The Property Magazine - Gauteng July/August 2012 by Medianova Publishing

Property

Est. 2004, Issue 274

JOHANNESBURG

JULY/AUGUST 2012

Winner of 10 publishing awards

decor, trends, luxury, design & real estate

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DISCOVER LAND ART THE CAPE’S NEW ECO CABINS

THE GREEN ISSUE

RSA R34.95 (incl. VAT) Other countries R21.90 (excl. Tax) Line of Red Flags, Western Cape, by land artist, Strijdom van der Merwe

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING

Contents

DECOR 18

HOT DECOR & DESIGN International trends to inspire you

from Zinio

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER Stand to win with the V & A Waterfront and the

OUTDOOR WONDERLAND

store for women

A sneak peek at a foodie

DESIGN 28

book, and a vegan café

@ Maison. TurnFlags, to page 11 Line of Red for Strijdom the full story. van der Merwe. See page 48 for details.

Cycling through vineyards

Monaghan Farm

Ronald Ennik banks on a rise in the market

JOHANNESBURG RESIDENTIAL Camps Bay, and a new service from JHI

JOHANNESBURG COMMERCIAL Mixed-use development

ﬁttings and furnishings

on the move, and greener pastures for Illovo

NATURAL ORDER Meet land artist Strijdom

CALL OF THE WILD Thali-Thali game

EXCEPTIONAL EXPANSIONS Three Cities Group takes

REAL ESTATE 24

THE BIG PICTURE IS HEALTHY

home, from ﬂoor to roof,

van der Merwe

HOT INDULGENCE

Town Mouse meets

Luxury apartments in

decorating a planet-pleasing

GOOD AS GREEN

FARM LIVING Country Mouse at

GREENING IN LAYERS of ideas for building and

over a landmark lodge

THE BATTLE AT KRUGER

LUXURY WIN

reserve, a stone’s

Plans for an upmarket

Win an African bush, spa

throw from Langebaan,

hotel at the Kruger

and golﬁng experience at

is on the market

National Park spark

Zebula, worth over R25 000!

ON THE COVER

green building works for you

footprint by drinking wine

TheON Kitchen THE & Tasting COVER Room

Kogelberg Nature Reserve

The professionals on how

and reducing your carbon

wise Oudebosch Cabins in

Expert advice and loads

LUXURY 20

IN THE HEART OF THE FYNBOS

GREEN STARS

Good clean eco-friendly fun

Enjoying the great

FAST PACE IN FOURWAYS Why living in Fourways is a

Out and about in Joeys

outdoors at the new eco-

good idea

HOT PLATE

SOCIETY

and surrounds

Queen Victoria Hotel

Timberland’s world-ﬁrst

What you should be doing

D DOWNLOA AL N IO T A OUR N EDITION FOR iPAD

this month

TRENDS 15

WHAT’S ON

TIME OUT IN MAURITIUS

a verbal bush ﬁre

SECURITY MEETS SERENITY Exclusive Adare Place

LUXURY LODGES UP FOR GRABS

We explore La Pirogue

in Upper Claremont,

Namibia Country Lodges

and Long Beach

Cape Town

unbundles its properties

thepropertymag.co.za | 1

ED’S LETTER THE PROPERTY MAGAZINE ONLINE

Photograph Grant Difford

VISIT thepropertymag.co.za for the latest features.

Building for the future

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Anything you can do, we can do better! Our annual Green issue corresponds nicely with the announcement of the 12 nominees for the 2011/2012 AfriSam-SAIA sustainable architecture awards (see sidebar). AfriSam, a leading producer of building materials, together with the South African Institute of Architects, introduced the awards to recognise and promote those firms that have created and designed buildings that are ecologically sustainable and uplift the community. Two award categories exist: one for built work that has been ‘beneficially occupied’ (used for the purpose for which it was constructed) since 15 March 2011, and one for social importance. One of these buildings has been awarded a Four- Star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of SA. Another is independent of electrical and water utilities, thanks to on-site production, harvesting and efficiencies. And then there’s one that uses daylight harvesting. Most have eco-friendly features, including water-wise gardens, solar geysers, rainwater harvesting systems and grey-water systems. Whichever green practices the developers have put in place, they are performing them well and making an impact, and for that we salute them. My favourite nominee is the Safmarine Sports Centre, which was constructed from used transportation containers and now boasts a coach’s office, two change rooms and an equipment store. Now that’s inspiring.

There are many other commercial, retail and residential developments in South Africa whose developers are doing their bit for sustainability. Too many to mention here, in fact! However, I love that Growthpoint’s Lincoln Lake development in Umhlanga sports a pool of bicycles that employees can use instead of cars for shorter trips around the precinct (going to meetings or lunch or running errands), that MDD’s new development in Bryanston, Johannesburg, responded to the neighbourhood blackouts with a green, customengineered electricity scheme, and that Pretoria’s mixed-use development, Menlyn Maine, is making history as SA’s first fully functioning green city – one of only a handful in the world. South African architects are certainly proving that they can hold their own in the international arena of sustainable construction and they are being aided by a surge in new building laws and guidelines, such as making roof insulation compulsory. The sky’s the limit, it would appear.

Call 0860 100 203 to learn more about our special subscription offer. +27 (0)87 230 0101

NOMINEES – SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AWARDS Nic Border Architects – Elkanah House High Campus, Cape Town Richard Dobson Architects – Enhancing the Livelihoods in Cardboard Recycling (Project 3) eThekwini City Architects – Housing Typologies Study Claude/Bailey Design & Architecture – Kavuma House, Monaghan Farm, Gauteng Activate Architects, Afritects – Lebone II College, North West Kate Otten Architects – Lulu Kati Kati House, Melville, Johannesburg DHK Architects – Nedbank Ridgeside Building, Umhlanga Rocks, KwaZulu-Natal Arca Architects & Designers – Ozmik House, Brooklyn, Pretoria Bentel Associations International (BAI) – Pick n Pay on Nicol, Sandton, Johannesburg Tsai Design Studio – Safmarine Sports Centre, Piketberg Daffonchio & Associate Architects – The Energy Works, Parktown North,

Nicky Manson, Editor

Johannesburg East Coast Architects – Vele Secondary School, Limpopo.

This month my green indulgences are …

Papernomad’s 100% organic sleeves for iPhones,

Flow Africa’s bamboo bowls are perfect for

Eco Furniture Design’s dresser is not only painted

iPads and iPods. Made from a combination of a tear-

trinkets or snacks, and come in square or circular

green, but is also green in the ecological sense,

resistant paper composite, hemp, cotton and wool, the

designs. Available from Flow Africa in Franschhoek

because it is made from reclaimed/sustainable

sleeves are available from l’Emile et Son in Parkhurst,

as well as Cinnamon Lifestyle and Design in

timber. Find the store in Woodstock, Cape Town,

Johannesburg, and online. +27 (0)82 557 0150,

Pretoria. Phone orders taken. Nationwide delivery.

or order online. +27 (0)21 801 6612,

l-emile-et-son.com; papernomad.com

+27 (0)72 383 3227, ﬂowafrica.co.za

ecofurnituredesign.com

4 | July/August 2012

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DISTRIBUTION REGIONAL CIRCULATION ABC Audited National Circulation (Jan.–Mar. 2012) The Property Magazine – Johannesburg (formerly Gauteng) 21 133 The Property Magazine – Western Cape 22 494 The Property Magazine – KwaZulu-Natal 13 623 The Property Magazine – Combined 57 250 THE PROPERTY MAGAZINE JOHANNESBURG DISTRIBUTION 7 490 copies to luxury outlets (including Nambia): Atholl Place Castello Di Monte Clico Guest House Fairlawns Forum Homini Hotel Le Châtelat Radisson Blu Sun Square Montecasino Teremok Riverside Tintswalo at Waterfall Ten Bompas Hotel Ten 2nd Avenue Houghton Estate The Falstaff The Grace in Rosebank The Peech Hotel The Saxon The Quatermain The Westcliff Villa Sterne

15 230 copies free-to-home (including residential estates): Atholl & Atholl Ext. 12 Brackenhurst Bryanston & Exts. Dunkeld Dunkeld West Houghton Estate Hyde Park Illovo & Exts. Inanda & Exts. Lucas Rand Melrose Northcliff Parkmore Parkhurst Parktown North River Club Sandhurst Sandown & Exts. Saxonwold Westcliff Morningside

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Prope Property Prrtoype ty r e p rty o Pr JULY /AUGUS Est.T 2004, Issue 274 2012

, Issue Est. 2004

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JULY/AUGUST 2012 CAPE ERN te WEST gn & real esta

Winner of 10 publishing awards

decor, trends, luxury, design & real estate

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Property EDITORIAL Editor Nicky Manson nickym@medianova.co.za KwaZulu-Natal Bureau Chief Anne Schauffer anne@medianova.co.za Chief Subeditor Yaron Blecher Features Writers Genevieve Fisher (Western Cape) André Fiore (KwaZulu-Natal) Gisela Nel (Pretoria) ART Senior Designer Keverne Morland Junior Designer Chané Joemat Senior Retoucher Tim Lake CONTRIBUTORS Candace King, Catherine Riley, Tammy Sutherns PHOTOGRAPHERS Val Adamson, Nic Baleta, Ruvan Boshoff, Michael Glenister, Tim Lake, Gisela Nel, Gerry Pelser, Tammy Sutherns, Strijdom van der Merwe PRINTING Creda Communications DISTRIBUTION Ezweni Magazine Distribution ADVERTISING Gauteng & KwaZulu-Natal Regional Sales & Marketing Manager Jenni McCallum Gauteng & KwaZulu-Natal Sales Assistants Liezel Barnard, Bianca van Deventer Johannesburg Sales Milos Kovacevic, Tracey-Lee Schuster

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Western Cape Regional Sales & Marketing Manager Michèle Jones Western Cape Sales Susan Erwee Pretoria Sales Lorna MacPhail Media Coordinator Tamlyn Pasqualie Trafﬁc Assistant Portia Mbele

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PUBLISHED BY MEDIA NOVA (PTY) LTD Managing Director Tony Vaughan tony@medianova.co.za Project Manager Taryn Townsend General Manager Mark Pettipher markp@medianova.co.za Associate Publisher Pretoria Obed Sealetsa Associate Publisher Namibia Mynard Slabbert Financial Manager Leanne Cox leanne@medianova.co.za Finance Assistant Eleanor Scipio Credit Controller Anthea Odendaal Collections Clerk Casmia Gysman IT Coordinator Adrian Petro Drivers Themba Gumede, Joseph Khoza, Willem September

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 socials@thepropertymag.co.za Hot Property hotproperty@medianova.co.za Published monthly in four regional issues: Western Cape, Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal and Pretoria Current ABC Audited Circulation (Q1 2012, January–March): Western Cape – 22 494, Gauteng/Johannesburg – 21 133, KwaZulu-Natal – 13 623, Total Nationally – 57 250 Web Stats: Property Club Members – 24 884 AMPS National Readership (2011A): 287 815

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ON THIS MONTH’S COVERS Western Cape: Adare Place, Upper Claremont. Urban Space, +27 (0)21 701 6401, urbanspace.co.za Johannesburg: Line of Flags, Strijdom van der Merwe KwaZulu-Natal: Sustainable Building Pretoria: Oudebosch Cabins South Africa (National Digital Edition): Oudebosch Cabins

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.

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You tell us Property involves us all. What’s your view? Email readers@medianova.co.za. LOCAL INGREDIENTS

LETTER o

Thanks for the Ed’s Letter in your May/June issue, Nicky. Good to see Pretoria getting some exposure and credit for its commercial and residential developments. It’s rare that anyone talks about things going on over the ‘boerewors curtain’ (as quoted by one your Property Dinner guests). Keep up the good work! Proudly Pretorian

f the Month

RENOVATION REVELATION ‘Renovation Invasion’ was a great feature last month. I was in awe of the bathroom renovation.The before photos look just like my home’s bathrooms, so I was intrigued by the owner’s clever placing of fixtures and use of shelving to create more room and turn out such a chic space. Thanks for the inspiration! F Spencer, Northcliff

OUR BIGGEST FAN The Property Magazine is my precious gem. After reading the last issue, I just cannot believe how outstanding the articles are. There is truly something for everyone. Just when I think there is no way you can top your last issue, you prove me wrong. The Property Magazine is jam-packed with amazing articles and useful information. There are places I’ve visited that I would never ever have known about if I had not read about them in the magazine, such as Vergelegen Estate in Somerset West. Congratulations also on a stunning article, ‘Transparent-Sea’, also in the May/June issue, relating to the Cape West Coast. I absolutely love the West Coast and this article convinced me even more. I would go so far as to say that when it comes to decor, trends, designs and real estate information, The Property Magazine is unbeatable, so you are my precious gem. I yet have to find a magazine that compares. It’s no wonder The Property Magazine is the winner of 10 publishing awards. Keep up the excellent and magical work. Lynn Nagel, Plattekloof

WIN Write to us and you could win a case of Simonsig Tiara 2009! Simonsig Tiara has proudly been wearing the crown as Simonsig Estate’s flagship red wine for over two decades. Since it was first bottled in 1990, it has blossomed into an elegant mélange of five classic Bordeaux varieties, representing the very best the estate can produce in any one vintage. Driven by Cabernet Sauvignon (76%), Simonsig Tiara 2009 is a sensual yet substantial wine reminiscent of a deep red textured Persian carpet. Its intense ripe blackberry and cherry flavours with hints of cigar box are enriched by whiffs of graphite, adding depth and dimension to this full-circle Bordeaux-style blend. +27 (0)21 888 4915, simonsig.co.za

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HOT PROPERTY

HOT space

Outdoor wonderland The new Timberland store at Hyde Park Corner embodies wholesome and ethical fashion

tep into the world’s first exclusive

with abstract trees casting shadows.’ The

Timberland store for women

materials used have been designed to look

and you’ll leave the bustling

natural and weathered. Cantilevered tables

city of Johannesburg behind

with wooden tops as well as the shelves are

you. Timberland displays beautiful outdoor

made up of many different pieces of wood of

footwear and accessories in a store that

different textures and sizes, framed by a back

features clean wooden finishes and an

wall painted in Timberland’s signature orange.

atmosphere designed to immediately make

Abdullah says this creates depth and colour

you feel like you are at one with nature.

that resonates throughout the store.

Words Tammy Sutherns Photographs Tammy Sutherns and supplied

Lighting is another beautiful feature

Timberland’s ethical credentials are a part of everything it does. Marketing Director

that creates the effect of being in an

Abdullah Mayet says, ‘It’s from the way we

outdoor, peaceful setting. The LED lighting

manufacture our products to the design and

is strategically positioned to illuminate

build of our store. We combine great materials

certain products, drawing attention to the

that perform well and reflect our heritage

gorgeous array of boots and colourful range

and principals.’ The brand recently won an

of handbags. Abdullah says, ‘Images on the

award in the UK for Best Ethical Footwear

walls are large in scale and act like windows,

and Accessories Brand. Abdullah says,

reflecting our position as a lifestyle brand.’

