it comes to artificial
it would be the wooden floors, which are made of
for reinforcing. The mortar used is comprised of
lighting, the house is fitted out with LED dimmable
FSC-certified timber, and the variety of other woods
two-thirds of sand from the site and one-third
lights, and all electronic appliances and fittings are
used throughout the house that were recycled from
builder’s sand. We also identified the valuable trees,
powered by the solar panels on the roof, which were
the original building on the property,’ says Bruce.
transported them to another location and when the
The interior of the home has been designed to
installed by MLT Drives. (The energy from the panels
What adds substantially to Bruce’s home’s green
garden was being landscaped by Clare Burgess,
is channelled to an inverter in a back room and from
credentials is that the majority of the materials
replanted them in it,’ he said. Malcolm and Rohan
there is distributed to the rest of the house.)
were recycled from the old house that stood here,
say that this project has motivated them to be more
including building materials, the pool fencing
aware of eco-friendly practices in their respective
environment into account in one way or another.
and the trees. Building contractor Malcolm Grant
fields and that they’re very excited about green
In the kitchen, for example, green features include
describes the process as one of ‘deconstruction
building. Call it the ‘green house effect’.
Every element of the interior takes the
July/August 2011 | 23
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GREEN BUILDING
OVERARCHING GREEN GOALS
Melrose Arch is a prime example of just how eco-friendly a development founded on the principles of new urbanism can be. Words Nicky Manson Images courtesy Melrose Arch
Above The newly launched Forty on Oak, the third phase of the residential component of Melrose Arch, is now selling off plan. It offers residents a trendy, futuristic lifestyle where they’ll
M
not only enjoy being at the centre of one of Jo’burg’s hottest social spots, but also the benefits of living in an eco-sensitive, pedestrian-friendly zone.
elrose Arch was built according to
With people living closer to each other, walking
efficiency were also put in place, to reduce direct
the precepts of new urbanism, a
more and taking advantage of public transport,
consumption. A district cooling plant harvests
design movement that promotes
cities have powerful environmental advantages.’
waste heat from the chilled-water generators
pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods
How and where you build residential dwellings,
and distributes it, running cooled water to all commercial tenants and homeowners.
that mix residential, working and recreational
office space and retail space, restaurants and public
areas. Eco-friendliness is one of new urbanism’s
areas also makes a difference, and Melrose Arch,
core concepts. Since its inception in 1996, the
Johannesburg’s greatest example of a mixed- use
Melrose Arch are automatic meter readings for
Melrose Arch Brain’s Trust, comprised principally
environment, has taken these into account
water and electricity, while piped gas from Egoli
of Osmond Lange Architects, Arup Consulting
effectively and created a secure pedestrian lifestyle
Gas is used to minimise the reliance on electricity.
Engineers and Bell Page and Pilling (now WSP)
that results in decreased vehicular use.
‘This has all resulted in undoubtedly the most
wanted to maximise the energy efficiency
Several initiatives that were introduced at the
Other green measures undertaken throughout
energy-efficient mixed-use precinct in the RSA,
inherent to the new urbanism approach to energy
beginning of the construction of the Arch, and
and the load factor of an average 73% is testimony
consumption. John Norquist, former president
which are still in place, include ‘contra-cyclical
to the vision of these pioneers in green building
and CEO of the Congress for New Urbanism, once
tenant usage on energy demand’, meaning that
design,’ says Nigel Pilling, former director of WSP
summed up its benefits perfectly: ‘We would use
the Arch’s entertainment and hotels’ energy usage
Consulting Engineers.
less energy, living closer together. High-rise cities
does not coincide with the offices’ and shops’.
like Philadelphia and New York rarely come to mind
Thermal efficiency in the design of the facade and
development of hotels, shops and offices and
as models of environmentalism, but they should.
the roof and other design guidelines for energy
the successful completion of Phases 1 and 2 of its
Following on from the Arch’s massive
July/August 2011 | 25
GREEN BUILDING
Top Concept stores of high-street fashion and other consumer brands add to the exclusivity of Melrose Arch. Top Central to the philosophy of new urbanism is ‘walkability’. Residents are able to stroll pedestrian-friendly streets that are free of polluting automobiles.
residential development, Phase 3, named Forty on
Criteria include: being built to last, being able to
homeowners to monitor their energy usage, Forty
Oak, is now under way, and aims even higher when
accommodate change, and being situated in a
on Oak residences will be fitted with technology
it comes to reducing its carbon footprint. Forty
neighbourhood that will remain desirable. These
that feeds energy consumption information to
on Oak offers a pristine environment, perfectly
all apply to Melrose Arch, and the developers are
residents directly via their cellphones.
maintained and secure, and in close proximity to
pulling out all the stops to establish the Arch as a
amenities, shopping, banking services, al fresco
green lung in Johannesburg. ‘“When” – not “if”’ they
‘live, work, play’ ethos, in step with our times. And
dining and so much more. ‘It’s a privileged lifestyle,’
receive this rating,’ says Guy, ‘Forty on Oak will
so it makes sense that Melrose Arch as a whole
says Melrose Arch General Manager, Guy Gordon.
be SA’s first residential development to have this
encourages a green, sustainable lifestyle. But that
‘We have adopted the lessons learnt from our first
accolade. We are confident we will achieve this.’
is just one aspect of a more holistic approach, says
The beauty of living in Melrose Arch lies in its
Josef Quraishi of Amdec: ‘One must sustain that
two residential phases and have assimilated them
Forty on Oak will build on the existing
successfully into Forty on Oak, for the betterment
green infrastructure to further reduce energy
energy, and urban revival is just as important. We
of the residential offering.’
consumption: special building materials will be used
endeavour to bring sustainable and new urban
to reduce noise pollution; natural cross ventilation
practices into this project.’ These practices include
concept of living, a different concept of lifestyle,
will be incorporated to minimise the need for air
employing a dedicated Gautrain route, bus stops
where the pedestrian dominates.’ One of the
conditioning; gas fireplaces and solar-controlled
and a taxi rank within Melrose Arch. Melrose Arch is
most exciting things about this residential phase
glazing will be fitted as alternative sources of
certainly serving as a benchmark for new urbanism
is its aim of achieving a Four-Star Green Star
warmth; energy-efficient internal lighting and light
and a move in the right direction – a move towards
SA rating. The Green Star rating tool is a way to
fittings will be used; and fittings in bathrooms and
sustainable green business and lifestyle practices
measure the performance of individual buildings
kitchens will be designed to address high water
that other developments in SA would be wise to
in reducing energy and resources required in the
consumption. Sustainable building materials will
emulate.
construction and long-term running of the building.
be used, and will be locally sourced. To encourage
melrosearch.co.za
Amdec CEO James Wilson says, ‘It’s a different
26 | July/August 2011
Josef Quraishi, +27 (0)11 684 0000,
ASK THE EXPERTS
ROOT TO TIP OGGIE HARDWOOD FLOORING
ON TAP
SAINT-GOBAIN
Nick Gluckman, Owner
Julia Barton-Hill, Marketing Manager
Lisa Reynolds, Technical & Specification Director
How does your company help others live a greener life? Oggie achieved the coveted full Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification in June 2009. Although full compliance with FSC standards is expensive, we’ve absorbed these costs – our customers don’t pay more for high-quality, fully green flooring. Describe your newest and most popular products? The full range of WoCA Denmark maintenance oils and soaps. These are vegetable based and completely free of VOCs. WoCA oils penetrate the wood and harden to form a protective surface, which becomes part of the floor. So tough, in fact, that WoCA oils are used to protect the wood flooring at Eurostar’s St. Pancras International terminal. How can one tell if a wood product is genuinely green? Look for a supplier’s FSC certification number. Without it, claims of being green are meaningless. Surveillance Générale of Switzerland does regular audits for the FSC throughout the supply chain to ensure compliance.
