The Property Magazine - Kwazulu-Natal July/August 2012

Property

Est. 2004, Issue 275

KWAZULU-NATAL

JULY/AUGUST 2012

Winner of 10 publishing awards

NATIONAL DIGITAL EDITION FOR iPAD

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decor, trends, luxury, design & real estate

DISCOVER LAND ART

THE CAPE’S NEW ECO CABINS

THE GREEN ISSUE

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14

34

Contents

DECOR 9

HOT DECOR & DESIGN Strap it, hang it or bag it … as long as it’s green

TRENDS 7

A SLOW RETREAT

8

HOT PLATE

Local foodie hangouts do

18

development –

with the new eco-wise

Tinderwood – a new

this month

Oudebosch Cabins in

development on the

Kogelberg Nature Reserve

Bluff, and gearing up for

THE RIDGE AND THE FAMOUS

Meet a leader in green

ON THE COVER @ Maison. to page 11 FeatureTurn story: for Sustainable the full story. building. See page 25 for details.

46

programme adds value by

49

25

KWAZULUNATAL COMMERCIAL The newly launched

GREENING IN LAYERS

Stockowners Business Park in Howick, Island Office Park in Riverhorse

of ideas for building a

Park, and triple-A-grade

Good clean eco-friendly fun

planet-pleasing home

offices to let in Westville

34

NATURAL ORDER Meet land artist Strijdom

50

EXCEPTIONAL EXPANSIONS

HOT INDULGENCE

van der Merwe who has no

Three Cities Group takes

Cycling through vineyards

need for canvas, paint or

over a landmark lodge

and reducing your carbon

brushes

now that’s indulgence…

TheON Kitchen THE & Tasting COVER Room

Umhlanga’s Park-to-Park

Expert advice and loads

footprint by drinking wine –

38

the Mews in Umhlanga

TIMEPIECE

GOOD AS GREEN

LUXURY 10

21

putting the environment first

GREEN STAR building practices

88

KWAZULUNATAL RESIDENTIAL

What you should be doing

in Umhlanga

all persuasions

14

48

Zimbali’s latest

Why you should be living

32

DESIGN

25

Enjoying the great outdoors

Environmental Centre to peace seekers of

from Zinio

WHAT’S ON

Waterfall Retreat and offers escapist experiences

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

IN THE HEART OF THE FYNBOS

their bit for the environment

12

22

OF MODELS AND MEN

REAL ESTATE 13

52

THE BATTLE AT KRUGER Plans for an upmarket

CALL OF THE WILD

hotel at the Kruger

Thali-Thali game reserve

National Park spark a

Attorneys Ramdass

near Langebaan is on

verbal bush fire

& Associates’ Property

the market at an unbeatable

Dinner at Little Havana

offer

LUXURY WIN Win an African bush, spa

47

THE BIG PICTURE IS HEALTHY

and golfing experience at

Ronald Ennik banks on a rise

Zebula, worth over R25 000!

in the market

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

2 | July/August 2012

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 DNA Print 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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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.

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DISTRIBUTION REGIONAL CIRCULATION ABC Audited National Circulation (Jan.–Mar. 2012) The Property Magazine – KwaZulu-Natal 13 623 The Property Magazine – Johannesburg (formerly Gauteng) 21 133 The Property Magazine – Western Cape 22 494 The Property Magazine – Combined 57 250

THE PROPERTY MAGAZINE KWAZULU-NATAL DISTRIBUTION 4 529 copies to luxury outlets: 8 925 copies free-to-home in the following The Boat House areas (including residential estates): The Vineyard on Ballito Berea Zimbali Lodge Musgrave Fairways Lodge Morningside Teremok Marine Windermere La Bordello Beverly Hills Madeline Grove B & B Cowies Hill The Palms Guest House Waterfall/Kloof Essenwood House Hillcrest The Balmoral Maytime Phezulu Game Estate Upper Umhlanga The Royal Hotel Lower Umhlanga Riverside Hotel & Spa Upper La Lucia Sica’s Guest House Lower La Lucia The Westville Hotel Prestondale Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel Broadway Quarters Hotel Mount Edgecombe The Manor House Hilton Fairway Guest House Wembley Docklands Hotel Ballito Umdloti

Property involves us all.

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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

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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

PRETORIA DISTRIBUTION 10 000 copies, including 6 500 Free-To-Home, 500 copies to luxury outlets and embassies and 3 000 copies to select retailers

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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!

HOT PROPERTY

HOT space

1

2

3

A slow retreat

Waterfall Retreat and Environmental Centre offers escapist experiences to peace seekers of all persuasions

I

t’s part conservancy, part hideaway,

including the resident crowned eagles, louries

nature walks. Speakers or doers promoting

but because nature is so integral to the

and hornbills (guided trails are offered).

sustainability as a lifestyle are encouraged to use the space to spread the word or

filled utility spaces that are bedded into or rest

hold workshops. Resident teacher, Diego Baldi,

in the healing or calming processes, so you’ll

softly on the landscape. He crafted the yoga

is also passionate about cooking, which bodes

find that walking through the landscape is as

and meditation studio with a view to creating

well for visiting vegetarians. He says, ‘It’s the

meditative as a yoga session.

a sanctuary where people could submerge

most relaxing practice for me – I’m happiest

themselves in the cool green forested

when I’m cooking and feeding people.’ Staying

an hour west of Durban, Waterfall Retreat

surrounds and restore their balance, relax and

alone or as a couple in a chalet is largely

and Environmental Centre rests within 32ha

retreat for a day, a night or a weekend. He

a self- catering affair (there’s a communal

of indigenous forest and natural grassland

designed a series of small chalets in a similar

kitchen), but when you join a retreat, the meals

characterised by a river, three exquisite

vein – wide open, airy and simple – and the two

can be made part of the experience.

waterfalls and 50m-high cliffs.

