HOMEFRONT 13 OCTOBER 2016 WWW.BDLIVE.CO.ZA 23 MARCH 2018 WWW.BUSINESSLIVE.CO.ZA
MUST READ
Design Indaba: creativity catchup PAGE 2
Valuation worries for Johannesburg PAGE 10
SA’s smart cities in the making PAGE 12
Sandton still on the rise A small business property first
Hub of Africa continues to flex its muscles
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Having multiple partners isn’t for everyone Choose a #RealPartner
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We’re Real about Real Estate
HOMEFRONT CREATIVE DESIGN
High Five: Design Indaba Festival 2018 Five standouts from Cape Town’s recent international conference of creativity whose work is changing the world as we experience it WORDS: JULIA FREEMANTLE AND KIM MAXWELL :: IMAGES: SUPPLIED
Ensamble Studio Spanish architecture duo Débora Mesa and Antón García-Abril of Ensamble Studio have an action-focused manifesto behind their practice, with transformation and reinterpretation at the heart of their projects. Fascinated by processes and raw materials, their experimental and imaginative approach sets no restrictions on what, where and how they build. For a client in the US, whose Montana property was an untouched wilderness, the team explored geological processes to create monolithic structures that appear part of the landscape, but don’t detract from it, creating a connection between site and spirit. This balance between nature and control, and a play between solidity and simplicity, is omnipresent in their work, where the process is as important as the result.
Tom Dixon Known primarily for his glamorous homeware, this product designer’s career
began by experimenting with metalwork and “turning rubbish into gold”. These first rough prototypes and his alchemical approach paved the way for a progression through the full spectrum of design, each time mastering a new manufacturing process. Refining his methods though failure and practice, he’s evolved from creating furniture and accessories to adding a design service as an arm of his company. Unusual for a product designer, he moved to fragrances and cleaning products, his journey touching on every element of the interior experience. He believes that creating design that lasts — in terms of a strong identity, aesthetic and manufacturing integrity — should be the goal for its sustainability.
Thomas Heatherwick This architect’s “starchitect” status stems from his penchant for projects that capture the imagination of the public. Dramatic, and usually on a large scale, they often don’t begin on
Ensamble Studio’s outdoor ‘room’ in Montana was created as a performance site for the arts, using techniques informed by nature
If you can’t beat the corporates, join them. To combat copies of his designs, Tom Dixon designed a modular sofa with Ikea
Vases and a bubble tea service from Tom Dixon
HOMEFRONT
Interior designer to watch: Tshepo Sealetsa A graduate of Tshwane University, Tshepo Sealetsa worked at an architecture firm before deciding to pursue a solo career in interior design. One of Design Indaba 2018’s Emerging Creatives, Sealetsa is interested in the intersection between spatial design and interior architecture. He is embarking on a new phase, using skills amassed designing interiors and applying them to products and furniture — his aim always to create an experience, rather than just a space. In Manhattan’s West Side, Heatherwick Studio designed Vessel, an experiential series of steel steps, flights and landings to offer views of the Hudson Yards mixed-use development sites that offer a clean slate. “New places frequently don’t connect with people, and with big buildings the sense of ‘making’ can be absent,” he says of his mission to bring soulfulness and human scale to his projects. Many of these seek to redefine heritage — achieving the delicate balance between honouring the site and making the new space usable and relevant. A Kings Cross project in London saw the Heatherwick Studio team transform two Victorian warehouses into a shopping hub, effectively joining two buildings with an inspired solution without ruining the historic integrity of the structures. For the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, Heatherwick Studio transformed a grain storage facility with a scenic location in the centre of a working harbour — leaving the silo surfaces untreated, and designing windows to reflect numerous angles. Heatherwick’s ability to implement unobtrusive interventions, while making a statement on the landscape, has cemented his stature in the industry.