‘Timberland’s key responsibility as a brand is

The Ecolabel-certified tiled flooring in natural

to reflect our point of view and values within

tones adds to the overall effect. Abdullah says

our store environments. We aim to convey

that over 90% of the flooring is made up of

the qualities of heritage, craftsmanship and

recycled material and holds the highest green

sustainability in store design and construction.’

rating for any floor tile.

This Timberland store is a gem for women

Timberland’s new store at Hyde Park Corner shopping centre sticks to these themes and

who are looking for quality footwear and

has been designed in accordance with the

accessories. Abdullah says the store’s market

United States’ Leadership in Environmental and

is women who are active and on-trend, who

Energy Design green building rating systems.

care about the environment and want a

The flooring, lighting and fixtures are all

product that is feminine, practical and stylish.

made from materials that are either recycled,

He says, ‘Our vision is to create a simple, clean

recyclable or FSC certified. Abdullah says, ‘The

environment where we only use minimal key

idea of this store is to present a minimalist

materials in the construction.’ Timberland is a

environment where the main focus is on the

wholly owned subsidiary of VF Corporation.

great product. You are in a warm environment,

+27 (0)11 325 4524, timberland.co.za

Timberland’s first-ever exclusive store for women. 2-3The wallpaper promotes both the feminine

Visit thepropertymag.co.za for other hot

and the outdoors. 4Belts for the active, eco-conscious woman.

new stores in your area.

thepropertymag.co.za | 15

HOT PROPERTY

HOT PLATE

Learn the art of braaiing from the expert, and discover a new world of chocolate

ANTONIA DE LUCA, the queen of eating green, tells us about her vegan dining spot, Leafy Greens Café.

Q Describe your café?

Leafy Greens Café is an organic, raw- food, vegan-friendly café that was born out of the passion and love for healthy, organic food that is prepared in an environmentally friendly way. Leafy Greens wants to share this with others, to improve the quality of the food we eat and therefore the quality of our lives.

GIVING NOODLES THE NOD

Q Where is Leafy Greens Café situated?

New to the Asian food scene is the fabulous Good Luck Club, a little noodle bar specialising in stirfry, soups, Thai curries, spring rolls and dim sum.

It is situated in Muldersdrift, Johannesburg. It is on an organic farm and shares the premises and organic gardens with the well-known Casalinga Restaurant, just off Beyers Naudé Drive.

Only a few months old and situated in Illovo on Corlett Drive, the diner joins a number of cool spaces that are becoming hotspots for sundowners and light meals. The Good Luck Club offers a fresh take on Asian fare and takeaways, but it’s

Q How do you create your weekly menus?

not just its menu that stands out – the restaurant has stylish interiors too. Wooden panelling on the bar counter complements the earthy colour

Our weekly menus are designed around what is in the garden. We serve mostly organic, raw, seasonal and local produce. Leafy Greens is open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday and we have an organic raw and cooked buffet on weekends from 11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.

palette and warm, quirky decor. The ceiling is interesting and the lighting installations are arty in their own right. And we love the wallpaper. +27 (0)11 447 3816, thegoodluckclub.co.za

Q Entice us!

Come and have an organic, homegrown wheatgrass shot, fresh juice or smoothie and have some great home- cooked vegan food. For winter we have wonderful soups, curries, rice dishes, pizza and home-baked bread.

Q What makes your café stand out?

Preservative free and completely natural, just the way nature intended it to be. We go back to simple, conscious eating! We also do vegan catering, takeaways, yoga mornings, workshops on raw food for people of all ages and many more exciting activities. We also sell organic produce right out of our gardens. +27 (0)82 882 7300 lgcafe.org

16 | July/August 2012

SWEET NEWS The Lady of All Things Chocolate, Godiva, is now available in SA. Founded in 1926, Godiva Chocolatier has a reputation for creating the world’s best luxury chocolate products, and these are now being imported from Brussels by Godiva Chocolatier SA. We ask, what took you so long? After all, Africa is home to some of the world’s ﬁnest cacao beans. Godiva is available at select retailers nationwide and you can also indulge your sweet tooth online. Find Godiva at Chocolate Cacao Café in Sandton City and at the Patisserie in Illovo. godiva.com

HOT PROPERTY

HOT PLATE

HEAT IT UP Winter still has us covered up and indoors, so why not warm up with a hot tipple? The team of skilled

BRAAI KNOW-HOW

mixologists at Belvedere Vodka have created two

If you fancy yourself a braai master, then this new book by the founder of

hot alcoholic drinks for a winter indulgence. For the

National Braai Day is for you. Jan ‘Braai’ Scannell’s Fireworks explores the

coffee ﬁend, Belvedere has introduced Grande To Go,

proudly South African tradition of braaiing (see the sneak preview below).

a mix of premium ﬁltered coffee, coffee liqueur and

Discover tips on how to braai the perfect steak or make the best boerewors

Belvedere Pure, as well as Belvedere Hot Toddy, a tea

roll. And how Jan’s own braaiing skills? ‘Above average,’ he says. ‘I’ve been

infused with Belvedere Pure and containing hints of

fortunate enough to braai often, with diverse people, in various beautiful

zesty citrus, cloves and cinnamon (said to help with

places, using different techniques. There is now quite a bit of tacit knowledge

symptoms of colds and ﬂu). Belvedere is quadruple

in my head that I want to share with everyone – just to bring you up to speed,

distilled exclusively from the ﬁnest 100% Dánkowskie

so to speak.’ Fireworks will be available from leading bookstores nationwide

gold rye, is completely additive-free and is diluted

from August. braai.com

with water from Belvedere’s own artesian well. Available from liquor outlets nationwide. belvederevodka.com

Tomato chilli relish recipe 1 tin peeled and chopped tomatoes (or 2 cups peeled and chopped fresh tomatoes) 1 onion (finely chopped) 1 red pepper (finely chopped) Oil or butter Just less than 1 tsp chilli powder 2 cloves garlic (crushed or chopped) 1 tot tomato paste 1 tot chutney 1 tot balsamic vinegar (This is the only time in the book I think balsamic vinegar is the best for a recipe, but if you don’t feel like buying it, use normal vinegar and add a bit more sugar to the relish according to your taste. While on the topic, you should actually be adding sugar and salt to any recipe according to your taste.) 1 tot sugar 1 tsp salt What to do 1. Go and light your fire. Using a pan or pot on the fire or stove, fry the onion and pepper in a bit of oil or butter for 5 minutes. Add the chilli and garlic and

It’s perfect casserole weather and Le Creuset’s

fry for 1 more minute.

new Marseille range makes cooking super-stylish

2. Now add the tomatoes, tomato paste, chutney, vinegar, sugar and salt, and

too. Marseille Blue is a unique hue inspired by

mix well.

the south-east coast of France and is new to

3. As soon as the mixture starts to boil, turn the heat down by either moving

Le Creuset’s range of shining colours. Choose

the pan to the edge of the ﬁre or turning the stove to low so that it’s just

from the various sizes of casseroles and the

simmering. By the time you’re ﬁnished braaing, the ﬂavours of your relish will

skillet dish to get busy with some colourful

have developed nicely. At some stage while you’re waiting for the ﬁre to burn

cooking. Available from Le Creuset Sandton.

out, check up on the relish. If you want it to be sweeter, add more sugar and if

+27 (0)11 786 0301, lecreuset.co.za

you want more kick, add extra chilli powder.

thepropertymag.co.za | 17

Words Nicky Manson

C’EST CHIC

HOT PROPERTY

HOT DECOR & DESIGN

Be inspired by international design …

GREG AND ROCHÉ DRY of KZN’s Egg Designs have brought their popular designs to their new store in Kramerville. We chat to Greg.

Q What is behind your Joburg move, and why 03 Desmond?

We have set up shop in Joburg to get more people exposed to our work. We needed designers, decorators and speciﬁers to be able to see and touch our work. 03 Desmond came up and we wanted to be in the design/decor district.

Q Tell us about the space.

The space we have created is a store more than a showroom. All of the work is for sale and can be taken from the ﬂoor.

Q Do you specialise in any particular product? No, we are a multidisciplinary design studio. The focus is to remain true to real design, which means we are not specifying catalogue designers. Most of the interior products are bespoke designs for the client or from our body of work.

Q Which aspect of your job do you adore?

We love what we do all round. The design process is by far the most exciting, followed closely by seeing a new design prototype or finished item on the factory floor for the first time.

Q Your favourite items from your own collection?

GIVE TODAY, GROW TOMORROW Recycling is nothing new; however, these quirky gift cards and tags give a whole new meaning to ‘a gift that keeps on giving’. Created by the company Growing Paper, they are 100% recyclable and handmade with water-based ink by the local community in the Paardeberg region. All cards and tags are embedded with a ﬂower or herb seed that will grow as soon as they are planted and given a little love and nurturing. Any water left over from the manufacturing processes is used for irrigation purposes. Available from Poetry, Melissa’s, Space and Voodoo Lily, nationwide and online. +27 (0)83 456 4671, growingpaper.co.za

SPANISH TOUCH The beautiful store, Griffiths & Griffiths, in Kramerville, has introduced a gorgeous range of Spanish objets, adding a bit of European flavour to its mahogany furniture. Interior design company, Becara, based in Madrid, was founded in 1964. The Becara collection is made up of stunning decorative pieces,

I would say the Batvian cupboard, with stained lead glass, and the Parquet server, which Roché did and is new on the ﬂoor.

including magnifying glasses, ceramic bowls,

Q Whose designs do you love, here and abroad?

bone bamboo photo frames, horn stands and

We have great respect for Gregor, the chaps from Tonic and anything by Garouste & Bonetti.

candlestick holders and glass bottles. The shop also showcases Becara’s spheres, small nickel trays, silver desk lamps, stone obelisks, celadon. Take a stroll around the large store and browse the range, which also includes wine coolers and ice buckets that are ﬁnished off in silver and aged bamboo. The materials used in the Becara collection are of high quality and contemporary design and have more

+27 (0)11 262 5940, eggdesigns.co.za

than a touch of class. +27 (0)11 444 5744, grifﬁthsandgrifﬁths.co.za

18 | July/August 2012

HOT PROPERTY

HOT DECOR & DESIGN

DANISH INSPIRATION Torquil Mathewson, designer and owner of Kluyts & Co., has introduced his new furniture range, Ode to Denmark. In this new collection, clean and pure lines stay true to Danish carpentry. The collection pays homage to Danish designer, Hans Wegner, and incorporates classical craftsmanship and research with rare indigenous South African woods. Kluyts

ITALIAN STYLE

& Co.’s workshop is based in Knysna but Joburgers may have spotted the ﬁrst piece

We love this light from Karman Lighting for its original and

of the Ode to Denmark collection at the

stylish take on outdoor hanging lanterns. Discovered in Milan,

Grand Designs Live show. If you missed out,

Karman Lighting is now available in SA through the Modern Home

fear not, because Kluyts delivers worldwide.

Company and has a collection of indoor and outdoor installations

+27 (0)44 382 6343, kluyts.com

that are built using a juxtaposition of various materials and textures. Simply gorgeous. Find them at 03cubed in Kramerville. 03cubed.co.za; +27 (0)11 262 0258, modernhome.co.za

BOOK GIVEAWAY Be inspired by Nicola Hadﬁeld’s new book, Beautiful Outdoors. Nicola points out that harmoniously designed spaces do not have to be deﬁned by four solid walls and that transforming the nooks and corners of a garden into places of beauty has moved beyond the practical. She has travelled all over South Africa to showcase gardens of every description, from the grandest to the tiniest, from classical to contemporary,

SHOOT TO THRILL

to inspire you to design your own outdoor space. We are giving away two

We simply love the look of bamboo in the home, and this new type of ﬂooring from Bamboo

autographed copies of this designer read by

Warehouse is a great way to introduce this look. Bamboo is a quick-growing, renewable, natural

Nicola. Simply email your name and details

material and is said to be more eco-friendly than other wooden ﬂooring. Easy to assemble, these

to readers@medianova.co.za with the word

bamboo ﬂoorboards are a stylish alternative to tiles, carpeting and rare hardwoods. Delivery and

‘Book’ as the subject. Ts & Cs apply.

installation in all major cities nationally. +27 (0)11 447 0892, bamboowarehouse.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za

HOT PROPERTY

HOT INDULGENCE

Cycling through vineyards and reducing your carbon footprint by drinking wine? Now that’s eco-indulgence …

CYCLING THE CONSTANTIA VALLEY Guests at Steenberg Hotel can now explore one of Cape Town’s oldest wine estates by bicycle. The hotel has teamed up with Bike & Saddle to offer guests this eco-sensitive means of exploration. A wide selection of state-of-the-art bicycles, with helmets and locks, will be available by prior reservation at cost per hour. The bikes range in speed and size. Bike & Saddle is also offering guided bicycle tours along two bike trails that have been mapped out, allowing guests to make the most of Steenberg’s idyllic location. These trails through the Constantia Valley include visits to some of the neighbouring wineries and tourist attractions, including Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting, Constantia Glen and Beau Constantia. +27 (0)21 713 2222, steenberghotel.com

DRINKING GREEN Eco-conscious wine lovers can revel in the launch of not one, but two green wines this season. From Balance wines comes Haven Point, certified by Fairtrade. By buying this delightful nectar you’ll be helping to improve the lives of Third World producers and encouraging environmental protection. The 2012 Haven Point Pinot Gris entices with aromas of rose petal that lead to a feast of fresh, lingering fruit flavours. And the white 2012 Haven Point Viognier Shiraz combines exhilarating flavours of red berries and fragrant pear with a hint of spice. From Van Loveren we have the eco-friendly Tangled Tree wines, namely Spicy Shiraz, Chocolate Cabernet Sauvignon, Butterscotch Chardonnay, Moscato Rosé and Tropical Sauvignon. The wines are bottled in fully recyclable, eco-friendly PET bottles that are labelled with Treefree labels made from 100% renewable sugar cane fibre. And they taste good too. So if you’re looking for a good excuse for a glass of wine, what better reason than the environment and your fellow man? The wines will soon be available from all major liquor outlets. +27 (0)23 347 6838, balance-wines.co.za; +27 (0)23 615 1505, tangledtree.com

FASHION AS ART Ted Baker has taken his new Spring/Summer 2012 collection into the world of exhibitionists. Not for the wallflower, his collection is bright, bold and rich. Women are women and men are men, so expect the female form to be shown off to perfection and lots of florals. The men’s collection will have the guys looking classy in slim and classic fits. Available from Stuttafords nationwide. +27 (0)11 450 4634, tedbaker.com

20 | July/August 2012

HOT PROPERTY

TREAT YOURSELF Oodles of hot indulgence are on the cards for anyone who visits Upton Hall. Filling a niche for uberluxurious accommodation in Durban, the boutique guest house has been created through a witty and contemporary revamp of one of the city’s premier 1930s-style mansions, and each of its 10 suites features its own look, original artwork and splendid views. An indoor gym, three wine cellars, cigar lounge, and exceptional ﬁne dining prepared by executive chef Nardia Adams and served in the wood- panelled dining room, are among the luxuries that can be enjoyed by Upton Hall’s guests. Upton Hall Boutique Guest House is running a winter special, until the end of July. +27 (0)31 303 7987, uptonhall.co.za

A DATE WITH LUXURY Patek Philippe, the brand synonymous with luxury watches, recently released the Ref. 5940 Grand Complication at this year’s Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show. The deﬁning feature of this model is its ultra-thin self- winding perpetual calendar. To add an extra element of luxury, the Ref. 5940 Grand Complication wristwatch comes in an 18ct gold cushionshaped case. Patek Philippe watches are exclusively available from the Watch and Jewellery Gallery in Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, Johannesburg. The store delivers to major cities around SA. +27 (0)11 784 2595; patek.com

SUIT UP The Moët & Chandon Diamond Suit is bound to be a conversation starter at your next dinner party. This elegant isothermal suit has a texture that recalls the foil of a bottle and

CREATURE COMFORTS

sports a satin tie around its neck.

