The Property Mag Western Cape Feb 2011 by Media Nova

Property february 2011

WESTERN CAPE

decor, trends, luxury, design & real estate

Winner of 9 publishing awards

DECOR Pedersen + Lennard: furniture with a twist

Est. 2004, Issue 216

Guest editor real estate Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance

Ogilvy Durban’s funky dockside warehouse

historical

Songbird Simphiwe Dana’s first home • Real estate heavyweights speak out: What’s really happening in SA • Hout Bay: The truth behind the drama

9 771810 469004

South PElham

11 0 0 2

HOme

RSA R34.95 (incl Vat) Other countries R21.90 (excl Tax)\ Hermanus Property Sales, hpsrealty.co.za

hermanus

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Contents

FEBRUARY

THE STATE OF SA REAL ESTATE Is the real-estate industry ﬁnally recovering? Six industry experts

give us the low-down.

SOCIETY Out and about with the beautiful people in the Cape.

Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO of Auction Alliance, shares his

Four SA designers recommend

predictions for the housing

their must-have room accessory.

market in 2011.

DECOR 17

HOT PROPERTY – HOT DECOR

opportunities, from Jeffreys Bay to the Strand to Dullstroom.

future of retail developments and

Diverse cultures, exotic ﬂavours,

a new industrial park in Limpopo.

DESIGN

AUCTION A Breede River mansion, premier South African art and antiques go

HOT PROPERTY – HOT DESIGN

under the hammer in February.

PROPERTY FUND

fabric range, artist Nicholas

environmentally friendly shelves.

Hlobo, plus Ronél Jordaan’s

insight into SA’s JSE-listed,

unique felt products.

R125-billion property sector.

GLASS ACT An eco-friendly Somerset West

HOT PROPERTY – HOT PLATE

home for sale. See page 40 for details.

getaways, plus Chef Michael Broughton talks kitchens with us.

YOUNG GUNS Luke Pedersen and James

OFFSHORE Opportunities in Abu Dhabi, a smart eco-city in Cyprus, and

design world by storm.

why now is the time to buy property in the UK countryside.

DESIGNING WOMEN Talking interior design with the

GREEN BUILDING A Green Building Council African Network on the cards, plus Giba

THE WORKHOUSE

Gorge gets a helping hand.

Ogilvy Durban’s cutting-edge

NAMIBIA

new Durban warehouse combines history and future.

shelf right now.

REAL ESTATE

LOST IN THE WOODS

It’s had its controversy over the

Acquisitions, predictions and

Lennard are taking the furniture

industry’s leading ladies.

HOT PROPERTY – HOT STUFF The most covetable items on the

A new mall for Port Elizabeth, the

colour, plus Italian furniture and

Happening restaurants and

COMMERCIAL

Supermodel Iman’s new home

South Pelham. Historical Hermanus

MALAYSIA natural beauty and luxe hotels.

TRENDS 14

Some key property investment

Why white is the hottest kitchen

home of steel and glass.

ON THE COVER

RESIDENTIAL

A three-night stay at Coral worth R45 000.

WIN International Cape Town,

THE ROCKY ROAD AHEAD

THE FINAL TOUCH

LUXURY 20

A TRANQUIL OASIS The many wonders of Midgard Country Estate.

A SONGBIRD’S NEST Enigmatic jazz singer Simphiwe

THE ACCIDENTAL MAGNATE

past few months, but Hout Bay is

Dana shares her nostalgia

still an idyllic place to live, in an

about her ﬁrst home in Orange

Benny Joseph of Joseph &

unmatchable setting.

Grove, Johannesburg.

Snyman on Namibian property.

February 2011 | 1

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Property

thepropertymag.co.za Kwazulu-Natal Sales Charles Roets, Jenni McCallum

EDITORIAL Editor Sandy Welch sandy@medianova.co.za

Namibia Sales Mynard Slabbert

KwaZulu-Natal Bureau Chief Anne Schauffer anne@medianova.co.za

Directory Sales Mavashini Naidoo, Obed Sealetsa

Senior Subeditor Yaron Blecher Features Writers Genevieve Fisher, Andrea Firth (Western Cape) André Fiore (KwaZulu-Natal)

Production Manager Elly Hammersley Traffic & Administration Coordinator Rosemary Pillay

art

marketing

Art Director Warren Uytenbogaardt warren@medianova.co.za

Circulation Director Vanessa Marks

Senior Designer Joanne Uytenbogaardt

Senior Marketing Coordinator Amanda Africa

Mid-Weight Designer Trudine Scannell

Marketing Intern Kehli Sauls

Senior Retoucher Tim Lake

PUBLISHED BY MEDIA NOVA (PTY) LTD

CONTRIBUTORS Tidi Benbenisti, Melanie Farrell, Jackie Gray, Rael Levitt, David Mullany, Joan Muller, Vicki Sleet, Ed Suter Photographers Ruvan Boshoff, Nick Boulton, Angela Buckland, Sally Chance, Anthony Friend, Sam Norval, Natalie Payne, Ed Suter PRINTING

Managing Director Tony Vaughan tony@medianova.co.za PA To Managing Director Cheréés O’Reilly cherees@medianova.co.za Associate Publisher (Namibia) Mynard Slabbert mynards@mweb.co.za Finance Manager Laetitia Bothma tish@medianova.co.za Credit Controller Dominique Bendix tish@medianova.co.za

CTP Printers Cape Town

Online Manager Andrea Firth

ADVERTISING

Online Assistant Catherine Riley

sales@medianova.co.za Group Sales Director Shanee Smart Western Cape Sales Tharien Nel, Zak Swartz

Receptionist Kashiefa Jacobs

Gauteng Sales Candice Bailey, Rui Barbosa, Anine Ehlers, Marc Lahoud, Musi Motsuenyane

Drivers Willem September (Western Cape) Joseph Khoza (Gauteng)