ROTTERDAM-BASED PETER VEENSTRA, OF LOLA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, ON HIS SUSTAINABLE CAPE TOWN PROJECT Design Indaba commissioned you to construct an indigenous plant dome for Luthuli Plaza, an outdoor pedestrian space near Artscape and the Civic Centre. We had something
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completely water-neutral in mind for this dead space. Luthuli Plaza is part of a series that connects the Grand Parade to transport networks and to Artscape. We thought: can’t we make a landscape
Indaba commissioned us. Private funders still have to be attracted — one big company has already contacted Design Indaba — but we have confidence that this will happen, given their previous success
Who is behind it? Design
with the Arch for Arch project by Snøhetta.
The dome will likely be constructed from sustainable bamboo and drought-resistant spekboom. Cape floral kingdom species will grow on it, forming a sphere-shaped botanical garden. What is the completion target? The planning depends on the municipal procedures, to get a lease for the space and to get the structure approved. Then about eight months for detail design and construction. To be on the fair side I’d say 2020. It will be a semi-permanent structure, lasting at least 10 years. What were some of the construction challenges? In the spaces around the dome — about 15m tall and 20m wide — will be a garden. But the wind is a challenge — we were testing models in wind on the Foreshore at 100km/h. In the end we came up with a double-dome layer to resist these winds.
A EDITORIAL TEAM Editor: Kim Maxwell Designer: Samantha Durand
that functions as a dome structure of plants? Inside this space there can be lectures and concerts — and a daily lunch space for about 110 people.
PUBLICATION
Managing Editor/Copy Editor: Michael van Olst Production: Joanne Le Roux Content Business Manager: Catherine Davis
ADVERTISING SALES Michèle Jones Susan Erwee
michele.jones@thecreativegroup.info susan.erwee@thecreativegroup.info
084 246 8105 083 556 9848
HOMEFRONT DEVELOPMENT
Sandton still on the rise Hub of Africa continues to flex its muscles WORDS: GEORGINA GUEDES :: PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK AND SUPPLIED
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andton and its surrounding suburbs are home to almost a third of new commercial development in SA. The area seems to find endless capacity for expansion — and intelligent infrastructure design supports this. Johannesburg’s second CBD has now taken on a life of its own as the
residential, commercial and retail centre not only of SA, but also of Africa. Sandton continues to hum with new development. The latest research from the South African Property Owners Association vacancy survey for Q4 2017 shows that 31% of all new office development in the country is going up in Sandton. Although Sandton
An aerial view of Barlow Park Campus Central is already home to a number of major corporate headquarters, including Discovery, Sasol, Investec, Old Mutual Emerging Markets, Ernst & Young and Werksmans Attorneys, which occupies eight floors of The Central, the business hub continues to attract billions of rands of new investment.
INNOVATIVE
The future Sandton Gate by Craft Homes
The Advocates building
“Sandton Central has firmly established itself as a leading business district and in 2018 it remains the centre of new office development in SA,” says Elaine Jack, the city improvement district manager of Sandton Central Management District. Jack says many of Sandton Central’s new and recently completed developments are among the most interesting, innovative and sustainable on the continent. Among the new “hero” developments is the Watprop-developed 92 Rivonia Road, which will have facilities for showrooms, workshops, retail, conferencing, entertainment, flexible office space and ample parking. This property is targeting a four-star rating by the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA). The Leonardo, a 40,000m 2 mixed-use development by the Legacy Group at 75 Maude Street, should open by the end of 2018. It will include 1,500m 2 of retail space, 12,000m 2 for offices and 25,000m 2 for residential
and will rise 150m above Sandton’s skyline.
PENTHOUSE SUITES The Capital on the Park at 101 Katherine Street is being developed by The Capital Hotels and Apartments. The 25,000m 2 project comprises 4,000m 2 of conference and hotel facilities, 21,000m 2 of rooms and 240 oneand two-bedroomed apartments, as well as penthouse suites. The development will be occupied by April 1. The rapidly rising 129 Rivonia Road mixeduse development by Eris Property Group comprises two office towers — one 12 and the other 17 storeys, with 62,000m 2 of combined office space. Below the towers are two retail levels of about 15,000m 2 , with a sevenlevel parking basement of about 100,000m 2 . The project is planned for completion in 2019 and about 10,000m 2 of office space is already available.