The ﬁve-star Owner’s Cottage at Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate

It’s also reusable and perfect for

in Franschhoek is now open to guests on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

gifting. The suit is guaranteed to

The Owner’s Cottage comprises four beautifully appointed bedrooms, a

keep your bottle chilled for up to

honeymoon suite, spacious lounge, designer kitchen and conservatory for

two hours. Available at leading

dining. There is a swimming pool and elevated spa pool overlooking the

liquor stores nationwide.

vineyards. Check out the special winter bed-and-breakfast rack rates.

moet.com

+27 (0)21 876 8600, grandprovence.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 21

HOT PROPERTY

JOHANNESBURG DIARY

The Joburg Comedy Cartel, 3 August Fancy your stand-up comedy in a slightly more sophisticated setting than the local pub? Foxwood Theatre at 13 5th Street, Houghton, has just the ticket – the Joburg Comedy Cartel. It stars Comedy Cartel members Vittorio Leonardi and Warren Robertson, who are committed to ‘no hack, overdone material’ and conjure laughter out of subjects as diverse as Stephen Hawking and a night out at a quiz. Special guests for the evening are Tumi Morake, one of SA’s funniest women, and Deep Fried Man, known for his quirky guitar songs. Tickets: R100. À la carte menu available at adjoining Foxwood House for dinner and a show. Book via phone or email; some tickets available at the door. +27 (0)11 486 0935, admin@foxwood.co.za

National Antiques & Decorative Arts Faire, 20–22 July If you are you interested in old books, coins and porcelain ﬁgures or if you are just looking for a beautiful antique piece, then head to the Sandton Convention Centre, where South African and international exhibitors will be showcasing their collections. There will be a wide range of furniture from the Victorian, Georgian, Edwardian and art nouveau collections as well as collectable cutlery and novelty silver from specialist dealers in Russian, Irish, English and Cape silver. Tickets: R70. Available online or at the door. +27 (0)11 482 4259, naada.co.za

The Parlotones: This is our Story, 3–4 August In a period of 10 years, the Parlotones have evolved into one of the country’s leading bands. For two nights only at the Teatro at Montecasino, the Parlotones will take the audience on a journey to explore their hit songs, including Beautiful, Here Comes The Man and Colourful, and the

The Parlotones

22 | July/August 2012

inspiration behind them. Tickets: from R200. 0861 915 8000, computicket.com

HOT PROPERTY

OMD – History of Modern, 4–5 August Emperors Palace is hosting iconic ’80s superstars, OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark), famous for hits like Electricity, Enola Gay, Souvenir and Seven Seas. Enjoy these oldies along with hits from OMD’s new album. Tickets: from R150. 0861 915 8000, computicket.com

Decorex Joburg, 8–12 August Decorex Joburg 2012 at the Gallagher Convention Centre will combine the very best in decor, design and home living and showcase the hottest trends, captivating colours, a myriad of beautiful things and loads of practical know-how. Five halls filled with the finest mix of over 700 high- end exhibitors, feature areas, ideas for beautiful home decor, workshops and demonstrations, and trendy pop-up restaurants and bars, complete the exhibition. Tickets: adults R75. +27 (0)11 549 8300, decorex.co.za

Defending the Caveman, 8 August – 9 September Alan Committie is back with his all-time comedy favourite at the Pieter

OMD

Toerien Theatre and Studio at Montecasino. The hilarious comedy skit delves into the differences between the sexes as Alan defends the sometimes-primitive behaviour of the modern-day caveman. Tickets: from R75. 0861 915 8000, computicket.com

Red, until 11 August American playwright, screenwriter and film producer, John Logan, explores the creative process and the inner conflict of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, Mark Rothko. Directed by Steven Stead and designed by Greg King, this SA- produced version comes fresh from the main Grahamstown National Arts Festival. Showing at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square, Sandton. Tickets: from R120. +27 (0)82 553 5901, strictlytickets.com

Decorex Joburg

Pipe Organ Concerts, 13 & 15 August St George’s Anglican Church in Parktown will be presenting a series of public concerts featuring internationally acclaimed organists. English-born, New York-based John Scott, who was made a Lieutenant of the Victorian Order by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the royal household, will bring his ‘Rolls Royce-quality’ music to the church in August. Tickets: R175. +27 (0)11 482 1606; 0861 915 8000, computicket.com

André Rieu Live, 17–18 August Experience an unforgettable evening with André Rieu, his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra and the Soweto Gospel Choir at the Coca-Cola Dome

Defending the Caveman

for the very first time. Guests will enjoy the sound and sight of André playing his world-famous Stradivarius violin while creating a celebratory atmosphere where fans are encouraged to get out of their seats and waltz in the aisles. Tickets: from R450. 0861 915 8000, computicket.com

André Rieu Live

Send your 2012 event information to readers@medianova.co.za. thepropertymag.co.za | 23

HOT PROPERTY

HOT mandate

Call of the

wild 1

An exclusive game lodge a stone’s throw from Langebaan is waiting to be snapped up

alued by Rode & Associates at just under a staggering R26 million, Thali-Thali Game Lodge is on the market for the bargain price of R17,9 million, through Benguela Group. It is the only game reserve along the West Coast that’s currently on the market. Situated on the 1 460ha Zoutekuylen Farm and running inland from the R27 towards Hopefield, Thali-Thali comprises a manor house, guest house, luxury tented accommodation and self-catering cottages. The manor house has been renovated recently and there is scope for further development, with a second large house that’s just waiting to be turned into a B & B. The labourer’s cottages have been converted to luxury chalets and permission has been secured for the construction of 10 additional units, of which five have been built. All licences and fencing are in place.

The manor house consists of five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, open-plan kitchen, living room and dining room, linen room, covered veranda with swimming pool, laundry room, staff accommodation with toilet and shower, and a double garage. The rights have been secured to convert the second large building to a guest house.This property is made up of four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen with fireplace, a living room and dining room, scullery and laundry room. The eight self-catering units include five luxury tents set in a circle and three West Coast-style chalets. The tents have en-suite bathrooms, a braai area and other amenities, including a bar and open-air lapa. There are two single-bedroom chalets and a twobedroom chalet as well as a marquee that’s available for functions – another potential source of revenue.

3 The farm is fully operational and has two storerooms, 10 pigsties, three windmills, large cattle kraals, waterholes, dams and natural fountains. Any game can be relocated to the reserve (apart from elephants, unless they are tamed and enclosed). Existing game on the reserve includes zebra, springbok, kudu, black wildebeest, duiker, steenbok, eland and bontebok and a wide range of bird species. In addition to game-viewing, Thali-Thali offers a bow-hunting track and quad bike safaris. About two thirds of Thali-Thali’s guests are local tourists and the rest are foreigners. Thali-Thali’s proximity to the CBD, Cape Town International Airport and Saldanha airport make it an appealing and feasible option for a game lodge stay. +27 (0)82 440 2050, heinrich.koorts@benguelagroup.co.za

A raised luxury tent with magnificent views over the Thali-Thali fynbos and game reserve, close to Langebaan. 2Entertainment facilities include a bar, lapa and

swimming pool. 3Luxury tented accommodation at Thali-Thali Game Lodge. If you would like to have your hot mandate featured, email editorial@medianova.co.za.

24 | July/August 2012

HOT PROPERTY

HOT mandate

Security meets serenity

Adare Place, by property developer Urban Space, offers security and luxury living in Cape Town’s Hen & Chicken Estate in the Southern Suburbs

hese days, it’s almost too easy to sacrifice the desire for a finely crafted, bespoke home for the peace of mind of a security estate. But at Adare Place, a unique collection of seven magnificent homes in one of Cape Town’s most sought-after areas, you won’t have to. With its wooded avenues, sweeping views of Table Mountain, proximity to many of Cape Town’s best schools, the Constantia winelands and Newlands’ stadia, this part of Upper Claremont, known as the Hen & Chicken Estate, has long been one of Cape Town’s most desirable addresses. It’s also one of the few suburbs sheltered from the Cape’s notorious southeaster. Having acquired the perfect location, the developer, Urban Space, who has a portfolio of successful high-end residential developments, set about creating sophisticated 21st-century homes that will be built with the attention to detail, pride of materials and workmanship reminiscent of an earlier era.

For Urban Space, it’s all about quality and building homes that are not only a joy to live in, but also provide exceptional value for the discerning buyer. Urban Space accomplishes this through in-house control of the entire design and construction processes, coupled with attention to detail that borders on the obsessive. Set on stands ranging from 990m2 to 2 816m2, the homes within Adare Place feature generously proportioned open-plan living areas opening through foldaway doors onto broad patios that seamlessly link interior spaces with the landscaped gardens and pool areas. All bedrooms are en suite. The large master suite, comprising bedroom, lounge area, sumptuous bathroom and lavish dressing area, opens onto a sweeping balcony. One of the benefits of purchasing off plan from Urban Space is flexibility. With the help of Urban Spaces’ in-house architect, buyers have the option

of not only changing the interior layout, but also increasing or decreasing the size of their home. When it comes to interiors, Urban Space offers an extensive range of bespoke finishes. All the homes are oriented in the same northwesterly direction for optimum sun management and to ensure your privacy. Energy- and resourcesaving systems, including efficient solar-assisted water heating and grey-water systems, are standard. Then, of course, there’s security. The entire development is access controlled and surrounded by electric fencing, and state-of-the-art security systems are integrated into the design of your home. From the moment you arrive at the front gate, you can relax and enjoy everything this unique development has to offer. At the time of going to press, Urban Space had already sold two of the units at Adare Place, prior to adareplace.co.za any marketing or launch.

Urban Space +27 (0)21 701 6401, urbanspace.co.za

Upton Properties Mark Upton +27 (0)21 683 0088, +27 (0)82 890 2888, upton.co.za

Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Barbara Manning +27 (0)21 673 1240, +27 (0)83 407 3656, sothebysrealty.co.za

2 The magnificent views that can be enjoyed from classy Adare Place in Upper Claremont. 2Wicklow House, one of the seven luxury homes designed to offer seamless

indoor/outdoor living.

thepropertymag.co.za | 25

COMPETITION

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ebula Golf Estate and Spa is a

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A voucher entitling four adults to one night sharing in one of Zebula’s luxury four-bedroom, en-suite, self- catering African Dream homes with pool and boma. To ensure that the winner experiences all that Zebula Golf Estate & Spa has to offer, Zebula is also offering as part of the prize: • a game drive for four people, excluding drinks • a round of golf and cart for four people • interaction with elephants and a safari for four people • a 30-minute treatment at the Spa at Zebula (back, neck and shoulder massage OR a reﬂexology massage). To stand a chance of winning, email readers@medianova.co.za with your contact details and put ‘Zebula’ in the subject line. Ts & Cs apply.*

*Terms & Conditions: The winner will be sent Voucher #ZSL0565. This voucher must be scanned and sent when the booking is made and presented on arrival at the Zebula Reception. Prior bookings essential. Accommodation dates are subject to availability and include weekends. This voucher cannot be exchanged for cash and is not transferable. Any items or extras not speciﬁed will be for the winner’s own account. Travel costs not included. Voucher expires on 31 December 2012.

26 July/August 2012

prime property

28 | July/August 2012

prime property

In the heart of the

fynbos

The recently built Oudebosch Cabins are a shining example of environmentally responsible architecture that prioritises ecology without losing beautiful design Words Genevieve Fisher Photographs CapeNature

thepropertymag.co.za | 29

prime property

he drive along the winding R44 from Cape Town towards Kleinmond is characterised by the dramatic Cape Fold Belt that looks like it’s from the set of a blockbuster sci- fi film. Sitting in the passenger seat really allowed me to appreciate these breathtaking feats of nature, all the while receiving a fascinating lesson about the area’s ecology from my driver, Justin Cooke. Although Justin’s affability and in-depth knowledge could secure him a position as an ecological tour guide, he is in fact an architect, and the reason for this trip was a site visit to his latest project, Oudebosch Cabins at Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Justin, the founder of Architecture Co-op, has become a specialist in his approach to architecture, one that prioritises nature and ecology as opposed to one where buildings and large structures tend to dominate landscapes. It’s a kind of architecture that responds to natural surroundings and one that isn’t at all visible on the drive through Gordon’s Bay where, in his words, the extravagant homes along the cliff look like ‘sputniks’ – over-scaled, seemingly foreign and out of place and dominating the landscape. When CapeNature, the body that manages Kogelberg Nature Reserve, advertised a public tender for consultants to design for the reserve a sustainable eco-tourism development that followed best ecological practice, Justin knew that he and his team at Architecture Co-op were perfect for the job. ‘It was a unique project that I knew we could make a contribution to, as I have had extensive experience in working in sensitive wilderness environments, including the Western Cape coastal thicket, Eastern Cape Sunshine Coast, Breede River and Lowveld Big Five Reserve, many of which required an environmental impact assessment (EIA). Previous experience equipped me with the base skills to recognise the significance of the proposed site of the five cabins,’ he says. But this site isn’t your average State-run nature reserve: Kogelberg is South Africa’s first declared biosphere reserve, home to the most complex biodiversity on the planet, and part of Unesco’s worldwide network of biosphere reserves. It is also considered to be the ‘heart of fynbos’, with the location of the Oudebosch cabins being the ‘heart within the heart’, Justin explains. To say that the pressure was on when Justin wrote the tender proposal is an understatement. ‘The basis of our proposal was an integrated and multidisciplinary environmental approach. Our proposal won, and specialist contactor, GVK-Siya Zama, was commissioned by CapeNature to execute the project. The first phase of mapping and understanding the site began,which included knowing what the opportunities and restrictions were,’ says Justin. But this was just the first of many steps. Each aspect of the project had to be put through rigorous assessments of its potential impact on the sensitive ecology before Justin and the rest of the appointed team could go ahead. This was done in conjunction with numerous workshops held with all the factions involved, including CapeNature and the respective specialists in hydrology, botany, construction, engineering, surveying, economics and energy. ‘It was a continuous collective evaluation and integrated design process with all of these specialists intrinsically involved, the results of which became instructive for the design of the cabins,’ he says. The result of this four-year-long process is a small conference facility, an eco-friendly swimming