How does your company help others live a greener life? Our 38 ON TAP franchisees nationwide sell a wide variety of water-saving taps and shower heads that can help you save up to 60% on your water usage, as well as energy-saving heat pumps, solar heating systems and grey-water systems. We have bathroom and kitchen products to suit your needs and your budget. We will also recommend qualified, Eskom-registered installers so that you may claim for your rebate. ON TAP has the support of many global, green brands, such as Duravit, Hansgrohe and Kale. Our ‘Water Wise’ logo helps customers to easily identify all green products. Some of your more recent, prestigious projects? The five-star Pepper Club hotel in Cape Town and the revamp of Beacon Isle Resort in Plett. Describe your newest and most popular products? One of our popular products, the GeyserWise switch, allows you to control the temperature and timing of your geyser inside your house without even touching the geyser, helping you save electricity.
How does your company help others live a greener life? Saint-Gobain manufactures insulation products for the domestic, commercial and industrial markets, along with energy-saving lightweight construction and mortar systems, through Gyproc, Isover and Weber in SA. Isover Aerolite glass wool insulation is mostly made from recycled glass, and saves more than 100 times the energy that is used in its manufacture. Gyproc’s gypsum-based RhinoWall and Rhinolite products and Weber’s tiling products and mortars are made from natural resources, and are VOC free. Some of your more recent, prestigious projects? Several upmarket homes, as well as the Pearls in Umhlanga, Freedom Park, King Shaka International Airport, Mall of the North and Holiday Inn Sandton. Our products have also been used by Habitat for Humanity and in Cosmo City. Describe your newest and most popular products. Aerolite and Geyser Packs are popular for achieving a quick, affordable reduction in energy use and a decreased impact on the environment.
PLUMBING & BATHROOMS
+27 (0)21 510 2846 oggie-sa.co.za
+27 (0)21 556 7911 ontap.co.za
+27 (0)12 657 2800 lisa.reynolds@saint-gobain.com
Photographs Tim Lake
These experts have the goods to keep your home green and cost-effective to run.
Amazing When it comes to shouting from the rooftops, there’s no place better than this …
space Words André Fiore Photographs Grant Pitcher
ON SHOW
I
t started as a simple desire to change the tiling and perhaps a few doors. The end result, complete with a totally retractable roof on the top level, is the stuff movies are made of. With his ‘pet project’ just wrapped up, the homeowner is delighted with the results. His wife is delighted too, although, after five years of plans and building, chances are she’ll think twice before suggesting new doors again. Why so long? Because the homeowners were involved every step of the way, making sure every last detail was precisely to their
liking. While he tossed around ideas with architect John Royal for two years before a final set of plans was generated, she reigned in the garden. ‘Even the tile shopping took us months!’ the homeowner chuckles. Set in a quiet cul-de-sac in Umhlanga, the existing house, set on a 1 000m2 stand, offered security, location and privacy, leading to the decision to renovate rather than buy when the couple wanted to upgrade. And an upgrade is what it is all about. An ‘open, light, airy home with flow and space’ was the initial brief, and even before one gets to the front door, passing the palm that
Right Eco Sundecks has been in operation for eight years, and works closely with its clients to meet their individual needs. The timber used for this project is a balau deck. Its portfolio includes the Pearls Phase 2. Below Jossi Design’s interior design and decor service included the selection of final finishes, fittings, colours and fabrics, and the design of bespoke furniture and shop-fitting solutions in the form of BICs, bathroom vanities and storage. In step with the latest international trends, Jossi specialises in residential, corporate and commercial interiors. Eco Sundecks, +27 (0)31 702 3093
Jossi Design, +27 (0)31 303 7265
July/August 2011 | 29
ON SHOW
‘I may have gone a little overboard with the retractable roof and the awesome home automation system, but let’s call them “unnecessary luxuries”.’
Floors Galore, +27 (0)31 701 7522
About Jossi Design … Jossi Design thrives on creating sophisticated, contemporary interiors and bespoke furniture items that are elegant, yet also practical for both the home and commercial environments. Jocelyn Jones, CEO of Jossi Design, believes that interior design is about providing a service that is very meaningful to her clients, and she always considers their wants and needs when creating their perfect interior setting. As a result of her dedication, she is also the regional head of the South African Institute of the Interior Design Professions (IID Professions). Jocelyn has surrounded herself with a wonderfully talented team, including designer and business partner Craig R Bennett, whose constant interest in design trends ensures that Jossi Design produces results of an international standard. Together, their knowledge of building principles and design, pursuit of perfection and attention to detail ensure that Jossi Design’s clients get the most professional service at all times.
30 | July/August 2011
ON SHOW the builders specially built around, the clear glass and slatted wooden entrance features promise just this. Inside, carried throughout by gleaming African cherry wood floors, the spaces unfold seamlessly. More glass and aluminium add light and spaciousness in abundance. Sliding pocket doors allow the outside in. The superb kitchen, flaunting up-tothe- minute appliances, forms a welcoming gathering point facing the dining areas. The four bedrooms, all en suite, feature all the benefits of full home automation, including slide-up television screens and automatic lighting. And then there’s the crowning glory. With a totally retractable roof, the third storey is dedicated to entertainment. At one end a lounge and home entertainment system, at the other a kitchenette with grill facilities. ‘I may have gone a little
overboard with the retractable roof and the awesome home automation system,’ the owner says, smiling, ‘but let’s call them “unnecessary luxuries”.’ With the owner being a self-confessed decor mag devotee, Jossi Design faced a challenge when working on the interiors. A challenge very well met. Bold, slightly unconventional neutrals, deep greys and grey blues mix with imported wallpaper to lend quiet structure to the spaces. Voile curtaining and automated blinds in the living areas allow the views inside. A combination of finishes and textures – glossy laser-cut stainless steel alongside the traditional – contemporary bespoke furniture and large original artworks all lend their hint of glam and subtle sophistication. ‘We didn’t want something that would date quickly,’ say the owners. We say they’re setting new trends.
Professionals list: Eco Sundecks – Balau Decking +27 (0)31 702 3093, info@ecosundecks.com, ecosundecks.com Floors Galore – Timber Flooring +27 (0)31 701 7522, info@floorsglaore.co.za, floorsgalore.co.za IntelloHOME – Home Automation and Cinema Specialists +27 (0)82 806 8046, sales@intellohome.co.za, intellohome.co.za Jossi Design – Interior Design +27 (0)31 303 7265, info@jossi.co.za, jossi.co.za
Opposite, left Floors Galore used African cherry timber for the flooring and the staircase cladding. The wood has been sealed with Bona’s Dust-Free System and covered with Bona Silk Matt. Floors Galore specialises in all types of timber flooring, including eco- sensitive recycled timber. In operation for 16 years, the company offers superior products and craftsmanship and uses only SAWLFA approved contractors. This page, bottom left Control4 interface in the kitchen. IntelloHOME’s home automation system includes a glass roof that opens up entirely, a security alert message that plays throughout the house, IntelloHOME, +27 (0)82 806 8046
full- house HD 1 080p video distribution and a TV bed-end lift in the master bedroom.
