Neighbourhood 29 APRIL 2018
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Irene
Why so many fall in love with the area's countryside charm and proximity to modern amenities, page 2
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SUBURB FOCUS: IRENE & IRENE FARM VILLAGES
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PROPERTY NEWS
29 APRIL 2018
Neighbourhood
Suburb focus
Irene & Irene Farm Villages Here’s what’s happening in property in the area WORDS: BETSIE LOOCK-VAN DER MERWE IMAGES: RENE WALKER & GOOGLE MAPS *Map not to scale
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hanks to its unequalled countryside charm and superb location on the southeastern outskirts of the Jacaranda City, Irene has become one of the most soughtafter neighbourhoods to live in. It offers peace and tranquillity and a farm-like ambience, while it’s located close enough to big city conveniences.
Property Although care is taken to preserve the countryside look and feel of the area, Irene has seen extensive residential development in recent times. The suburb offers a broad variety of
property options in the middle- to upper-income segment of the market. Newer developments all comprise modern-day estates with a focus on comfort, space and style. The Irene Farm Villages, situated on the hills east of central town and with picturesque views over the landscape, is an example and comprises 650 freestanding residences, beautifully manicured parks and natural conservation areas, resulting in the presence of a number of bird species and small animals such as duiker. With top-class security systems in place, asking prices for properties in this exclusive estate start around R3,9m. The estate also overlooks the comprehensive Irene Village Mall and is situated a few minutes away from the R21 between Pretoria and the OR Tambo International Airport. The N1 freeway between the Jacaranda City and Joburg a few kilometres to the west is just as easy to access.
Schooling Irene Primary School was established in 1901 during the Anglo Boer War with the purpose of providing education to about 260 children of school-going age who were housed at the Irene Concentration Camp. The school offered dual-medium education for more than 70 years until the nearby Laerskool Doringkloof was opened in 1977. Since then, Irene Primary School has had English as the medium of instruction. Laerskool Doringkloof Primary has had Afrikaans and English instruction since 1997 and is less than 5km away from Irene.
Irene is the most awesome place to grow up and spend your childhood years GILLIAN CROSBIE BREYTENBACH, RESIDENT
PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING 1st Floor, Block H, Sable Square cnr Bosmansdam and Ratanga Roads Milnerton, Cape Town
Irene Middle School was originally established in 1913 to educate EDITORIAL TEAM:
ADVERTISING SALES:
Group Editor: Charis Le Riche charisl@yourneighbourhood.co.za Senior Sub-Editor: Mlungisi Mthembu Designers: Anja Bramley & Samantha Durand
Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za or call 087 828 0423 Sales & Marketing Manager: Michèle Jones michele.jones@thecreativegroup.info Production (Editorial & Property Advertising): Lucea Goosen pretoria@yourneighbourhood.co.za Online coordinator: Sasha Burgess sasha@augmentcreative.com
29 APRIL 2018
Neighbourhood
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PROPERTY NEWS
the children of farmworkers in the Centurion area. This public school today attracts pupils from a much wider area. High school pupils living in Irene traditionally attended either Lyttelton Manor High School or Hoërskool Centurion. In recent years, more choices have become available. Cornwall Hill College is an independent school with boarding facilities in Irene, located next to Cornwall Hill Estate, catering for pupils from Grade 000 to Grade 12. Southdowns College is another independent school adjacent to Irene Farm catering for pupils from the pre-preparatory phase up to Grade 12.
SHOP: • • • • •
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IRENE AND IRENE FARM VILLAGES: yourneighbourhood.co.za/irene
Irene Village Mall Irene Shopping Centre Southdowns Shopping Centre Route 21 Business Park Doringkloof Mall
EAT: • A‘la Turka: for Lebanese, Turkish and Greek dishes • Village Bistro: for Italian cuisine in a cosy space • The Publican Bar and Grill: for uncomplicated and fresh meals • Whisk Wine Bar: for wholesome family meals and beverages • Karoo Cattle & Land: for a taste of the Karoo in Irene • Olifants Cafe at the Big Red Barn: for breakfast and lunchtime pizzas
DO: • Catch a live show at Railways Cafe, experience its unique character and order tasty tapas or pizza with your drink. • Enjoy the latest blockbuster on the big screen at Ster-Kinekor, Irene Village Mall. • Visit the historic Smuts House Museum and/or The Irene Concentration Camp Cemetery. • Grab a bite to eat at The Barn Restaurant or The Deck at Irene Farm. • Check out the Irene Village Market for artisanal food, drinks and local crafts. • Test your skills with a game of paintball at Cry Wolf at the Smuts House Museum.