GAUTRAIN Redefine Properties is to begin work soon on a new office development, the Advocates building on 2 Pybus Road. Its location along the intersection of Pybus and Rivonia roads puts the development strategically near transport links such as the Sandton Gautrain station and bus network. The 15,800m 2 development is scheduled for completion in April 2019. The R2bn Northern Lights by FWJK Developments is expected to begin
construction before mid2018. The development is at the intersection of Fredman Drive and Rivonia Road between the Maslow Hotel and the Hilton Hotel. The skylinechanging 70,000m 2 project will offer P-grade sectional title offices in four 38-level towers in the heart of Sandton Central’s banking node. Katherine Towers at 46 Katherine Street in Wierda Valley, between the Sasol and Discovery head offices, is a 21,000m 2 P-grade development by Alchemy. It will be the new head office for Bidvest Bank.
PIAZZA Abland’s recently completed Number 11 Alice Lane has 70,000m 2 of space with seven levels of basement. The new home of law firm Bowmans has been awarded a four-star rating by the GBCSA and is linked by a central landscaped piazza. Sandton’s original retail destination Sandton City is enjoying its share of refurbishment, with the aim of creating a family-focused area to appeal to upscale customers with children. A new area will be dedicated to family fun, entertainment and food, adding to the 330 upmarket shops already on offer.
TRANSPORT The development within Sandton Central and its surrounds is supported by some of SA’s best transport infrastructure for trains, buses, taxis,
HOMEFRONT
This Sandhurst property is listed with Seeff at R150m private vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. Three new bridges address traffic needs for the district. These are the Grayston pedestrian and cyclist bridge, the Zandspruit Bridge, which improves mobility between Sandton Central and the M1 Marlboro off- and onramps, and the awardwinning Marlboro Rea Vaya M1 cable stay bridge. “Improved transport infrastructure has been a real game-changer for the entire neighbourhood,” says Jack. “Even more enhancements are in store for public transport in the district.”
RETAIL A recently completed development near Sandton Central is Growthpoint Properties’ R85m revamp of M1 Place in Marlboro, which converted an ageing retail warehouse into a modern retail park. The year-long upgrade increased space from 13,800m 2 to 23,300m 2 and enabled tenants to expand. Nearby, Barloworld, Atterbury and African Rainbow Capital have partnered as co-investors
The Capital on the Park
“Sandton Central has firmly established itself as a leading business district and in 2018 it remains the centre of new office development in SA” Elaine Jack, Sandton Central Management District
in the redevelopment of the prime Barlow Park Campus at 180 Katherine Street. The joint venture property investment and development deal was signed in December. Rezoning of the property is next and is expected to take at least a year. Its investment value is expected to climb to well above R3bn as the redevelopment of the corporate park is rolled out into a 130,000m 2 mixeduse precinct.
RESIDENTIAL While “mixed use” is the buzz word for development in Sandton Central there are a number of exclusive residential offerings on the commercial centre’s doorstep. A recent report from Lightstone says security estate property is valued about three times higher than ordinary residential property. It names Cloud’s End in Sandton as the most expensive estate in Gauteng, with an average property price of R18.2m. Seeff Properties Sandton says there are a number of niche developments that include lifestyle,
The Discovery head office
The Old Mutual Emerging Markets building opposite the Gautrain station retirement, equestrian, golf and eco estates.
PRESTIGIOUS The broader area has its share of elite freestanding homes that come with significant price tags. Topping the market is a property in prestigious Sandhurst, listed with Seeff at R150m, believed to be the highest asking price for a Gauteng residential property. The home is on 8,565m 2 and offers 2,200m 2 under one roof, marble flooring and double-volume spaces, with seven bedrooms and several reception areas. There is a drive from
both developers and the municipality to increase the number of residential homes in Sandton. The council supports increased density — demand for housing near the expanding commercial hub is growing.
