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MUST READ
Big and bold: Cape Town Art Fair PAGE 2
Energy and related home cost cutting PAGE 4
Colour up your interiors this year PAGE 10
Thriving new north Architecture for social change
The booming Midrand and Fourways hubs and surrounding suburbs are providing convenient residential, lifestyle and commercial alternatives to Johannesburg’s older areas
PAGE 12
Property Investment Special Focus Look out for the HomeFront 22 February 2019 issue
PAGE 6
HOMEFRONT
Aimé Mpane — Série Rouge
ART
Best and brightest Aficionados are buying into their yearly fix of looking at, talking up or investing in pieces from the Investec Cape Town Art Fair WORDS: MELVYN MINNAAR :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
Chris Soal — Unnamed
P Armand Boua — Le Bracôman (L’enfant qui dort)
Azael Langa — A Ride Home
eople like to talk art. It’s not a new thing of course, but where conversations about art were once whispered in museum halls and academically discussed in smart white-walled galleries, these days many more feel empowered to voice an opinion and listen. Blame or praise the increasingly popular phenomenon of the art fair for this “new democracy” of art-loving. The adjective “annual” fits neatly to that description, which means those who are progressively taken to looking, talking about and, yes, even buying art, get a yearly fix when the fair comes to town. For this reason the seventh Investec Cape Town Art Fair next weekend promises to be bigger and bolder, dynamically entertaining and finely tuned to turn up the volume of the culturechattering classes. There will be much to discuss, especially as the organisers have a now-
established mandate to bring the best and brightest of African talent into this grand public spotlight. Their brag: a project with “dynamic vision, bringing innovation to exhibition on the African continent” — making Cape Town one of the world’s art hot spots. Talking about discussions and deliberations, it makes perfect sense that a section of the extensive programme is, yes, headlined Talks.
COLLECTORS Expect this to be for the seriously arty minded, wondering or confused about what contemporary artists get up to, but also for new and established collectors who have an eye on their acquisitions as investment (check the headline sponsor’s name). Of course, the galleries step up for the occasion. This year the international spread is wide, including Africa — the Afriart Gallery of Kampala, Nairobi’s Circle Art Gallery, Espaco Luanda
Arte, First Floor Gallery of Harare, Louis Simone Guirandou Gallery and Galerie Cécile Fakhoury of Abidjan, Omenka Gallery of Lagos and This Is Not A White Cube of Luanda.
TOUGH QUESTIONS Other sections of the fair include Solo (focusing on digital art), Past/Modern (classics), Editions (prints) and Cultural Platforms (nonprofit institutions). In the Talks programme, running as eight-hour sessions over three days, curators, collectors, experts and artists will engage with tough questions about art in today’s world. Fair curator Tumelo Mosaka says the choice of speakers balances artistic and academic perspectives with those from private and publicly run institutions. Last year the fair attracted 15,000 visitors. Enthralled by the weird and wonderful, the buzz was vivid, the parley lively. About 18,000 people are expected to join the cultural talk of Cape Town in 2019.
HOMEFRONT “Blame or praise the increasingly popular phenomenon of the art fair for this ‘new democracy’ of art-loving”
FRESH TALENT What is particular about the art fair is the mining of new and exciting local — as in African — talent through various sections of the show, but also via the individual commercial and nonprofit galleries and dealers. It is in these “discoveries”, professionally exposed at the fair, that younger collectors often stake their claim because of excitement about the artist’s vivid and original vision, but also the affordability factor. (This does not mean there will not be some substantially higher-punted works by the famous and super collectable.) Quite a few newish names will come up in conversations. The section Tomorrows/ Today places emerging and underrepresented artists in the art public’s eye, selected by the fair’s curator, Tumelo Mosaka. Four of the selected artists hail from SA, while the others are based as far away as Brisbane, Lagos, Abidjan and Luanda. Underpinning the importance of this project is the special jury prize
awarded to the most outstanding booth. Mosaka says it is important that the art fair ushers in a new crop of artists annually, because it sets the bar for visitors who “intend investing in the future, or invest their time in exploring the present”. “These artists will be tomorrow’s prominent names in contemporary art,” says Mosaka. “Their presentations are thought-provoking and experimental, and reiterate the fair’s support of artists who may otherwise be overlooked by the market.” The Tomorrows/Today South Africans are Zyman Amien, John-Michael Metelerkamp, Chris Soal and Isabelle Grobler. Medina Dugger, represented by Art Twenty One in Lagos, Troy Makaza from Zimbabwe (First Floor Gallery in Harare), Aimé Mpane from the Democratic Republic of Congo (Nomad Gallery in Brussels, Belgium), Armand Boua from Côte d’Ivoire (LKB Gallery in Hamburg, Germany), Angel Ihosvanny Cisneros from Angola (Movart in