that are already built will soon grow to six. All

line. Here, the environment plays its part

Set in Nkutu Valley Nature Reserve, half

Words Anne Schauffer Photographs Sally Chance

Bruce, an engineer, designed all the light-

concept of this retreat, there’s no dividing

If the great escape appeals to you, you can

the buildings are constructed from straw bales

join the mailing list for updates on regular or

Dongen and Kerry Martaglia. Together, they

and every aspect, including the water supplies

special events at the centre. Meanwhile, think

cleared hectares of dense alien vegetation and

and green roofs, are sustainable.

about taking a walk. There’s something about

The centre was the dream of Bruce van

The centre offers yoga and meditation

restored the endangered natural grassland so

the sound of cascading water that smooths

that now, ambling along the network of paths

classes, detox or personal retreats and

the creases of the soul. And the centre’s on our

and nature trails that crisscross the property,

wellness packages. Once a month or so it

doorstep.

you’ll come across small game and rich birdlife,

also offers half- or full-day retreats, including

+27 (0)79 262 3877, waterfallretreatcenter.com

A simple chalet in the forest. 2The yoga studio in its calming natural setting. The architecture is

1

Visit thepropertymag.co.za for other

inspired by Japanese design. 3Sanskrit painted on a stone.

healthy getaway options in your area.

thepropertymag.co.za | 7

HOT PROPERTY

HOT PLATE

These local businesses do their bit by going local and keeping their carbon footprints low

ON A PAGE Durban creative

NEIL ROAKE is

Get your fill of Heavenly & Healthy Foods, newly launched by Brookdale Health Hydro

well known for his ad agency, Modern

as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.

Museum, The Space fashion store, his

This beautifully illustrated book offers pages

hotels and restaurants (The Concierge,

of healthy meals, tips and suggestions and

Freedom Café, Craft Trattoria, Larney’s)

has an easy-to-follow meal plan to kick-start

and a number of cookbooks.

a healthy lifestyle. Available from Brookdale

Q Where did your love of food come from?

and online. +27 (0)33 266 6208, brookdale.co.za

My mother was always cooking, from her early days in Zambia to family meals around the tables and then ultimately running their pie business and take- aways and restaurants and road- stop cafés. I was a food nomad, moving with them from place to place.

ON A STICK Heaven on a stick – here it is! Daniela’s Deliciously Decadent Cake Pops are everything they claim to be and more. Choose fillings from oh-myword chocolate brownies, held together with chocolate ganache, to dreamy chocolate-coated vanilla sponge and the infamous Red Velvet –

Q Your trademark style?

cream cheese dipped in white choc. While you’re thinking ‘Daniela’s’, also think its famous Parisian

Easy food and uncomplicated conversations. That’s on a good day.

Sometimes I like a really challenging recipe, but this does not happen much.

Macaroons and life-changing creamy fudge. Pop into Daniela’s Deliciously Decadent at the Heritage Market in Hillcrest, try the new pop-up indoors at La Concierge on Umhlanga Ridge, or order online.

Q Your food philosophy?

Q What are you cooking at the moment?

I hit on a new thing and kill it … Such as the Korean pork buns I am doing to death at the mo. Crisp skinned pork belly stuffed into steamed Korean buns (get them from Sun-Sun supermarket), with a huge dollop of Hoisin and some pickled red onion and cucumber. To die for.

Q Other favourites?

I am spending a lot of time in Joburg and our new spot in Craighall Park does not have an oven as yet, so it’s been a field day for soup. Short rib and chorizo, classic bouillabaisse with fennel and orange and homemade rouille, watercress and cream, pumpkin and pumpkin seed pesto. With bread from Fournos around the corner. modernmuseum.co.za

8 | July/August 2012

danielas.co.za

ON THE BEACH Crawdaddy’s has come to town and settled in Ballito, on the beachfront, where it’s serving up some of the finest seafood and steaks in the hood. With veggies from local farmers and fresh fish from the local suppliers, Crawdaddy’s is all about quality ingredients and local people. From combos, chowders and chops to triple-chocolate ice cream, there’s something for everyone, plus great sea views and a chilled vibe. +27 (0)32 946 1858, crawdaddys.co.za

ON A ROLL Ferrucci Classical Bakery is famous for its eggs Benedict, sourdough breads, panini, ciabatta, and croissants (chocolate, butter, cheese, ham), which will make your day.

Not bad going for a little spot that opened café one on Granada Square, Umhlanga, in November last year and café two in Zimbali in April. There are more outlets on the cards too, says owner Mike. The success, he explains, is thanks to the long line of chefs in the blood, who take pride in doing things properly. Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for breakfasts, light lunches, delightful panini and, of course, loaves and cakes to take home. +27 (0)31 561 4140

Words André Fiore

My favourite quote is by Epicurus: ‘We should look for someone to eat and drink with, before looking for something to eat and drink.’ That sums it up for me.

+27 (0)31 765 2505,

HOT PROPERTY

Strap it, hang it or bag it … as long as it’s green

STRAP IT

HOT DECOR & DESIGN

Next time you’re at an &Beyond lodge, grab a Leave-a-Legacy wristband. All proceeds go

RICHARD STRETTON of Koop

towards conservation lessons, school programmes and other education initiatives, such as

Design won the first-ever AfriSam-SAIA

the Community Leaders Education Forum bursary, to raise environmental awareness among

Award for Sustainable Architecture, for

tomorrow’s guardians of our natural heritage – those living close to conservation areas.

Dalton Private Reserve, two years ago.

These newly launched wristbands are available in black or tan cowhide and tote the ‘Leave a

Q Your awareness of the green issue began long before it was fashionable or urgent …

Legacy’ inscription. +27 (0)11 809 4300, andbeyond.com

HANG IT Klassy Kar Hang-Ups are the creation of Dalton-based Bed Bath Body, a business whose focus is on producing highquality products as naturally as possible.