Explore The country-style living in Irene is enhanced by the many outdoor endeavours, the open space, fresh air and green pastures on offer. The Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, to the east of Irene, is about a 15-minute drive from the suburb and comprises 3,800ha of natural environment including open grasslands, indigenous trees, wetlands and the Rietvlei Dam. The reserve offers the ideal opportunity for families to spend some time off together. Openair activities include freshwater fishing, hiking, horse riding along trails, camping, game viewing, picnicking and bird-watching. The Irene Dairy Farm forms a central part of the village and residents and visitors are welcome to share in the farm experience. Children are allowed to visit the calves and can play on old tractors and farm implements at the kids’ play area. In the east, the farm borders the beautiful greens of the Irene Golf Course, while Centurion Golf Estate is on the farm’s western border.
For sale in Irene
For rent in Irene
Median asking price:
Median asking price:
R3,6m
R19,975
Monthly bond repayments
For a typical property (four-bedroom house)
For a typical property in this area
R2,5m
R1,6m
R3,6m
In a complex
For an apartment
For a house
You’ll pay
R34,741
For a typical property (three-bedroom house)
R14,950
R7,000
R20,000
In a complex
For an apartment
For a house
per month
Property Type:
96%
Property Type:
house
Based on
1%
apartment
3%
complex
58% House
R3,6m
16%
median asking price
over a period of 20 years at 10% prime
apartment
26% complex
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PROPERTY NEWS
29 APRIL 2018
Neighbourhood
My business neighbourhood The Golden Goose Artistry sells South African art and vintage design furniture in Southdowns Shopping Centre and Brooklyn Mall WORDS: ZENA LE ROUX
IMAGE: SUPPLIED
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he Golden Goose Artistry offers a wide variety of carefully chosen locally designed items. Co-owner Elzette Botes tells us more about the business. Q: How did your business start? A: We wanted to open a shop selling good quality, unique items that complement art. One of our aims was to focus on local items and to be an approachable take on a gallery, where children and younger people would also feel welcome. We also wanted to be approachable to young artists who may be hesitant to approach galleries. We did exactly that. Today, our shops have a warm and friendly feel with lots of exciting discoveries inside. We opened our first store in September 2016 and our Brooklyn store in November 2017. Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop? A: The first shop is located in Southdowns, Irene. My business partners also own a restaurant in the same centre and have always
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really enjoyed the setting. It felt like the centre and the area would complement the feel of our business; it just made sense. We soon decided to open our Brooklyn shop for the same reasons. Q: How did you find your premises? A: My business partners own a restaurant in Southdowns Shopping Centre and had a pop-up gallery a few years ago in the same centre. So we knew that it was a well-run centre, suited for our concept. Because we spend a lot of time in the centre, we found out immediately when a space became available and we approached the management with our idea. The Brooklyn store was always our first choice for our second store. Q: Why are the premises ideally suited to your business? A: Our shops make us accessible to a wide range of people in a safe, wellmaintained environment. Both Southdowns and Brooklyn malls offer exactly this as well as quality management. Q: Who are your neighbours? A: Southdowns is a lovely centre with smaller shops and boutiques like Intrigue, Biggie Best, The Sweat Shop and will soon have a Milk and Honey. At the Brooklyn store, our neighbours include Shakti Shanti, Food Dog Design, Exclusive Books and This & That.
Q: What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area? A: The rental is quite high because of the good locations. Q: How many people visit your business each day? A: Between 60 and 100 people a day at the two stores combined. Q: Do you have any expansion plans? A: We’re really blessed to be able to work with a great and talented group of artists and designers, and we’re building good relationships with all of them. We’d therefore definitely like to expand into the larger Pretoria area and later in Joburg, to grow our brand and the brands we associate with. Q: Do you operate online as well? A: We don’t have an online shop yet, but we’re active on Instagram (@the_golden_goose_artistry) and Facebook. Q: What’s your most popular item? A: Because we sell such a wide variety of items, it’s difficult to tell, but we sell a lot of interesting artworks.