LIFESTYLE One high-profile development in the broader Sandton area is Sandton Gate, on William Nicol Drive. This mixed-use development will offer city benefits with a suburban residential lifestyle. Developer Abland’s marketing director Grant Silverman says: “We believe that no building
or development exists in isolation. Each has a relationship with the surrounding urban environment.” Craft Homes has announced the first phase of 140 apartments in the Sandton Gate development is to launch in Q2 2018. The development will comprise open-plan two- and threebedroom apartments, with four-bedroom penthouses.
GREEN-RATED The site provides 130,000m 2 of floor area made up of premium office space, 400 residential units and lifestyle and smaller retail amenities. The GBCSA has selected the precinct as a pilot project for one of the first greenrated precincts in SA. Craft Homes MD Reinier van Loggerenberg says the site overlooks a popular mountain biking route on the Braamfontein Spruit. Amenities will include a health club, restaurants and smaller-format convenience services. “There is a plan to accommodate anticipated increase in traffic flows. Road infrastructure will be improved: additional lanes will be added to William Nicol Drive, several intersections will be upgraded and slip lanes will be created,” says Van Loggerenberg.
HOMEFRONT PROPERTY VALUATIONS
Municipal valuation skewed? The onus is on Johannesburg property owners if the metro has it wrong WORDS: STAFF WRITER
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esidents of the City of Johannesburg have little time to appeal against municipal property valuations that will affect the rates they will be charged from July. The deadline for objections is April 6. Significant valuation increases have caught some owners by surprise. Property owners who believe the municipal valuations are too high should have at least one formal valuation from an estate agent in support of an objection.
RESIDENTIAL “It is important for home owners to check any general valuation rolls compiled by local authorities and file objections if they believe the valuation
of their property to be wrong,” says Chas Everitt International Property group CEO Berry Everitt. “Incorrect municipal valuations can skew the real estate market by making it difficult to sell properties in certain areas, causing them to lose value.” Chas Everitt is offering free independent valuations to owners in need of supporting documentation for objections. “If owners don’t object they could end up paying far too much in municipal rates,” says Everitt.
COMMERCIAL Lightstone Property says some businesses will face an unsure future as they struggle to pay the new tariffs. The South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) has questioned rising municipal rates and taxes for the
commercial property sector. Sapoa CEO Neil Gopal says the levies have been second only to electricity as the fastest-growing operating cost item for property owners and investors since 2007, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.7% (inflation plus 3.6%).
UNSUSTAINABLE “Not only is this unsustainable, but property owners pass these increases through to tenants, which has a material impact on the health of businesses in the economy,” he says. Sapoa acknowledges that rates are necessary to fund municipal service delivery and outputs, but says these must be levied correctly. “Our constitution and laws are clear that rates and taxes must be levied in a just and equitable way and this should
be done by accurately determining the value of properties,” says Gopal. Obtaining an online valuation report will also help back up an objection, writes Hilton Tarrant on Moneyweb. The reports usually cost in the region of R100 — a valuation by LexisProp IQ for a property in Cradock Avenue, Rosebank cost R69.99. An online report will indicate the range of prices from recent sales in an area.
MARKET VALUE The reports use an algorithm to estimate the current market value, a similar method to that used in municipal valuations. Lightstone says there are three methods of property valuation: Automated value (an analytical model); Desktop valuation — where an analyst
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“If owners don’t object they could end up paying far too much in municipal rates”
Berry Everitt, CEO, Chas Everitt International Property Group
electronically enters values using online tools; Physical valuation conducted by a valuer who visits the property. Lightstone’s online report values are automated and do not take into account the features or physical attributes of a home, such as expensive fittings. During the 2013 round of Johannesburg valuations there were cases of property inflation of more than 100%, says Lightstone head of real estate Hayley Ivins Downes. “For example, a property had been valued at R2.9m. Once the owner objected it was lowered to R2m. After the appeal process the property value was settled at R1.7m,” says Ivins Downes. “This could have a direct effect on the rates and taxes payable each year.”