July/August 2011 | 31
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
T
he drive along the N2 from Cape Town towards the Garden Route is one of the most idyllic stretches of road in the country. Reaching as far as Port Elizabeth, the 741km drive through the Overberg gets more and more enchanting as Table Mountain grows tinier and tinier in your rear-view mirror. This is particularly so in winter, after the first rains, when the hills are coloured every shade of green imaginable, accentuated by deep purple and orange fynbos and dotted with herds of cattle and quaint, colonial padstals. It really is beautiful, and feels a lot like the English countryside, like the land of Peter Rabbit and Co. Eventually, as you pass Mossel Bay, out pops the Indian Ocean on your right, and on the left the landscape starts to change dramatically. Along Kaaimans Pass on the way to Wilderness, the flora comes alive. The greenery is wild and untamed, the forest canopies seemingly unending. Adding to the drama is the little
strip of highway you’re on, flanked by the blue and white ribbons of the ocean. You know you are now driving along the Garden Route, and the feeling of insignificance against the vast grandeur of nature this part of the world offers is overwhelming. It is this intimacy with nature that draws property investors here. Whether they’re buying a property in the forest or on the expansive beaches, the Garden Route is many urbanites’ first choice when they’re looking to buy either a second home away from the city or a peaceful place to retire to. Many ‘swallows’ fall in love with the area too, and take their sabbaticals there. But, believe it or not, the Garden Route property market is depressed, despite the picturesque setting and some of the healthiest, shiniest people you are bound to meet. The great news for property investors is that, even here, it’s a buyer’s market, and golden opportunities await you in Wilderness, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
Our Garden of
Eden
Words Genevieve Fisher
The Garden Route is SA’s Garden of Eden. But its real estate market is in the coils of a recession, and forbidden fruits that were once out of the reach of ordinary buyers now beckon.
This page Pezula Private Castle on Noetzie Beach, Knysna.
July/August 2011 | 33
the NEIGHBOURHOOD
Above A contemporary beachfront mansion in Wilderness, on sale through Pam Golding Properties (PGP) for just under R11 million. Opposite, clockwise from top left Knysna Heads is one of the most popular suburbs on the Garden Route for holiday homes; the impressive entrance to Tsala Treetop Lodge; expansive views of Knysna Forest from the chic lounge of one of the six Tsala Treetop Villas; each one of the 10 Tsala Treetop Suites has its own infinity pool; a luxury seaside home in Wilderness; Honeymoon Castle, Pezula; a Wilderness home on sale for R3,3 million (PGP).
Wilderness As the name implies,Wilderness is, well, wild, but the houses, many of them huge villas, slot in comfortably with the beaches, forests, trees, rivers and streams. Stephen Murray, branch manager of Pam Golding Properties in George, says that this is what makes Wilderness unique. ‘The diverse natural surroundings make this a superb location for property investors,’ he says. Properties range from smaller homes that are hidden among the rolling hills, lakes and mountains and start from around R2 million, to modern homes that are located in two of the luxury beach estates facing the ocean and that fetch anything from R1,85 million to R9,5 million. Away from the sea, the areas of Hoekwil and Wilderness Heights offer expansive smallholdings where trees and flora grow abundantly and where prices of plots range from R1 million to R3,9 million, depending on size and views. Homes with a sea view, particularly those in upmarket areas such as Constantia Kloof, can fetch anything from R3,6 million and R4,3 million, while beachfront homes are priced from R7,5 million to over R10 million, making them the most lucrative, from an investment perspective. Stephen says land is no longer available along the 19km beach, and this has pushed up prices dramatically. The area also has some of the most pristine beaches, including Leentjies Klip,
34 | July/August 2011
the surfers’ paradise of Victoria Bay and the lagoon. Wilderness is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream because there are many activities on offer – canoeing, abseiling, paragliding, kitesurfing and more. The nucleus of the Wilderness community has to be Milkwood V illage, on Beacon Road, where bistros, sidewalk cafés, quaint shops and restaurants are housed in a charming setting of stone and timber. ‘The ambience of the village is warm and relaxed, particularly on Friday nights, when it comes alive with the popular night market where locals and visitors converge to enjoy good food, wine and live music,’ says Stephen. Knysna Knysna is a vibrant town. Its timber trade was established by the Thesen family in 1870 (Thesen Island is named after them) and this element of the area’s rich history is evident in the many log cabins dotted along the hills at the entrance to the town. Poking out from the verdant undergrowth, these quaint wooden structures add to Knysna’s fairy-tale ambience. As in the rest of the Garden Route area, it is a buyer’s market here, says Alan Evans, principal of Seeff Properties Knysna. Because of its pretty lagoon and forests, Knysna has always been primarily a secondhome investment area, with the most popular suburbs for holiday homes being
Knysna Heads, Leisure Isle, Belvedere and Brenton, says Alan. Houses here are big, especially at the Heads, and vary in style from contemporary mansions to the more unusual Spanish villas. Average prices for homes in these more established areas range from just R900 000 to R2 million, which is jaw dropping when you consider that many of them could easily match homes in Cape Town’s Clifton in terms of grandeur. It’s a sad sign of just how badly Knysna has been hit by the recession. On the marina development of Thesen Islands, the outlook is somewhat brighter. The 550 homes that have recently been built there have maintained their value because they are close to Waterfront Knysna Keys, with its speciality stores, coffee shops and fine restaurants, including Lush, and Ile de Pain, which is renowned for its freshly baked breads and pastries. Thesen Islands offers security and an easy lifestyle. It incorporates 19 small islands linked by bridges, and feels like a town within a town. All the houses have been built in a beach-cottage style and there are quaint walkways and paths with security guards cycling along them. Knysna was also quick to catch on to the golf estates trend that took root across South Africa in the past decade. ‘The explosion of golf estates nationwide saw Knysna latching fast and furiously onto this kind of lifestyle, with Pezula Private Estate (previously known
as Sparrebosch Estate) and Simola attracting second-home buyers from big cities, as well as swallows,’ says Alan. With its first two phases already sold out, Pezula has seen a marked reduction in the price of entry-level plots in recent years. ‘A 400 000m2 plot with magnificent forest views now fetches just under R1 million,’ says Alan, ‘one-third of its value’. The average price for a home on a security estate ranges from R2,5 million to R12 million.Another golf estate worthy of mention on the way to Knysna, just outside George, is Fancourt, home to the worldrenowned Links Course which hosted the President’s Cup in 2003. Given its history as a timber port, it is no wonder Knysna is chock-a-block with wooden-furniture and decor shops, especially in the the town centre, where you’ll find Kluyts & Co. and Rustic World of Wood. Knysna has some of the loveliest wooden products and interior decor items, all available at a fraction of the price you would pay at national furnishers or boutiques stores in bigger cities. Knysna also has some of the country’s most alluring five-star luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants. Pezula Hotel Resort & Spa is worth mentioning, mainly because you can’t get a better location for a time-out. The views from the chalets are panoramic, as the estate is perched on the eastern Knysna head. There’s Noetzie Beach with its famous
the NEIGHBOURHOOD
‘It is this intimacy with nature that draws property investors here.’
July/August 2011 | 35
The NEIGHBOURHOOD
Above left Homes snuggle in between the verdant golf course greens at Pezula Private Estate (Seeff Properties); views of the ocean and the Tsitsikamma mountain range from Brackenridge, a private residential estate in Plettenberg Bay; Schoongezicht Country Estate with its Mediterranean-style homes perched on a hill (RE/MAX Plettenberg Bay).
castles, three of which are owned by Pezula (the main castle is currently for sale), and the Field of Dreams, the soccer pitch where the notorious French standoff occurred during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The peace and tranquillity here are somewhat surreal for a city dweller, and a tour of the castles emphasises the area’s ambience of enchantment. Pezula Hotel is home to the renowned gourmet restaurant, Zachary’s – when you eat here, you’ll understand why Executive Chef Geoffrey Murray has received numerous accolades for prioritising organic produce on his menu. Further out of town, on the way to Plett, is Tsala Treetop Lodge, a unique fivestar establishment that takes full advantage of the dramatic Knysna forest. The entire lodge is built on stilts, and the chalets hover above the treetops. When you look out of the chalets’ glass walls over the emerald expanse of the forest canopy, you’ll find it hard not to associate the scene with Jack and his beanstalk.