Nedbank Property Association Awards 2010: Winner – Mover & Shaker Award (Tony Vaughan) PICA Awards 2009: Winner – Special Award, Overall Publishing Excellence PICA Awards 2008: Winner – Consumer Magazines, Largely Free Distribution, and Highly Commended: Editorial Excellence, Public Interest Writer of the Year (Ed Suter) 20th SAB Environmentalist of the Year & Environmental Journalists of the Year Awards 2008: Winner – Merit Award, Print & Internet SAPOA Property Journalism Awards 2008: Winner – Best Property Publication, and Special Mention – Property Feature Journalist (Ed Suter) PICA Awards 2007: B2B – Publishing Excellence, Leisure Mondi Magazine Awards 2005: Winner – Foresight SAPPI PICA Awards 2005: Winner – Philip Tyler Trophy for Innovation in Magazine Publishing Brandhouse Media Owners Challenge Awards 2005:Winner – Innovation in Publishing SAPPI PICA Awards 2005: B2B – Highly Commended Mondi Magazine Awards 2004: Industry – Finalist Launch Edition: April 2004 WESTERN CAPE 3rd Floor, 33 Bree Street, Cape Town 8001 PO Box 50601, The Waterfront, Cape Town 8002; Phone 0861 765 833 Fax +27 (0)21 421 7891 GAUTENG 8th Floor, Fredman Towers, 13 Fredman Drive, Sandown, 2196 PO Box 785828, Sandton, 2146; Phone 0861 765 833 Fax +27 (0)11 884 2830 KWazulu-natal Ground Floor, 55 Gladys Mazibuko Road, Berea 4001 Postnet Suite 329, Private Bag X10, Musgrave 4062; Phone 0861 765 833 Fax +27 (0)31 208 5278 Namibia Phone +264 (0)61 248 161 Fax +264 (0)61 245 942 SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES Email subs@ramsaymedia.co.za Online magsathome.co.za Local Phone 0860 100 203 Fax 086 670 4101 International Phone +27 (0)21 530 3255 Fax +27 (0)21 531 7303 SMS 41871 with reference ‘Property Magazine’ (R2 per sms) for subscription enquiries EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES General editorial@medianova.co.za Socials Western Cape socials@thepropertymag.co.za Socials Gauteng socials@thepropertymag.co.za Socials KwaZulu-Natal socialskzn@medianova.co.za Hot Property hotproperty@medianova.co.za

...a broad range of wide-plank solid oak flooring.

Published monthly in three regional issues: Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Current ABC Audited Circulation (Q2 2010, April – June) Western Cape – 27 662, Gauteng – 27 976, KwaZulu-Natal – 17 928, Total Nationally – 73 566 Web Stats: Unique Page Impressions – 37 589; Number of Property Club Members – 23 368 Amps Audited National Readership (2010A) 370 000

Property DECOR PEDERSEN + LENNARD: FURNITURE WITH A TWIST

WESTERN CAPE

Property

GAUTENG

Property

KWAZULU-NATAL

DECOR PEDERSEN + LENNARD: FURNITURE WITH A TWIST

GUEST EDITOR REAL ESTATE RAEL LEVITT, CEO, AUCTION ALLIANCE

OGILVY DURBAN’S FUNKY DOCKSIDE WAREHOUSE

OGILVY DURBAN’S FUNKY DOCKSIDE WAREHOUSE GUEST EDITOR REAL ESTATE RAEL LEVITT, CEO, AUCTION ALLIANCE

HISTORICAL

HERMANUS

HOME SOUTH PELHAM

Songbird Simphiwe Dana’s ﬁrst home • Real estate heavyweights speak out: What’s really happening in SA • Hout Bay: The truth behind the drama

THE HOUSE OF

STEEL

STYLE, QUALITY, SPACE

LOMBARDY ESTATE

AND GLASS

DECOR PEDERSEN + LENNARD: FURNITURE WITH A TWIST

A Somerset West eco-marvel

& Health Spa

Songbird Simphiwe Dana’s ﬁrst home • Real estate heavyweights speak out: What’s really happening in SA • Hout Bay: The truth behind the drama

GUEST EDITOR REAL ESTATE RAEL LEVITT, CEO, AUCTION ALLIANCE Songbird Simphiwe Dana’s ﬁrst home • Real estate heavyweights speak out: What’s really happening in SA • The Midlands awakens from its slumber

On this month’s covers Western Cape: South Pelham, Hermanus. +27 (0)82 801 5252, hpsrealty.co.za Gauteng: Lombardy Estate & Health Spa, Pretoria. lombardyestate.co.za KwaZulu-Natal: Prime Property – Somerset West Eco-Marvel FSC Certification No. SGS-COC-006653 Disclaimer The publisher and editor of this magazine give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised within this edition. Copyright Media Nova (Pty) Limited. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Media Nova (Pty) Limited. The publishers are not responsible for any unsolicited material.

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P. LE GRANGE & SEUNS/SONS

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37 Paarden Eiland Rd, Cape Town Nick Gluckman: 021 510 2846 - 082 555 4611 nicholas@oggie-sa.co.za - www.oggie-sa.co.za #!0% 4/7. s */(!..%3"52' s $52"!. s '!2$%. 2/54%

Rottingdean Rd, Camps Bay - Oggie Oak Legno Living Range (15/4 x 220 x 2200)

Technology Coordinator Jean-Paul Siljeur

ED’S LETTER

A brave new move Photograph Ruvan Boshoff

And introducing … the new-look Property Magazine. Yes, we’ve done some renovations of our own, and we hope you find them as refreshing and inspiring as we do. In the words of Nancy Astor (the first woman to sit as a member of parliament in the British House of Commons), the main dangers in this life are the people who want to change everything or nothing. With this in mind, we’ve tried to take the middle road, so that all your favourite elements of The Property Magazine will still be intact, but there will also be so much more.You’ll notice that our pay-off line on the cover has also been changed to read ‘decor, trends, luxury, design and real estate’, to explain more concisely exactly what we are all about. Take cognizance of our fresh new page design, which we’ve aligned with the latest, worldwide, cutting-edge magazine design trends. I’m really excited to introduce a new concept to the magazine, in which we invite a major industry player to guest-edit our ‘Real Estate’ section. We believe this will add some valuable insight to these pages, and enable some experts to make their mark on our magazine. Auction Alliance CEO Rael Levitt, this month’s guest editor, is one of South Africa’s most innovative businessmen and has managed to take the SA auction industry to a whole new level. We are very privileged to have had his valuable input on the year ahead for property. There is also more enlightenment on this issue from some other prominent figures in the South African real-estate industry, who gave us their in-depth opinions on what’s really going on – it’s a must-read for anyone thinking of investing in property at the moment. Most importantly, though, we’ve designed the magazine so that you, our readers, can be fully involved with us on an interactive basis. Use our website links in the magazine to find out more about our stories or view more photographs and interact with us where possible. The phenomenon that is social networking isn’t going away – just ask Time magazine, which named Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg as its Person of the Year for 2010, beating out even WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. With this in mind, we invite you to use our Facebook page to find out what we’re up to daily, and let us know what you like – and what you don’t. The days of passive readership are over!