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For online objections go to coj2018.evaluations.co.za
HOMEFRONT
Harbour Arch, Cape Town. Future smart city?
TECHNOLOGY
Smart options for South African cities S The UN predicts that 70% of the world’s population will be urban by 2050. Are local cities on the right trajectory? WORDS: HELEN GRANGE :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
Waterfall Country Estate, Midrand
mart cities such as New York, London and Seoul use digital technologies and sustainable development to improve the quality of life and efficiency of urban operations while meeting the needs of current and future generations. Property developers are keen supporters of the push for smart cities in SA as enabling technologies have proved to be a powerful driver of property markets. But what are
the projections, and how far are we from achieving the smart city ideal? The City of Cape Town called this year for public submissions of ideas to make it the first truly digital smart city in Africa. “We are looking for inspiration for new uses for existing technology and data,” the city says. Primary areas of focus include energy efficiency, health and assisted living, platforms for economic, digital and social inclusion, public
Val de Vie, Paarl
infrastructure, maintenance and public safety.
TRANSPORT
In Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban a focus of smart city endeavours is on forward-thinking transport routes that deliver investment opportunities in commercial and residential property. A good example is the Gautrain station in Rosebank. After it opened it generated an additional 2.5% growth in property prices compared with suburbs further away,
a study by Lightstone Property shows. Similarly, the multiple transport routes in Woodstock, Cape Town, including a MyCiTi bus route, a railway station and cycle lanes, have contributed to the suburb’s development, which incorporates mixed-use precincts.
SERVICES However, the integration of transport and other local services with digital solutions is what
HOMEFRONT network since 2010. “Waterfall Estate boasts a world-class fibre optic and wireless communication network. Every home in all seven residential developments is fibreready, as is every office, warehouse, school, hospital and shopping centre,” says communications manager Tertia Du Toit. In due course, 5G technology (which will power much faster internet speeds and in the future, driverless cars) will be rolled out across the development.
CONNECTIVITY A fibre network also runs all operations at nearby Steyn City estate, which is installing about 17 cellular base stations for 4G connectivity while it waits for 5G to roll out. Community-based apps are another hallmark of the smart city and in estates such as Val de Vie in Paarl, can play an integral role in daily life. “Val de Vie residents can use a dedicated app to reserve sports facilities such as squash/tennis courts or confirm attendance at yoga, pilates or water aerobics classes,” says group
Steyn City, Midrand
“The rollout of 5G infrastructure is a key enabler for smart cities and it cannot come soon enough” George Radford, director, IP Global Africa
citizens to seamlessly go about their lives. He says South African cities are sprawled out — unlike dense urban areas such as Tokyo or Manhattan — making smart city technology in SA spotty and expensive. Nonetheless, some of SA’s biggest urban mixed-use developments, such as the R10bn Harbour Arch near central Cape Town — due to open in August 2019 — will evolve into small smart cities by embracing the latest technology. “Technology is an integral accompaniment to new urbanism,” says Amdec Property Development MD Nicholas Stopforth.
SMART ESTATES
makes cities smart by global standards, and this is where the challenge lies for Johannesburg and Cape Town, says Mark Walker, associate VP at the International Data Corporation for sub-Saharan Africa. “Smart cities are based on linked digitally driven transport, (electricity) metering, documentation, policing and health service systems,” Walker says, enabling
Walker anticipates that driverless cars are still about 10 years away in SA, but that affluent “gated communities” will blaze a trail for converged, highspeed IT solutions for residents and workers. These “smart estates” seem to be a particular South African suburban variation of the global smart cities concept. Waterfall Estate in Midrand, where an additional Gautrain station is planned and expected to boost further growth in the area, is a good example. At this mixed-use development residents have enjoyed a multitude of internet and communication services connected to a fibre optic
marketing director for the estate Ryk Neethling.