30 | July/August 2012

prime property

Opening page Each of the Oudebosch Cabins at Kogelberg Nature Reserve is positioned to open up onto the surrounding reserve, with no sign of the other cabins. Opposite, top to bottom The eco-pool is situated in the centre of the site and is not only for swimming in, but also doubles as an attractive water feature full of plants; the pergola provides shelter from sunlight and heat while creating a pretty dappled effect on the deck. This page, top to bottom A wooden bridge allows guests to enjoy, but not disturb, the protected biodiversity within the reserve; the open-plan living areas of the cabins extend to the decks, making for easy indoor/outdoor living; accents of colour found in the surrounding fynbos have been incorporated into the interior finishes.

thepropertymag.co.za | 31

prime property

32 | July/August 2012

prime property pool and five beautifully designed two-bedroom, selfcatering cabins with all the modern conveniences and finishes that make them champions of ecodesign. The stereotype of grass and mud dwellings is expertly put to rest here. ‘The fact that there were such rigorous ecological demands meant that we had to think outside the box to come up with unique design solutions that responded directly to the site and environment. These constraints provided creative opportunities that allowed for a site-specific, contextual and environmentally responsive approach to imbed itself,’ says Justin. Before construction began, there were old timber dwellings on the site. These were linked up to the Eskom grid, which was used to provide electricity for the development. To minimise the consumption of energy, a range of measures have been incorporated, including the installation of solar geysers, gas hobs, combustion fireplaces, energy-efficient appliances and LED and CFL lighting. This means that a cabin occupied by four people will consume around 2kW/ day, which represents 10% or less of the typical electricity use of a middle-class South African household. There are many other technical green credentials incorporated in the Oudebosch Cabins. Lightweight South African pine has been used extensively for the frames, instead of cement. Stone gabions (wire baskets filled with stones from a local quarry) assist in providing essential fire protection in a fynbos-dense environment and create durable and attractive bases for some of the structures. The cabins

have been built along passive design principles, with careful orientation to provide shade, light and crossventilation. Then there is the issue of toilets, the one factor that causes many people to turn their noses up when it comes to eco-friendly technicalities. But these cabins have been fitted with composting toilets that are completely hygienic and surprisingly odour free. Not that well known in South Africa, this toilet system ensures that nothing is released into the ground. The waste dries and evaporates through a combination of heat and air that circulates through the system and the resultant compost can then be used for landscaping. Technicalities aside, what excites Justin the most about this project is the low visual impact these cabins have on the landscape and the rich spatial experience and aesthetic appeal. ‘All the materials used are locally sourced, non-toxic and have a natural look and feel to them. One of the primary building materials is FSCregistered South African pine, which is a good-quality, readily available and sustainable material. In addition, timber has a softness and warmth to it and allows for open, framed, light-filled spaces,’ he says. The roofs, says Justin, are another example of a contemporary aesthetic that responds to the landscape. They are segmented into pitched and flat roofs, the latter bearing rooftop gardens. ‘The roof gardens really add to the landscape and amplify the sense of being away from it all and in the wilderness,’ he says, ‘and they also have the function of providing insulation.’ Having only opened its doors to the public in February, Kogelberg Nature Reserve has already

received the International Holcim Regional Award for Sustainable Construction with Architectural Excellence for the sustainable public eco-tourism facility, Oudebosch. According to the judges, the facility won because it successfully balances tourists’ needs with the preservation of Kogelberg’s natural diversity. The five cabins and communal dining area are each named after fynbos flowers endemic to the area: palmiet, marsh rose, everlasting, erica and iris. Upon entering them you are amazed at how modern minimalist they are. The finishes are of the ilk of a designer home, with steel kitchens, floating timber shelves and glossy mosaic splashbacks.The floors are of a warming timber and there are some eye-catching lighting features by artist Brendan Dickerson, namely, collections of old wine bottles arranged in shapes of proteas. All of this is enclosed within floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows that have the effect of the surrounds being inside or your being in the surrounds. When I express this to Justin, he confirms, ‘The intention was to connect visitors to this particular landscape, rich in fynbos and framed by the Cape Fold Mountains.’ With such good intentions all expertly fulfilled, the Oudebosch Cabins at the centre of the Cape Floral Kingdom will warm the cockles of anyone’s heart, from eco-warriors to design groupies. +27 (0)21 683 7047, architecturecoop.co.za; +27 (0)21 483 0000, capenature.co.za

Opposite, top to bottom One of the bedrooms that feature Brendan Dickerson’s attractive wall light made from old wine bottles; Justin sourced tile offcuts for the cladding in the bathrooms. This page, left to right Attractive stone gabions in the braai area provide structural support and also help to protect the reserve against runaway fires; what Justin calls an ‘eco-tower’ – each cabin has an eco-friendly power station where the solar geyser, gas canisters for the stoves, and the fire extinguisher are stored.

thepropertymag.co.za | 33

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ESTATE profile

Farm living Monaghan Farm brings country living to the urban edge Words Tammy Sutherns Photographs Supplied

thepropertymag.co.za | 37

ESTATE Profile

Opening page Architectural specifications ensure that properties blend in with the beautiful surrounds. This page, top and bottom right Whether you’re riding your mountain bike or your horse, there’s these and plenty of other healthy outdoor activities on offer at Monaghan Farm. Opposite, top Families enjoy lunch on the deck above the Jukskei River, which runs through the estate. Bottom Monaghan Farm – the keyword is ‘farm’. It’s the life pastoral, just 15 minutes’ drive from Fourways.

uscious grass fields, riverbeds, rushing water and mountain views frame Monaghan Farm, a development designed out of nostalgia for open spaces and farm living. Imagine organically grown vegetables delivered to your doorstep. Or letting your children disappear into the long grass until sunset. Prospero Bailey, the developer, grew up on the farm. ‘It brings back the nostalgia, the memory of being able to run around on our grandparents’ farms with no shoes on,’ says Prospero. Which is exactly what residents will be able to do if they live in one of the 305 homes available on Monaghan Farm, where over 404ha will remain open countryside and 4,04ha of land is dedicated to organic vegetable gardens. Prospero explains,‘We have cows, we have horses, and the open space on this development will be bigger than Central Park.’ And there’s a 30km mountain bike track winding through the rolling landscape. The vision for the development emerged in 2006 when developers showed interest in converting the Bailey farm into a golf estate. Prospero didn’t warm to the idea, reluctant even now to use the word ‘estate’ when referring to the Monaghan project. Instead he partnered with Tommy Crowe, Patrick HamiltonRussell and Chandre Buys to develop Monaghan Farm along more sustainable lines.

38 | July/August 2012

ESTATE PROFILE

However, if you consider that the farm has a wholesome restaurant, The Other Side, which makes use of the organic veggies grown on site, and that Prospero also plans to develop a gym and stables on the property, it’s clear that residents will be far from living in the sticks. In terms of education,Monaghan Montessori offers schooling from pre- to primary school, and Curro Private Schools group is planning to open a school with capacity for 1 400 learners in 2014. Prospero points out that, even with all this construction, once all three stages of the development are complete, only 3% of the farm will have buildings on it. Perhaps insignificant compared to the grand open spaces, the country setting and views, the Monaghan homes are still noteworthy. All homes comply with

sustainable-building standards and maintain a modern yet natural feel in terms of their architecture and design. The guidelines dictate one-storey homes so as to not block anyone else’s view. Each home has to make provision for at least 20 000L of rainwater storage and incorporate energy saving construction into the design. Homeowners can look forward to using solar-heated water, solarpowered underfloor piped water heating, gas and other green energy. Which isn’t to say that the homes need to be uniform or unimaginative. Prospero says, ‘We just want the homes to blend into the landscape, with earthy tones. There are so many beautiful things you can do with this.’ The approved architects have designed more traditional farmhouses as well as

modern and contemporary homes. He says, ‘What matters to us is that the homes are not ostentatious and that their functionality and design have been carefully considered.’ With Lanseria airport five minutes down the road and Fourways just 15 minutes away, young families and retirees who invest in the development won’t be cut off from urban living – Monaghan Farm boasts farm living at the urban edge. Prospero says,‘Residents truly live on a farm, and yet they don’t have to sacrifice the urban experience to do so. ‘Open space in Joburg gets destroyed so quickly by thoughtless developments with names that describe the natural beauty they are replacing. Monaghan Farm is unique and, sadly, is unlikely to be replicated.’ +27 (0)82 070 7500, monaghanfarm.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 39

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BUILD GREEN

GREENING IN LAYERS

If we were to build a green home, this is how we would go about it Words Genevieve Fisher Photographs Supplied

n these pages, we bring you products and technologies that you should consider when building a green home or converting to green.We start with the first layer, the raw materials, followed by the second layer, finishes, and finally

the third layer, decor items and accessories. We also speak to experts in the fields of green building and product manufacture. Going green is all about a shift in consciousness. The products, technologies and appliances that we feature on these pages have been selected not

necessarily because they comply with every single green guideline and requirement (that would be a rare find), but because we believe that the intention of their manufacturers is to further this shift in consciousness. In short, if the intention is green, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re keen!

thepropertymag.co.za | 41

BUILD GREEN

As with anything that has longevity, it all starts with the raw materials and foundations. Here we bring you materials and products used in the initial stages of green building that not only reduce your carbon footprint, but also help you to reduce your utilities bill.

BUILDING BLOCKS Bricks, the most basic and trusted of building materials, have traditionally been made from concrete, which in recent years has gotten bad press because of the CO2 emitted during the manufacturing process. Today the use of recycled materials for brick-manufacturing is the solution. Cape Brick manufactures a wide range of building units with very low CO2 emissions and with an average of 70% recycled materials. Based in the Western Cape, the family-run business uses approximately 70 000t of recycled material per year. That’s an estimated 10% of Cape Town’s total recycled building waste materials. Cape Brick products are only available in the Western Cape. +27 (0)21 511 2006, capebrick.com

THE WRITING’S ON THE WALL Plascon’s Professional Evolution range is available on a made-to-order basis and tinted according to speciﬁcations with a solvent-free colourant. The paints are free of VOCs, formaldehyde, glycols, ammonia, lead and other harmful chemicals used in traditional paint, and are as effective as Plascon’s premium products. 086 020 4060, plascon.co.za

CORE TEMPERATURE Insulation is the key to building green. By correctly insulating from the beginning stages, whether it’s the walls, ﬂoors or ceilings, you can save dramatically on other functionalities aimed at keeping living temperatures moderate. The Pietermaritzburg-based business, Thermguard, takes pride in its green stance. Thermguard Cellulose Fibre Insulation is made up of 80% recycled newsprint and is created through a low-energy process. It is a useful product for all seasons too: in winter, this rooﬁng and ceiling insulation keeps 91% of heat inside the house and in summer it keeps 88% of the summer heat out. Thermguard delivers and installs nationwide as well as in Gaborone. +27 (0)33 346 0111, thermguard.co.za

42 | July/August 2012

BUILD GREEN

RAYNE NEAVE, owner of Eco Exhibit in Northgate, Cape Town, gives us his insight into green construction and development trends.

Q What are ‘green’ buildings?

Green buildings respect the natural environment through the efﬁcient use of energy, water and other renewable resources while minimising waste and pollution. This positively affects the health and productivity of its occupants. Being environmentally conscious is an ongoing challenge throughout the life cycle of a green building, from conception to demolition. To ensure a successful green development, the architects, engineers, designers and client all

IN HOT WATER Solar water heaters can save you up to 75% on your hot water costs and are becoming an increasingly popular means of thermal water heating. A north-facing solar panel is installed on the roof of your home to collect energy from the sun. This energy is then used to heat up water that’s then stored in a hot water cylinder. Solaheat, a company specialising in the

need to work closely as a team.

Q Why should we consider solar energy?

The use of solar energy has a positive

distribution and installation of solar water heaters, has a range of different panels to suit small

environmental offset and assists with

and large households. Solaheat’s ﬂagship product, Solahart, is of such good quality that it can

reducing the homeowner’s electricity

last for up to 30 years. Say goodbye to your energy-guzzling geyser and exorbitant electricity

bill. Solar power is a viable alternative

bills. Nationwide delivery. +27 (0)21 713 3734, solaheat.co.za

to fossil fuels and some alternative energy sources, as the end product gives off no CO2 waste and uses the natural energy from the sun to generate electricity or hot water. In the near future we can expect phenomenal interest in solar-powered sports stadiums that will produce enough electricity to support 80% of the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Q Why should we build with wood?

This is because it can be reused and recycled extensively. Experts recommend using reclaimed wood, since this will prevent more trees from being felled. Reclaimed wood is also often stronger and more stable than freshly cut wood because it has been exposed to more changes in temperature and moisture.

Q What advances are on the greening horizon? GREEN STEEL Steel is essential to the building of a home. It’s innately eco-friendly in that it lasts a lifetime, doesn’t rot, warp or decompose and can therefore keep being reused. However, the best eco-credential of steel is that it is 100% recyclable. Bluescope Steel’s Clean Colorbond is a steel roof application that’s now available in various shades to suit different tastes. The Clean Colorbond products can be disassembled and reused in their current form for any number of applications, saving on the cost and energy of making new products. Nationwide delivery. +27 (0)21 442 5420, bluescopesteel.co.za

Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has invented solar panels in the shape of plants. The solar cell modules resemble a normal plant exactly and incorporate solar panel technology to tap the sun’s energy during the day. Solar paint, invented at the University of Newcastle, is another one. +27 (0)21 510 4000, ecoexhibit.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 43

BUILD GREEN

NEW LIFE

This is where the fun begins. When you get to add eco-friendly finishes and applications to your home. This step involves inserting some personality into your home while choosing products that are easy on the environment. Who said going green has to be bland?

Cannata Granite’s range of recycled quartz stone, Second. Life, is comprised of 95% recycled and reintegrated materials. Cannata Granite is a member of the Green Building Council of SA. Second. Life also meets the requirements of the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. The beautifully ﬁnished product has seamless joins and edges and is available in a variety of colours and thicknesses, which can be custom made to suit distinctive styles and budgets. This hard-wearing material is deal for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, wall cladding and ﬂoor tiling. Nationwide delivery. +27 (0)21 510 8553, cannatagranite.co.za

A FEEL FOR FLOORING Bestwood Flooring has been committed to supplying timber flooring products from internationally recognised sustainable resources since its inception. The company sources the timber for its floorboards from sustainable forest plantations and its engineered floorboards make use of multi-ply Russian birch substrates and adhesives that are made to stringent EU standards. The pre-finished floor products are coated in lowemission sealants. Ships nationwide. +27 (0)21 465 1035, bestwood.co.za

SUSTAINABLE SPRAY Cobra Watertech has been selected as a national partner in Eskom’s new Residential Mass Roll-Out Programme, which upon registration will see energy-saving technologies being installed in homes across SA, free of charge. The products that Cobra Watertech is supplying for this roll-out are its water-efficient shower heads, and for those who don’t want to change their shower fittings, the installation of Cobra flow restrictors to improve water efficiency in homeowners’ existing shower heads. The restrictors (standard with Cobra shower heads) are designed for use with overhead and hand showers. Pressure- compensating flow restrictors limit water flow to an efficient 9L/minute without disrupting the shower head’s spray pattern. To register for Eskom’s Residential Mass Roll-Out Programme, go to dawnenergy.co.za. 086 121 2121, cobra.co.za

44 | July/August 2012

BUILD GREEN

Ecospeciﬁer is an online portal servicing the green building sector by providing a search interface for users looking for independently assessed green products and suppliers. We speak to Ecospeciﬁer South Africa CEO, LIZETTE

SWANEVELDER.