SEE FOR YOURSELF: The Golden Goose Artistry 083 795 7074 facebook.com/goldengooseart
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29 APRIL 2018
Fashionable interiors
Neighbourhood
Kirsten Dodds, a designer at Tétris South Africa, unpacks the relationship between fashion and decor trends WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER
IMAGE: SUPPLIED
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t makes sense that trends spill over into most artistic fields. Some of that connection is clear to see, but much of it is the thought and mood behind the threads. Kirsten Dodds, a furniture fixtures and equipment specialist, tells us more about how what you see on the catwalk impacts interior spaces.
Let your ears do the talking
“When it comes to ear candy, bigger is better,” says Kirsten. “Everything from sculptured drop designs to mega hoops and tassels in a range of colours.” The decor connection? “The same bright, bold statement pieces are big in the decor world right now. It fits right in with the surge of maximalist design.” Kirsten suggests having fun with vibrant colours, dramatic patterns, interesting shapes and textures.
Playing with dimensions
Clothing proportions are changing – we’re playing with volume and out-of-the-ordinary pairings. “Think cropped tops with wide-legged trousers, or voluminous sleeves with a ruffled skirt,” says Kirsten. “As more research rolls out, we’re changing the way we think about space and the function of items we choose for these spaces. We’re pushing the
boundaries even further by selecting unexpected pieces to emphasise the feelings they intend to evoke.” Kirsten has used oversized floor lamps and kooky acoustic furniture as elements to achieve this.
Large statement T’s
Slogan T-shirts are making a comeback and they’re bigger than ever. From ethical messages and political opinions to tongue-in-cheek statements, thoughts have been given a voice. For Kirsten, when it comes to design, it’s about not being afraid to be original. “Choose interior products that say something about you or the space. Previously conservative corporate spaces are now opting for bold installations. Being over the top is no longer frowned upon.”
Unusual combinations
Weird is the new wonderful in floral arrangements. An eccentric combination of oddities can be used for maximum surprise. “Like a plastic fork paired with a feather and a daisy in a potato!” says Kirsten with a laugh. “The off-the-wall compositions may, at first, make you feel uncomfortable before you see the intention behind them. With design, the trend plays into expressive styling
with unusual textures, interesting layering and statement furniture.”
Statement socks
“Half-calf statement socks are everywhere – the more stripes, patterns and logos, the better. Even mismatched goes,” says Kirsten. She adds that in the interior space, it’s about creating rooms that tell a story. “We achieve this by stacking design elements, one on top of the next. This bold trend is exciting and can be applied to so many different spaces – unusual colour and fabric choices can jazz up an otherwise demure space, by disrupting.”
A touch of ultraviolet
Bold and vibrant purple is Pantone’s Colour of the Year. Some have used fashionable sport purple velvet leggings or added an ultraviolet accessory like plum-coloured boots. Kirsten says it just screams luxury and can really set a design apart when used in the right combination.
Consume carefully
Kirsten sees a trend in 2018 towards consuming things in just the right amount. “It’s more than just filling a space, it’s about thoughtful design, superior quality and carefully crafted products with effortless functionality.”
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Art under the hammer The ins and outs of buying and selling art at auctions WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK
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ecently in London, an artwork relegated to the owners’ spare room was auctioned for a few hundred thousand pounds. The owners had stashed it away and had no idea of its true value. So where do you begin finding out whether artwork in your home is worth anything?
Getting a valuation
Alistair Meredith, an art specialist at Strauss & Co Fine Art Auctioneers and Consultants, is well aware of the public’s intimidation around art. “We work hard to dispel that,” he says. “The auction world is totally transparent and not an intimidating space at all.” He says what people see in the movies – large, silent New York galleries with intimidating staff – has created a daunting image of exclusivity. “We run live and online art auctions, have road shows where the public can bring artworks to be valued, and we respond happily to emails requesting valuations or opinions; just provide us with a photograph of the artwork, its dimensions and the
artist’s name. Sometimes it’s near impossible to value – say, an 18th century artwork with no signature.” How do they arrive at the valuation? “We rely entirely on auction precedents and are very objective and market-related; we try to find similar work sold on auction (in terms of the artist, size, medium and condition) and those results determine broad objective guideline figures for that particular work.”
How does an art auction work?