Plettenberg Bay Ah, Plett! The jewel in the crown of the Garden Route! Why, you may ask? Well, where the other areas and towns are quirky and endearing, Plettenberg Bay is chic and glamorous. It is where the wealthy come to play, particularly over the December holidays, when the members of the mass exodus from Cape Town and Gauteng converge on the small seaside town. Like Wilderness and Knysna, Plett too is suffering from a depressed real estate market, with prices for entry-level homes being more or less equal for all three areas. However, it is at the top end of the market that Plett emerges victorious. Pam Porter of Leapfrog Properties says, ‘It is difficult to pin down an average price range for homes in Plett, because pricing depends on many variables, most importantly location, views and proximity to the beaches.’ The views are spectacular no matter where you are in the hilly suburbs. ‘Entry-level residential homes start at around R1,2 million and the more top-end ones
can fetch around R25 million,’ says Pam. ‘There is a full range of property types to suit everyone’s needs in Plett, from apartment living to residential and smallholding living.’ Plett’s high-end apartments represent one of the city’s main distinguishing points from Wilderness and Knysa. Apartments here are a lucrative investment, tying in with Plett’s lock-up-and-go lifestyle. Here, too, the price range is vast, from R400 000 right up to R5 million, says Pam. She points out another interesting trend: last year, while prices were plummeting at the lower end of the market, the amount of vacant land purchased by investors increased. ‘Investors see the purchase of land as an affordable way of entering or remaining in the property market. It allows them time to either gradually build a home, or accumulate the funds to do so.’ Like many of the towns along the Garden Route, Plett offers a full range of outdoor activities, particularly water sports, as well as nature trails and abundant wildlife, the best of which is to be found
at Robberg Nature Reserve. It also has its weekend markets, a huge hit with the locals, who enjoy some of the best produce from the surrounding areas. In December, when all roads lead to Plett and it’s ‘the place to be’, things can become frenetic. But the rest of the time it is very different – ‘idyllic’, according to Pam. ‘After living here for eight years, I still feel awe every morning as I drive into town. It is very beautiful. We have a moderate climate with sunshine almost all year round (we can go to the beach in winter). Security is the least of our worries. And the community is very friendly and supportive,’ she says. If the Garden Route had been the place where Adam and Eve met and fell in love, they would’ve bought a home when the market favoured buyers, somewhere on a hilltop overlooking the beach and hidden by the wild beanstalks, and in their backyard they would’ve kept a furry rabbit named Peter. And they would have lived their lives as shiny, healthy people. ‘The End.’
With thanks to … Leapfrog Properties, Pam Porter, +27 (0)44 533 6741, leapfrog.co.za Pam Golding Properties, Stephen Murray, +27 (0)44 874 6619, pamgolding.co.za Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa, +27 (0)44 302 3333, pezula.com Seeff Properties, Alan Evans, +27 (0)44 382 5919, seeff.com
Visit thepropertymag.co.za for more information
Tsala Treetop Lodge, +27 (0)44 532 8228, hunterhotels.com/tsalatreetoplodge/
on the top neighbourhoods in South Africa.
36 | July/August 2011
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GREEN DESIGN
flair
Words Jackie Gray Photographs courtesy Matthew Friedland
It takes guts to go against the flow and swim upstream. Yet there are those who revel in doing so. Matthew Friedland, green architect and eco champion, is one such person.
July/August 2011 | 39
GREEN DESIGN
J
o’burg-born Matthew Friedland is a Green Star-accredited architect. But, strangely, he never intended to become an architect. He started out studying history and the Classics, trained as an opera singer and guitarist, and then travelled the world. At age 25 he decided to ‘get serious’ and enrolled for three courses at Wits university and was accepted by the School of Architecture and Planning. That’s when the green architecture bug bit him. While his fellow students were busy admiring the aesthetics of the buildings, Matthew would be exploring how the buildings functioned and how they could be made more efficient. He wrote a thesis on how to re-educate his peers in eco-friendly and sustainable design techniques. Matthew went on to work for a number of top practices, including Albonico Sack Mzumara (now Albonico Sack Metacity, or ASM), Bentel Associates International (BAI) and TC Design Architects. Some of the developments he worked on were the Braamfontein Regeneration and Faraday Taxi Rank & Market projects, science exhibits at Sci-Bono, Bedford Square, the Standard Bank data centre in Samrand and the Massmart warehouse at Raceway Industrial Park. In 2009 Matthew went solo and opened New Leaf Architecture. But it was slow going. ‘Despite all the progress which has taken place in the green arena over the years, South Africa’s building industry is still hugely conservative when it comes to implementing such protocols,’ says Matthew. ‘This aspect, coupled with the fact that many green building products and methods are still expensive, has made it difficult to attract clients who are open to the process and who can afford truly eco-friendly buildings.’ House Fleming proved to be the exception. House Fleming is located in Memel in the Free State. Working closely with the owner of the house, a builder by the name of Andrew Fleming, Matthew was able to combine a number of green technologies and principles into a single, super-efficient, eco-friendly structure. The region’s extreme seasonal fluctuations presented the biggest challenge: in summer, temperatures in Memel can peak in the high 30s, and plummet to -17ºC in winter. To deal with this, Matthew used rammed earth for the northern and eastern walls. For the southern and western walls he used a concrete-filled
air conditioning. (Last summer Matthew tested the lounge space and found that a 6ºC –8ºC temperature difference was maintained, even with all the doors open.) Hot water is sourced via large solar water heaters. Further energy savings have been achieved through the use of LED lights, which are powered by a solar photovoltaic array. To save water, Matthew specified water-efficient toilets with a 3/6L flush, and flow restrictors for all the taps. Waste water is treated with biological and chemical filters until it becomes potable again, and this method combined with rainwater harvesting (still to be implemented) will make the house completely water independent. Matthew has also created an artificial wetland at the back of the house. According to Matthew, most homes in SA allow for a certain amount of heat to be gained and lost through the shell. In summer, the loss of extra heat isn’t a problem, but it isn’t preferable in winter and can be extremely wasteful from an energy conservation point of view. Matthew typically uses an insulated shell with double glazing as the starting point for all his designs – just one of the many thing he learned from working on House Wozniak. Built in Chartwell North Estates in Jo’burg in 2005/6, House Wozniak features a standard brick shell and is designed to fully utilise the sunlight in winter and keep it out in summer. Matthew says that, given the mild climate, relatively little insulation is necessary for the house. A shallow floor plan means maximum sunlight and cross ventilation. ‘House Wozniak’s bedrooms, dining room and lounge were placed on the north side so as to capitalise on winter sun. I placed the toilets and kitchen on the south side, which is in line with standard design practice as mandated by SANS 204. A generous roof overhang keeps out summer sun and provides glare-free views.’ Matthew also placed as few windows as possible in the west facade, to avoid overheating the house on summer afternoons. Other designs by Matthew under the New Leaf banner include House Liddle in Meyersdal Eco Estate, and Eco House X, designed in collaboration with Grahame Cruikshanks. House Liddle is a high-tech green house where Matthew employed many of the methods he used on House Fleming. The only differences are that House Liddle has a super-insulated shell, and large amounts of double glazing
‘While his fellow students were busy admiring the way buildings looked, he would be exploring what made the buildings tick and how they could be made more efficient.’ polyblock system. In winter the rammed earth gathers heat from the sun, while the polystyrene blocks prevent heat loss in winter. (Rammed earth is a sustainable and ancient building technique – the Great Wall of China, for example, is made from rammed earth with stone cladding.) Wide overhangs keep the rammed earth cool in summer and draw heat out of the house. Double-glazed windows also help to control heat gain and heat loss. Still more comfort is achieved in House Fleming through the use of insulated slabs on the ground floor and water-based under-floor heating that’s fed by an air source heat pump. (Matthew says the house is so thermally efficient that the heat pump hasn’t had to be connected yet.) A high-efficiency stove with double flue is the only other source of heat. Every room in House Fleming is designed to maximise cross ventilation, eliminating the need for energy-wasting
40 | July/August 2011
have been used. Eco House X remains to be built, but the plans alone are exciting to see. They show a space-age, modular, prefabricated house. It will have a super-insulated shell, and will be fully independent in terms of water and power. And it is the first house to have a solar air heater specified in the design. Because of the current global financial crisis, Matthew has had to shelve his freelance work. He currently works as a site architect and planner in the Northern Cape offices of Jo’burg-based TPS.P Architecs, but hopes to regenerate New Leaf some day. His message for the architecture and building fraternities? ‘It’s not enough to just have energy-efficient buildings, but that true eco-friendliness can only be achieved through the integration of all aspects of a build – preferably from grassroots up. +27 (0)72 407 1111
GREEN DESIGN
Opening page Bathroom in House Fleming. The careful mix of eco-friendly building materials and methods is apparent in the earthy textures of the wall. This spread, clockwise from top left House Fleming: the breezy living area; view through an ornate grill to Memel’s veld; the house rests comfortably and unobtrusively amid the natural surrounds; 50mm of polyurethane in the roof and 25mm of recycled ceiling boards help to keep the house super-insulated. House Liddle: site elevations – luxury meets eco-friendliness in exclusive Meyersdal Eco Estate. Eco House X: plans drawn up by Matthew Friedland and Grahame Cruikshanks for a modular, off-the-grid home. House Fleming: an aesthetically pleasing green building.