Troy Makaza — The Opaque Looking glass, Part 2
Luanda) and Michael Cook from Australia (This Is No Fantasy Gallery in Melbourne) comprise the rest. All young and claiming upcoming international status — with prizewinners such as 24-year-old Soal (overall PPC Imaginarium award last year) and Amien (PPC Imaginarium and
Sasol New Signatures) among the line-up — be prepared for a visual adventure of diverse media. Which means there will be plenty to talk about. The Investec Cape Town Art Fair runs from February 15 to 17 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. investeccapetownartfair.co.za Michael Cook — Undiscovered 03
Medina Dugger — Bows Stars and Stripes PRODUCED BY BLACKSTAR PROPERTY PUBLISHING 1st Floor, Block H, Sable Square, Cnr Bosmansdam and Ratanga roads, Milnerton, Cape Town 021 447 7130
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HOMEFRONT HOMESENSE
Save by using less
Scientific evidence shows global warming is a reality of modern living. Counterbalancing with efficient energy and water home systems is imperative WORDS: NICOLA JENVEY AND STAFF WRITER :: PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
W
hether it is prodded by the electricity and petrol prices rising beyond inflation or a deeper understanding of why the ice caps in Antarctica are shrinking, the desire to reduce our carbon footprint by incorporating
green living extends way beyond a simple fad. Between heating and cooling the house, putting petrol into cars and living in a modern world, energy costs account for a significant percentage of the household budget. Yet, there are ways of reducing those costs and being a more respectable global citizen.
“What is the motivation for building or repurposing green homes and how do the costs and benefits stack up for single residential properties?” is the question property investors now ask, says Gareth Bailey, Pam Golding Properties area principal for Durban Coastal. “There are certain
green features which are economically justifiable and that building professionals often refer to as the ‘lowhanging fruit’ of green building design. “In addition to a desire to contribute to a healthy and sustainable natural environment, property owners are motivated by rising utility costs and
scarcity of resources,” Bailey says. He says there are an increasing number of homeowners looking to implement such initiatives. These features are also being recognised as valueadds for home buyers who are looking at the significant long-term benefits of reduced utilities costs.
Efficient appliances Many manufacturers have shifted their focus to energyefficient home appliances. In SA a Standards and Labelling programme implemented last year by the Department of Energy places energy labels on appliances that provide consumers with accurate and comparable information on their energy efficiency. The department has launched a cellphone app, the Appliance Energy Calculator, for homeowners to determine the running costs of appliances including: Washing machines; Tumble dryers; Electric ovens; Fridges and freezers; Electric water heaters (geysers); Dishwashers; and Air-conditioners. LG’s energy-efficient smart Quadwash Steam Dishwasher with an A+++ energy rating is also one of the quietest in its class.
Solar installations Whether your intention is to exist wholly off-grid or to supplement the household energy consumption by harvesting the sun’s natural energy, solar power provides an enduring means for living green. According to online eco-store sustainable.co.za MD Zeke Murphy, the initial investment of solar power is often sufficiently high to scare off potential buyers, but in reality the payback period and subsequent rewards make solar power affordable to most home and business owners. Solar power has initial setup and transfer costs, but once paid off, becomes a free, greenfriendly energy source into the home. Its applications include solar geysers and solar panels for more extensive energy consumption. “We aim to make solar power affordable for everyone,” Murphy says. For households, there are a range of options. At sustainable.co.za an off-grid BlueNova 2kWh Compact Hybrid Kit comes in at R49,515, including installation on a tiled roof, while an Imeon 9kWh 9.12 Hybrid Solar Lithium Power Kit installed on a tiled roof will cost R317,424. Solar blankets for swimming pools can mitigate evaporation by sun and wind in South African summers and retain heat in winter. Solar panels for pools harness free energy provided by the sun, allow for easy, inexpensive heating and extend the swimming season, says pool heating specialist Xtreme Solar.