CAR OWNERSHIP In the rest of the city sprawl outside these estates, Wi-Fi zones and transport apps are the extent of available smart city technology. Uber, Taxify and lift-sharing apps have disrupted traditional transport modes, eroding the culture of car ownership. Uber head of public policy SA Yolisa Kani told a South African Cities Network conference in February that her company’s data “show a strong shift by millennials away from getting drivers’ licences and owning their own cars”.
5G TECHNOLOGY The anticipated commercial deployment of 5G technology could happen as early as next year. “The roll-out of 5G infrastructure is a key enabler for smart cities and it cannot come soon enough,” says IP Global’s director of Africa George Radford. “Investors should look out for the opportunities they present. You can’t go wrong investing in these forwardthinking locations.” Green solutions are
also key to a smart city. Again, top-end estates such as Steyn City, Val de Vie in Paarl and Sibaya in KwaZulu-Natal are the first adopters of sustainable technologies, using solar energy, grey water to irrigate golf courses, LED lighting and gas for cooking. Sustainability is a focus in Amdec’s developments, which use green building initiatives including refuse recycling, watersaving devices, lowenergy LED lighting and rainwater harvesting. These will be core features of the Harbour Arch precinct in 2019. “There is huge benefit in executing watersaving measures at the construction stage, rather than retrofitting. Not only is it better to have systems in place at the start, but it saves money in the long run,” says Stopforth. Green developments represent excellent investment potential, says Radford. “They will enjoy sustainable growth in the decades to come, while ensuring that their citizens’ quality of life is maintained and their economic participation assured”.
THE HOUSE OF 2025 As early as 2025, homes could look vastly different. PropertyFox CEO Crispin Inglis says the speed of technological development is too rapid to ignore — the way we live, where we live and how we build our homes appears headed for a dramatic shift. By 2025 homes could have transformed in the following ways:
1 Water by design. SA is a water-scarce country with a growing population. Houses will need inbuilt rainwater tanks and double reticulation grey water systems. Gardens and swimming pools will dwindle and bathtubs will be less popular.
Illustration: PropertyFox
2 Artificial intelligence. Alexa — Amazon’s customisable smart home assistant — will read the news to you, take phone calls, control lights, open curtains, update shopping lists and manage drone deliveries through a special hatch in the roof. You’ll want to rig up your home to be smart enough to allow Alexa to reach its full potential. 3 Garden rooftops. More people will start growing their own produce
as food prices rise. As residential gardens shrink it is likely rooftops and vertical spaces will be used for vegetable and herb gardens.
4 Fewer garages. By 2020, UberAir plans to run air taxis in at least three big cities — Dallas, Los Angeles and Dubai. It is possible that there will be helipads on rooftops. Even if air transport does not take off, Uber and liftsharing apps will almost
certainly cause a big decline in car ownership.
5 Trendies leave town. Fewer cars means fewer traffic jams. A city’s trendy crowd may be more comfortable living further from town, meaning new suburban areas will spring up packed with good restaurants and bars. 6 Flexible homes for short-term rentals. Possible options include rotating cupboard storage at the click of a button, to swop guests’ or hosts’ possessions, and former garage space being converted for an Airbnb with a separate entrance.
HOMEFRONT PROPERTY NEWS
Apartments launched in Somerset West
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wo new apartment complexes have been released in Sitari Country Estate in Somerset West. Both Waterford Place Luxury Apartments and Paradiso Premium Apartments were designed by BPAS Architecture. “The rapid selling out of Waterbrook’s 55 premium apartments towards the end of last year and fast take-up rate of the 33 units in phase one of Meadow Lane led us to move the release of these new apartment complexes forward,” says executive director John Coetzee of Uvest Property Group, the developers of the estate. Waterford Place Luxury Apartments will be close to Orchard Lane, which will feature vineyards and fruit orchards. One-
two- and three-bedroom apartments will have luxurious finishes and landscaped gardens for the ground-floor units. The one-bedroom Waterford Place units
have sold out. The threebedroom, two-bathroom units are priced between R2.172m and R2.202m. Two-bedroom units range from R1.458m to R1.516m. Paradiso Premium
Apartments will offer views of the Klein Zeekoevlei wetland, close to a 14km bicycle and jogging path. There are three layout options for three-bedroom,
two-bathroom apartments and for the two-bedroom, two-bathroom units. All apartments include covered balconies, storage units and two covered parking bays.