Sustainability, local empowerment, water preservation, reduced power consumption and low carbon footprint are all high on their checklist. These little Heavenly Scented Hang-Ups are made from offcuts from local mills, and last for ages. +27 (0)82 540 0982, bedbathbody.co.za

BAG IT These handy Cheetah bags allow shoppers to support cheetah conservation from the convenience of Woollies, so bag one while you’re doing the groceries. By purchasing one of these limited-edition bags you’ll be donating R10 to cheetah conservation. +27 (0)11 809 4300, andbeyond.com

BOWL IT We love ceramicist Rayne Hampson’s stunning range of table- and

As students at the Architecture Faculty in Durban, our education was quite spartan. We were taught responsible design in a time of political upheaval and gross inequality (the late ’80s). This was not only in designing environments that generated social change, but also building systems that responded to the environment. We were also taught the basic principles of orientation, ventilation, natural light and thermal and acoustic insulation. But mostly I’ve been fortunate to have intelligent teachers, parents and peers who have always maintained a responsible and constructive approach to life. I believe that we learn through osmosis; we kind of get what we know from the people we are close to.

Q Your favourite piece, and the public’s favourite?

The strongest response from the public has been to the Linen Fold Table. I am always infatuated with my latest design, so the Slow chair and day bed, along with the CNC processed birch ply system furniture for offices and canteens, are holding my interest. But my all-time favourite is the Pretty Filly Table.

homeware. She gives it a local twist does its bit to boost the Richmond economy. Browse the full range at The Shop@Gwahumbe in Eston, Blackwood Nursery in Richmond and the new Blackwood’s Home of Gardening in Pietermaritzburg. +27 (0)82 379 1858

Q Any plans for heading in other design directions?

Architecture and furniture are enough for me. The focus is always on learning more and teaching others. The preservation and development of skills is critical to our future. +27 (0)31 303 3922, koopdesign.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za

Words André Fiore

that not only looks fab, but also

|

9

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

10 | 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 | 11

HOT PROPERTY

KWAZULU-NATAL DIARY

Annual Rocky Waters Koi Show, 21–22 July Very few people get the chance to get up close and personal with beautifully coloured koi that measure over 90cm in length. The Annual Rocky Waters Koi Show, the premier koi show in the country, offers just this and more. More than 400 of these living jewels are expected to be on show this year. The show will be held in the open-air Parkade D at Gateway Theatre of Shopping and will present a large selection of top- quality koi from private collections countrywide. The show is aimed at the public, koi enthusiasts and dealers, and at people who simply enjoy garden and water features, ponds, bonsai and orchids. World-renowned judges from the UK, Australia and Holland will be joining local judges from the South African Koi Keepers Society to rank the fish. Experts on all aspects of koi-keeping and water features will be on hand to offer advice.

Wondering how the koi will be displayed? There will be about 34 ponds, 3m in diameter, filled with treated water and lots of air to keep the fish happy. Did you know that koi are easily tamed and can be taught to eat out of your hand, or that they respond to voices, especially those of their owners? Learn all this and more at the Koi Show. Tickets: at the gate, R15, children under 12 are R5. +27 (0)82 457 3824

Taste of Durban, Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World, 27–29 July This international pop-up restaurant festival brings together the city’s acclaimed restaurants, prestigious chefs and carefully selected premium exhibitors, to attract Durban’s most dedicated and sophisticated foodies in an outdoor celebration of fine dining. Tickets: R80, including tasting glass. +27 (0)21 418 4516, tasteofdurban.co.za

The Abba Show, Sibaya Casino, until 29 July For those still smiling after the local Abbamaniacs, and for those who missed it, here’s an international version. The Abba Show, performed by impersonators from Showtime Australia, has been all around the world, averaging 200 shows a year for the past 17 years. Tickets: R150–R210.

0861 915 8000, computicket.com

Taste of Durban

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

12 | July/August 2012

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

2

V

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

1

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.

thepropertymag.co.za | 13

prime property

14 | 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 | 15

prime property

T

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

16 | 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 | 17

prime property

18 | 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 | 19

GREEN PROFILE PROMOTION

PGP SUPPORTS PTP Pam Golding Properties helps keep Umhlanga looking great

P

am Golding Properties Umhlanga is proud to be associated with the Park-to-Park initiative, and contributes regularly to the cleaning and upkeep of Durban View Park.

Pam Golding Properties has a very strong presence in this sought-after area,

with several well-priced sole mandates available for viewing.

This part of Umhlanga has access to the beach and village and is prized by residents and holidaymakers alike. Many of Pam Golding’s agents specialise in the Park-To-Park and surrounding precincts and are on hand to share their expertise with prospective purchasers.

For more information, contact Elwyn Schenk, Principal, Pam Golding Properties Umhlanga, on +27 (0)83 325 1606 or email elwyn.schenk@pamgolding.co.za.

PROMOTION

EXPERTISE

ON TAP

MDT Plumbing Services – professionalism at its best

M

DT Plumbing Services takes pride in providing priority service and quality workmanship, at an excellent and affordable rate, to its many satisfied clients in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

Owner Mark Thompson says, ‘We are proud to have serviced, and to continue servicing, the plumbing aspects of several estate agencies and bodies corporate of many high-rises and apartement blocks in the Umhlanga Rocks and greater Durban North areas.’

MDT specialises in the upgrading of stormwater systems, full bathroom renovations and all aspects of plumbing, in new or established buildings, and its competent team can help you with any plumbing emergency.

Eco-friendliness is a top priority for MDT, and the team strive to ensure that all their workmanship is in the best interests of the natural environment.

For more information contact Mark Thompson on +27 (0)82 512 4570 or email mdtplumbing@gmail.com

LINE IN THE SAND Enforce is giving Umhlanga ‘that much more’

T

he commitment made by Enforce Security 2,5 years ago to implement a 24-hour security patrol of the Umhlanga business and residential precinct has led to a notable drop in the reported crime rate in the area.

In line with the Enforce philosophy of providing ‘that MUCH MORE’ in tailor-made security solutions, specially trained teams of security guards, car guards, beachfront golf cart

Photograph Val Adamson Photograph Val Adamson

PROMOTION

patrols and reaction vehicles work hand in hand with the SAPS to implement a preventative crime strategy that successfully enforces the community by-laws, especially along the beachfront.

For more information on Enforce Security Service’s tailor-made residential and business security solutions, please contact Dave Birkett, National Business Development Director, at Enforce Security on +27 (0)31 573 7600.