• • • • • • •
Rainwater harvesting
Low-energy lighting
SA is recognised as being among the world’s most water-scarce countries. Cape Town recently came close to Day Zero, an eye-opener for the importance of rainwater harvesting. The solution adopted by many South Africans has been water harvesting, specifically rainwater tanks that ensure there is no wasted water. While harvested rainwater is not always potable, it can be used for the garden and, with plumbing system adaptations, can be filtered and become an additional off-the-grid water source for smaller households. Says Bailey: “Rainwater harvesting requires a small outlay upfront and produces very significant benefits in the long term.” The system saves water by ensuring rainwater does not run into gutters and out to sea, reduces personal water bills and can be potable if properly filtered. JoJo Tanks MD Grant Neser says the company’s rainwater harvesting system consists of a tank that accumulates rainwater from roofs or hard surfaces. It requires installing a pre-filtration solution as well as suitable guttering and piping to transport the rainwater to the tank, but the outcome is self-sufficiency and not being dependent on regulated water resources.
CFL, LED or T5 bulbs reduce a building’s energy consumption. They last longer than incandescent bulbs, so maintenance costs are also reduced. Recent developments in LED technology have addressed issues over lighting quality and high pricing. LEDs have been “clustered” to provide more light and mounted within diffuser lenses that spread the light across a wider area. Advancements in manufacturing technology have driven the prices down to a level where LED bulbs are more cost-effective than CFLs or incandescent bulbs. This trend is continuing, with LED bulbs being designed for more applications as prices keep going down.
DURBAN SHOWDAY Venue: The Oyster Box Date: Wednesday 13 th February 2019 Time: 09:30 − 16:30 Call David or Brina to make an appointment or pop in at a convenient time. Office - 021 425 8586 David - 072 385 4386 Brina - 083 560 5592
2 residences remaining
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CO N SC I O US LI VI N G
HOMEFRONT PROPERTY TREND
Thriving new north The booming Midrand and Fourways hubs and surrounding suburbs are providing convenient residential, lifestyle and commercial alternatives to Johannesburg’s older areas WORDS: HELEN GRANGE :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
Balwin Property’s The Polofields in Waterfall, Midrand
J
ohannesburg’s northern centres of Midrand and Fourways —with surrounding suburbs such as Lonehill, Broadacres and Bryanston — have attracted unprecedented investment over the past year. This has created a wide range of residential and commercial opportunities and a fresh lifestyle alternative to the city’s older suburbs. Dirk Prinsloo, director at property research company Urban Studies, says the Fourways node is driving development growth. He expects this development to continue exponentially with the extension and scale-up of Fourways Mall to the status of a super-regional mall. Prinsloo says other developments in the area will boost the node into one of the most dominant retail markets in SA. “The 178,000m 2 Fourways Mall, the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, is acting as a catalyst for additional urban growth,” says Prinsloo. “This is further underpinned by
infrastructure development linked to road access and public transport (including upgrades to William Nicol Drive and Cedar Road) funded by investors such as Accelerate Property Fund and Steyn City Properties.” Planning is simultaneously under way for a Gautrain route linking Fourways and Lanseria International Airport to the rest of its network.
EXPANSION Lanseria is to be expanded with a view to doubling its passenger numbers to four million a year in the next six years. Thus key developers are anticipating an increasing influx of businesses to the Fourways-Midrand area. Says Steyn City Properties CEO Giuseppe Plumari: “Fourways precinct could ultimately compete with Sandton’s 1.6-million square metres of office space. With Steyn City’s new commercial node, Capital Park, it will become a strong drawcard for investors and businesses seeking different
lifestyles to those offered in conventional Johannesburg and Pretoria hubs.” Steyn City’s 14ha Capital Park, adjacent to William Nicol Drive, consists of 10 three- and four-storey office buildings, with 83,500m 2 of bulk space. It is expected to attract a wide range of tenants, from creative agencies to blue-chip corporates. “The first building, a three-storey office with 3,800m 2 of space and parking, will be available for occupation by March,” says Plumari. The market power of these residential and commercial investments is shown by house prices in Fourways, which have been bucking the slower market trend in Johannesburg’s older suburbs to the south. Property24 research shows that Fourways home prices increased in 2018 after a slight dip in 2016 and 2017. The average 2018 sale price for a house was R2.25m, while the average apartment sold for R1.5m. Says Adrienne Hersch Properties’ Olivedale branch
Offices in Steyn City’s commercial node, Capital Park
Zotos Property Group’s Solmeri in Bryanston
HOMEFRONT
Century Property Developers’ Helderfontein Estate in Fourways
“The 178,000m Fourways Mall, the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, is acting as a catalyst for additional urban growth” 2
Dirk Prinsloo, director, Urban Studies
Craft Homes’ Sandton Gate in Sandton
head Sandra McKenzie: “Demand remains robust in the area, despite a constrained economic climate. We anticipate property prices to climb slowly as demand from buyers and investors continues to rise against the backdrop of substantial development and investment in the area.” In Midrand’s upmarket Waterfall, named the best mixed-use development in SA, more upmarket residential opportunities are coming online with the construction of Waterfall’s first high-rise project, Ellipse Waterfall. This mixed-use development comprises four towers. The first phase of construction begins next month and two of the four towers are due for completion in 2020. “Ellipse Waterfall’s value proposition lies in its location, affordable pricing and world class amenities, which collectively make it very attractive to discerning investors,” says Tim Kloeck, CEO of Tricolt, joint developers with Attacq.