An art auction is a simple, transparent process. “Each piece has a clearly stated guideline price. You choose how high you want to bid. If you win the auction, you pay the hammer price (and a stated premium) and it’s yours. What the work sells for is up to the market (everybody in the auction room or online). It’s very down to earth,” he says. Alistair says it’s a myth that you could inadvertently bid on an item by unconsciously scratching your nose during an auction. “You have to register before you bid, and you’ll be given a bidding paddle. When you bid, the auctioneer will ask you if you intended to do so.”
Investing in art
Alistair says, “The South African art market has exploded over the last decade. There’s been huge interest in local art from South Africans, expats and, increasingly, the international market. We’re always a little hesitant about speaking about art as a pure investment because nobody has a crystal ball, but the more research you do, the better idea you have of an artist’s trajectory. Read up and speak to dealers, art galleries, auction house specialists, but buy art you love and enjoy it every day on your wall as it appreciates.”
PROPERTY NEWS
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Hout Bay thrives
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hrive Hout Bay is a local green advocate and nonprofit organisation which launched its “For the Good of our Hood” campaign in November 2017. Aligning local establishments with environmental sustainability, the campaign awards restaurants according to a green rating system, with three stars being the top accreditation a venue can receive. Recycling waste, composting food waste and buying locally or growing your own fresh produce are among the criteria to qualify. Bay Harbour Market was one of the first destinations in the area to receive a three-star accreditation.
“We’re very proud of our local community. Just a few months after the launch, 31 of the 65 restaurants in Hout Bay have already received accreditation,” says Thrive’s Nontsikelelo Martel, “and some restaurants have even gone beyond the call by introducing water-saving measures as well.” Thrive mentors continue to visit the local Hout Bay restaurants and educate entrepreneurs on going green and recycling. In the coming months, they will be launching their map of all the awarded restaurants in Hout Bay, which will be shared with tourism boards and will also be made available electronically via the Thrive website and social media platforms.
Given the cut in the repo rate by the South African Reserve Bank, the property market can expect a very healthy surge. Any type of easing in interest rates will encourage individuals to get involved in the property sector, as well as bring relief for current bond holders in that it will have two possible effects: it could either create additional disposable income in their budgets, or it will allow for a higher than required bond repayment, which can in essence take years off your bond. MIKE GREEFF, CEO, GREEFF CHRISTIES INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE
“Green” food court for Sandton City
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experiences to new levels of comfort, convenience and appeal,” says Jonathan Sinden, chief operations officer, Liberty Two Degrees.
“The investment in the Food Court has been meticulously planned and was ultimately driven by the strategic desire and vision of continuously introducing and reinventing worldclass retail standards at Sandton City. Liberty Two Degrees, as the owner, is committed to innovation and to creating experiential offerings that will differentiate Sandton City from other super-regional shopping centres in the country by providing global experiences in South Africa. The food court will unveil a sophisticated and sustainable design, setting it apart from industry norm and taking fast-food
“The interior design concept was one that would make Sandton City’s food court unique to many and was inspired by responding to the way food needs and wants have evolved over the years. The artisanal nature of food today has inspired the look and feel for the new food court, where natural elements such as landscaping, green features, and sustainable design have been included in the concept. This design inspiration is aligned to the idea of ‘artisanal food, green design and the juxtaposition of new and old’ to create a bespoke food district. Natural materials are being used as far as possible, natural and petrified landscaping is an integral part of this design,” says Tia Kanakakis of MDS Architecture on what can be expected from the design.
andton City will make the move towards a sustainable retail environment through this latest development. The centre’s fast food area is undergoing a total revamp which commenced in the first week of March, with completion due for November this year.
KZN residential market on the up
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he KwaZulu-Natal residential market looks set to be the most vibrant in the country this year in terms of house price growth and return on investment, says Craig Hutchison, CEO, Engel & Völkers Southern Africa. “The North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal is the new Cape Town when it comes to property. It’s about a preferred location because of the many opportunities for business and local economic growth.” Engel & Völkers has sold the KwaZuluNatal Dolphin Coast licence to
Karien and Stephen Hunter – an area stretching from the Umhlanga River to Zinkwazi, north of Ballito. The Hunters run KwaZulu-Natal law firm AMC Hunter Inc, which specialises in property and commercial law. Karien will be involved in training and developing her own area partners on the Dolphin Coast. The licence area suburbs include Umdloti Beach, La Mercy, Zimbali, Ballito, Beverley Hills Estate, Salt Rock and Mount Moreland.