Q What sort of response have your services received from industry? There has been an increasingly

stronger response from architects, designers, builders. When Ecospeciﬁer was launched in South Africa in 2009, nearly 350 people attended the launch function. The usage of the website has expanded from approximately 13 000 page views in the ﬁrst year to approximate annual average of 80 000 views since 2010, indicating an expansion in interest in green building materials in South Africa.

Q What are some of the main searches conducted and what are some of the more popular products? PANDERING TO BAMBOO

Floors are a major search category along with insulation, eco-panels,

Bamboo was only introduced to South Africa several years ago, but it’s rapidly becoming the

paints and kitchen countertops. Cape

eco-friendly alternative to hardwoods. Why, you may ask? Well, mainly because of its rapid

Brick and Penetron’s waterprooﬁng

growth rate. Bamboo stems mature in about ﬁve years and the oldest stems in each clump are

system are the front runners.

harvested yearly without killing the plant and without leaving a deforested landscape behind it. Bamboo forests also absorb more CO2 per hectare than equivalent timber forests. But the best part is that bamboo products have a net-positive carbon footprint, in other words, more CO2 is consumed by the plants while they are growing than is released during the manufacture and transport of the finished products. Panda Bamboo was one of the first companies to introduce this material to South Africa and its products, including flooring, cladding and kitchen fittings, are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). If you’re looking for an ecofriendly alternative to timber, with the same aesthetic appeal, this is it. Available nationwide. 086 111 4971, pandabamboo.co.za

Q What are the three most important things that people wanting to fit out their homes with green fittings should consider? Wall, ﬂoor and ceiling ﬁnishes are

the largest single areas involved with

FEELING FLUSH

the largest potential to negatively inﬂuence air quality and health

Great advances have been made in

through VOCs and things such

the ﬁeld of water-saving loos. Duravit

as hormone disruption, so these

has been manufacturing toilets with

would be the top issue. Then the

reduced ﬂushing volume as well as

materials that furniture and joinery,

dual-ﬂushing capability since the

such as kitchen cupboards, are

’80s, reducing a household of four’s

made from have high potential for

water consumption by 17 000L of

carcinogenic formaldehyde release.

water a year. This is set to decrease

Soft furnishings, such as fabrics, foams

still further with the introduction of

and vinyls, also have high potential for

Duravit’s dual-ﬂush 3L/4,5L system.

hormone disruption and toxicity under

Part of Duravit’s Starck 3 range, the

combustion. Timber certiﬁcation is

unit shown here was designed by

important. Make sure the source of the

Philippe Starck. Available nationwide.

timber is legal and preferably has an

+27 (0)11 722 9060, duravit.com

FSC Chain of Custody certiﬁcate. +27 (0)21 790 0286, ecospeciﬁer.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 45

BUILD GREEN

Eco-friendly furniture and appliances are a big trend in interior decorating, not only because they employ sustainable materials – and in the case of appliances, technology that furthers the sustainability of resources – but also because they look so good. These decor accessories and appliances get our green stamp of approval.

SHOOTING PELLETS This automated Pellet Stove, part of Italcotto’s Calore range of eco-friendly fireplaces and stoves, runs on electricity, but only to regulate the consumption of the wood pellets. Because they’re carbon neutral and manufactured from compressed sawdust and wood waste sourced from SA’s timber industry and alien vegetation, the pellets are considered a renewable biofuel. The heat is regulated by the chosen setting and the pellets are fed into the fireplace and ignited automatically for optimal fuel consumption. After ignition, the electricity consumption is, give or take, a low 0,1 kWh. Available nationwide. 0860 225 673, calorefireplacesandstoves.co.za

DISCARDED TREASURES

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Recreate is an interior design and

Heath Nash has been wowing us with his

furniture- repurposing company that gives a new

eco-conscious lighting designs ever since

and entirely different life to discarded furniture and

his ﬁrst appearance at Design Indaba. Heath

accessories. With a shelf added here, an upholstered

has a talent for turning discarded plastic

seat there, the items are functional, innovative,

items (mostly bottles and other containers)

recycled and eye-catching. One of Recreate’s

into beautiful lighting pieces. One of his

newest designs is a vintage oven turned kitchen

latest designs is the Laurel pendant lamp,

storage unit. The oven cavity now functions as a

made from recycled plastic bottles and

cupboard and the grill plate has been replaced

wire. It’s packed ﬂat to keep transport costs

with a custom-made chopping board that can

down and comes with instructions on how

be removed for cleaning. Nationwide delivery.

to shape it into a light. Nationwide delivery.

+27 (0)21 447 0007, recreate.za.net

+27 (0)21 447 5757, heathnash.com

46 | July/August 2012

BUILD GREEN

JAPIE COMBRICK of Wowhouse explains the ins and outs of sourcing eco-friendly furniture.

Q What’s the key to sourcing green furniture?

There are many products and services on the market that claim to be green or eco-friendly simply because these terms are open to interpretation. For Wowhouse, our green statement considers ﬁrstly the origin and then the entire lifecycle of

LOUNGING WITH PURPOSE

the raw material and the ﬁnal product. Questions people should consider

Wowhouse specialises in furniture and lifestyle items made out of sustainable materials

include: where is the raw material

from local sources. We love this custom-made outdoor lounger, which is made from saligna

from, where and how is the product

wood that comes from a sustainable managed plantation in George. Part of the Eucalyptus

manufactured and what is the impact

species, saligna wood is a local green alternative to woods such as balau, an imported

of the product on the environment

rainforest timber. This lounger has been left untreated to grey naturally and the seat bases

after manufacturing? A product

open up to offer storage for outdoor cushions and throws. Only available in Cape Town.

made locally from felled alien trees is

+27 (0)82 378 2985, wowhouse.co.za

greener than something manufactured from ‘certiﬁed’ green material that is imported from overseas. We believe that the carbon footprint of a product is the key consideration in the green debate. Imported timber could never be greener than locally grown timber, felled ethically, simply because of the high carbon impact of transportation of the product to South Africa. Finally, an informed decision should also be based on the ethics of the labour and manufacturing processes involved in the development of a product. The next time you encounter something ‘green’, check whether any of these claims are substantiated.

Q Are more people becoming interested in green furniture? Absolutely. Green is the new black!

With the global green revolution came the consumer’s rights to access to product information. Most consumers want to do the right thing and make environmentally responsible decisions about how they live and what they buy. Many, however, are currently misled or disillusioned by

A COOL HEAD

product greenwashing (the practice of claiming that a product is green

Specialising in premium refrigerators and freezers, Liebherr manufactures and supplies

when it is not) and many believe that

domestic and commercial appliances and is dedicated to eco-friendly technology from start

green almost always implies that

to ﬁnish. To optimise energy efﬁciency, Liebherr uses recyclable plastics and reuses the heat

something would be more expensive

generated in the manufacturing process. Liebherr’s factories are certiﬁed with the International

or available to an exclusive group.

Environmental Energy Standard. In the early ’90s Liebherr was the ﬁrst manufacturer

For Wowhouse, green means all

to present a full range of refrigerators and freezers that were free of CFC’s and HCFC

things local, including local skills

refrigerants, conﬁrming its commitment to eco-consciousness. Last year, Liebherr presented

development and the empowerment

16 new wine-cooler models at the IFA 2011 Exhibition, all of them lauded for their sleek design

of women in green manufacturing.

and optimised technology that makes them more efﬁcient, quieter and larger. Available from

+27 (0)82 378 2985,

Cool Guys. Nationwide delivery. +27 (0)21 552 3457; liebherr.com

wowhouse.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 47

DESIGN PROFILE

Natural order For land artist Strijdom van der Merwe, nature and the landscape are palette, brush and medium Words Anne Schauffer Photographs Strijdom van der Merwe

48 | July/August 2012

DESIGN profile

Opening page Constructing ladders from bamboo, Nirox Foundation, Johannesburg. This page, above Sculptural tree, Waterkloof Wine Estate, Somerset West. Below Wrappng 393 trees in red fabric in Dorp Street, Stellenbosch.

trijdom van der Merwe grew up on a farm in Meyerton, south of Johannesburg, and that closeness to the soil remains the tie that binds. For him, it was the basis for everything that came after: ‘As a child on a farm, when you come home from school and need to keep yourself busy, you spend time outside, often alone, in the landscape. If you do that often enough, you find something to do with rocks or grass – change it, bend it, twist it to make patterns – and over time, you look at the natural world differently.’ The different soil types on the farm had also prompted the family to establish a brick factory, and the colours and textures of the soil would come to have a strong link to the work Strijdom would later do. Strijdom is the youngest of four brothers and he’s convinced that was the only reason why, in ‘a

nice Afrikaans family’, he was allowed to study art. A grin. ‘Well, the oldest brother must inherit the farm, the second brother became a priest – that was the religious side covered – the third went into academics – another cornerstone – so when it came to me, I could probably do whatever I wanted.’ He studied graphic art and he recalls how supportive his parents were: ‘Arriving home at the end of each year, the only question my father would ask was, “Are you happy?” And I’d say, “Yes, Dad, I’m happy.” And he’d reply, “Then so am I.”’ After graduating, Strijdom worked at the University of Stellenbosch for the next eight years, initially as the in-house graphic designer and next as a computer graphics teacher and part-time Sculpture lecturer. ‘But still in the afternoons, weekends and holidays I would end up doing my own land art. I did

some drawing and painting, but that never really got me going. It was always the need to go back to the land, to the earth. I always wanted to get out of the studio, away from the computer. Sitting in an office, I felt as if life was happening outside. I had to go back there and feel the sun and the cold.’ At age 30, he resigned. ‘I gave up the pension, the medical aid, the house subsidy and the good salary. My heart wasn’t in it, and I thought that if I had to spend the next 30 years of my life doing that work, I would die of boredom.’ Instead, he went to Prague to study further. ‘I’d discovered other people around the world doing similar work, but very few in South Africa. People here still believe that in order to see art, you have to go to a gallery. It’s an educational thing, because people aren’t used to land art. They don’t see

thepropertymag.co.za | 49

DESIGN Profile

50 | July/August 2012

DESIGN PROFILE value in non-permanent sculptures, installations or even work in public spaces. If I ask somebody to come to the opening of my exhibition, they want to know whether they should bring their invitation. People still have this limited notion of how art should be.’ He smiles wryly as he describes how corporates responded to his requests for sponsorships for a sculpture that would last a day or a week: ‘It was unthinkable.Yet an 80-minute rugby game … But overseas, land art is a big thing.’ Strijdom remembers the impact his first project in Prague had on him. They were called ‘soft sculptures’. ‘They didn’t have to be made out of the traditional bronze, granite or any other way we’d always thought about sculpture. They could be something that lasted for a few minutes. Our lecturer said, “You have a day to make a small sculpture. Only one rule: you can’t buy anything.” Usually if you make something, you head to the hardware store and buy nails and wood. He opened us up to the idea that we could look at something, at everything, differently: a leaf, a stick, a stone, has something sculptural to it, and perhaps you’ve never looked at it in that way before. You know that in autumn the leaves change colour and the way you place them can make a kaleidoscope of, say, greens, yellows, reds and browns. Stones have different textures, and when you talk about texture, you come back to the basic things you learnt in art school: texture, perspective, colour. Those things are all in nature – your materials and paintbrush are leaves, stones, water and soil.’

Nature had two more lessons in store for Strijdom. ‘I walked past a building site and picked up some sand, two different kinds, one reddish, one white, and I made a two-tone drawing in sand,’ he says. While he was busy working, he began to see how the soil in his backyard was one colour, the soil of the Karoo, red, and that of Namibia, white. ‘Suddenly I looked at nature differently and started seeing how things could potentially be used artistically.’ He also realised that if you build something in the landscape, you need to work with the natural cycles: ‘So if you place a line of flags in a field and the wind blows very strongly then nature is playing its part and the sculpture is working with the wind. No wind, and the sculpture becomes an entirely different artwork.’ Strijdom documents his work, beautifully photographing each piece of art, but he dismisses the idea that he’s a skilled photographer. ‘I use the camera on automatic. It’s about the work. The photo looks good because the subject matter was created in such a way that the balance, colour and perspective are perfect.The photography is just a way of documenting it.’ Equally important is the moment you shoot and the position from which you shoot. ‘For example, I know that the mountain should be in the background because the artwork relates to it or that the sculpture works best when there are no shadows.’The artwork is site specific. It exists because of the landscape around it, so if Strijdom was to produce the same work elsewhere, it would be an entirely different piece: ‘The way I take the photograph shows that this is the

landscape. As one British artist said,“The landscape has a greater impact on me than I have on the landscape.” That’s important – you don’t want to push your own ego; you work with the landscape, subtly and softly.’ Strijdom describes what’s at the heart of his work: ‘I believe we all have this urge to create a kind of order. When it isn’t there, you look at an object, and that’s it. But the moment you do something to it which creates order, you feel more comfortable. It’s like walking on the beach, collecting stones and arranging them in a certain pattern - you immediately feel comfortable. Rearranging what is there in an ordered pattern immediately responds to or corresponds with what we know. ‘Of course, inspiration comes from many sources; it’s essentially the sum of one’s life experience. But for me it’s ultimately the landscape that I want to work in and with, and when I find a landscape that resonates with me, I recognise it. I sit there and reflect on everything that’s had an impact on me and then, maybe, little ideas come along.’ A small smile.‘And, of course, there are the crowdpullers and the private work: the wrapping of 393 trees in red fabric in Stellenbosch for a month. And the smaller, personal works – when I’m absolutely solitary somewhere in the Tankwa Karoo or somewhere where there’s no cellphone reception, and I just drag my feet and make a mark in the sand or draw a line.That close connection between you and the earth, with nobody else around – that’s intensely personal.’ +27 (0)21 886 6496, strijdom.co.za

Opposite, clockwise from top Line of Red Flags, Western Cape; sculpting sand cones on a beach near Gordon’s Bay, Western Cape; self-portait. This page, below Weaving a ball from sticks, Stellenbosch.

thepropertymag.co.za | 51

Living

Fast pace in

Fourways A neighbourhood that mixes business and pleasure, Fourways is the place to live, work and play Words Tammy Sutherns Photographs Supplied

ourways is a bustling suburb made up of many different types of properties that have wormed their way between the Sandton and Midrand areas. And, says Sean McCauley, a director at Rawson Property Group, with Johannesburg now ranked as one of the fifth-worst countries in the world in terms of traffic, Fourways has become one of the more preferred office nodes because it allows people to live closer to their places of work. Fourways is easily accessible via major connecting roads, but the area used to be much more serene. Before being built up, Fourways was an expansive farm called Norscot, whose owners built a large homestead, Norscot Manor, in the Cape Dutch style. Today this mansion is used as a community centre, while Fourways itself has retained its colonial feel and community atmosphere.