If you haven’t yet, you really should…

ONLINE SUBSCRIBE Turn to page 61 for our special offer. VISIT Browse thepropertymag.co.za for the latest features. FOLLOW US on Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/thepropertymagazine twitter.com/thepropertymag 0861 765 833

Sandy Welch, Editor

Take your kids to these two great,

Check out Donald Greig

Join the Bascule Whisky Club.

child-friendly restaurants. As a

Sculpture’s new foundry at the

Situated at the Cape Grace, Bascule

parent, it’s always a huge relief to

V & A Waterfront. It gives you

Bar has a collection of over 400

discover restaurants that cater for

the opportunity to get up close

whiskies from all over the world to

kids. ‘Organic’ and ‘children’ are

to the bronzing process and

choose from, and membership entitles

not words that sit well together.

watch the artists at work. Donald,

you to store whisky in a private

That’s why I was amazed to ﬁnd

who is the fourth generation

cabinet with your own engraved

that green restaurant Eight at Spier

of the Charles Greig Jewellers

name plaque on it, private whisky

is also kiddie friendly. Tiny ‘baby’

family, uses a process known as

tastings, advice on purchases and

hamburgers served in colourful

lost- wax casting, which dates

a personalised cut crystal whisky

buckets, miniature frying pans for little

back 5 000 years. His works are

tumbler. +27 (0)21 410 7082,

ﬁsh and chips – it’s clever, imaginative,

world renowned and feature in

capegrace.com

and you might even be able to

some prominent homes around the

persuade your kids to eat something

country. It’s a fascinating place to

healthy! At Knife at Crystal Towers

visit. +27 (0)21 418 4515,

Hotel (pictured left), an authentic

donaldgreig.com

American-style steakhouse, kids get to wear a tiny plastic apron, and choose meals off an animal-shaped chalkboard. Food is served creatively, in pint-sized portions. Eight, +27 (0)21 809 1188, spier.co.za; Knife, +27 (0)21 551 5000, knife-restaurants.co.za

10 | February 2011

THE PROPERTY MAGAZINE

You tell us Property involves us all. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your

*0,% (

LETTERS

view? Email letters@thepropertymag.co.za FLUSHED

LETTER th

You were very brave to feature an article about that marvellous monument to architectural impracticality and public offence, the infamous Werdmuller Centre, in Claremont. As distinct from sculpture, architecture should inherently be about creating an enjoyable and/or functional space for people. Being kind, I suggest that Roelof Uytenbogaardt considered neither of these aims, but may have designed that ghastly building for his own academic purpose, which was to encourage his students to think unconventionally and take risks. That the appearance of the Werdmuller Centre (aptly abbreviated to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;WCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) was unanimously condemned by people on all levels of education and from every ethnic group proved its supreme failure in line and form. It comparably failed utterly to attract custom for its tenants. To access the above- ground level required of one to ascend an exposed incline surfaced with slippery slate, such that when it rained, pedestrians, apart from getting drenched, had to hang on to the rail in case they slipped. Alternative access was by dingy back stairs almost customised to the needs of muggers. Nearly all the fenestration was implacably hostile towards retail display. Successful retailing is enormously dependent on position. The logistics of the WC worked as comprehensively repellent to the public, especially to those hurriedly passing through the station. A really good architect should be able to get away with an adventurous or unorthodox concept, provided the users of the edifice feel comfortable to do their work or shopping in and around it.The WC unfortunately illustrates

of the Mon

the old adage, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Those who can, do; those who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, teach.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not in the business, but I hugely enjoy your magazine. Tim Anderson Cape Town

GREAT SCOTT! Greg and I want to thank you for featuring us in your â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Architect Profileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the November issue. Compliments to you and your team for putting together a really well-written article; we have had nothing but very complimentary feedback. Comment has been forthcoming from the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;rightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; people. This again goes to show that you have the people that count reading your publications. Thanks again, and we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see you again at the next Property Dinner. Greg Scott, Director, Greg Wright Architects Cape Town

MAINTAINING AN OPINION Every month I read your magazine with great interest, as property is a passion of mine. You frequently run articles about architects and the role they play. But once all the glitz and glamour of design and construction are over, a property needs to be maintained in order for it to have a long lifespan and look good at all times. This might not be as glamorous a role as architecture, but it is vital to the property industry. It would be great to see an article on prominent businesses in the property maintenance sector, as many readers out there still donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how important it is that they maintain their properties properly. Etienne de Villiers Cape Town

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HOT PROPERTY

HOT space

A mature Bree Usually overlooked in favour of Long Street – its vibrant and edgy neighbour – Bree Street has come of age and proven itself worthy of a place on Cape Town’s map of sophisticated cool.

Design, decor and interiors The past year has seen a host of new decor and interior shops, showrooms and consultancies opening their doors along Bree Street, in and among the existing stalwarts. World-renowned JVB Furniture Collection, whose sister store is in London, has its flagship shop on Bree Street. AVOOVA, whose locally produced ostrich egg designs are popular as souvenirs and gifts among tourists and locals, can be found further down the street. There is also trendy design specialist and importer, Twiice Group, and the sustainable-furniture showroom of Cabinetworks. The recently opened La Grange Interiors is a must for internationally sourced furniture and decor pieces. And for a turnkey service, from architectural to bespoke furniture design, visit John Jacob Zwiegelaar’s John Jacob Interiors. La Grange Interiors, +27 (0)21 422 1967, lagrange.co.za 2JVB Furniture Collection, +27 (0)21 426 5321,

j-v-b.com 3John Jacob Interiors +27 (0)21 422 0105, johnjacobinteriors.com 4Twiice Group +27 (0)21 487 9060,

Visit thepropertymag.co.za for more

twiice.com AVOOVA, +27 (0)21 422 1620, avoova.com Cabinetworks, +27 (0)21 422 3830,cabinetworks.co.za

information on Cape Town’s trendiest spaces.

12 | February 2011

Words Genevieve Fisher Photographs Ruvan Boshoff

HOT PROPERTY

Food, wine and coffee Like the synergy of design, decor and interiors, the trio of food, wine and coffee flow just as obviously and fluidly through the hustle and bustle of one the CBD’s main arteries. There are, of course, the old favourites, including Jardine Restaurant and Bakery, whose coffee and pastries have garnered a cult following, the quaint Birds Boutique Café and importers of artisanal beer, & Union. The new kids on the block are French Toast Wine and Tapas Bar, Piroschka’s Hungarian-German Kitchen (a lunchtime eatery specialising in flammkuchen, a variant of pizza) and Escape Caffé. All three are all perfectly positioned to add tremendous impetus to Bree Street becoming a serious foodie destination in the city. Crust Cafe, +27 (0)21 422 2222, crust.co.za 2French Toast, +27 (0)21 422 4084, frenchtoastwine.com 3Piroschka’s Hungarian-German Kitchen, +27 (0)21 425 7635,

piroschka.co.za 4Birds Boutique Café, +27 (0)21 426 2534 5Escape Caffé, +27 (0)21 422 1325, escapecaffe.com & Union, +27 (0)21 422 2770, andunion.blogspot.com Jardine, +27 (0)21 424 5640, jardineonbree.co.za

February 2011 | 13

HOT PROPERTY

HOT PLATE MICHAEL BROUGHTON is the award-winning chef at Kleine Zalze’s Terroir Restaurant.