The lighter side of Matthew Friedland … Hats: freelance writer, editor and lecturer. Hobbies: fencing, mixed martial arts, ballroom dancing, guitar. Favourite restaurant: Maxwell’s in Parkmore. Favourite getaway: Cape Town in summer. Currently reading: Capitalism as if the World Mattered; The Railway Children Favourite website: stumbleupon.com
July/August 2011 | 41
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
SPHERE DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Wendy Green and Gina Walker, Directors Sphere Design & Architecture was established in Durban 10 years ago, and comprises a design wing with specialist experience in the retail and commercial sectors, as well as an architectural wing. Over the years the practice has diversified into residential, commercial and industrial architecture, completing projects both nationally and internationally. Its commercial portfolio includes new high-rises, retail centre extensions and alterations, large-scale refurbishments, hotel and leisure projects and residential developments. Domestic work has seen it completing a number of high-end residential homes and a number of smaller local projects. The interior design team specialises in restaurant, retail, exhibition stands and corporate design, nationally and internationally. This service is an asset to our architectural projects, where Sphere engages in both the building structure and the interior look and feel. +27 (0)31 312 5133 spheredesign.co.za
Q&A
ALL-ROUNDERS From multi-storey office conversions in Morningside to a magnificent three-storey home in Dar es Salaam, Sphere produces a symphony of design and architecture.
How did you get into your field? Wendy: I studied architecture. When I joined Sphere, the company had just started expanding into the retail and interior sector, and the glove fitted perfectly. Gina: I have both a rational side and a creative side. Architecture provides the perfect synergy as a profession. Do you feel men and women are equally represented in your industry? Wendy: Yes, I think design is a universal industry. Boundaries between the sexes don’t exist anymore. Gina: Architecture is judged on a project well done and does not rely on gender. In South Africa, women are well respected and represented in our field. What unique qualities do women bring to your line of work? Wendy: We just view the world differently – this gets reflected in our work and gives balance where needed. Gina: We bring a gentle yet firm touch, which makes us more approachable. What do you do for fun? Wendy: I spend time with my family and friends – you can never relax too much! Gina: I’m passionate about entertaining, painting for my art exhibition, running, rollerblading, listening to music and watching films.
networking
Society
Living the high life in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Inaugural Mr Price 031 Collection: 1Bianca Meyer, Toni Carroll, Louise Smith, Chandelle Leach 2Stuart and Sandra Bird, Ronelie Kaiser 3Trevor Mack, Audrey and Reynolds, Ali Nicolin, Carol Reynolds, David Alexander 7Yvonne and Gregory Naidoo, Mashan and Kuvesan Gounder. Sunflower Fund Charity Ball at Elangeni Hotel: Jenny and Andrew Miller, Stephanie Berry 9Rahul, Sharoona and Ashok Sewnarain, Sugan and Ronnie Naidoo 10Tanya and Peter Rawson, Jo and Andrew Thomas.
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Premiere of Doo Bee Boobies: 11Val Adamson, Greg King, Mark Hawkins, Guy Wood 12Catherine Mace, Brian Hiles, Marion Loudon, Lloyd de Gier. Spar Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10km and 5km Challenge: 13Tiana Mason, Jason Walker 14Rutendo Nyahora, Zintle Xiniwe, Irvette van Blerk, Neil Westerhof.
To see who else weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve featured in our Society pages, visit thepropertymag.co.za. Email social photographs for consideration to socials@medianova.co.za.
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Compiled by Debbie Reynolds
Heath Redman 4Angela McCall, Laurie Holmes, Neville Trickett. Imbumba 2011 dance festival: 5Penelope Khumalo, Bonakele Gasa, Pinkie Khoza, Princess Shezi 6Darin
the PROPERTY DINNER
Words Anne Schauffer Photographs Val Adamson
Nature obliged with a spectacular display entirely appropriate to a lively Property Dinner designed to praise those who collaborated on the Hillcrest Private Hospital project.
By the light of the
moon M
uch as we would have liked to, we can’t claim to have orchestrated an eclipse of the moon – a red one at that – but this live show really came in handy as a celestial sign of appreciation for those we’d come to applaud for the part they played in the brand-new Hillcrest Private Hospital. Since 1 July 2011, patients have been treated to a hospital environment that major shareholder JT Ross is proud to call ‘extraordinary’. Extraordinary for many reasons, all of which were gradually revealed by the guests of Saint-Gobain during the course of a festive, mouth-watering, celebratory Property Dinner held at Olive & Oil restaurant in Glenwood. A chilled flute of Krone bubbly, the promise of a red lunar eclipse and that communal sense of achievement that comes from the knowledge of a job well done had us all clinking glasses to success. Clearly, tonight, all eyes were on the pivotal players of the team responsible for the hospital. Saint-Gobain Project Specifications Manager in KZN, Paulette Murison, declared herself to be ‘blown away’ by the creativity and commitment of everybody involved, notably contractors Ivan Reddy of Palace Shopfitters, Eugene Frere of FW Tilers, Richard van Heerden of Browndek and Saint-Gobain’s onsite coordinator, Matthew Baney, for their superb installation of systems and products. She said, unequivocally,‘This hospital is a fabulous landmark, and we’re lucky to have it in KZN.’ It was fitting that we raised our glasses of Spier Private Collection Chenin Blanc 2009 and Pinotage 2008 – nothing ordinary would have sufficed – as Paulette presented three exquisite crystal glass trophies to those key players who specified performance systems and products, ranging from acoustics to fire to thermal performances. Their superior contributions meant Saint-Gobain had the opportunity to
Guest list Leanne Alexander BVA Architects, Wayne Allen BVA Architects, Antony Arbuthnot Arbuthnot Projects, Matthew Baney Saint-Gobain, Andy Chen Elphick Proome Architects, Sam Clark MW&S Quantity Surveyors, Ramona Devkumar Saint-Gobain, Eugene Frere FW Tilers, Jenni McCallum Media Nova, Paulette Murison Saint-Gobain, Asogan Naicker Saint-Gobain, Glen Passmore JT Ross, Ivan Reddy Palace Shopfitters, Grant Richardson Saint-Gobain, Chris Rudham MW&S Quantity Surveyors, Anne Schauffer Media Nova, Ryan Tully Saint-Gobain
July/August 2011 | 45
THE PROPERTY DINNER
Menu STARTER Crispy, warm Camembert phyllo parcels bursting with Camembert and cranberry sauce, served on basil leaves, topped with seasonal fresh berries. Chicken livers peri-peri sautéed with a touch of garlic and Olive & Oil’s famous peri-peri sauce, a dash of cream and fresh, crispy bread. Traditional Greek salad served with vinaigrette. MAIN Lamb shank on a bed of creamy mash potatoes in a red wine jus with baby onion and carrots.