Diverse living Enter the thriving Fourways area via the N1 at William Nicol Drive, from Witkoppen Road or even the R511 and choose between a number of hot attractions and pumping venues. For trendy spenders, Fourways Mall, Montecasino and Fourways Crossing offer entertainment, shopping and a bit of gambling too. Those looking for some gorgeous buys can also visit Design Quarter on William Nicol Drive. Keen golfers can visit the beautiful Gary Player-designed Dainfern golf course that overlooks the Jukskei River. Because the pace of city life can get intense, Fourways also has a wide variety of spas and health centres in the area catering to residents and visitors. For fine dining or quick snacks, a range of restaurants and fast-food joints litter this diverse node. Families are also spoilt for choice when it comes to schooling, with options of both private and government schools, such as Dainfern College, Crawford pre- primary and prep schools and St Peter’s Preparatory School.

52 | July/August 2012

Living

What the agents say Michelle Zuccollo from Caradoc Realty, Francesca Beattie from Francesca Beattie Properties and James Christelis from Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty SA break down the Fourways residential market for potential homebuyers.

Q Which are the more popular areas within Fourways? James: Boomed/access-controlled areas are always more popular than areas that are not boomed. Position is important, so areas close to schools, away from noisy roads, are always more sought after and tend to carry better values.

Q What kinds of homes are available? Business in Fourways In Fourways there are many different types of accommodation to choose from, such as the Palazzo Montecasino Hotel, quaint B & Bs, chalets, guesthouses and lodges. Lanseria International Airport is also just a short drive away, ensuring frequent travellers’ journeys are made easy. With main road routes to nearby nodes, such as Sandton, Midrand and Pretoria, Fourways is a business hub with stunning attractions and dining options.

Michelle: They range from sectional title units for around R1,4 million to luxurious free-standing homes that range from around R3 million to R15 million.

Q What advantages does Fourways offer potential homebuyers?

Francesca: We have just about every facility needed for a full, modern lifestyle for cosmopolitan families or single people of all ages. We are within striking distance of two airports as well as Pretoria City and Johannesburg City. In terms of residential properties, there is plenty of choice, from stand-alone homes to loft/apartment living, gated estates or secure complexes. Fourways is also close to so many sporting and recreational areas and is only 15 minutes away from Kya Sands, Strydom Park and Randburg for light industrial and office property. There is also an abundance of all of the big anchor shops. Opposite, top The park and man-made dam at Fourways Gardens Residential Estate. Bottom A contemporary home in Fourways Gardens Phase 1, available for R7,8 million through Caradoc Realty. This page The Other Side Restaurant on Monaghan Farm.

Five things to do in Fourways and surrounds Montecasino: Get dolled up for a night in a faux-Tuscan world of gourmet restaurants, cinemas, nightclubs, the Teatro and the casino. Broadacres: Gather up the kids or your partner, pack yourself a delicious picnic basket and enjoy the fine weather among the roses while spreading out your treats. Kyalami Racetrack: If you have a need for speed and love the adrenalin that comes with racing, check out the array of events at Kyalami, just a 15-minute drive away. The Lion Park: Travel towards Lanseria International Airport and find yourself in an animal kingdom that you don’t have to go on safari to see. The Other Side Restaurant: Situated on Monaghan Farm, just 20 minutes away from Fourways, it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy wholesome food.

With thanks to … Caradoc Realty, +27 (0)11 467 3233, caradocrealty.co.za Francesca Beattie Properties, +27 (0)11 705 2384, fbproperties.co.za Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty SA, +27 (0)11 466 1187, sothebysrealty.co.za

Q Is property in Fourways gaining in value?

James: It is a sought-after area that gives better value than those at the southern end of the highway. Growth is not nearly what it used to be; however, Fourways seems to be retaining its value and is seeing better growth than most other areas.

Q How has Fourways changed in the past decade?

Francesca: The area has changed from a dusty four-way stop on the road to Kyalami/ Pretoria to a bustling city suburb. Yet it is still close to semi-country areas, such as the Magaliesberg, the Cradle of Humankind and Hartbeespoort Dam. There is also a brand-new hospital, new schools, newly developed office suites and buildings, many new and upgraded shopping centres, new residential estates, and new roads.

thepropertymag.co.za | 53

ASK THE EXPERTS

GREEN

STARS The professionals on how green building can work for you Photographs Michael Glenister Location Moyo Melrose Arch

54 | July/August 2012

ASK ASK THE THE EXPERTS

thepropertymag.co.za | 55

ASK THE EXPERTS

RHOMS TIMBERWORLD

SAINT-GOBAIN GYPROC

STAUCH VORSTER ARCHITECTS

Rose Kin Group General Manager – Professional Division

Munroe Swirsky Founder/Owner

Atisha Gopichund Speciﬁcation Support Manager

Kevan Moses Managing Director

Briefly tell us about your green achievements. Since Rhoms was founded in 1997, we’ve believed in only dealing in sustainable products. In those early days, it was not easy to find companies who saw the benefits of being green, and in 2005 we became the first flooring company in South Africa to be certified by SGS and to receive an FSC certificate (SGS-COC-002403). We are committed to products that come from sustainable and renewable resources and that, most importantly, are manufactured in a socially responsible manner. It’s the whole process that must be correct – you form a chain of custody that must not be broken. Which green feature of your business excites you the most? What excites us the most is that we have not had to sacrifice quality to achieve this. Not only are we environmentally responsible, but we also source superior products. Our French and European oak engineered flooring follows the age-old tradition of using block board cut from FSC-certified timbers, while the rare resource is only used for the top layer. Our Classen laminates are PEFC-green certified and in the latest EU test they were rated the best in their class for living and environmental characteristics.

Briefly tell us about your green achievements. Eco-friendly or ‘green’ is all the rage, but it entails more than just using solar heating and eating organic; it’s serious business to save our planet, not some bandwagon to jump on. Rhoms is one of only two South African companies dealing in wooden flooring that is actually certified by the worldwide body, FSC. Which green feature of your business excites you the most? Not only do we worry about our flooring and decking being green, but also the products needed to finish and maintain them. Renner Wood Coatings is a company as committed to the environment as we are, and we are proud to introduce its world-famous water-based wood paints, varnishes and sealers to South Africa. We can now offer a sealer for decks, garage doors, window frames and any outdoor furniture. The sealer is not only easy to apply, but also lasts up to two years before it needs simple maintenance. It’s called Polisten. Don’t take my word for it – google ‘Polisten finish’ and see. The price is also reasonable. Salesmen often present their product as sustainable/green because of the generic material it is made from. Ask to see proof of certification from an international body for both the manufacturer and your salesman.

Briefly tell us about your green achievements. In conjunction with attaining my Green Star Accredited Professional status, I participate regularly in environmental, energy management and general resource conservation workshops and associated conventions. I use the knowledge I gain to ensure that the products and systems developed by Saint-Gobain meet Green Star criteria as well as SANS 10400-XA requirements. Which green feature of your business excites you the most? Saint-Gobain SA has just released its very first sustainability review (you can access it on our website, saint-gobain.co.za). The fact that we are committed to integrating sustainable principles into the very fabric of our business, from the development and manufacture of products to the way we treat our employees, suppliers and communities, is incredibly exciting! What benefits have green practices yielded for you personally? Aside from the comfort in knowing that I am doing my bit for reducing my family’s impact on the environment, it would be the significant reduction in my heating and cooling expenses, because of the incorporation of plasterboard, insulation, solar geyser, geyser blanket and pipe lagging, as well the indoor comfort factor.

Briefly tell us about your green achievements. My green adventure started in earnest with the almost-off-grid Botswana Technology Centre in Gaborone in 1999. It has rock-bed cooling, stack ventilation, ventilated facades, and so on … And it seems to work! I followed on with a corporate headquarters for Telkom in Centurion, with light scoops, tuneable facades, major energy-saving components and the like. We have just had our latest resort in Mauritius rated as the greenest resort on the island and it also made the Top Hotels of the World list. And finally, we are on site with our new Stauch Vorster office in Illovo, which incorporates a fully green environment with a great commercial set of criteria. What benefits have going green yielded for you personally? The greatest green benefit is the feeling of contributing, of being part of a focused approach to green design and delivery. It just makes sense. Which green feature of your business excites you the most? Our green design focus creates an exciting and relevant approach to the business and its vision, culminating in our new favourite green product currently under manufacture – our new green headquarters.

+27 (0)11 465 4150

+27 (0)12 657 2800

+27 (0)11 268 6090

rtw.co.za

Atisha.gopichund@saint-gobain.com

svarchitects.com

56 | July/August 2012

TRAVEL

Mauritius Time out in

Nothing says ‘holiday’ quite like coconuts and azure waters Words Tammy Sutherns

La Pirogue’s rustic lifestyle

Located on the west coast of the island of Mauritius, La Pirogue envelopes the warm Mauritian culture in first-class resort living.

Authentic island music and dinners by candlelight characterise the resort, which is framed in volcanic mountain rock, white beaches, wooden buildings and thatched bars. Standard rooms, superior rooms and royal suites are on offer. From their bedrooms, guests have breathtaking views of the beach and its thick grove of coconut palms. The brightly decorated rooms open onto the beach, letting guests nip out for a quick dip in the ocean. Hammocks hang lazily from the trees, and luscious gardens border the white sands. La Pirogue is characterised by an energetic pulse, perfect for those who like a bit of adventure with their holiday. Scuba diving, waterskiing, windsurfing, tennis, aerobics and swimming are some of the activities on offer, while golfers can revel in either Le Tamarina or Le Touessrok golf courses. To balance all this action, there’s the Aura Spa, which provides treatments for singles and couples and includes a shiatsu treatment area for guests looking to ease into their holiday. Dining options include the restaurants Thatches, Paul et Virginie and Tides, where guests may choose from Mauritian cuisine as well as flavours from around the world. There is also a range of beach bars to frequent. Authentically Mauritian in every sense, La Pirogue is the resort for anyone looking for home comfort in a world-class setting. +230 403 3900, lapirogue.com

58 | July/August 2012

TRAVEL

Easy living at Long Beach Offering 109m2 of beach space per guest room, Long Beach is the Mauritian holiday destination for people looking for a little bit of everything – and the best in everything. Located on the Belle Mare Peninsula on the east coast of Mauritius, this exotic paradise combines lazy beach days, a high-energy nightlife and family fun. Life at this five-star luxury getaway revolves around an urban piazza with restaurants, shops and bars. The dining venues leave guests spoilt for choice. There’s a variety of fine-dining restaurants offering Chinese, Japanese or Italian cuisine. Guests can also sip cocktails at the bar or enjoy the beach service during the day, while the spa takes relaxation to a whole new level. Rooms include beachfront family rooms, superior beachfront rooms, standard sea-view rooms and deluxe beachfront suites. The high-tech in- room entertainment on offer includes LCD flat- screen TVs with satellite channels, Wi-Fi Internet access and iPod docking systems. Long Beach is the perfect package of lush tropical gardens, sea views, dappled white sands and modern, five- star island living. +230 401 1919, longbeachmauritius.com

For reservations or information contact World Leisure Holidays on 0860 954 954, res@wlh.co.za, wlh.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 59

SIZE MATTERS Now live: The Property Magazine South Africa a national digital-only edition of 200-plus pages from all our regional editions, plus much more …

As the largest magazine in South Africa, we’ve always believed that size matters. So until Apple makes an iPad that is as large as our magazine, we’ve decided to squeeze our magazine into the space available – but we’re also squeezing in all of our regional and national advertisers, together with all of our regional editorial content and more. Each month we’ll be expanding several of our editorial features to bring you more than we ever could in print alone. There are also brand-new, digital-only advertising opportunities for our advertisers. So, with over 200 pages of The Property Magazine South Africa on your iPad, Samsung Galaxy or other tablet every month, we still believe that size does matter! The Property Magazine will still be available in hard copy each month as three separate regional editions, but with our new monthly digital-only national edition, you can now see what your neighbours are up to, too! The Zinio app is available for your iPad, your Samsung Galaxy and other tablets and also from www.zinio.com. Register with Zinio for free and download 200 pages of The Property Magazine South Africa now!

R O IT ik ED nn T dE ES al U n G Ro

Real estate

residential & commercial

The big picture is healthy We need to look forward … The market may have lost its direction, but it will never stop moving

Main image 123rf.com Portrait photograph Supplied

he gloomy sentiment in the residential property sector is difficult to understand and leads me to believe that, with rare exceptions, economists and other market commentators may be reading statistics and indicators while looking backwards. From my viewpoint, demand that has been dammed up since December 2007 – the start of the longest downturn I’ve seen in my 25-year career in residential property – is now beginning to flow back into the market and is having a discernible effect on the momentum of home sales and purchases. This is most noticeable in the upper end of the Gauteng property spectrum – my focus area. Granted, the eurozone debt crisis and the threat of an economic slowdown remain a source of global uncertainty. But this is being counterbalanced in the local property market by a range of positive factors. Most significant among these are bankers. Patently absent from the residential property scene for the past few years, bankers are now investing in their own homes, either by selling and buying bigger and better or by extending and upgrading. In Gauteng, and particularly in Joburg and Sandton, we are encountering an increasing number of senior banking executives seeking opportunities to buy upward or extend, some with budgets of R10 million or more.

Always well-informed on market trends, and therefore, closest to the fundamentals of property cycles, bankers invariably provide an early and accurate reading of where the residential sector is headed. Are they swimming against the tide? I don’t think so. By the time homeowners as a group discern an upturn, it is normally some months down the track. Another key indicator is that upmarket, lockup-and-leave multilevel lifestyle developments in the mould of the Michelangelo and Melrose Arch, which have weathered the downturn better than other property genres, are attracting more buyer attention right now. The newest of these is the Houghton, a R2-billion-plus development overlooking the newly completed Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. In terms of value per square metre and lifestyle, the Houghton is probably the best offering in the Gauteng market right now. The increasing number of returning expatriates, whose lives in debt-burdened countries abroad have lost their lustre, is another positive market factor. Big motivators for them and other foreign investors are the relative weakness of the rand, continued uncertainty surrounding the US economy and the eurozone debt crisis, the explosion of economic activity and growth in sub-Saharan Africa and the entrenchment of Sandton as the platform of choice

from which to conduct business in Africa. As a result, much of the home-buying interest we are seeing is from international executives. Taking all of these factors into account, I am confident that the property market – not least at the luxury end – will show growth in 2012. However, the speed of that growth will almost certainly be dictated to a large extent by political issues and the outcome of the ANC’s Mangaung conference in December. While the residential market may slow down in times of economic downturn, it never loses its motion. Property has to turn over, because life happens and homeowners move house. Families expand, people grow older, adult children move out, couples divorce, emigration and immigration continue, net worth increases or decreases, death, deceased estates and distressed sales happen. These are the realities of life that give the market its core momentum.