Balwin Properties is another dominant player in the region, capitalising on interest from firsttime buyers and young professionals looking for apartments in the R1.5mR2.5m bracket. Good sales have been recorded at its new developments: The Polofields in Waterfall (more than 560 of 1,512 units sold), Kikuyu Waterfall (more than 650 of 1,270 units sold) and The Whisken in Kyalami (more than 420 of 1,492 units sold).
CONVENIENCE Craft Homes is in the same active market, with developments such as Sandton Gate, Waterfall Ridge near the Mall of Africa, and Stonefields on Cedar Avenue in Broadacres. “Buyers are increasingly looking for convenience. They want to be close to work, or on a good route to work,” says Craft Homes marketing manager Jessica Cabanita. “This has made precinct developments increasingly popular.” The demand for top-end or luxury residences is
equally high, as shown by the area’s lifestyle estates. The first phase of Century Property Developments’ Helderfontein Estate, opposite Dainfern Estate in Fourways, is already sold out, with 150 people on the waiting list of its second phase. Says Jessica Hofmeyr, Century’s executive for sales, rental and operations: “Waterfall is 99% sold out and reaching prices of R80m for completed homes. Waterfall lifestyle estates and Blue Hills Equestrian Estate are among the most prized addresses in this precinct.” She says solid returns have been demonstrated for investors. “Rentals in our properties average R38,000 a month.”
COMMERCIAL Construction is also well under way for Century Property Developments’ commercial offering in the area, Riversands Commercial Park, adjacent to Steyn City on William Nicol Drive. The retail and warehousing phases
HOMEFRONT
Mall of Africa in Waterfall, Midrand
have already launched, introducing Makro Riversands (opened in November), Riversands Incubation Hub and Riversands Outlet Park. “More than 27,000 new permanent jobs have been created by Riversands Commercial Park,” says Hofmeyr. “This has generated more economic growth through the need for more housing to support the labour force for this initiative.” Prinsloo anticipates that this growth in housing will occur predominantly in the Riversands, Diepsloot and Chartwell areas, where more than 40,000 household units of varying sizes will be built in the next 20 years. “In the next five years alone, more than 12,000 households will be added to the broader Fourways node,” he says.
SPIN-OFF
Zotos Property Group’s Westside in Bryanston
Tricolt and Attacq’s Ellipse Waterfall high-rise development in Waterfall
The positive spin-off of this burgeoning economic hub is making an impact in surrounding suburbs including Broadacres, Lonehill, Sunninghill, Paulshof, Pineslopes, Northriding, Douglasdale, Broadacres and as far south as Bryanston. Says Zotos Property Group sales and building consultant Karolina Vranjes: “We are doing excellent off-plan sales for our current building projects in Bryanston, including Westside,
“Ellipse Waterfall’s value proposition lies in its location, affordable pricing and world class amenities” Tim Kloeck, CEO, Tricolt
Solmeri and Milos.” Vranjes says there is a waiting list for Zotos’s next project, a 32-unit townhouse complex on the corner of Bryanston Drive and Porchester Road, to be launched in about April. “The buyers are primarily driven by the convenient location, close to the shopping malls in Fourways, Sandton, the numerous schools in the area and the Witkoppen Road and William Nicol Drive arteries.” In anticipation of increased demand, hospitality in the Fourways area is seeing development investment. The Indaba Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre is undergoing refurbishment expected to be complete by 2020. “The reason is simply due to an increase in demand in this rapidly growing area of Johannesburg,” says hotel director Rob Mickel.
LUXURY LIVING AND WORKING with unequalled amenities... Steyn City will soon be launching its 80 000m2 commercial node - Capital Park, as well as a sensational range of luxury apartments that exemplify ‘resort living’. Residents can enjoy access to world-class facilities that include resort pools, an 18 hole Nicklaus Design golf course, an award-winning clubhouse, an equestrian centre, fine dining restaurants and casual eateries, convenience retail, children’s play nodes, outdoor gyms, tennis courts, a skate park, basement parking, a pedestrian boulevard with kilometres of running and cycling tracks, a school, an office park (for those who never wish to leave home) and 100 more reasons to make this destination your home.