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Tender, grilled Mediterranean chicken breast
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served on capellini pasta topped with a spring onion, tomato, white wine and cream sauce, finished with rocket, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh goat’s cheese. Gamberi con panna made with succulent queen prawns, out of their shells, cooked in a fresh cream and white wine sauce with a hint of chilli. Gorgozola and walnut gnocchi. DESSERT Crème brûlée; Vanilla ice cream served with warm cherries; Irish coffee. Olive and Oil Mediterranean Restaurant (Glenwood). 149 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban. +27 (0)31 201 6146, oliveandoil.co.za
The wine SPIER PRIVATE COLLECTION Chenin Blanc 2009 – Pale yellow with a green hue. Hints of apricots, citrus and stewed fruit aromas. The creamy palate rewards with a balance between generous fruit and a crisp, lasting finish. Winner (bronze): Decanter World Wine Awards 2011. Winner (bronze): International Wine Challenge 2011. Rated one of SA’s top 100 wines. Pinotage 2008 – Intense ruby colour. Inviting aromas of cherry, well-matured oak spice and hints of tobacco. The palate is beautifully structured and creamy in texture. Will gain additional complexity with cellaring. Winner (silver): World Wine Awards 2011. Winner (bronze): International Wine Challenge 2011. +27 (0)21 881 8400, spier.co.za THE HOUSE OF KRONE MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE Krone Borealis MCC 2007 Vintage Cuvée Brut Comprises Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, hand-picked in the cool of the night and the early mornings. Only the free-run juice is used. The microbiologically stable wine has an elegant, classic, biscuity bouquet with yeasty lees-creaminess and fine, persistent bubbles. +27 (0)23 230 0680, houseofkrone.co.za
46 | July/August 2011
6 be part of a wonderfully professional team, as well as a oneof-a-kind development. Paulette began with Glen Passmore of JT Ross, initially responsible for construction alone, but ultimately adding the title of developers to its name. This venture is taking JT Ross in a new direction, and Glen, as a director of the hospital, is fired up about future possibilities. The second award was presented to BVA Architects’ Wayne Allen and Leanne Alexander, custodians of the interior design of the hospital. The third went to Andy Chen of Elphick Proome Architects (EPA), who managed the exterior look and feel. As we all wrestled with the superb alternates of main courses – would it be lamb shank, Mediterranean chicken, gamberi con panna or Gorgonzola and walnut gnocchi? – conversation turned to architects and architecture. Andy hails from Taiwan, but has spent 13 years in South Africa. He considers himself a local, and he’s not leaving anytime soon: ‘Life in Taiwan is very fast; life in South Africa is slow … In Durban, very slow.’ And that’s what keeps him here. A grin. ‘Good architecture takes time.’ Chatting about his role in the hospital’s exterior design, Andy stressed the importance of understanding the interplay between interior and exterior. The maxim of form following function is naturally taken to extreme levels with a hospital, and on this project, where there were stringent design constraints, it was even more complex.The building could be no taller than two storeys and needed a residential feel. Low-energy and lowmaintenance requirements meant the clever use of appropriate materials in a sympathetic design, and it’s been achieved. Saint-Gobain is a world leader in the habitat and construction markets and provides innovative solutions to the challenges of growth, energy efficiency and environmental protection. The site on which the hospital rests is unique in a number of respects, but primarily for its stunning views. Andy described the strong connection with the outside, and
7 although not every room has a view, that sense of the outdoors is a big bonus, he said, for patients and practitioners alike. Chris Rudham of MW&S Quantity Surveyors confirmed that the Hillcrest Private Hospital works superbly in the space and beds down well in the surrounds. For Leanne, the interior design of the paediatric ward is where her heart lies. From fence poles and wishing well to clouds with twinkling lights, she has designed every child’s dream environment. The sterile milk kitchen is styled like a dairy. She says, ‘Architecture for a hospital is different. You’re designing clinical services, but the environment needs to be where patients want to be. If you’re comfortable, you’ll heal better. It needs to be functional and serious but have a home- from-home feel.’ Her colleague Wayne said, ‘We tried to be true to the Hillcrest area – it’s not meant to be a slick city hospital; it’s a welcoming country one, with lots of warm pause areas.’ It sounds like it. The client wanted openness and warmth: visitors, after moving through the hospital’s foyer, walk through a succession of two lounges with fireplaces to a double-volume feature staircase suspended above a garden. And that’s before they’ve checked in. Project Manager Antony Arbuthnot said, ‘You’re not going to know how state of the art it is unless you’re lying flat on your back in the theatre under anaesthetic.’ Sam Clark of MW&S Quantity Surveyors summed up the project: ‘The client enabled the team to create something out of the ordinary.’ Grant Richardson of Saint-Gobain reminisced about life as it was in Hillcrest, and how now, with this hospital, this already burgeoning region has just been handed its biggest catalyst yet for major growth. We didn’t dance by the light of the moon, but we put that down to the magnitude of the meal. Or was it that second Irish coffee?
THE PROPERTY DINNER
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Paulette Murison, Wayne Allen 14Asogan Naicker 15Chris Rudham 16Antony Arbuthnot 17Eugene Frere 18Ryan Tully.
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18 July/August 2011 | 47
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T ES U G R O IT ED us sm ra aE nd Li
Real estate
residential, commercial, offshore
Visionary
interpretation The introduction of consumer protection laws is laudable only insofar as they are accessible to and understandable by the citizens they’re meant to protect.