Cape Town’s restaurant scene continues to impress, with a host of new eateries opening their doors and some firm favourites getting revamped. We select a few of the best.

Here he gives us a sneak peak into his favourite room at home … His kitchen.

Q What do you love most about your own home kitchen?

I love the wide-open space and the open-plan feel. I can cook up a storm and at the same time have eye and voice contact with friends and family sitting at the dining room table or at my kitchen counter. I love the huge wooden work surfaces, with lights directly above the longest of them. I often sit at this counter late at night, perched on a stool, poring over my recipe books, sifting through ideas and waiting and hoping for the next idea to germinate. It’s my favourite place in the house.

Q What are a few cooking essentials all aspirant foodies should have in their kitchens?

You have to have some toys in your kitchen to really impress your guests. A digital thermometer is my favourite gadget for

One (circus) ring to rule them all Madame Zingara is working her magic on four renowned Cape Town restaurants and cafés, giving them

a timely makeover. The ‘princess of daytime cafés’, Café Mozart, in the centre of the CBD, will be given a

preparing that ultra-tender pink lamb shoulder.

new lease of life, as will Café Paradiso in Kloof Street. The Bombay Bicycle Club, also in Kloof Street, and

I cannot live without my stick blender, the

Vredehoek’s romantic little restaurant on the hill, The Sidewalk Café, have also joined the Zingara family.

quickest and handiest tool for whipping,

Madame Zingara, madamezingara.com Café Mozart, +27 (0)21 424 3744 Café Paradiso, +27 (0)21 423 8653

blitzing and puréeing. My KitchenAid takes the

The Bombay Bicycle Club, +27 (0)21 423 6805 The Sidewalk Café, +27 (0)21 461 2839

stress out of whipping, whisking and mincing.

Q If you had to choose your last meal, what would it be?

I’d start with a glass of Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 1996 bubbly while nibbling on blini with Oscietra and sour cream, then move on to simple pasta with loads of langoustines, a little chilli, fresh tomato, garlic and a touch of cream. Next: a juicy loin of pink lamb with Parmesan and tomato sauce, loads of olives, artichoke, garlic and basil. I’d end off with a few scoops of well-made dulce de leche ice cream. Overlooking the Company’s

Q Champagne and oysters or beer and braai?

Garden, Trees Restaurant has recently opened on the ﬁrst ﬂoor of Townhouse Hotel & Conference

I have four weaknesses in life: beer, butter,

Centre. With its ﬂoor-to-ceiling

braai and bread. Braaiing is the best way to

windows and views of the lush

entertain in summer – good friends, the kids

greenery, Trees makes you feel like

swimming in the pool while watching the sunset, turning the meat, hearing the sizzle … Delicious! +27 (0)21 880 8167, kleinezalze.com

14 | February 2011

Bird’s-eye view

you’re perched on a branch above the city. Now that’s something to tweet about! +27 (0)21 465 7050, townhouse.co.za

HOT PROPERTY

HOT STUFF

These are our latest picks of fashionable summer goods, to be enjoyed while the temperatures are still soaring.

LEATHER BOUND The Seraphine Sandal by Missibaba is on every fashionista’s hot list this season. Made from the ﬁnest leather sourced from South Africa and Argentina, the range draws inspiration from this summer’s keyword: colour – and lots of it. +27 (0)21 461 1083, missibaba.com

Tables is tops

New to the winelands dining scene is Tables at Nitída. Specialising in free- range organic fair served al fresco among the idyllic scenery of Nitída wine estate, this is where you want to go to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. +27 (0)21 975 9357, tablesatnitida.co.za

SUMMER SHADES Brazilian fashion design guru, Alexandre Herchcovitch, has teamed up with MYKITA eyewear design specialists to create a collection of trendy unisex sunglasses in – for lack of a better term – eye-popping colours. Available at Extreme Eyewear. +27 (0)21 425 0913, extremeeyewear.co.za

Je t’aime, Makaron

Majeka House in Stellenbosch is celebrating Valentine’s Month and the christening of its new restaurant, Makaron, with a week-long Michelin-star foodie experience. From 7 to 15 February, guests can enjoy the culinary genius of French Michelin chef Aurélien Gransagne, who’ll be teaming up with Makaron’s head chef Anri Diener for the occasion. +27 (0)21 880 1549, majekahouse.co.za

BAG IT Coveted brand Cartier has unveiled its latest bag. Comprising top stitching, art deco design and plush textures – leathers or woollen fabric – and patterns, the Cartier bag is the epitome of French style and allure. Available in three sizes (large, medium and small), it is a timeless accessory. Find it at Boutique Cartier Sandton City. +27 (0)11 666 2800, cartier.com

February 2011 | 15

HOT PROPERTY

HOT DESIGN NICHOLAS HLOBO Visual artist Nicholas Hlobo is one of six extraordinary rising artists taking part

Hot on the home furnishings and decor front this month are local and international products to help you add some panache to your pad.

in the international Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative 2010– 2011, through which he’ll be spending a year in a mentoring relationship with renowned visual artist, Anish Kapoor.

Q Was there a defining moment in your youth when you decided you wanted to be an artist? There were no art or drawing classes in my primary school in Transkei, but by the time I was eight or nine years old, I was already drawing. When I was 11, people started telling me I’m an artist. After school I came to Jo’burg, trying to get into music by joining a band, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought, so I let it lie. I worked at a cement factory, but in every spare moment I was sketching. I decided I had to do something different with my life. It was clear I was interested in doing something creative, so I started studying ﬁne arts the following year.

Q Describe your artistic vision.

last. Being South African, and coming from a

At home with Iman

country that is often described as Third World,

Hertex Fabrics. Inspired by global culture and modern design aesthetics, the Iman Home range combines

we have to show that we are proud of our

exotic elements with the utmost sophistication – just like the supermodel herself.

country, and create art that demonstrates this.

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I want to make each artwork better than the

African supermodel Iman has launched her new range of home fabrics, Iman Home, available exclusively from

The Xhosa culture doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Referencing it is my way of telling a story – a South African/human story that many have told before – in a way that is fresh. In doing so, I’m introducing isiXhosa into high culture and art, elevating its status.

Q What was it like to meet Anish Kapoor?

I studied him at several points in my university career and admired his work. Before meeting

and conﬁdent as an artist. He asked why I

Ethereal textiles

wanted to become a protégé when clearly I

available from Marlanteak. Her well-known

had found a direction for my art. I explained

boulders have been adapted for outdoor

that people in South Africa thought I had got

use thanks to their being treated with

what I wanted. But I felt that I had not found

resin, which makes them water-resistant.

what I was looking for – that would take a

The range of boulders and charming

lifetime. I wanted to learn wisdom from those

hanging nests complements Marlanteak’s

like him, who have a better understanding of

outdoor furniture range perfectly.

the art world and of creating art.