Register for our apartment pre-launch in May: Prelaunch@steyncity.co.za
For more info, contact Mark: 082 559 2989 Leanne: 072 078 9562 steyncity.co.za
HOMEFRONT
H Trend map DÉCOR
2019
A season’s colour tones can mirror positive or negative outlooks with neutrals or brights. Try these practical points on paint to upholstery and interior wall designs in your home WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER AND STAFF WRITER :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
A pastel combination of Oyster Catcher, Nutmeg Dust and crystalline Mermaid Jewel from Plascon’s Glamour colour story
ow are South African and overseas trends translating into 2019 local home interiors? Bruce Fyfe and Kelsey Boyce of Fyfe Boyce Design are convinced that with most people’s busy lifestyles, there’s a continued desire for uncluttered, stress-free living. “That often promotes contemporary and cleanlined spaces,” says Fyfe. “There’s also a strong, growing trend to turn one’s pad into one resembling a place of peace and calm, perhaps one that is similar to a favourite getaway. Among other goals, it’s all about creating a space that is a little daring and that ultimately says ‘this reflects me’, expressing one’s own identity.” Fyfe believes this trend can be seen across all areas of décor
— from furnishings to accessories and even artwork. “The ’80s are back … think Danny de Vito and Bette Midler in Ruthless People, Elton John, Madonna and ET.”
EIGHTIES Fyfe points out connections. “The ’80s are playing a big part in fashion, décor, cinema and television,” he says. In fashion, we’re seeing a return of the trendy puffer and high-waisted pants of the 1980s, with teens scouring second-hand bargain bins for retired old garb for the look gracing the catwalks. On television, we’re watching Wynona Ryder in Stranger Things, with styling and cinematography reminiscent of our favourite extra-terrestrial. “Fashion, television and décor are all closely linked on current trend, and we’re
HOMEFRONT
Minimalism: Plascon ceiling painted in Night’s Cloak adds warmth in the absence of clutter
seeing the ’80s embraced by many top American designers and locals. Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler — LA designers to the stars — have bravely worked with colour and retro ’80s influences to create spaces that are worthy of Hollywood royalty,” says Fyfe. “Locally, artworks by Andrea Bowman and Kurt Pio bring in glamour and colour with pop-culture references. Sculpture and ceramics by Astrid Dahl, Xavier Clarisse and Anthony Shapiro reflect current trends in shapes and choice of material from brass to leather, clean whites to all on-trend colours.” Fyfe Boyd Design’s 2019 trending colours are retro based: “From clean, feminine and glamorous pastels, through to dirty, richer clays, terracottas, tobacco hues, earthy greens and shades of warm yellows to moody mustards. Black, along with neutrals, remains a classic and is always easy to dress.”
NEUTRALS
“The ’80s are back … think Danny de Vito and Bette Midler in Ruthless People, Elton John, Madonna and ET” Bruce Fyfe, Fyfe Boyce Design
Paint manufacturer Plascon chose Ravine as their neutral paint colour of the year for 2019. Says Plascon’s colour expert Claire Bond: “Even though it has evolved over more than 10 years as one of the top decorative neutrals, grey is here to stay.” Their Ravine grey is described as “a timeless blend of grey and beige” with a taupe undertone. Bond recommends it to add a minimalistic yet luxurious look to a space and say it is particularly suited to classically decorated homes. On grey’s enduring popularity, Bond says: “Ravine continues to be our warm go-to natural as it provides a neutral canvas, making it a safe option when detail needs to be added, be it a coloured painted feature wall, curtaining, flooring or upholstery.” She also suggests partnering this grey variation with white and blonde wood tones.
COLOUR STORIES
Plascon says its neutral of the year Ravine, a blend of grey and beige, suits a classic space
The Plascon range forecast for 2019 features four colour story themes, formulated by Bond. Ravine is in their Luxury colour story category. “Luxury’s colours evoke a lavish interior for those who want to enjoy life’s simple pleasures in a space where comfort and sophistication work hand in hand,” she says of the balance of warm and cool tones. The Plascon
Luxury colour story echoes autumn with grounded naturals such as aubergine and amber combined with tomato red, pistachio green and cool blue. Colour can also make a difference in the built environment. Plascon’s decorative marketing head Katlego Kondlo says a rapidly evolving, increasingly chaotic world is propelling people to look inward and create secure personal spaces. “This brings us to cocooning as one of our trend drivers.” The 2019 Plascon Colour Forecast’s Glamour story suggests combining gentle lilac (Candy Tuft) with grounding colours (Oyster Catcher or Evening Glade) to create a stylish home sanctuary. Pops of colour — via Plascon’s freshly green Granny Apple, aqua Mermaid Jewel or dramatic Groovy Grape for accents — can add an opulent quality.