GREEN profile

Timepiece Adding value by putting the environment first Words AndrĂŠ Fiore Photographs Val Adamson

thepropertymag.co.za | 21

GREEN Profile

A

little green investment along just 1km of the Umhlanga coastline has become a knock-on success, enhancing not only the natural environment, but property values and lifestyle along this stretch too.

Things are only getting better for the members of the Park-to-Park programme, and the example they’ve set is promising. If so much can be achieved by so few, then the possibilities are endless if more people do the same.

The Park-to-Park (PTP) Managed Precinct was kick-started when tropical storms lashed Umhlanga four years ago. The storms left beaches eroded and destroyed and beachfront properties alarmingly

vulnerable to major destruction from the sea. True, the storms had been unusually fierce, but the damage was worse because the natural protection offered by the dunes was minimal, as they’d been destroyed by people walking through them, living in them and cutting vegetation back to create sea views.

The beach, in turn, had become narrower, steeper and unsafe, and held little appeal.

Modelling themselves on the successful Umhlanga Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) programme, neighbours in complexes and blocks along Marine Drive from Durban View Park to Eastmore Park banded together to protect their properties and their properties’ values.

With a R200 contribution a month from each of the 300 units, they set about cleaning and greening their neighbourhood.

The first step was to employ two permanent staff to clean the beaches and streets daily as well as three night-time security guards. The second step was to begin rehabilitating the dunes.

‘We began with signs to explain why people – and their dogs – shouldn’t walk on the dunes,’ says Trevor Edwards, a committee member. ‘Then we got the properties along the beachfront to substitute their beach access footpaths for raised wooden paths and bridges, to avoid further damage to the dunes and wind blowholes.’

Opening page and this page, top Slowly, the dunes are growing back along this stretch of Umhlanga beachfront. This page, bottom The rehabilitation of the dunes has encouraged a family of mongooses to return to the area.

22 | July/August 2012

GREEN PROFILE Next, slatted wooden fencing, large wooden logs and branches were used to help trap sand and rebuild dunes, and all complexes were invited to put their garden refuse on the dunes to cover the soil and introduce nutrients. ‘This has saved our complex substantial monthly garden refuse costs,’ says PTP Chairman Dudley Horn. ‘Multiply that by all the complexes that are bringing their garden refuse here and it’s yet another unexpected payoff.’

With the advice of dune experts, an ongoing planting programme was developed and through it hundreds of indigenous plants are being introduced.

First in are small pioneer plants and grasses to bind the sand, followed by larger plants, right up to the

milkwoods. It’s a slow, ongoing process, but the time put in so far by dedicated players has started to recreate a functioning eco-system that looks set to survive – an heirloom. ‘Time and patience are essential here,’ says Trevor. ‘The art of giving is planting milkwoods, well knowing you’ll never sit in their shade.’

But residents are amazed at how they are benefitting right now. Their gardens are teeming with birds again. They’ve counted 53 species recently and have seen the return of species previously thought lost to the area, from wild parakeets to woolly-necked storks and herons, and a family of mongooses tumble across their lawns daily. Next up will be duiker, the residents hope.

There are general lifestyle improvements too.

Residents are walking at night – in safety. With the enforcement of laws prohibiting drinking, making fires and living on the beaches and in the dunes, the beaches have become safe places again and are being used for recreation. The park is full of children playing and adults exercising.‘We have so much to be thankful for,’ say committee members. ‘The municipality has been hugely supportive and a great sense of community has been created through the project. We hope that other communities will either join what we do, speak to us if they’d like advice or start off on their own. These days, when the environment is so threatened, the time and care that we put in now are priceless.’

Clockwise from centre Residents are enjoying an enhanced lifestyle thanks to the Park-to-Park project – their gardens have become inviting for people, birds and animals; the park is a pleasure; property values have rocketed.

With thanks to …

PTP Committee: Trevor Edwards, +27 (0)83 654 6548 Dudley Horn, +27 (0)83 310 9955 de Lisle Weare, +27 (0)83 777 6000

thepropertymag.co.za | 23

PROMOTION

SAVE YOUR

RANDS – build with

S

sand

Sandbag building offers you the opportunity to own an energy-efficient home. Building is quicker, inexpensive, and gives you greater flexibility

andbag building is now being introduced into KwaZulu-Natal after 20 years of successful building in the Western Cape, where it’s been used to construct many diverse structures, from double-storey houses to large commercial structures. The system is fully endorsed and supported by the NHBRC. The one thing that we have taken for granted and yet have used so often is the sandbag. We have used sandbags for flood protection, sound insulation and even shelter from bullets.

So should it really be that difficult for us to believe that we can build a house from sandbags?

A sandbag structure put together in a unique combination of beams and bags has amazing strength. Once the roof is in place and the building plastered, the structure looks and feels just like a plastered brick structure.

Any room size or floor-to-ceiling height can be achieved. This flexibility is just one of the many advantages that makes this building technology perfect for any project.

Even more impressive, though, is the structure itself, which is eco-friendly and superior to a conventional brick wall in so many ways: a sandbag structure offers

a lot more mass and is therefore impervious to the weather; a sandbag home is waterproof, fireproof and thermally highly efficient, meaning you’ll feel warmer in winter and cooler in summer; a sandbag home is acoustically superior to a standard brick wall.

Significantly, the cost is a lot lower than conventional building, and build time is halved. For example, an average three-bedroom, 150m² simplex can be completed within a month at a cost of less than R3 300/m². This includes all finishes, roof, tiling, plumbing, electrical, ceiling and so on.

Sandbag building offers you the opportunity to own a home that is healthier for you to live in, as it’s free of cold, mould and damp.

If you are planning to build a new home, take advantage of the new technology available to make your life more comfortable, quieter and more secure. Sandbag homes save you energy, save you money and are healthier for you to live in.

Help towards creating a healthier future by investing in an energy-conscious and thermally efficient home today.

‘The bottom line is that with the sandbag building system, better-quality homes can be built for less money, using ecologically sound materials,’ says Andy Strydom of Ambidex Projects.