+27 (0)21 425 3817, marlanteak.com

opportunity to learn a little about him. He was interesting and exciting, and very comfortable

rolexmentorprotege.com

16 | February 2011

Ronél Jordaan’s felt products are now

Compiled by Genevieve Fisher

him I decided to simply be myself and take the

HOT PROPERTY

HOT DECOR

Towards the white light

New from Miele is the White Collection of appliances, in line with predicted trends for 2011. Previously the domain of stainless steel, white appliances are the next big thing in kitchen accessory design, providing kitchens with a chic and contemporary aesthetic. +27 (0)21 946 3148, miele.co.za

Hot Milk

Baby’s bedtime just got a whole lot more glam! The new range of Soho Cots by contemporary baby furniture specialists Milk Deco comes with an array of customisable options, from size to the artistically designed decals. Countrywide delivery. +27 (0)82 855 2925, milkdeco.co.za

Love in a wingback

The Love Chair from Robert Thomson adds a colourful touch to indoor and outdoor spaces. This baroque-style wing chair is imported from Italy, is made from moulded polypropylene and is durable and comfortable. What’s more, it comes in almost any colour you can think of. +27 (0)87 150 4749, robert-thomson.com

Mine and yours

Practically green

New to Limeline’s collection of

Italian designer furniture and home accessories is MyYour. The brand’s

Made from plywood

products are made from polyethylene,

(sourced from

resulting in distinctive lightness, and are

sustainable forests) and

available in a variety of colours.

environmentally friendly

+27 (0)21 424 8682, limeline.co.za

solvents and hardware, this shelving unit, known simply as the Adjustable Level Shelf is hot on our list of ecologically responsible local decor. The company responsible

affordable products as

The big ‘O’

well as on its low energy

Coricraft has us reeling with pleasure. Available in

use during manufacturing.

black and shades of pink, they’ll add the ﬁnal touch

+27 (0)21 447 9262,

to a romantic boudoir. 0861 114 779,

isleoftrees.co.za

coricraft.co.za

for its production, The Isle of Trees, prides itself on

The new range of organza scatter cushions from

February 2011 | 17

HOT PROPERTY

HOT STUFF

LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!

Turn your home into a high-tech playground.

The Crestron iPanel installs

cleanly around the iPad thanks to seamless integration via the iPad docking connector. It includes a stylish tabletop docking station charger, and allows for fully wireless tabletop and portable touch-panel operation.

Its intuitive nature makes

the Crestron iPanel easy to use for the whole family. It is also suited to the

The Crestron iPanel is a

device that allows you to control

commercial sector where, for example,

your home with ease. With the

it can be used in a boardroom to control

Apple iPad’s intuitive interface

projectors, screens, audio and lighting.

combined with the quick-access buttons on the Crestron iPanel, you can easily control lighting, climate, music, television … even curtains. It also communicates wirelessly with your home theatre system. Although the device is portable, it should ideally be placed in a high-trafﬁc area in your home. On the kitchen counter, for instance.

Available from Nuru Intelligent Homes nationwide. +27 (0)21 461 9519, nuru.co.za

ENTERTAINMENT

Out and about in February.

WHAT’S ON The Last Word Valentine’s Package, 1 – 28 February To celebrate the month of love, The Last Word group of hotels has introduced a Valentine’s package for the whole of February, including a two-night stay with bed and breakfast at one of their hotels as well as other romantic surprises. +27 (0)21 794 6561, thelastword.co.za

Mummenschanz, 22 February – 10 April Swiss theatre troupe Mummenschanz is back in SA. Catch them at the State Theatre in Pretoria from 22 – 27 February and at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town from 1 – 19 March as they transform common

CULTURAL CONTAGION In February of every year, Cape Town is transformed into the backdrop for public art performances that take place in the most obscure contexts – think performers abseiling down buildings in Church Square! Infecting the City 2011, presented by The Africa Centre, is set to energise, shake up and fascinate Cape Town from 21 to 26 February 2011. The theme this year is ‘Treasure’, and the event is aimed at exposing and uncovering Cape Town’s and South Africa’s hidden troves of culture, tradition and heritage. +27 (0)21 422 0468, infectingthecity.com

objects and materials into fascinating visuals and portray everyday situations with side-splitting humour. +27 (0)83 915 8000, computicket.co.za

Robertson Valley’s Hands-On Harvest 2011, 25 – 27 February From grape-stomping to wine-tasting, this year’s event is set to be fun for the whole family. +27 (0)23 626 3167, handsonharvest.com

18 | February 2011

MY FIRST HOME

A songbird’s

Words Genevieve Fisher

NEST S

wan-like and regal, Simphiwe Dana describes the first house she owned with romantically charged adjectives and phrases: ‘curvy’, ‘roundedness’ and ‘with the smell of jasmine wafting through the windows in spring’. She is talking about her house in the quiet neighbourhood of Orange Grove, Johannesburg, where she lived before relocating to Cape Town for – what else? – love. ‘When I first moved to Orange Grove, I rented a house nearby to the one I bought. Every day I’d walk past it, and from the moment I laid my eyes on the house, I knew I had to live there. I loved the old- school roundedness of it, and I later found out that it was built by an Italian some 20 to 30 years ago and had been renovated by all the previous owners. I loved the front garden, and when I finally bought it I was pleasantly surprised by the back garden with its pool area and deck,’ she says. With music being an integral part of her life, Simphiwe feels nostalgic when she thinks of her lively get-togethers in the house. ‘I love hosting people, and the house in Orange Grove saw many evenings of lavish dinners, friends, live musicians singing and playing the piano and, of course, Salif Keita and Busi Mhlongo as background music. My friends and I would

also engage in heated debates. I miss it a lot.’ Simphiwe has a string of accolades to her name, not only for her music but also for fronting a Woolworths’ ad campaign. ‘It was amazing, dancing to Pata Pata with Tata Desmond Tutu and Lucas Radebe – there were good vibes all round,’ she says. Last year saw the South African Music Awards-winning artist releasing her third album, Kulture Noir, to much acclaim, as well as making the move to Cape Town. ‘I had been in Jozi for too long and needed a change. So when I fell in love with someone who wanted to make a life in Cape Town, I jumped at the opportunity.’ She now lives in Oranjezicht, in a house she describes as ‘not as exciting as my house in Orange Grove’. As post-production of her live DVD is being wrapped up, Simphiwe says she’d love to spend more time at home. ‘The house I live in now is more modern than the one in Orange Grove, and I’ve painted it beautiful colours. Whereas in my previous house my favourite room was my bedroom, in this house it has to be the kitchen – I absolutely adore it and really should use it more,’ she says. When asked what inspires her, Simphiwe says reflectively, ‘A concern for the human condition … Of course, starting with my own.’ With these last words, we’re sure that this songbird’s kitchen is only just warming up, and more lively memories will be created at her new nest in Cape Town.