URBANISATION The forecast’s Urban colour story focus is on urbanisation being a key driver in how people use their space. “This is driving people to embrace smaller homes that are functionally designed to do more with less,” says Kondlo. Neutrals (cementitious Silver and gritty Bovine) can be brought to life with rich colours (Pristine Blue and Red Flame). Plascon’s Minimal colour story may appeal to those after uncluttered, uplifting modern spaces. The paint range includes futuristic neutrals such as Daiquiri Cream. Teamed with refined shades (Atlantic Ocean or sensorial Night’s Cloak) they can create “an upbeat colour story that provides warmth in the absence of stuff”.
TEXTURE Back to Fyfe. “Fabrics and wallpapers are evergrowing and keep up with the trends on the catwalk,” he says. “Velvets, bold large patterns, geometric or random, and texture are all the rage to work with tailored and curated spaces.” He predicts that the choice of timber finishes is changing from raw blonder woods to ebonystained and brass-trimmed, warmer mahogany timbers. And from painted to gilded finishes. “All around, when the world is in such a strange place economically, politically and ethically, the current trends are there to elevate moods and for people to express their ideas and individuality,” says Fyfe. “Hollywood glamour is alive and well.”
HOMEFRONT ARCHITECT PROFILE
Luyanda Mpahlwa: back to basics Architects have the power to trigger social change in cities, transforming them into better places to live, work and enjoy life WORDS: MIRIAM MANNAK: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
T Career highlights 1982: Architectural diploma via the prison education system while imprisoned at Robben Island.
1987: Master of Science in Engineering
he new president of the South African Institute of Architects, Luyanda Mpahlwa, says buildings should go beyond being aesthetically pleasing and technologydriven standalone objects. The founder of DesignSpaceAfrica says architects should take into account their commercial, industrial and residential projects’ climatological, environmental and social contexts to make a difference in the way people live, work and play, and change how South African cities operate. The ultimate prize: triggering social change.
Urban architecture and design “Architecture needs to contribute to the transformation of our urban
from the Technical University of Berlin.
1997: Created architectural firm Pysall. Ruge Architekten in Germany.
2000: Founded the Cape Town studio of MMA Architects. 2006: SAIA Award of Excellence for the
South African Embassy building in Berlin.
2008:
First recipient of the American Curry Stone Design Prize for the sandbag 10x10 affordable housing project in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town.
2009: Founded DesignSpaceAfrica in Cape Town. 2006-2010: On 2010 Soccer World Cup SA Local Organising Committee’s technical team for construction of stadiums.
2010: Nike SA’s Football Training Centre. Soweto (FTC.S) completed.
2013: 50 schools built in the Eastern Cape.
2017: Cape Town’s Radisson Red hotel completed.
2018-2019:
Housing project in Kosovo informal settlement in Cape Town.
10x10 affordable housing project in Mitchells Plain
areas,” says Mpahlwa. “In SA, we have inherited apartheid-driven spatial planning and to date we haven’t done much to change that paradigm. “We haven’t really done away with how cities once originated as business and commercial hubs, as we still don’t seem to believe people should live in the inner city,” he says. “We won’t achieve transformed and inclusive cities if we stick to the setup of small inner cities where people work, with residential settlements around them, and have everyone drive into the city to work and leave at the end of the day.” The future of South African cities as places to live, work and enjoy life depends on densification and affordability on the one hand and on keeping urban areas liveable on
the other. For instance, by creating the sense of a neighbourhoodbased community.
Pace of urban landscape change Change is not always happening in the right way. “Making cities has been replaced by the creation of malls. In my opinion, this is not good news for innercity revitalisation,” says Mpahlwa, who opened his first architect firm in 1997. “Sadly, commercialisation is the dominant model right now. It has become an integral part of the modern city, with society embracing it. A balance between commercialisation and inner-city neighbourhood development is worth striving for.” Architects can strike this balance by looking at their current and future buildings in the context
HOMEFRONT of where they are built and by going back to basic design principles. Creating beautiful, tech-driven standalone structures is not enough. This applies to sustainable projects, too. “When I look at a glass tower which relies on air conditioning and other technology such as efficient glass and tripleglazed windows to deal with our harsh climate conditions, I ask myself: what about the basic design principles? “What about finding natural ways that help maximise natural light and natural ventilation, through design? Buildings should be built so they can address their environmental and climatological context by themselves, first and foremost. Technology should come second.”