Contact Ambidex Projects to find out more: Andy Strydom, +27 (0)83 445 5123, ecobuild@tiscali.co.za, ecobuilders.co.za

24 | July/August 2012

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

O

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, we’re keen!

thepropertymag.co.za | 25

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

26 | 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 | 27

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

28 | 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 | 29

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

30 | 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 | 31

ASK THE EXPERT

GREEN STAR

An accredited professional on how green building can work for you

Atisha Gopichund Specification Support Manager

This page A number of Saint-Gobain Gyproc products were used in the construction of the prestigious Pearls residential development in Umhlanga Rocks.

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.

+27 (0)12 657 2800, Atisha.gopichund@saint-gobain.com

32 | July/August 2012

Portrait photograph Michael Glenister Location Moyo Melrose Arch Main photograph Supplied.

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

Photograph Val Adamson

PROMOTION

Evolution Architects (from left): Lauren Pearce, Brent Becker, Raewyn Gowar, Paul Elliott, Shaun Pearman.

THE ART OF

EVOLUTION

[] ev·o·lu·tion. noun. 1A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. 2aThe process of developing. 2bGradual development.

T

he name ‘Evolution’ is based on the concept that design is an evolutionary process and that this Durban-based practice is evolving as its members grow and develop their understanding of what makes good architecture.

Evolution Architects is a small but efficient group of young professionals with a strong work ethic. They offer personalised, dedicated service of the highest level and always strive for design excellence, with a strong focus on environmentally responsible design solutions. The practice has been extensively involved in the

design, documentation and supervision of several prestigious projects throughout South Africa and has experience in various fields of architecture. However, the team’s special interests remain in retail architecture and green buildings.

Evolution Architects has been awarded first prize by the South African Council of Shopping Centres for retail design development. And its design for an office building at 24 Richefond Circle, Ridgeside, Umhlanga, was the first building in KwaZulu-Natal and the second in the country to achieve a Four-Star Green Star Design and As Built rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa.

For more information please contact Evolution Architects on +27 (0)31 266 5835, email info@evolutionarchitects.co.za, or visit evolutionarchitectscc.com.

thepropertymag.co.za | 33

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

34 | 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.

S

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 | 35

DESIGN Profile

36 | 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 | 37

ATTORNEYS RAMDASS & ASSOCIATES PROPERTY DINNER

Of Models and Men Words AndrĂŠ Fiore Photographs Val Adamson

A remarkable evening of cutting-edge company, cuisine and celebration 38 | July/August 2012

ATTORNEYS RAMDASS & ASSOCIATES PROPERTY DINNER

R

evelations are what they are. Property Dinners are what they are too. Still, there was a certain pause in the flow when our host let slip that he’d once been the Kate Moss of men.

It was hardly late. Bottles were still standing. And a quick reality check confirmed we were still all at the clean-shaven table and savouring memorable mouthfuls and superb service while enjoying the edgy energy at one of Durban’s hottest new happenings, Little Havana.

The company hadn’t changed either. Hosted by Shahir Ramdass, his father, V inesh, and sister, Shivani, all

from Attorneys Ramdass & Associates, in conjunction with Tony Vaughan of Media Nova, guests included a good handful of Durban’s financial heavies, a selection of equally sizeable property people and a scattering of others, all just as weighty one way or another.

Shahir fitted the profile perfectly too. Still, it’s always good to give a guy a chance, so although many eyes flitted momentarily to more likely Kate Moss candidates – Samantha Daykin from Rodel Finance or Carol Reynolds from Pam Golding Properties – Shahir was left unchallenged. If he believed himself to be waif-like and broody like the famous model,

so be it. Shahir, missing eye-contact opportunities with genuine iron-man contender, Rodel’s Andrew Church, continued ingeniously, branding the evening to the letter X: first, to mark the occasion we were celebrating – the 10th anniversary of the Ramdass practice in Berea and the launch of its La Lucia practice; and second, to celebrate the people present, all of whom, leaders in their various industries and professions, have an X-factor of their own.

Thoughts immediately went to Harish Mehta from Uni-Print and Clearwater Capital, mastermind of media, telecommunication and technology, a fine

Guest list Brett Botsis Seeff Umhlanga, Andrew Church Rodel Finance, Samantha Daykin Rodel Finance, Phillip de Kock FNB Commercial, Jason Ekstrand Alexander Property Trust, André Fiore The Property Magazine, Dion Goncalves Nedbank, Jill Gourlay Soukop Property Group, Paul Haselau BOE, Mark Johnston Seeff Ballito, Dave Jones Seeff KwaZulu-Natal, Merlene Kissoon RMB, Hein Hattingh In2 Assets, Farhana Mahomed Absa, Steve Martin Martin Auctioneers, Jenni McCallum The Property Magazine, Harish Mehta Uni-Print/Clearwater Capital, Zubin Pillay Illumina Capital, Shahir Ramdass Attorneys Ramdass & Associates, Shivani Ramdass Attorneys Ramdass & Associates, Vinesh Ramdass Attorneys Ramdass & Associates, Carol Reynolds Pam Golding Properties, Rakesh Sewnarain Jecholia Properties, Stuart Talbot RMB, Tony Vaughan Media Nova, Andreas Wassenaar Seeff Dolphin Coast.

thepropertymag.co.za | 39

ATTORNEYS RAMDASS & ASSOCIATES PROPERTY DINNER

example of the X-factor. Asked whether he’d like to take a break, unwind on a desert island, he responded, ‘Never!

I like to always be at the centre of things.’

Also always in the hub is Andreas Wassenaar of Seeff Dolphin Coast, whose business has doubled in a year.

Hot on his heels, Brett Botsis of Seeff Umhlanga, who, to put it simply, ‘has turned real estate into a lifestyle’.

Lifestyle always gets better when there are great things to share, and at this Vinesh chose to share yet another bottle of the evening’s selection of superb French wine and champagne, supplied by Roland Peens from the Wine Cellar in Cape Town. V inesh shared a few other things too: memories of typing out sale agreements in his early days in the property business. Agreements were only a page long in those days, voetstoots and borer certificates unheard of. Service excellence, though, has always been paramount, he mentioned. And their current practice exemplifies this – making law user-friendly.