What the agents say Orange Grove is situated 15 minutes from the Johannesburg and Sandton CBDs, and is a very accessible area, perceived as being halfway between the northern and southern suburbs. Mark Goldberg of RE/MAX Central Norwood says the last eight or so years have seen average prices in Orange Grove triple in value. ‘It is also a culturally eclectic suburb with a vibrant mix of people – Jews, Muslims, West Africans and South Africans all live side by side, giving the suburb a distinctly cosmopolitan atmosphere,’ he says. ‘People living in Orange Grove are not short of things to do. Norwood, renowned for its restaurants and coffee shops, is a stone’s throw away and has an active community policing programme that also serves Orange Grove, accounting for the secure feeling of the suburb. The newly reopened Norwood Shopping Mall is also nearby, while Melrose Arch and Rosebank are only 10 minutes away.’+27 (0)11 853 5400, remax-central.co.za

February 2011 | 19

Photograph of house by Hessel Pole. Photograph of Simphiwe by Nick Boulton for Gallo Record Company

Considered to be this generation’s Miriam Makeba, Simphiwe Dana’s belief in love led her to make Cape Town her home.

LUXURY WIN

WIN

Prize valued at over R45 000!

Chic city

ESCAPE PROPERTY IS GIVING YOU AND ONE GUEST THE CHANCE TO WIN A THREE-NIGHT STAY IN A TWO-BEDROOM SUITE AT CORAL INTERNATIONAL CAPE TOWN. WORTH OVER R45 000, THIS STUNNING PRIZE INCLUDES FLIGHTS, TRANSFERS AND MEALS*.

ith its white beaches, sunshine and countless entertainment options, Cape Town is the playground of South Africa’s well-to-do and modish. And when in the Mother City, where better to stay than at the new chic and sophisticated five-star Coral International Cape Town hotel? Dramatically located in the historic suburb of Bo-Kaap at the foot of Table Mountain, Coral International Cape Town exudes understated luxury and style. From the oversized high-back chairs at Al Nafoora restaurant and the black grand piano contrasting with the light marble floor to the black and white wallpaper with just a hint of gold, the decor is simply beautiful. The elegant, plush interiors and excellent facilities are topped with the very best of everything, including personalised service and breathtaking views. The rooms and suites are generously proportioned and provide a relaxed ambience, and with amenities such as 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton linen being provided, you’re guaranteed the best sleep in the city. Facilities include a fitness centre and salon, a Mercedes or Bentley for airport transfers as well as valet, childminding and butler services on request. There is something to satisfy every sense, from sight to sound, touch, smell and, above all, taste. The hotel’s mouthwatering cuisine ranges from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern to authentic North Indian prepared and served in the traditional manner in the hotel’s signature restaurant, Mezbaan. Al Nafoora offers all-day dining in an outdoor area on

tree-lined Buitengracht Street, while the Al Zaeem Shisha Lounge and Restaurant recreates the tradition of Middle Eastern meze and shisha. And don’t forget to satisfy your sweet tooth at Patchi Boutique Chocolatier, which is situated within the hotel. +27 (0)21 481 3700, coral-capetown.com *Prize includes: • Domestic ﬂights from Johannesburg or Durban • Airport transfers • Breakfast daily • Two dinners valued at R500 each (one dinner at the hotel’s signature Mezbaan Indian Restaurant and one dinner at the hotel’s Al Nafoora all-day dining restaurant or Al Zaeem, including shisha) • VIP treatment (including a welcome hamper and Patchi Boutique Chocolatier hamper). To stand a chance of winning, tell us the name of one of the three restaurants at Coral International Cape Town. Email your answer to readers@thepropertymag.co.za, quoting ‘Coral International’ in the subject line.

*The competition closes on 28 February 2011. The prize is valid for six months, excluding peak seasons and school holidays, and is subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

20 | February 2011

PRIME PROPERTY

Glass act Architect Vernon Head has turned a seemingly impossible dream into reality for a visionary young couple by building them an eco-friendly home out of steel and glass. Words Melanie Farrell Photographs Adriaan Louw

Lighting was one of the crucial considerations in the design of the home, and at night the house comes alive.

Some of the key architectural elements can be seen in the main living area – ‘glass walls’, split levels and huge sliding doors that let in the light.

PRIME PROPERTY

he house doesn’t give much away from the road: a low- key boundary wall and some low- pitched roofs is all that is visible. But enter the sliding front gate and you’re in for a surprise: at eye level is a dramatic glass bridge that links the two sides of the house, giving you a clear view across False Bay. The Vernon Head-designed home in Boskloof Eco-Estate in Somerset West is a high-impact house with a low-impact eco- footprint. When the owner discovered the eco-estate five years ago, he and his wife fell in love with it. ‘Our dream was to build a house that was completely integrated with the surrounding fynbos,’ says the owner.‘We bought a 1 100m2 plot with magnificent views and we drove around Cape Town for two months looking at building sites with inspiring designs and found one with Vernon’s name on it. When I took him to the site for the first time he was in awe and absolutely silent for about five minutes. He enjoyed the 360º views, listened to the abundance of birdlife and said: “I will build your dream house!”’ ‘Our brief to Vernon was simple, if contradictory,’ the owner adds. ‘We told him we wanted a glass house that was completely private. We wanted to make the most of the scenery and views, but we are very private people, so we didn’t want to be overlooked by our neighbours.’ Architect V ernon Head says, ‘The owners told me they wanted a glass-and-steel house that met the eco-estate’s strict design guidelines and gave them complete privacy. I also had to work with a steeply sloping plot. But this is where creativity comes into architecture. If you give me a flat plot without any restrictions and just say, “Build me a house”, it doesn’t challenge me. ‘I went with a classic Cape Dutch H-plan but I gave it a modern twist. The H-plan enabled me to create two private courtyards, one at the front of the house and the other at the back, for entertaining. By doing this I was able to give my clients their all-important privacy and make extensive use of the “wow” factor that comes from using glass as a structural material. ‘When you walk along the glass bridge between the two sides of the house you feel as if you’re walking outside. The use of glass also gave me the scope to do inventive things with lighting because there are so few solid walls within the house to block light. At night

the house really comes alive. Lighting, for me, is a crucial element in design. A house must be designed for day and night; good lighting will draw your eyes to features outside the house when it’s dark,’ says V ernon. ‘I used the sloping plot to my advantage,’ he continues. ‘It gave me the opportunity to work with different levels in the house. I like to use split levels, where there is double- volume room to define spaces, in keeping with the German concept of “Raumplan”. For example, in the lounge and dining area, which is double volume, the lounge is sunken so as to distinguish it from the dining and kitchen area. I also built a “false chimney” to help define the living areas (the eco-friendly biofuel fireplace doesn’t need a flue).’ The extensive use of glass “walls” within the private courtyards creates a unique interaction with the outdoors. When the weather is fine the 3m-high sliding doors in the main courtyard are pulled back to