One-bedroom units range from R1.086m to R1.26m. Two-bedroom units are priced between R1.71m and R2.036m, while three-bedroom units range from R2.1m to R2.61m.
Small business boost for property sector
Umhlanga’s Ridgeside land selling fast
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he Department of Small Business Development is collaborating with a Growthpoint Properties initiative, Property Point, to develop more small businesses in the South African property sector. The initiative is the first public-private partnership of its kind in the sector. The department has allocated a R5m grant to Property Point for a year-long small business development initiative as part of its Enterprise Incubation Programme. It will develop 16 small businesses, of which
two-thirds are youth- and women-owned. Head of Property Point and corporate social responsibility for Growthpoint Shawn Theunissen says: “Property Point’s objective has always been to contribute to SA’s economic growth.” He says the partnership comes at a crucial time as SA deals with high unemployment and low economic growth. The programme aims to include small businesses in procurement opportunities, integrating them into private sector supply chains.
Since its launch in 2008 Property Point has created 2,066 jobs and R842m in procurement opportunities for the 130 SMEs that have taken part in its two-year incubation programmes. These small businesses have reported 43% growth in revenue. “We are proud to contribute to this pioneering publicprivate partnership designed to deliver on SA’s transformation, small business, economic growth and job creation objectives,” says Growthpoint South Africa CEO Estienne de Klerk.
and at Umhlanga’s Ridgeside is being snapped up for high-end development. “Given its extraordinary location between the Umhlanga village and the Umhlanga ridge, combined with superb sea views, Ridgeside is being developed as a top-end mixed-use precinct,” says Tongaat Hulett Developments commercial director Chris du Toit. He says proximity to King Shaka International Airport and the Durban CBD adds to its desirability. A key development is the R1.2bn Umhlanga
Arch complex, which covers 45,000m 2 and houses 163 apartments. Enigma Private Estate is the fastest-selling estate in the Umhlanga area. Individual stands start at R3.5m. Ridge 7, the seventh office building to be developed by property developer FWJK in the Umhlanga Ridgeside office precinct, will be a sectional title office block comprising a floor area of 7,700m 2 . Commercial property investment firm TaylorMade Property Asset Managers has bought
a 55,000m 2 site for residential units, a four-star hotel and commercial offices. The Skye, a mixeduse space comprising residential, retail and a hotel, will be one of the most luxurious developments. Phase one, The Skye Luxury Apartments, will include high-end retail and commercial spaces. Phase two will consist of a hotel and lifestyle centre. Du Toit says national and international brands are investing in Ridgeside property. “The project is facing an exciting future.”
Fresh residential block for De Waterkant
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he Quarter, a new residential development by Signatura, is planned for Cape Town’s popular De Waterkant area on the corner of Somerset Road and De Smit Street. Occupation is scheduled for mid-2020. Signatura MD David Cohen says a development of 69 apartments (starting at 39m²) will be priced from R2.1m. There are five penthouse units (86m² to 168m²), each with garden roof terraces and plunge pools. Parking is available for each unit.
“Floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors and windows in the units will make the most of the light and views of the city, mountains and harbour. Multiple features will include air conditioning, underfloor heating, LED lighting and provision for fibre connectivity,” says Cohen. There will be a retail outlet on the ground floor. EHH Architects director Renato Graca says The Quarter will form a natural, flowing extension to the Media Quarter building, designed by the same firm.
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