Farhana Mahomed of Absa revealed that the giant bank was also becoming more user-friendly. Phillip de Kock of FNB didn’t need to interject. As far as FNB goes, ‘Steve’ has it covered. Our own Steve of the evening, Steve Martin from Martin Auctioneers, had things covered too.

If not a fashion model, he’s a model citizen, his business well- known for the amounts it raises for charity. And, tapping his own gavel, Hein Hattingh of In2 Assets declared that he could dispose of almost any asset.

Was that where those last fabulous bottles of wine had gone? The dazzling Paul Haselau of BOE just smiled, and ‘port’ was very much the next call.We revelled awhile over the last few drops before making an orderly exit.

1

2

7

3

8

9

14

15

16

19

20

21

Menu Starter Langoustine bisque cooked with brandy, cream and tomato and served with langoustine tail bruschetta.

Caesar salad with crunchy croutons, avocado and bacon with a Parmesan

1

anchovy dressing.

7

Main

12

Chilli and Arabica-coffee crusted fillet, garlic

17

Wine

and thyme roast new potatoes, buttered

Vaughan 23Vinesh Ramdass 24Farhana Mahomed.

Lanso

Zubin Pillay 2Brett Botsis 3Andreas Wassenaar 4Phillip de Kock 5Dave Jones 6Jill Gourlay Samantha Daykin 8Dion Goncalves 9Hein Hattingh 10Shahir Ramdass 11Steve Martin Stuart Talbot 13Rakesh Sewnarain 14Andrew Church 15Carol Reynolds 16Merlene Kissoon

Harish Metha 18Shivani Ramdass 19Jason Ekstrand 20Mark Johnson 21Paul Haselau 22Tony

greens, callebaut chocolate chilli jus.

palate

Seared Norwegian salmon, sweet-roast garlic

2009

pomme purée, citrus dill cream.

purity

Dessert

2008

Espresso Kahlua mousse.

perfec

Italian meringue, chocolate chip biscuit.

the Sy

2010 D Little Havana

2009

Granada Square, 16 Chartwell Drive,

2008

Umhlanga Rocks. +27 (0)31 561 7589, littlehavana.co.za

40 | July/August 2012

Wine

ATTORNEYS RAMDASS & ASSOCIATES PROPERTY DINNER

4

11

6

5

13

12

10 11

10 17

22

18

23

24

Wine Lanson Black Label Brut – Yeasty, freshly baked bread whiffs on the nose. Rich, buttery, creamy palate with citrus undertones. Lingering aftertaste.

2009 Denis Jamain Reuilly Blanc – Lovely freshness, very precise, mineral, transparent with purity of fruit.

2008 Chapoutier Belleruche Rouge – Made from 80% Granache and 20% Syrah. Exudes the perfect balance of natural fruit flavours from the Grenache and the structure and spiciness from the Syrah.

2010 Drouhin Rully Blanc 2009 Louis Boillot Côtes de Nuits Villages 2008 Château Barde-Haut St Emilion Wine Cellar, +27 (0)21 448 4105, winecellar.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 41

Living

Words Anne Schauffer Photographs Supplied

THE RIDGE

AND THE FAMOUS

In 1869, the Oyster Box Hotel was a beach cottage, and the town of Umhlanga simply didn’t exist. How things have changed

I

t’s true.The Oyster Box is older than Umhlanga.

The tin roof of the first beach cottage in the area was used as a navigational beacon until the construction of the automatic lighthouse nearly a century later.

Today, both the gracious OB and the lighthouse are landmarks on the eastern coast of Umhlanga, and although there have been revamps and facelifts along the glorious beachfront, north and south, it’s still the upper slopes of Umhlanga where tracts of land are being transformed overnight into residential and commercial structures.

The Umhlanga Ridge skyline, and ground layout for that matter, changes so rapidly that at times it’s like a giant animated Meccano set, and it’s difficult to marry this movement to the stasis in the economy.

Of course, beneath the grand exterior will be those burdened by stalled projects and mega- defaulters, but life up here appears to carry on regardless. The new road infrastructure around the

Ridge progresses apace and that, if nothing else, gives the region that constant sense of progress.

One of the talks of the town is Cornubia, the mixed use joint venture between the City of Durban and Tongaat Hulett Developments.

Described as ‘KZN’s largest-phased, megainfrastructure project’ and ‘the first mixed-used, mixed-income, sustainable, integrated development’, this Cabinet-approved project is a national priority and part of the eThekwini Municipality’s slum clearance programme. So, as much as some would have preferred Cornubia to slide off the drawing board for fear of low- cost housing in the heart of some of the region’s most valuable real estate, it hasn’t, and it won’t.

Construction has begun on the first housing phase and 2 500 units will be released. Cornubia is envisaged as a 20-year, R25-billion project with 24 000 residential units planned, of which about 15 000 will be subsidised by the municipality.

In addition to the residential component, an industrial and commercial park and a retail park are also on the cards. Operating along the Gateway precinct’s work/live/play philosophy, Cornubia is destined to have an impact on Umhlanga, but quite what, when and what kind, only time will tell.

And, talking about Gateway, International Housing Solutions (IHS), a global private equity funder of affordable housing, is set to roll out its first KwaZulu-Natal development, the Mews.

Construction will begin shortly and the result will be multi-storey blocks comprising 477 sectional title units, varying in size from 37m2 to 55m2.

So, the Umhlanga landscape is set to change in many different ways.

Then again, it’s used to that, given that it wasn’t that long ago that it consisted of waving sugar cane fields and a little holiday enclave that was largely a ghost town because of its considerable distance from town. Now it is town.

Did you know?

The lighthouse was built in 1952 because of the frequency with which ships mistook the uMgeni River mouth for Durban harbour. The story goes that South African Railways and Harbours (SAR & H) had sold a large area to the owners of the Oyster Box Hotel and then requested permission to build the lighthouse here, which was refused. A settlement was reached and SAR & H erected the lighthouse on the beach, apparently in record time, namely 24 hours, to prevent the structure from cracking.