Main photograph 123rf.com Profile photograph Natalie Payne
I
t was in 1985 that the Estate Agent’s Board commissioned two Unisa professors to compile a manuscript covering all aspects of the nature of the estate agency business and its management. I was appointed as manager of my first sales team in 1989 and have used that publication as a solid business guideline for many years. The general approach in those days was: ‘Whatever the situation, the salesperson responsible for a marketing plan starts by identifying the target market for the property and determining a marketing mix for the marketing of the property.’ The Four Ps (Price, Product, Place and Promotion) were followed by a diagram illustrating all the different marketing projects of the firm and the estate agent. At the time the part of the graph which fascinated me the most was the circle surrounding all those components and in which was written: ‘Economical Environment; Political and Legal Environment; Internal and External Factors; Social and Ethical Environment’. I am convinced that those factors in the outer circle have played a major role in the property market since my first entry into the real estate sector in 1986. The old system of Parliamentary sovereignty came to an end in 1994, overtaken by a supreme Constitution. Customary law started to be recognised by
our courts. The death penalty was ousted and ‘ubuntu’ – which implies both rights and duties – became the word of the moment. So political direction was indeed a factor that has influenced the sale of property since 1986. Prior to 1994, I once drove home at 9 p.m. after finalising a property sales agreement. The streets were empty and I had the feeling of being abandoned. Those were the dark days of fear, before the elections of 1994 started to transform the country. The economical and social factors had their influences as well. The world became a smaller place with more Joneses to keep up with. Shortly thereafter came the new millennium, property markets around the world boomed, and SA was not left behind. There we were, ‘experiencing the same excitement more than a century after the true gold rush’. And then once again a recession set in and SA was not left out either. Technology was not a major factor of influence in 1990. It surely had its own impact on business overall, but another factor that is highly influenced by the political direction of a country is legislation. It must be in the light of the aforementioned political, social and economical background that the legislator spent some time promulgating the new Consumer Protection Act in order to assist the ‘struggling’ Rainbow Nation. This Act has brought about its own
challenges and the man in the street is not the only one confused. The Constitution (S39 (2)) guides us through a process of interpretation that must promote the spirit, purport and objects of the Bill of Rights. When interpreting legislation the courts can now take surrounding circumstances into consideration. When interpreting the law, they must find out the purpose of the law. So, the Constitution is the supreme law, ubuntu is the underlying principle and the consumer is king. I have no doubt that in good time our learned judiciary will interpret the Act and find its purpose, the contract lawyers will soon come up with exact clauses for consumers and suppliers, and the law will once again have its own time. If I do ever get the opportunity to speak to the legislator, there is just one question I would want to ask: why make a law to protect the consumer that states that suppliers and service providers must use simple language, while the entire nation is struggling to understand the legislator himself? Can the legislator not use simple language to educate the nation, or am I reading something into the Constitution that is not there? Ask me today what I think about the property market in South Africa and I’ll tell you: in the political environment, ubuntu remains the barometer, so it is up to the Rainbow Nation itself; the economic cycle
can only go up (easy to say when you’re at the bottom), technology will make us less social (humans need interaction with humans to be healthy) and the legislator will be active (expect new laws). I have interacted with many people from different spheres during my 25 years in property and the thing that scares me the most is the ignorance of the educated consumer. Estate agents are often faced with clients who refuse to assist them with gathering all the information needed for the sale. Getting a copy of a title deed from a potential home-seller is like asking to find a needle in a haystack. The many opinions still floating around only add to the confusion. I believe we need to get an exact message out soonest, and not only to the less-informed or less-educated consumer. And then we just might succeed in not only protecting the consumer, but also getting consumers to understand and abide by the law.
Linda Erasmus CEO, Fine & Country South Africa July/August 2011 | 49
Your Move From the desk of Ya’el Fine: Executive
Kloof exclusive
Perched on level ground high above Pinetown, with panoramic views over Durban stretching as far as the ships
Director, Sotheby’s
at sea, Edrington, once the Spanish ambassador’s residence in Abrey Road, Kloof, is to be redeveloped as a
International Realty,
prestigious residential estate of nine freehold homes, in addition to the original manor. The grand old manor
South Africa
will be extensively refurbished to the tune of over R1,5 million, and the nine additional homes, each on spacious, 2 000m2 stands, will complement
The property
the original home with a fresh,
market and the way
modern take on the existing
the public views
architectural style. Besides great
property has been
location, views and fine finishes,
buzzing since the
the estate offers owners the best
implementation of
of Kloof: a temperate climate,
digital marketing as the key strategy. So much
excellent schools, shopping
so that I often tell my agents that if they are
and dining destinations and a
not facebooking or tweeting, or don’t own an
range of sports and recreational
iPad, then they are getting left behind. Property
offerings. Vic Henry of Stedone
consumers want information yesterday, and
says, ‘Priced from R5 950 000,
social media platforms, email banners and the
this is a great opportunity
advancement of technology on real estate
for those with discerning
websites are providing for this very need.
taste.’ +27 (0)82 472 2507,
Following this trend, our global partner, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC, recently announced the launch of an integrated marketing strategy, built around its own newly redesigned website, sothebysrealty.com. The site is faster, and features stunning imagery to illustrate the brand’s distinguished personality. The home page displays a rotation of some of the network’s most striking homes, and when
stedonehomes.co.za
A buyer’s market only affords the players with cash on hand to play the game. Today’s buyers should learn from today’s sellers. – Linda Erasmus, CEO Fine & Country South Africa
users mouse over the image, interactive boxes
Offloading the Ark
with additional information about the property appear, increasing overall search engine optimisation (SEO). In addition, every listing
Recently launched and ready for occupation, The Stevedores
is accompanied by a unique slide show video,
development in Browns Road at The Point offers buyers the best of old
available in several languages and dialects.
and new. Comprising 19 units carefully salvaged from what was once
Property list prices are displayed in dozens
The Ark, it features a substantial amount of reclaimed building material,
of currencies, all updated daily with the latest
including Oregon wooden staircases, mahogany handrails and teak
exchange rates. Wendy Purvey, chief marketing
kitchen surfaces. Facing onto a spacious, central recreation area, which
officer of Sotheby’s International Realty
includes landscaped gardens, a water feature, swimming pool, coffee
Affiliates LLC, says, ‘The new marketing strategy
shop and retail component, these two-bedroom, two- bathroom units
gives the Sotheby’s International Realty®
have 115m2 of indoor space, a veranda or garden, and two parking bays
network tangible ways to enhance recruitment,
each. Situated opposite the new Docklands Hotel and within walking
retention and productivity. Sothebysrealty.com
distance of uShaka Marine World, the Promenade and beach clubs,
acts as an easily accessible and comprehensive
The Stevedores apartments, starting at R700 000, including VAT and
go-to source when affiliates meet with clients,
with no transfer duties, are exceptional value for money for the Point,
thus demonstrating the Sotheby’s International
says the developer, Dave Chaplin. +27 (0)83 272 0299
Realty® brand’s global awareness and providing a rich consumer experience.’ We are excited to announce the launch of our own digital marketing strategy for SA. In August 2011 we will be launching a brand-new
Ocean potion
website that is highly intuitive and that boasts
Within walking distance of a pristine blue-flag beach, in the quaint seaside village of Umzumbe on the
the very best in search functionality, with the
South Coast, Pumula Woods will consist of seven townhouses in a secure complex with a communal
emphasis on SEO. The launch of the new site will
pool and entertainment area. Set among indigenous trees abundant in birdlife, the units will have two,
be accompanied by a sophisticated e-marketing
three or four bedrooms as well as generous
strategy, including mobile applications for your
open- plan living spaces, lock-up garages
smartphone as well as an iPad application. We
plus an optional, additional garage. ‘Priced
are hoping for this strategy to position us as a
from R1,65 million, with no transfer duty,
leader in SA when it comes to anything online
this is a great seaside investment for buyers
pertaining to property or real estate. Hey, if we
looking for a tranquil, permanent residence
managed to sell a house to Kahn Morbee over
or those wanting a holiday home,’ says Dee
Facebook, we can’t be too far behind!
Monteith of Wakefields Shelly Beach.
Till next month!
+27 (0)72 199 1610, wakefields.co.za
Ya’el
Compiled by André Fiore
Residential Real Estate
COMMERCIAL Real Estate
‘The system s effectively reducefor e turnaround timorts processing imp and exports.’
The rental market remains tight. Landlords have to review their offers in order to attract good tenants. – Linda Erasmus, CEO Fine & Country South Africa
Central situ Ready any day now, the Vintage Hotel in Greyville offers upmarket, central conferencing and dining facilities for up to 200 delegates, and 18 stylish bedrooms. The four-star restaurant caters for diverse dietary preferences and requirements, with specialities including a seafood buffet and sizzler racks. Individually decorated with custom artwork, the bedrooms offer a majestic experience, while the exterior complements the area’s heritage with a colonial design by Mahomed Seedat of Seedat & Seedat Architects.