Temperature control is a consideration due to the extensive use of glass, and Vernon has allowed for this in his design. Standard safety glass has been used in the construction, while see-through blinds are used to regulate the temperature.Vernon has also placed small windows at the side of the big panes of glass to allow for a throughflow of air. ‘The house is constructed in a north-west direction, which allows the living-area wing to utilise the sun in winter to warm it while the bedrooms stay cool. In summer – thanks to small ventilation windows, block-out blinds, soft fabric curtains, roof overhangs above the main bedroom and the high ceilings in the living area – the hot air is allowed to escape. Only one air-conditioning unit was installed, in a back room where the baby sleeps, for consistent temperature control.’ ‘With almost all glass panes being sliding doors, the house can open up entirely to embrace the indigenous garden. We have the feeling of being in nature all year round,’ says

‘Our brief to Vernon was simple, if contradictory: we wanted an eco-friendly glass house that’s completely private.’ remove all barriers to the outdoors. The owner laughs. ‘It’s a bit like luxury camping,’ he says. The house has ample accommodation for the owner, his wife, their two-year-old daughter and newborn son and the owner’s two kids from his first marriage. There are five bedrooms, most of which have en-suite bathrooms and sliding doors to the outside, as well as a playroom. The master suite has a magnificent open-plan bathroom and bedroom and the bath sits on a pedestal above the bed with a panoramic view of False Bay. ‘This is where my wife likes to enjoy a sundowner,’ confides the owner. ‘I prefer the shower – it allows me to enjoy the magnificent views.’ The size and scale of the house have been extended to include custom-made doors that reach from floor to ceiling. Clean lines are everywhere, from the tall mirrors hiding builtin cabinets in the bathrooms to the floating staircase leading to the second floor.

the owner. ‘As a family we love the outdoors and enjoy camping. It was always our dream to be living in harmony with nature, waking up in the morning and hearing the birds and having guinea fowl and buck walking on our grounds. With the almost-seamless inside/ outside flow of the house, this was made possible.’ Coloured glass has been used throughout the house as wall cladding, providing colour that is in keeping with the extensive use of glass. For example, the guest bathroom has electric-blue glass walls, and a dove-grey glass panel in the kitchen has been used as a splashback above the sink. ‘Glass is a great material to use as a wall finish as it reflects light. Dark glass can act as a mirror, making a room appear bigger that it is,’ says Vernon. The house also has windows in some unexpected places: in the kitchen there’s a low window above the sink; another window is at foot height in the dining room, where it frames restios growing outside. ‘Windows

placed at unusual heights can act as living art,’ explains Vernon. He adds, ‘I encourage my clients to use environmentally friendly finishes in their houses, so for this house the owners found recycled wooden parquet flooring. They wanted a wooden floor as opposed to hard tiles, and I don’t like using endangered woods in the houses I build, so the parquet – some of it originally from Parliament – is a nice compromise.’ ‘We like the fact that with all the modern glass and steel of the house we have an older element in the aged wooden floors,’ says the owner. ‘It balances the hard edges.’ ‘My wife and I had all the furniture custom made, from the 7,5m-long curtains to the glass-enclosed bathtub and from the kiaat- wood wall unit in the lounge to the floating wine gallery,’ adds the owner. ‘We tried the conventional route, but it just didn’t feel right. The house needed interesting yet minimalist design to highlight all the special features Vernon had come up with.’ ‘I like to advise my clients on garden design too,’ says Vernon. ‘I’m the vice- chairman of Birdlife SA and I believe that architecture doesn’t have to destroy suburbia. If indigenous plants are grown it is possible to create a green corridor for wildlife, even in built-up areas. Your garden can be a mini nature reserve.’ The owner adds, ‘My wife did all the landscaping and designed the indigenous garden herself. Plus we’re surrounded by the beautiful preserved fynbos of the estate. We’re fortunate in that there is a green belt both behind and in front of the house. This gives the impression that our garden is much bigger than it is in reality.’ Vernon has made it his mission to redefine green luxury housing. ‘I believe that there is a demand for luxury green homes such as this one and therefore I have formed Livissimo Future Homes to cater for this market. It is possible to build high-end, eco-conscious homes using smart technology. This house has various environmentally friendly features, such as a standard solar geyser, but I am looking into building homes using photovoltaic cell technology in roofs and windows. Livissimo homes will use natural light and ventilation, incorporate rainwater and grey-water systems and have LED lighting. This will enable houses to be almost self-sufficient and have a much smaller eco-footprint than the luxury homes currently being built.’

Visit thepropertymag.co.za for a look at other

With thanks …

extraordinary homes across the country.

Vernon Head Architects, Vernon Head, +27 (0)76 569 1389, info@livissimo.de

February 2011 | 23

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We like the fact that with all the modern glass and steel of the house we have an older element in the aged wooden floors. It balances the hard edges.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 24 | February 2011

PRIME PROPERTY

Opposite Recycled parquet flooring softens the modern lines of the minimalist kitchen that flows effortlessly into the dining area. This page, clockwise from top left The master suite with its magnificent open-plan bathroom; the glass-enclosed bath tub rests on a bed of pebbles, while the shower is unenclosed; views across the pool to the sea; one of the private courtyards, ideal for entertaining guests or soaking up the summer rays.

February 2011 | 25

INSIGHT

26 | February 2011

INSIGHT

Words Thabang Mokopanele and Sandy Welch

The State of

SA REAL

ESTATE

The Property Magazine posed some probing questions to six of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading real-estate industry players. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s their take on everything from coping with the recession to dealing with BEE compliance and government training requirements.

February 2011 | 27

INSIGHT

The panel Peter Gilmour, Chairman, RE/MAX of Southern Africa Samuel Seeff, Chairman, Seeff Property Services Andrew Golding, Chief Executive, Pam Golding Properties Lew Geffen, Chairman and Co-Owner, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Berry Everitt, CEO, Chas Everitt International Property Group Keith Wakefield, CEO, Wakefields Estate Agents

he past 12 years have seen the South African real-estate market boom and bust, but never lose its resilience compared to its global counterparts. While 2009 was a particularly bad year for the industry, with the number of registered agents dropping from 80 000 to 36 000, 2010 seems to have seen some more positive movement. To date, SA real estate is worth R4- trillion, with the residential property market taking the majority share at R2,12- trillion (IPD). But there are some major challenges facing the industry. Here’s how some of the captains of industry plan on meeting them.