South African Embassy in Berlin
“Architecture needs to contribute to the transformation of our urban areas”
Radisson Red at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town
Nike SA’s Football Training Centre.Soweto (FTC.S)
Architecture’s commercial relevance in the mix This doesn’t make him against innovative design and building technologies. “I am not saying technology is wrong,” Mpahlwa stresses. “I am saying we shouldn’t jump into technology before looking at our buildings’ basic design principles and their natural and social context.” Mpahlwa is using this approach in all his projects, from the 10x10 affordable housing project in Mitchells Plain as a part of a Design Indaba initiative and the Football Training Centre. Soweto (FTC.S) for Nike SA to recent commercial projects such as the Radisson Red in the V&A Waterfront’s Silo District. The hotel, a joint undertaking with Peerutin, was Mpahlwa’s first commercial assignment
in Cape Town. As with his previous projects, Mpahlwa wanted the design of the Radisson Red to respond to the environment of the Silo District, a semi-industrial area near the harbour and a former production hub that once served as a grain processing and storage facility. “I chose an industrial aesthetic with basic design principles in mind,” says Mpahlwa, Radisson Red’s lead architect. “This hotel needed robust and durable architecture to stand the test of the climate and sea spray. Metal will be affected by sea spray. Harbours are, therefore, known to be built in brick because of the environment and the material’s durability. That is what we did.”
History plays a role Mpahlwa says his architectural approach is rooted in his training. He started out at the University of Natal in Durban after applying for a special permit at the Department of Education. “Architecture wasn’t offered by any of the homeland universities,” he explains. Mpahlwa says he spent his time waiting for his permit as an apprentice at an architecture firm in Mthatha, his home city. “My mother had arranged that for me. She remembered how I loved drawing houses on my way to and from school.” During his studies, Mpahlwa was arrested and imprisoned on Robben Island from 1981 to 1986. “When they released me, the country was in a state of emergency and I had to leave,” he says. With the assistance of Amnesty International he ended up in Berlin, Germany, where he continued studying. Mpahlwa credits The Technical University of Berlin with giving him a more holistic approach towards architecture. “We were taught design, design tools, perspective, how to work in and with different plans and the threedimensional aspects of architecture,” he says. “In Natal, they told us they couldn’t teach us design. A subject I will never forget was the sociology of architecture, which deals with how buildings respond to people, culture and lifestyle. As an architect, you need to understand how your projects relate to people,” Mpahlwa says. “Buildings are all about people. Without understanding that, you can’t fully understand the context in which you work.”
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Premier retirement village for Cape estate
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premier retirement village named Evergreen Sitari is being developed at Sitari Country Estate in Somerset West. The eighth in the Evergreen Retirement Holdings portfolio, the venture represents a partnership between two prominent South African property brands. Uvest Property Group is the master developer of Sitari and manages one of the largest privately owned residential portfolios
in the Western Cape. Evergreen Lifestyle is a premier South African national retirement brand. Evergreen Sitari will comprise 500 properties, ranging from apartments to luxury freestanding homes. Professional healthcare is provided on site, including home-based care to frail care. The first homes go on sale in the first quarter of this year. Evergreen Sitari will have its own entrance, facilities and amenities, including a fully equipped lifestyle and
Western Cape leads house price growth
care centre, but residents will also have access to all that the larger Sitari Country Estate has to offer. Sitari Country Estate spans 192ha and offers luxury and premium apartments, village homes and country homes, as well as signature and country plots. The estate also has plentiful orchards, vineyards, trees, parks and herb gardens, and a 22ha wetland, interspersed with contemporary rural architectural design.
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NORTH WEST
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FREE STATE
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NORTHERN CAPE
EASTERN CAPE WESTERN CAPE
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ightstone Property has released its residential property indices for January 2019. At the end of December 2018 the national house price inflation index was at 3%. The Western Cape
continues to outperform the rest of the provinces with an annual rate of 7.6% despite a drop of about three percentage points in the past 12 months. Gauteng municipalities Ekurhuleni, City of
Tshwane and City of Johannesburg are showing stable growth rates of between 2% and 5%. Lightstone reports that coastal municipalities are generally performing above this range.