Fast track
The R16-million development is the latest investment in the area by Sudhir Vichare, well known for his Vintage curry restaurants in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Mozambique. +27 (0)31 309 5647; +27 (0)31 207 6233
Sporting a brand-new overhead conveyor system, in operation since March, Dube Tradeport’s TradeZone building is a dedicated zone for the import, manufacture and assembly of goods and the export of cargo. The state-of-the-art conveyor system offers direct access to the airport’s cargo terminal, allowing for efficient transport of high-value, time-sensitive goods. Constructed by a consortium of companies, including Germany’s ICM (part of the Unitechnik Group), the system is said to be a first worldwide. By speeding up the movement of import and export goods, the system effectively reduces processing turnaround time as well as storage time per consignment. It renders consignments secure from theft, and addresses other security matters too. The Civil Aviation Authority and Worldwide Flight Services, who operate the cargo terminal, have given the conveyor system the thumbs up. +27 (0)31 307 2857, dubetradeport.co.za
Designer lines The total revamp of Matt Black Future Fashions in Mathew Meyiwa (Stamford Hill) Road was completed in May by Sphere Design & Architecture. The result is a young, fresh, energetic space that aptly addresses the ‘New York trading floor meets SA clothing company’ brief. Owner Michael Johnston is delighted with the product, not just because it has created a suitably edgy workspace for his growing design studio and offices, but also for its value as an investment in an area that’s making a comeback. The facade now sports stylish clean lines, a vibrant thread of colour and timber panels for added texture and layering, while polished terrazzo floors, contemporary furniture and customised wall art add punch to the interior. Also gained in the conversion are two lettable units on the ground floor and ample
African dream
parking for clients and staff. +27 (0)31 312 5133, spheredesign.co.za
Welgevonden, a private game reserve in the Waterberg, Limpopo, presents investors with the opportunity to purchase a lodge of their own. Home to the big five and other game, and just two and a half hours’ drive from Johannesburg, the Waterberg is fast becoming a popular weekend getaway destination. Loua Boshoff, MD of Seeff Bela Bela, says that if you are looking for a private home in a premier reserve, a share in a syndicate lodge, a corporate investment, or if you intend running a superb luxury game lodge Compiled by André Fiore
commercially, then Welgevonden is the place for you. The wildlife sanctuary incorporates exclusive safari lodges, each secluded within its own freehold portion of this vast reserve, which owners and guests may freely traverse. Listed at R17,95 million is a ready-built luxury 10-bedroom lodge on 500ha of land. The lodge is fully equipped and can be utilised for private, corporate or commercial purposes. +27 (0)14 736 6495, seeff.com; welgevonden.org
July/August 2011 | 51
OFFSHORE Real Estate
High hopes Many South African firms are making their mark on the emerging African city of Lusaka. One such firm is Louis Karol Architects, which is commencing with the construction of an inner-city renewal project in the Zambian city. The project entails the rehabilitation and conversion of a fire-gutted 1970s high-rise to a hotel and commercial and retail complex serving a confluence of pedestrian, vehicular, rail and taxi transport modes. The tower has been derelict for 15 years and has become a symbol of the city centre’s seemingly terminal decline. Site works commenced in June. The $100-million (roughly R673-million) redevelopment is part of a national initiative launched in May this year by Zambian President Rupiah Banda, who is seeking to prevent the flight of capital from the CBD to the affluent suburbs. The project is being funded by the Zambian state pension fund on the back of a cash windfall generated by rising global commodities prices (copper is the country’s major foreign currency earner). +27 (0)21 462 4500, louiskarol.com
Diamond in the rough Architectural firm Boogertman & Partners (B & P) has been hired to design what is projected to become an important economic hub in Gaborone’s Fairground district, where a number of high-profile companies already own buildings. The Fairground Mixed-Use Precinct is located in a previously underdeveloped corner of the city, and the Botswana Development Corporation’s main objective in commissioning the construction of this new precinct is to stimulate economic growth. B & P has therefore designed state-of-the-art high-rises that will stand out and make a statement. The development will include 3 822m2 of retail space, 19 487m2 of office space, 13 407m2 of residential space and a 6 874m2 hotel. With an eye to the future, the developer has secured and consolidated three adjacent lots with a total surface area of 23 066m2. Construction on this three-phase project began in the first quarter of this year and is scheduled to last for 31 months. +27 (0)12 429 7334, boogertmanandpartners.com
Old-fashioned syndication offers good opportunities for investors, especially since property prices are at an all-time low.
– Linda Erasmus, CEO Fine & Country South Africa
Appealing Alpilles Heritage Properties of Europe has recently acquired an exceptional property in Provence, France. The plot is 130 000m2 in size, while the mansion, guest house and two independent apartments make up a total living area of 800m2. There are many outbuildings and facilities for horse breeding and riding as well as an independent studio and a huge swimming pool. The property is located in the Alpilles region and is a perfect example of the French Provençal lifestyle. Situated between the Luberon, Camargue
Securing London property
links, lying 20 minutes from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and 30 minutes from Marseille Provence International Airport. The region gets an average of
Graham & McCullagh Property Consultants
300 days of sunshine a year and is well known for its olive oil
(G&McC) is a Central London- based, service-
and vineyards. Many festivals and other cultural events
orientated company owned by Anne Graham
are held here throughout the year, and the area is
and Fern McCullagh. They offer their clients
replete with art galleries, world-class restaurants and
an unrivalled, bespoke service that entails
beautiful stone architecture. +27 (0)11 482 1876,
sourcing properties and introducing potential investors to professional consultants in the real estate industry, including immigration Director Annie Graham
and the Cévennes, the Alpilles region is close to major towns and transport
and real estate solicitors, tax advisers,
heritagepropertiesofeurope.com
‘The property is per fect example a of the French Provençal lifest yle.’
mortgage financiers, builders, architects and designers. Between them, Anne and Fern have many years’ experience in the South African and London property markets, giving them with an understanding of the Africans looking to buy offshore, as well as and understanding of Central London property values, local area knowledge and transaction procedures. G&McC’s clients are assured of a monitored and handheld property transaction process.
Director Fern McCullagh
52 | July/August 2011
+44 (0)20 7730 8364, gmccproperty.co.uk
Compiled by Genevieve Fisher
intricacies of property investment for South
Directory
5)& '*/&45 #&% "/% #"5) -*/&/ */ 5)& 803-% ."%& */ *5"-:
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TREND WATCH
A feel for green Never before has the meeting of aesthetics and eco-friendliness been more prominent. Here is our pick of the hottest, greenest decor items. Grow up If you’ve always wanted your own veggie patch or garden but are short on ground space, then the Wallflower Vertical Garden by Haldane Martin should be on your wish list. This modular planter system is made from recycled, roto-moulded polyethylene plastic and recycled stainless steel. The design even includes a water-efficient drip
Seeds of success
irrigation system. +27 (0)21 448 0999, haldanemartin.co.za
These chandeliers by the African Queen Studio in McGregor are made of transformed natural waste: dried jacaranda seed pods. They’re handmade by women from the local rural community without the use of machinery or electricity, and are creatively enhanced with glass beads and crystals. +27 (0)23 625 1843, africanqueen.org.za
Need Pic Floating on Aire Designed by Piero Lissoni for Cassina, the Aire Sofa’s components can be entirely disassembled and are up to 80% recyclable. The internal tensile structure saves on material and volume because it uses 65% less polyurethane than traditional foam stuffing. This in turn saves on energy use during the production process. +27 (0)21 424 8682, limeline.co.za
A good, green read Garforth-Venter, have just launched their first book,
Where the glass is greener The new Govino range of 100% recyclable wine glasses are stemless and shatterproof,
The Green Line: A South African Guide to Green Living. It is printed on Sappi’s Masuga paper, which is produced from sugar cane waste rather than
have an ergonomic thumb enclave – and don’t contain any glass at all! The range is
trees and is 100% recyclable. Packed with practical
made from a flexible, BPA-free, odourless polymer that reflects a wine’s colour and
green living tips, this book belongs on the coffee
projects its aromatics, much like expensive crystal would. +27 (0)84 607 3621, entertainoutside.co.za
56 | July/August 2011
tables of every home and office. +27 (0)11 023 9101, thegreenlinetv.com
Compiled by Genevieve Fisher
Green power couple, Michelle and Riaan
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