42 | July/August 2012

Living

History of Umhlanga

The name ‘Umhlanga’ originates from the nearby Ohlanga River, or ‘Place of Reeds’ in isiZulu. The area was originally part of the sugar estate of Sir Marshall Campbell. When a track was made from Mount Edgecombe to Umhlanga Rocks, the local farmers wove their way towards the sea, leased small plots and built holiday cottages. When Umhlanga Rocks became an official village in the early 1930s, additional cottages, hotels and guesthouses began to spring up. From the Durban side, access to Umhlanga Rocks was via a gravel road through Durban North. The first hotel, the Victoria (later renamed the Umhlanga Rocks Hotel) was built by Marcus McCausland and opened in 1923. It included two old trams as annexes. The KZN Sharks Board, originally the Natal Anti-Shark Measures Board was established when numerous severe shark attacks occurred in the late 1950s. The first shark nets were erected in 1962.

Opening page, top This ultramodern home on Hawaan Forest Estate in Umhlanga is on the market for R12,9 million through Pam Golding Properties.

This page, centre A five-bedroom, five-bathroom penthouse in Oyster Quays with swimming pool and ocean views. Penthouses in Oyster Quays are priced between R16,5 million and R17,5 million. The Oysters development is a member of the Umhlanga Urban Improvement Precinct.

Six things to do in Umhlanga KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board: KZN has the only South African coastline that’s protected by shark safety gear, at 38 localities. Book an early morning boat trip to observe staff at work checking the nets. There’s even a chance of seeing a variety of marine life. The board also offers a public education programme, including shark dissections. The organisation has a dual role – shark conservation and public protection.

Walks: Put your best foot forward on the O’Connor Promenade or ramble through the Umhlanga Lagoon Hawaan Forest and Umhlanga Ponds nature conservation areas. Umhlanga used to be part of a coastal dune forest system, so there’s a wealth of small animals, birds, trees and other plants to see. Entry is restricted but regular guided tours are available. Contact the Umhlanga Tourism Information Centre at umhlanga- rocks.com.

High tea at the Oyster Box: Not for the faint-hearted, but a wonderful treat when you need a pick-me-up or want to pack on a celebratory kilogram or two.

Umhlanga Beach: For surfing, swimming, sailing or strutting your stuff where you’re most likely to be seen. Île Maurice: Fine French lunching and dining at Robert Mauvis’ consistently good restaurant.

Gateway Theatre of Shopping: For exclusive branded labels from The Space, Zara, Jenni Button and many more, to movies, including Cinema Nouveau, as well as surfing, climbing the Rock, and other wet and wild activities for the young and insane.

thepropertymag.co.za | 43

Living

The agent speaks We chatted to Elwyn Schenk, principal of Pam Golding Properties Umhlanga and a member of the Village Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) Board.

Q Tell us about the UIP and its mission.

The Umhlanga UIP was established by local property owners in conjunction with the eThekwini Municipality.

The existing UIP areas and associated managed areas cover 20km of public roads and promenade, including more than 3 000 individually rated properties, with a total operational budget exceeding R6 million annually.

The objectives are to secure and enhance property values and to create an environment which supports vibrant business activity and improves the general environment and quality of life for residents and visitors.

Q How have these goals been achieved?

By creating attractive and well-managed public areas through the establishment of private sector/municipal partnerships.

These optimise municipal investment in infrastructure and services to public areas. The UIP also delivers privately funded supplementary services, such as security, cleaning, greening and maintenance.

Q Have there been any noteworthy successes?

Yes. The upgrade of the Umhlanga promenade; the greening and maintenance of the promenade and village; indigenous tree planting; putting additional security around key events; the introduction of traffic circles and road calming measures; upgrading informal trading facilities; and beach reclamation and planting.

Q What are the most recent developments in Umhlanga?

The Gateway/Newtown area has seen a spate of new developments, mainly in the lower price range, for example, PGA Park and 46 On Meridian, aimed mainly at the starter-home market. In Umhlanga Village, the Beacon Rock development is under construction and the first phase is scheduled for completion in November.

It’s a mixed-use building incorporating retail, offices and 68 luxury apartments from one to three bedrooms, together with three luxury penthouses.

Top This ultra-luxurious home in Hawaan Forest Estate incorporates the best of Stefan Antoni architecture in an eco-friendly environment. Above The development 46 On Meridian, in Gateway, offers starter homes that are also ideal for buy-to-let investors.

44 | July/August 2012

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46 July/August 2012

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

T

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 | 47

kwazulu-natal Residential

Affordable Umhlanga

Construction is set to start on the first affordable housing development in Umhlanga. Situated in Meridian Drive, the Mews will comprise 477 sectional title units and will be the first development in KZN to be financed by global private equity funder of affordable housing, International Housing Solutions, which to date has financed R7,8 billion's worth of projects in South Africa’s major urban centres. This ‘gap’ or ‘affordable’ housing services the section of the market that does not qualify for free RDP homes but does not earn enough to qualify for a bond at the mid to higher end of the market. The development, constructed by Avoca Developments, will consist of multistorey blocks. Units will vary in size from 37m2 to 55m2 and the development will also make provision for 61 ‘inclusionary units’ to incorporate a social housing aspect. The units, starting at R425 000, will be launched this month and the first phase is expected to be ready for occupation within 12 months. +27 (0)31 201 5200

Investment potential Situated on the Bluff, Kinross Gardens is a 15-unit development just minutes from Ansteys and Brighton beaches and the Bluff Checkers Shopping Mall. Launched in May, with five units already sold, the remaining sectional title units available at Kinross Gardens come with two bedrooms, open-plan lounge and dining area, fully fitted kitchen, balcony and superior finishes. ‘Priced from R629 000 and situated within close proximity to Jacobs and Clairwood and a 10- to 15-minute drive to the Albert Luthuli hospital and Southway Mall, this development represents an ideal opportunity for firsttime buyers to get a foot on the property ladder and for buy-to-let

Zimbali for starters Tinderwood is a new development within Zimbali and comprises 14 spectacular single- or double-storey Bali-style contemporary homes with sea, forest and lake views. These free-standing homes offer a sophisticated, contemporary, modern style of living.