Ronald Ennik, CEO Ennik Estates – Exclusive Gauteng Affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate

thepropertymag.co.za | 61

johannesburg Residential

Your Move Sandy Geffen, Executive Director of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, says there are many ways for you to get clean and green at the same time. There are few places where you can revel in luxury without feeling somewhat guilty, but one of these is a beautiful bathroom that has also been designed to be eco-friendly. The most-used resource in bathrooms is obviously water, so you need to give some thought to ways you can reduce usage of this precious substance without skimping on the pleasures of a long soak in a hot tub or an aqua-massage from a powerful shower head. Experts recommend that you install tap and shower head aerators, which will give you a powerful flow with much less water. They also recommend modern low-flow toilets and a grey- water diverter so that water from your bath or shower can be reused in the garden. You can also start every day with something green just by turning the tap off while you’re brushing your teeth! And as you proceed on your journey to a greener way of life, consider installing a rainwater tank and connecting it to your bathroom plumbing so that you can luxuriate in the free gift of naturally soft water. Next you will need to tackle electricity usage. It takes a huge amount of energy to heat water, and you can cut down on this in a number of ways. If you have a traditional geyser, make sure it is properly insulated, turn the thermostat down and switch it off when you are not at home. Alternatively you could have a smart switch installed that electronically controls the operating times of the geyser. Better still, replace it as soon as you can with a solar geyser or a heat pump and start making use of renewable energy sources instead of electricity drawn from our coal-fired and already overloaded national grid. As for the decor, this will always be a personal choice that spells luxury in your world, but a bathroom in harmony with nature can be a true oasis that enables you to unwind in a serene ambience. Seek out tiles made from recycled materials (especially glass), use paints with low VOC ratings, install LED lighting and ditch harsh chemical cleaners in favour of biofriendly products. And finally, try to make sure you have a beautiful view from your bath, and go for bath linens made from organic cotton and dyed with natural substances, beeswax candles as natural air fresheners, and handmade soaps and bath products made from real plants and fruits. Plants in the bathroom and a window frame looking onto a beautiful plant feature enhance and infuse nature into the bathroom experience.

Argyle Centre, Braamfontein

Lapping up the student market JHI Residential, a sister company to JHI Properties, has recently been launched with the intention of providing residential management services. ‘This is a natural progression for us. We already have extensive experience, not only in managing commercial property, but also in managing various mixed-use properties that include a residential component,’ explains Thea Bezuidenhout, director of JHI Residential. ‘We have already been awarded the management contract to manage 10 properties for International Housing Solutions, an established company that develops community-centred housing projects. These 10 buildings comprise some 1 800 units, mainly providing student accommodation and including some retail and other flats and lofts.’ With regard to student accommodation, Thea says, ‘We are also handling the maintenance of the facilities, arranging security and transport of students to and from nearby Wits University, collecting rentals, managing the trust account and keeping management accounts on behalf of the landlord.’ Although the buildings are all located in Johannesburg’s inner-city area of Braamfontein area, JHI Residential aims to extend its services nationwide as the business grows. ‘We are already exploring further opportunities in Pretoria, Durban and elsewhere in Africa, including Namibia,’ says Thea. +27 (0)11 911 8000, jhi.co.za

Luxury beach living With its Blue Flag beach and a promenade dotted with designer eateries frequented by the rich and famous, Camps Bay is the country’s coastal crown jewel. It is the best performer on the Atlantic Seaboard and investors continue to renovate, demolish and create homes valued in the millions. The new secure and ultra-luxurious Camps Bay Beach villas offer the most desired address: fronted by the ocean and with the Twelve Apostles to the left and Lion's Head on the right. The five double-storey villas have floor-to-ceiling sea views and a

Until next month, when we’ll look at masterful

Mediterranean lifestyle. Each villa offers lift access, open-plan living, sky-lit double-volume

main bedrooms …

kitchens, floating staircases, three luxurious en-suite bedrooms, a store room, three-car garaging, visitor parking and a deck with rim-flow pool overlooking the ocean. Finishes

Sandy

include leathered and granite tiling, walnut timber flooring, frameless glass and aluminium shutter blinds for light, noise and insulation control. +27 (0)21 438 1055, campsbaybeach.net

62 | July/August 2012

Words Candace King

contemporary design with an interplay of space, light and climate control for the ultimate

JOHANNESBURG Commercial

Greener pastures for Illovo

The private property development and investment enterprise, Intaprop, is putting up a new office building in a prime location in Illovo Boulevard. Designed by Stauch Vorster Architects and already fully let to RMB Corvest, 8 Melville is intended to be a Four-Star Green Star-rated building. ‘The insulation and energy efficiency of the building received exceptional attention to detail,’ says Hugo Stroud, a director at Intaprop. One of the key green features is the variable refrigerant volume (VRV) system, an energy-efficient air-conditioning system. The building will also employ state-of-the-art low-energy lighting installations with motion sensor technology as well as water-saving strategies, including rainwater harvesting and grey-water systems. The first phase of the double-storey, 2 400m2 office building will be ready in December 2012 and there is room for the development of a further 800m2 of office space. ‘The second phase of 8 Melville will be demand driven and is ideally suited to any corporate that prizes sustainable business, energy efficiency and an excellent working environment for its people,’ says Hugo. +27 (0)11 550 6900, intaprop.co.za

A vibrant makeover Bedfordview’s Village View shopping centre is receiving a R20 million makeover by its owner, the Cavaleros Group, which will provide greater retail variety, improved shopper ﬂows and a more vibrant shopping experience. Just over 1 500m2 of Village View is being refurbished and 300m2 of retail space is being added, to meet ongoing demand. Elsabe Griesel, portfolio manager for the Cavaleros Group, explains that the project is allowing the group to reﬁne the centre’s retail and dining offerings to best meet the needs of its shoppers and to keep the centre fresh and relevant

Mixing it up

to its market. ‘It also provides the opportunity to move existing tenants, strengthen our tenant mix and create feature zones within the centre. This will boost the entire experience at Village

The property development industry’s sights are set on the delivery of

View,’ she adds. Vovo Telo and two other new restaurants will

further mixed-use builds. This is the opinion of Mark Souris, managing

be joining Tasha’s, Pigalle and Rodizio in the centre’s ﬁne-dining

director of the retail, commercial and industrial property management

mix. The makeover is scheduled for completion this November.

company, Periscopic. Because of the housing shortfall in South Africa,

+27 (0)11 622 3026, cavaleros.co.za

it is becoming more difﬁcult to develop shopping centres in existing suburban areas, while growth in the rural market will soon reach saturation point, says Mark. Heidi Franck, managing director of property asset management and quantity surveying company, Intigra, says that town planners are looking into putting a hold on further urban sprawl and are calling for the more efﬁcient use of existing buildings by, for example, converting them to mixed-use developments. ‘Obviously this does require an upfront investment in refurbishing a building, but, depending on where the building is situated and the type of tenant mix you aim for, a mixed-use centre can be a worthwhile investment,’ says Mark. Montecasino and Nelson Mandela Square are good examples of successful mixed-use developments, he adds. Intigra and Periscopic are part of One Property Holdings Group. +27 (0)11 202 0320, oneholdings.co.za

Gautrain’s new green home Growthpoint Properties plans to develop a 7 000m2 green office building directly opposite the Gautrain Midrand station. Forming part of Grand Central Office Park, the stylish multi-tenant building will see the Gautrain Management Agency occupying 2 500m2 of the available office space. Growthpoint has held the rights to develop this land for several years. ‘We waited for the right time and the right tenant to allow us to develop a quality property asset and further our green-building drive,’ says Rudolf Pienaar, divisional director of Growthpoint Properties Offices. ‘We’re building new offices that strive to achieve a balance between aesthetics, functionality, flexibility, sustainability and energy efficiency and that provide the best experience for users.’ The development has been designed to meet the specifications for a Four-Star Green Star rating. Vast road upgrades in the area mean the building will be easily accessible. Earthworks began in April 2012, in accordance with a 12-month construction programme. +27 (0)11 944 6001, growthpoint.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 63

Africa

investment, real estate, news & leisure

Exceptional

expansions 1

Three Cities Group’s new venture, Exceptional Safaris, has added Zambia’s Mushroom Lodge & Presidential House to its portfolio

ew to the well-established Three Cities Group is Exceptional Safaris, a stand-alone company that provides management and marketing solutions to southern African game lodges. Joining Exceptional Safaris’ portfolio is Mushroom Lodge & Presidential House in Zambia. ‘We are very excited about this venture, and with the existing presence of Three Cities Exceptional Hotels in Zambia, we are well positioned to grow the market share at Mushroom Lodge & Presidential House,’ says Mike Lambert, CEO of Three Cities Group Exceptional Hotels. Mushroom Lodge & Presidential House are situated on the Mfuwe Lagoon in the 900 000ha

South Luangwa National Park, recognised as one of the greatest unspoilt wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The area is home to 60 different animal species, including elephant, buffalo, zebra and giraffe, as well as more than 400 species of bird, and the game-viewing on the alluvial floodplains and oxbow lagoons of the Luangwa River is superb. In the 1970s, Mushroom Lodge & Presidential House was used as a private getaway by former Head of State, Kenneth Kaunda, and his VIP guests, such as politician and activist, Oliver Tambo. At the end of Kaunda’s rule in the early 1990s, the lodge was left abandoned, until Matula Investments won the concession to redevelop and upgrade it. Today the lodge’s 12 chalets have luxury features, such as indoor

3 and outdoor showers, separate lounges and private patios overlooking the lagoon. Facilities include a lagoon-facing swimming pool and alongside it, the nsaka sanctuary, ideal for drinks, private dinners and meetings, and enjoying a massage from a qualified masseuse. There’s also a boma where you can dine beneath the stars. Children over six are welcome at Mushroom Lodge & Presidential House and a childminder service is available. ‘This fits in perfectly with the Three Cities Exceptional Hotel philosophy regarding family travel, where we extend our service to include children as well,’ says Mike. +27 (0)31 310 6900, exceptionalsafaris.co

Tourists on a game drive in South Luangwa National Park get up close to an

elephant. 2An elephant and its calf amble through Mushroom Lodge. 3Mushroom

Visit thepropertymag.co.za for more business

Lodge & Presidential House are right on the bank of Mfuwe Lagoon.

and leisure news from Africa.

64 | July/August 2012

Words Catherine Riley Photographs Supplied

africa

Nigeria’s pride

New to Nigeria’s hospitality industry is the African Pride Avalon Hotel and Spa – the first of its kind in the country. It is one of five new hotels being developed by Protea Hospitality Group as part of its R1,5 billion expansion into Africa. The expansion programme involves refurbishments and new builds, and has been undertaken with Protea hotels’ owner partners. African Pride Avalon Hotel and Spa is being built in Ikeja, Lagos, and will include 153 spacious rooms, suites and lofts as well as conference rooms for up to 500 delegates, fine-dining and buffet restaurants, a spa and wellness centre, fitness centre, swimming pool and shops. Inverter air conditioning, heat pumps and LED lighting are being incorporated, Pride Avalon Hotel and Spa is expected to open in late 2013.

Purchasing power

+234 1 810 2400, proteahotels.com

Sanlam Capital Markets, together with Atterbury Investment Holdings,

to make the running of the hotel more eco-friendly. The African

has acquired an 85% share in Ghana’s largest retail facility, Accra Mall, the first asset to be purchased for Sanlam Group’s planned $500 million (about R4 billion) Sanlam Africa Real Estate Fund. It will be one of the first real estate income funds with an investment focus across sub-Saharan Africa. ‘The growth of Sanlam’s Africa business is a key strategic focus. This fund adds to Sanlam’s product offering across the region and will have the ability to leverage off the Sanlam footprint already established,’ says Johan van der Merwe, CEO of Sanlam Investments. Thomas Reilly, CEO of Sanlam Properties, says the fund will provide a platform for investors to gain access to attractive USdollar-denominated returns in sub-Saharan African countries that are politically stable and have vibrant growth prospects. Developed by Actis in 2008, Accra Mall comprises 21 000m2 of A-grade retail space and attracts up to 135 000 shoppers a week. Anchor tenants include Shoprite and Game. +27 (0)11 778 6000, sanlam.co.za

Busy in the bush

Situated in the 65 000ha Sabi Sand Reserve, the exclusive Cheetah Plains Private Game Reserve is receiving a refurbishment that will ensure the rustic charm of the reserve remains, yet introduce a more luxurious feel. With only eight thatched chalets for guests, Cheetah Plains is already the ultimate in bush exclusivity, and thanks to its makeover, which begins in August, guests will have an even more indulgent experience. The chalets will be well equipped with amenities and boast an elegant, indigenous design thanks to the introduction of new furniture and a fresh decor scheme. The makeover will also include the rebuilding of several outside decks and the paving of outside areas. +27 (0)13 751 3270, cheetahplains.com

thepropertymag.co.za | 65

South Africa The Battle at

Kruger

Plans for an upmarket hotel at the Kruger National Park have sparked a verbal bush fire

ith a rich history that’s been traced back to Stone Age hunters and the first European settlers, the Kruger National Park (KNP) has evolved into an international tourist destination run by South African National Parks (Sanparks), the country’s pre-eminent nature conservation entity. Under CEO David Mabunda, Sanparks manages a system of national parks representing the indigenous fauna, flora, landscapes and associated cultural heritage of South Africa. In order to maintain these parks, Sanparks has in recent years explored several avenues of generating income. One is the expansion of the tourism trade, by making various public private partnership (PPP) opportunities available to reputable eco-tourism operators. In 2009 Sanparks announced its intention to establish a modern hotel in Malelane in the south of the KNP. Through a bidding process, the PPP was ultimately awarded to Malelane Safari Resort Investments, a consortium lead by Peter Wright and Secprop Leisure. The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group signed an international management agreement to operate the hotel under its Radisson Blu brand.

1–4

The hotel would be built about 10km away from the Malelane gate at the confluence of Timfenhene Creek and the Crocodile River. The proposed R290 million Radisson Blu Safari Resort Kruger Park hotel would allow guests 24-hour access to the park and would feature a park-and-ride facility. It would comprise 104 standard rooms and 16 suites with private terraces. Amenities would include two outdoor swimming pools, a spa and wellness centre, gym, family centre, all- day dining restaurant, boma, five conference rooms, game-viewing decks, kids’ club, environmental awareness centre, and pool bar. ‘Each building is designed with very limited visual impact and raised off the ground on stilts so there is as little disturbance as possible on the flora and fauna,’ explains Andrew McLachlan, Carlson Rezidor’s vicepresident of business development for Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. However, the development has sparked strong opposition locally and abroad. Many feel that the hotel is just a moneymaking gimmick on Sanparks’ part. The pressure group, Against Interference in Kruger & Other National Assets (Aikona), was formed in May 2011 in response to the news of the

Artist impressions of the proposed Radisson Blu Safari Resort Kruger Park hotel:

entrance to the hotel; main lodge pool and terrace; main lodge lounge; guest room.