App brings rewards programme to rentals
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obile app Flow is setting out to revolutionise the rental space by offering tenants up to 20% of their rent back in rewards. Flow’s founders are targeting millennials (those between 22 and 37), the group that makes up a large proportion of renters in SA, commonly referred
Cool hotel hits Mother City
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orgeous George, a new downtown hotel in St George’s Mall in Cape Town, will officially open in March. Created from two restored heritage buildings, it is the first hotel in Cape Town to join the Design Hotels stable, a select worldwide collection of privately owned and operated hotels. Originally built by the United Building Society, the hotel’s entrance is Art Deco, while the conjoined building has elements of the New Edwardian
style of the 1940s. Interior designer Tristan du Plessis was responsible for the hotel’s interior. The 32 rooms express South African contemporary style, with a vintage edge. Lighting and furniture were sourced from David Krynauw, Gregor Jenkin, Studio 19, Douglas & Company, and Dokter and Misses, with a crocodile swing chair from Porky Hefer. Murals by David Brits are displayed throughout. The foyer features an intricate mural created by
Cape Town artist Lucie De Moyencourt. The Delftinspired piece is made of 1,800 hand-painted tiles that depict a map of Cape Town. The executive chef is Guy Bennett, who cut his culinary teeth in the kitchens of South African chefs Reuben Riffel, Michael Deg and Bertus Basson, and most recently helmed Grand Provence in Franschhoek. “We want people to come for lunch and stay for dinner,” says Gorgeous George GM Neilen Tolmay.
to as Generation Rent. Those who download the app will be rewarded for registering, adding their property details, paying rent on time and looking after their homes. Good tenants can earn thousands of points a month. Flow was co-founded by Gil Sperling, Daniel Levy
and Jonathan Liebmann. Kalon Venture Partners is the lead investor, with co-investment from an international venture capitalist. Flow has struck rewards partnerships with leading brands in lifestyle, entertainment, homeware, fashion, travel and airtime and electricity providers.
HOMEFRONT PROPERTY TREND
Cape Town on the global affordable map Mother City ticks the boxes for range of buyers WORDS: STAFF REPORTER :: PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK AND GRAPHIC: SUPPLIED
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ape Town features on the secondmost affordable list of the of Knight Frank’s Urban Futures 2019 report dealing with housing affordability. “Cape Town has ended up on the global map when you consider lifestyle, affordability and the ease to purchase in SA for foreigners,” says Knight Frank SA CEO Richard Hardie. “Like much of these key cities, there is a great deal of private wealth in SA and much of this wealth finds its way into residential property in Cape Town, either as a home, a family home while the breadwinner commutes to Johannesburg or as a holiday home. The internationals (swallows) treat it as home for three to four months of the year,” says Hardie. “Despite a slowing in sales and decrease in prices in 2018 due to politics and drought, it is expected that 2019 will be a more prosperous year with an already significant level of interest and offers agreed in January 2019.”
MOST AFFORDABLE - Dubai - Istanbul - Jakarta - Kuala Lumpur - Lisbon - Manila - Rome - Sao Paolo
SECOND-MOST AFFORDABLE - Brussels - Cape Town - Madrid - Miami - Moscow - Mumbai - Paris - Stockholm
LEAST AFFORDABLE - Amsterdam - Auckland - Hong Kong - Los Angeles - San Francisco - Sydney - Toronto - Vancouver
SECOND-LEAST AFFORDABLE affordable housing is matched by governments’ desire to raise revenues. - Bangkok - Berlin - Dublin - London - Melbourne - New York - Singapore KNIGHT FRANK URBAN FUTURES 2019 - Tokyo Real house price growth and real disposable household income growth over the
MIND THE GAP Knight Frank’s Urban Futures report says the affordable housing gap — measured by the difference between housing prices and income — reached an estimated $740bn globally in 2018. A December 2018 Lightstone Properties report says Millennials in SA — those born between 1977 and 1994 — are likely to spend three times as much on their first home than the generation before them.
AFFORDABILITY FACTORS:
• Rapid urbanisation: 55% of the world’s population lived in urban areas in 2017, up from 42% 30 years ago. By 2050 this figure is expected to rise to 68%. • Housing as a commodity: Since the 2008 financial crisis, housing has become a complex investment vehicle attracting huge sums from funds and corporations. • Politics: The need to create more
past five years for 25 key cities. Percentage change to September 2018*.