Finishes include large expanses of glass and flowing room designs.

Each has a private pool surrounded by wooden decking. ‘With no transfer duty and priced from R3,395 million, this is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in getting a foothold in Zimbali,’ says Sally Edlmann of Tyson Properties. +27 (0)79 7736 431, tysonprop.co.za

48 | July/August 2012

investors, especially in light of the ensuing harbour expansions,’ says Derrick Naidoo of Wavelands Project. +27 (0)82 851 7722

KWAZULU-NATAL Commercial

Taking stock The newly launched Stockowners Business Park in Howick is poised to become one of the pre-eminent business, commercial and industrial hubs in the Midlands N3 corridor between the coast and the reef. Strategically placed on the Howick North-Tweedie interchange, this development is attracting much positive market attention, thanks to its location and the incentives on offer. The park comprises 88 zoned and serviced sites spread out over 48ha of gently sloping estate, providing for a selection of freehold erven for sale, ranging from 900m2 to 20 000m2 and catering for small local enterprises and major national corporations alike. Incorporated in the design are a secure business office park, a commercial retail and shopping centre and a light industrial sector that’s ideal for logistics, warehousing and manufacture. High standards of servicing and landscaping create an aesthetically pleasing environment within a contemporary architectural code, allowing for design practicality, individual corporate identity and brand exposure along one of the busiest highways in Africa. +27 (0)33 330 6171, stockowners.co.za

Island style

Island Office Park on Island Circle in prime Riverhorse Park has a selection of slick triple-A-grade office spaces available for sale or to lease. Island Office Park is conveniently situated close to the highway, with quick access to the northern suburbs and central Durban. The complex is built around a central courtyard with a water feature and has a restaurant as well as a pharmacy on site. ‘Starting at just over R9 000/m2, this is a wonderful opportunity in a secure and attractive complex,’ says Di Franks of Maxprop. +27 (0)31 251 7300, maxprop.co.za

Words André Fiore

Central Westville A number of triple-A-grade office options are available in the well-groomed Number 27A on Saltfleet Road, Westville. These ground- or third- floor offices come with free parking, a reception area, open office and boardroom options, cleaning services and easy highway access.

‘Priced from R4 500/month to R15 000/month, this is a great opportunity for stylish premises in well-heeled Westville,’ says Nathaniel Fortoen of Tyson Properties. +27 (0)31 561 6100, tysonprop.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 49

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

N

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

1

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.

50 | July/August 2012

Words Catherine Riley Photographs Supplied

2

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 | 51

South Africa The Battle at

Kruger

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

W

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.

52 | 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

1

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.

2

3

4 thepropertymag.co.za | 53

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

54 | July/August 2012

DIRECTORY

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Tel: 011 914 3651

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Marketing sustainable concrete through advice, education and information 011 315 0300 www.cnci.org.za

TREND WATCH

GOOD AS

GREEN For an all-round green experience, opt for one of these eco-friendly products ALL ABOARD

ECO-CONSCIOUS COMMUTE

New from Eco Emporium is this fun and educational

The Elmoto eco-bike provides a

Green Toys Recycling Truck, made from 100%

wallet- and eco-friendly commute.

recycled plastic and with no trace of phthalates or

Running on 100% electrical power

BPA. This toxin-free toy, originally from America,

(it charges like a cellphone from a

is available through Eco Emporium’s online store.

regular plug point to full capacity in

+27 (0)21 552 0997, ecoemporium.co.za

four to six hours), the Elmoto can travel up to 65km (terrain dependent) and costs less than R1/commute. As there are no working parts in the engine, no maintenance or fuel is ever required. Elmoto is available in Cape Town from Scoot Dr or online. +27 (0)21 461 3106, elmoto.co.za; +27 (0)21 418 5995, scootdr.co.za

ON GREEN TIME Telling the time with this clock from the Green Shop is just like looking after a plant. The clock is water-powered

IN GOOD HANDS The Hand Paper Desk Cube from I

to its body. The time is displayed on

THROW IN THE TOWEL

an LCD screen and you need just add

Greening your kitchen couldn’t be easier

variety of materials, including recycled

more water as required. Available for

than with these new multipurpose

post-industrial wood, alien vegetation

nationwide delivery. +27 (0)21 791 0821,

cloths from Scandinavia. They are 100%

and bamboo. Non-toxic chemicals and

thegreenshop.co.za

biodegradable and available in an eco-

water-based paints are used to colour

friendly range of colours and prints.

and coat the cube and the assembly is

Suitable for use for up to six months,

done once bought (no glue required).

after which they can be tossed onto the

The cube holds 100 paper squares of

compost heap. Get them from the Green

100mm each and can be purchased with

Shop. Nationwide delivery.

or without paper. Request a quote online.

+27 (0)21 791 0821, thegreenshop.co.za

+27 (0)21 421 3709, iamgreen.co.za

and is activated when water is added

Am Green is locally produced from a

water bottles are available in a range of colours and will make you bobble with excitement. The Bobble recyclable filters remove organic contaminants and chlorine from tap water and last for approximately two months. That’s equivalent to 300 single servings. Bobble bottles are made from recycled plastic and are free of BPA, PVC and phthalates. Get yours from leading retailers nationwide, including @home, Sportsmans Warehouse, Game, Makro, Totalsports and Cape Union Mart. +27 (0)21 917 2000, waterbobble.com

56 | July/August 2012

Words Catherine Riley

BOBBLE ON THE BEAT Bobble South Africa has launched its new 1l and 385ml bottles to join the original 500ml Bobble that’s already on the market. These fantastic

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2012/05/31 1:18 PM

environmentally

conscious Eurolux LED’s save up to 80% electricity and last up to 30 times longer. choice

Longlife LED Energy Savers The Eurolux range of high quality LED lamps brings both energy efficiency and evironmental awareness into your living and working spaces. With a retrofit option to suit your specific needs, being environmentally conscious has never been easier.

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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:

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

PropertyMag_6b.indd 1

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

2012/06/29 12:40:00 PM