66 | July/August 2012

proposed hotel. With a current membership of close to 300, the group aims to stop the commercialisation and exploitation of SA’s national parks, and includes concerned South Africans, Australians, Canadians and members from Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom. Aikona maintains that even though Sanparks is the appointed custodian of our heritage, it appears as if conservation is no longer its priority. Aikona alleges that Sanparks is also planning another hotel, a 500-bed establishment at the Skukuza Rest Camp, and that another four hotels are in the pipeline, including one in the Orpen area, one in the Phalaborwa area and a further two in the practically untouched Punda Maria and Pafuri areas. William Mabasa, head of Sanparks’ public relations and communications departments, dismisses Aikona’s claims: ‘We are only planning two hotels. We cannot say by when the hotels will be built. Currently there are 22 hotels on the property, which stretches over 2 000 000ha.We need to provide more space for people and tourists visiting the park. The environmental impact studies for the first hotel have commenced. I don’t know when they will be completed, as it’s an independent process and depends on many factors.’

Visit thepropertymag.co.za to for more land investment opportunities in South Africa.

Words Candace King Photographs Supplied

Gerhard Smit, the convenor of Aikona, says, ‘According to Glen Phillips, Sanparks’s managing executive of tourism and marketing, Sanparks saw an opportunity after the Malelane Sun Hotel burnt down in May 2009. They have no surveys indicating that there is a demand for such a facility and, according to Glen, they want to broaden their customer base for people who require more comfort and luxury. This is already available at the concessions in the park, which offer 300 beds and have a 40% occupancy rate.’ Gerhard says he’s in possession of a Sanparks document indicating that the body is now planning a peripheral development zone (PDZ), a 2km band running along the borders of the Kruger, which will be set aside for development. He explains that this is in direct conflict with the February 2012 edition of the Government Gazette, which mentions the buffer zones, a few kilometres wide, where development is restricted around our national parks. How would the new development affect the biodiversity and what will the hotel’s carbon footprint look like? Gerhard says the site of the Malelane hotel is in a wilderness area and is still rated ‘primitive’

with a high biodiversity sensitivity rating, as per the KNP Zoning Plan of 2006. The Kruger is currently a Category 2 National Park under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but if plans for the hotels go ahead, the park could lose this international status, which will ultimately affect tourism in SA. However, steps have been taken to mitigate the hotel’s environmental impact. And they’ve been enough to convince conservationist and presenter on nature programme 50/50, Braam Malherbe. He says, ‘When I first researched the issue, I was initially biased in favour of no hotels. After seeing the plans of the proposed developments and development areas, I’m now in favour of these hotels, or should I say “lodge developments”. I believe the word “hotel” is incorrect in terms of what is proposed. The structures are intended to be below the canopy line and totally eco- friendly, with a reduced carbon footprint. If you can increase revenue for the park and reduce its carbon footprint, then it’s a win-win situation.’ Gerard is not reassured. ‘What is very concerning is that the hotel will have 24/7 access. Can you

imagine the effect it would have on the inhabitants? Lights, vehicle movement, noise and increased roadkills, especially after dark. Light is visible for up to 14km at night and the sound of a moving vehicle can be heard for up to 4,5km. The operational phase will have a negative impact, not to mention the impact during construction. Sanparks expect an income of between R600 000 and R800 000 during the first year and R800 000/annum thereafter. This is not much of a return for such a huge sacrifice. The KNP is a conservation area, not a holiday resort’ But Andrew says, ‘The introduction of this new tourism product is to address the reality that the KNP is currently not attracting a significant portion of the local population. Research has indicated, both from this local market segment and from foreign visitors, that there is a demand for a product of this nature.’ If the EIA report is favourable, then construction work on the Radisson Blu Safari Resort Kruger Park will commence in August and the hotel will open at the end of October 2013. At the time of going to press, the peripheral development and zoning rights (PDZ) had been approved.

4 thepropertymag.co.za | 67

Africa South Africa

Restoration and relaxation Villa Lobengula, formerly known as Lobengula Lodge, has reopened in Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, following a makeover. The transformation from lodge to villa included a revamp of the exterior, which has been painted a soft white, complemented by a dark finish on the doors. Tania Mourant of Crank Designs in Port Elizabeth, together with consultant project managers, Natalie and Johann Lombard, were responsible for the refurbishment. They have used natural fabrics, colours and materials for the furniture and decor to give the space an earthy feel. Shawari Group donated some of the lodge’s old furniture to the local community and refurbished the rest, and a lot of the new decor items have been handmade by women from the local village. The villa is designed for families or groups and offers just six suites, accommodating 12 guests in total. Guests get their own private guide, chef and cook to look after them. Holistic therapies, a private yoga studio, tranquil meditation decks and organic cuisine are on offer, so guests can enjoy a traditional bush experience and rejuvenate mind and body while at the villa. A herb and vegetable garden is also being established at Villa Lobengula. +27 (0)41 509 3000, shamwarigroup.com

West is best Property along the Cape West Coast is attracting upcountry homebuyers, particularly retirees, says Laurie Wener, Pam Golding Properties MD for the Western Cape Metro region. ‘Previously, the West Coast was dominated by the leisure market, with upcountry buyers only expressing an interest if they were seeking a holiday home in the area. At the time it was regarded as somewhat remote and underdeveloped to be taken seriously as a destination for retirement. But recent infrastructure development has changed that picture quite considerably,’ says Laurie. The upturn in sales became noticeable in December last year and has continued unabated through the first quarter of 2012, she says. ‘Buyers are realising that they can acquire excellent value for money and a wonderful coastal lifestyle while still being within easy reach of major amenities and even the international airport,’ Laurie explains. Cash buyers make up the majority of this group and they are looking for homes in the R1 million to R3,5 million price bracket, either for complete or semi-retirement. The relatively low crime levels in Langebaan and Velddrif’s relaxed atmosphere make these two towns particularly attractive to buyers, she adds. +27 (0)21 557 2415, pamgolding.co.za

68 | March 2012

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Namibia Luxury lodges up for grabs

Namibia Country Lodges is unbundling its beautiful properties

in full swing The first batch of serviced erven at Omeya Golf Estate & Residential Oasis, near Windhoek, has been transferred

here are two luxurious Namibian lodges still for sale, Twyfelfontein Country Lodge and Tsumkwe Country lodge, after Namibia Country Lodges announced last month that it would be unbundling its assets. Namibia Country Lodges Managing Director Willem de Wet says the decision to unbundle was made based on the economic recession, after the owners decided to sell Namibia Country Lodges to focus on other business interests. Willem says, ‘The global tourism industry has been affected by poor economic conditions. We sought individuals and groups to take over the operation as one entity, but did not receive strong interest. Once we made the sale of individual properties possible, we received strong interest and good offers.’ Solitaire Country Lodge and Namushasha Country Lodge have already been sold and Opuwo Country Hotel is up for sale, but guests continue to be received

at all the lodges. Auob Lodge, situated on one of the owners’, Johan de Beer’s, property, will not be sold and will continue operating as normal. Along with the lodges, Namibia Country Lodges is also selling its general stores, the Solitaire bakery, service stations, hunting concessions and aircraft refuelling points. The group, which formed strong international ties during its operation and was involved in the community-based tourism sector, established Namibia Country Lodges in the ’90s, acquiring new property and lodges over the years. The lodges are situated in the northern Ovambo region in the South Kalahari in Eastern Caprivi, near the Skeleton Coast. Johan says Opuwo Country Hotel and Twyfelfontein Country Lodge have been his personal pride. He adds, ‘Solitaire is equally impressive, with its bakery and picturesque wrecks in the centre of a Namib crossroad.’ +264 61 256 598, namibialodges.com

Opuwo Country Hotel, Kaokoland. 2The unique landscape in which Twyfelfontein

Country Lodge is set is a Unesco world heritage site. 3The village near Tsumkwe

Visit thepropertymag.co.za for more Namibia

Country Lodge, Bushmanland. 4Solitaire Country Lodge, near Namib-Naukluft Park.

investment opportunities.

70 | July/August 2012

Words Tammy Sutherns Photographs Supplied

Hosting you in Namibia’s pristine protected areas Namibia Wildlife Resorts is a State owned enterprise, mandated to run the tourism facilities within the protected areas of Namibia. Its only shareholder is the Government of the Republic of Namibia; hence, it belongs to the Namibian people.

Central Reservations Oﬃce: E-mail: reservations@nwr.com.na Tel: +264 61 285 7200 Swakopmund Oﬃce: E-mail: sw.bookings@nwr.com.na Tel: +264 64 402172

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africa Namibia

Shopping in the north Safland has partnered with Frontier Property Trust to build a shopping centre in northern Namibia. Gwashamba Shopping Centre is set to open in April 2013. It will be 11 500m2 in size, accommodate 30 shops and have an attractive arcade running down its centre. There will also be a square for promotions as well as 370 parking bays. The entire project will cost N$136 million (R136 million). Sinco Investments 26 will manage the shopping centre. Potential tenants include Shoprite Checkers, Mr Price and OK Furniture. +27 (0)12 342 0142, safland.co.na

App for Namibian travellers The Namibian Tourism Board has released an iPad app that assists travellers to the country with all sorts of travel tips and information. Potential investors and visitors to the area can use the app to find out information on top destinations, leisure activities and the

The Discover Namibia app is easy to navigate and is downloadable from the Apple Store

wildlife and cultural heritage of the area. their destinations and interact online via and Google Maps. The app is divided into

Game on for Bahnhof

various sections, making it easy to navigate,

According to the Namibia Economist, the plans for Bahnhof Square and Lifestyle Centre in

and includes a detailed section on nature

Swakopmund are falling into place. Development partners Transnamib and businessmen

and wildlife conservation. For frequent

Steven Skoppelitus and Paul Shipoke recently signed a public private partnership agreement.

links to social networking sites, YouTube

travellers to the country there is a section

Construction work on the 25 000m2 site will get under way by August this year. Paul says,

on Air Namibia, with detailed information

‘The leasing agreement negotiations with the tenants should take us up to the end of May

on flights, accommodation and travel

and we are looking to finalise the financing agreements by June. We are also looking to issue

tips. The app, Discover Namibia, is free

tenders for the project between May and June.’ The centre will target a gap in the market, as

and downloadable from the Apple Store.

Swakopmund does not currently have a one-stop shop. Paul says that the development has

+44 (0)20 7367 0965, travelnamibia.co.uk

attracted potential investors from South Africa and the rest of the region. economist.com.na

72 | July/August 2012

Words Catherine Riley and Tammy Sutherns

They can also view areas before reaching

SAFLAND'S

NAMIBIAN PLANS

CEO talks purpose, prosperity and possible futures On a recent trip to Namibia, we

state of the property market in the country, as well as his views on one-stop-shop providing specialist asset management, property development, leasing, project management, tenant co-ordination and facility management. If this sounds all a bit technical, it is because it develops and manages big properties. It is their passion. Something that is very evident when you speak to Kallie. And not just about the business of property alone, but also when he speaks about Namibia as a country. In fact, let's hear from the man himself. Kallie: Safland brings aspiration to Namibia. The opportunity for every person in all the corners of the country to live and dream of something better. How can a society have big dreams if they are not exposed to what is on offer? Q: But why Namibia? Kallie: Namibia is a fantastically beautiful country with the most friendly and hospitable people living in it. The country has enjoyed political and economical stability for many years and maintain good international relations. I believe the reason why Safland made Namibia its new home was because we could make a difference. We as a company can set new horizons and literally change the landscape. We can become the national "go to" company for advice and support.

SAFLAND PROPERTY GROUP Head Oﬃce Namibia South Africa Oﬃce: WWW.SBRM.COM_SL00025

Q: Right. Let's quantify some of that. Can you perhaps give me a breakdown of the amount of jobs that have been created? Kallie: A total of 270 construction jobs have currently been created. This is only the direct job opportunities and excludes the downstream effect. More important is that most of these opportunities have been created within the communities. A good example is the total workforce of 73 on the Otjiwarongo site. Of these only two people are not from the town. The best would be to look at retail employment opportunities to be created once the centres are up and running. It is estimated that approximately 1800 opportunities will be created by the Grove, Gwashamba Mall and Otjiwarongo Square alone. Safland will also be undertaking property developments in Katima Mulilo, Rundu, Keetmanshoop and Swakopmund that will push this figure to at least 2500. Q: What other opportunities have been, and will be Kallie: Most important is private sector and direct foreign investment that will be flowing into the economy. This also provides the opportunity for homegrown Namibian brands to grow their footprint and new operations to share in the market created by established brands. New retail developments will also strengthen Namibia's profile as a preferred destination for retail tourism from other African countries.

| Tel: +264 61 25 4972/3 | Tel: +27 12 342 0142

| Fax: +264 61 22 5274 | www.saﬂand.com

Kallie: At the core is partnership. The Safland Namibia slogan "Partners in property" says it all. Yes, we are in the property business and we believe we are good at what we do. We have also amassed huge experience in retail property but so have other organizations. Partnership is however what differentiates us in Namibia. This is our unique selling proposition. Kallie: Safland spends a massive amount of time to research and truly understand the market. We also maintain excellent relationships with industry leaders, retailers and consultants. This should provide any participating business, financier or retailer with peace of mind that will allow them to focus on their core business. For more information on Safland, or if you would like to get hold of them, visit www.safland.com or call +264 61 254 972.

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FARM FOR SALE IN NAMIBIA Offering 7,500 ha in the Otjiwarongo Region. Registered in (Pty) Ltd. 50 km east of Otjiwarongo. Drakrag 1 : 10. 4 boreholes, average 3 m/3. Depth of borehole 30–80 m. All have Lister engines and sweet water. 11 posts with water cribs. Kamps 24 with loopgange. 4 houses with power and bathing facilities for workers. Huge swimming pool and guest house and one 3-bedroom home for the farm foreman. Rainfall is 500–1,000 mm per annum. Registered as hunting farm. River with building sand that can be sold. Lots of game, such as Hartebeest, Kudu, Wild Boar, Steenbok. This is a cattle farm. N$2,800 per ha. IF INTERESTED DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL CARINA HUMAN AT GROBBIES ESTATES 081 149 7332 OR 064 202 788, WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA

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R2000 To win just

SMS ‘Eco’ to 33115 *sms costs R1.50, Terms and Conditions apply

Cool & Warm White* 30°, 40° & 60° Beam Angles* Mains and Low Voltage* Globe, Downlighter and Reflector Retrofits 30 000 hour lifetime Dimmable* *available on select models

Cape Town:

9 Racecourse Road, Milnerton, 7441, South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 21 528 8400

Johannesburg:

10 Milkyway Avenue, Linbro Business Park, Sandton 2065, South Africa Tel: + 27 (0) 11 608 2970

For a full range of lamps visit us online at www.eurolux.co.za

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Email: admin@eurolux.co.za web: www.eurolux.co.za

2012/06/29 12:40:00 PM