How is your company faring at the moment? Peter Gilmour: Although 2009 was a bad year for us, things definitely turned in 2010. Sales are up by 40%, and in October we had our best sales month since 2007. The upper end of the market has slowed because of people’s price expectations and credit limitations, but the middle market – in the price range of R1-million and R2,5- million – is strong, particularly in Gauteng, which has outperformed Durban and Cape Town. Samuel Seeff: In general, 2010 was a better year than 2008/9, and we are now proceeding along the X-axis of an L-graph, which I believe will continue well into 2011. At the height of the property boom there were 40 000 property transactions being registered at the Deeds Office each month. In 2010 the average was 16 000/month. There was certainly greater demand than in the previous two years, due to interest rates being at their lowest levels in 35 years, but this did not translate into finalisation of sales, because of the banks’ far stricter lending criteria. Andrew Golding: I am very satisfied with the performance of our group in the current environment. In 2010 we saw our number of sales increase by 20% off the 2009 lows, and this in an environment where house price values have, at best, remained flat. We are anticipating achieving sales turnover of approximately R12-billion for the financial year ended February 2011. Lew Geffen: Our brand aims at a very specific market where the average price point is R2,5-million and our clients, in the main, are professionals. This category of the market has done exceedingly well

over the past two years. At the end of 2008, we saw sales volumes drop by 50%. In the 2008 – 2009 year, property sales volumes increased by 48% on the previous year and in the 2010 year-to-date we have seen a further increase in volumes of sales of 30%. I’d say house prices in this market have increased modestly by about 7% since the beginning of this year. Berry Everitt: The year 2010 will be remembered as the year in which stability returned. We saw the number of competitors declining, so were able to sell more and keep our costs firm, and our profits for financials for 2010 were positive. Our agents have adapted well to change, and we have managed to secure quite a few agents from other companies, enabling us to increase our market share in certain suburbs. Keith Wakefield: The KwaZulu-Natal market picked up by around 23% in 2010. There are buyers in all price segments of the market, although the highest demand and the most activity is in the affordable segment, from R400 000 to around R1-million. However, there has been very little increase in property prices, and in many instances there is still a lot of overpricing.

How many agents and offices do you now have compared to 2008, and what is your target here for end-2012? Samuel Seeff: We have had very little fallout in terms of our offices and agents. In 2010 we increased our presence in Jo’burg South, Bedfordview and Edenvale and in Hillcrest and Kloof in KZN. There has also been a number of changes of ownership of existing licences, but we’ve kept the footprint across SA the same.We are currently at about 1 200 agents, slightly down from the peak of 1 300 in 2007/8. We currently have in excess of 220 offices nationally. Peter Gilmour: At the end of 2009, we ended the year with 1 400 agents. At the end of 2010, we were up to 1 700, which percentage-wise is the biggest growth of agents for the past 10 years. The last time we grew so much was in 2001. We sold 20 new franchises in 2010 and saw the growth of nearly 300 agents. In terms of the RE/ MAX family, it makes us as the biggest growth

‘The drive to professionalise the industry has been accepted as good for all involved.’ Samuel Seeff, Chairman, Seeff Property Services

28 | February 2011

region percentage-wise in the world out of 70 countries. Seeing that the industry regressed as a whole in 2010, we are very proud of this. Berry Everitt: To date we have 840 agents, and at the end of 2007 we had over 1 000. Most of those who left were lower-level agents. Andrew Golding: The Pam Golding Property Group has just under 300 offices at present – a figure that has not varied much in recent years. Staff complement is currently approximately 2 500, having been reduced by about 500 in 2008, at a time when the market saw sales contract sharply. Lew Geffen: Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty has increased its national footprint by 12% since the recession. The company is on a growth path in 2011 and over the past three months we rolled out four franchise operations. Keith Wakefield: Wakefields Estate Agents currently has 390 estate agents of which 75 are interns recruited during the year. During the downturn Wakefields did lose a number of estate agents including those who retired. The company fared better than others because it is an independent real-estate company that is able to provide a support system for its agents and because of its internal training.

What have you been doing differently to cope with the recessionary climate? Andrew Golding: Having been in the industry for more than 30 years, we’ve observed that each downturn in the market has some similarities to previous downturns, as well as some new features. We have focused on sticking to what we know – the marketing and sales of the country’s premier real estate through service excellence. We have also focused on key aspects, such as training, and are constantly introducing marketing innovations, including the use of new media. Samuel Seeff: First, externally, we have needed to counsel sellers regarding their pricing expectations. Many property sellers are still holding out in trying to fetch 2007 prices, and we have needed to steadily adjust these perceptions. Second, internally, as we have always had a lean operational model, we have been fortunate in that we have not needed to make too many adjustments to overhead and personnel. We have used this opportunity to cement some key positions in the group. Berry Everitt: One of the strategies we followed was to make sure we understood the meaning of the word ‘stakeholder’. Our communication was well managed and we created an environment in which it was easy

INSIGHT for our agents to provide quick and relevant information to our customers. Our national advisory councils helped guide us through the tough times, so we could best service our customers. Peter Gilmour: Training has been a big priority. Over 600 agents have gone on a real-estate course I brought in from the US. We have positioned ourselves very strongly in the distressed property space and created a special department to work purely on this sector. About 15% of sales in 2010 were distressed, and our banking partners indicate that up to 40% of all sales in 2011 will be distressed.We are launching a course to teach our agents how to deal with distressed sales, from helping people to keep their homes to dealing with the psychological implications. Lew Geffen: It’s the age of technology and social networking. Information is giving us

‘In terms of the RE/ MAX family, RE/MAX of southern africa is percentage-wise the biggest growth region in the world out of 70 countries.’ Peter Gilmour, Chairman, RE/MAX of Southern Africa

challenge is one that has to be solved and all stakeholders are currently engaged in finding workable solutions. Peter Gilmour: We have a Level 4 BEE rating as a company, which I believe is the highest in the real-estate industry. We now have over 250 agents of colour, and we have 25 franchises either owned or managed by black agents. We are very focused on this

‘The year 2010 will be remembered as the year in which stability returned.’ Berry Everitt, CEO, Chas Everitt International Property Group

better insight into what is happening in the marketplace and where we need to hone our skills, and it identifies our client base. Case in point, one of our agents sold a home to the lead singer of the Parlotones, Kahn Morbee, by accessing Facebook. Keith Wakefield: More than representing a successful, long-standing family business and our values, the backbone of the brand is service to our clients. Being a wholly owned real-estate company rather than a franchise is a strength and has many advantages that further underpin service and client confidence. The current economic climate and the challenge it has thrown at estate agents is a case in point: our managers and directors bring their vast experience, including that of previous downturns, to bear on the business.

How BEE compliant are you? Andrew Golding: The unfortunate reality is that despite many industry players’ efforts, transformation in the residential sector has been slower than desired. Given the commission-only based remuneration structure that the industry operates on for agents, it is very difficult to attract new black talent when other industries offer a less-risky alternative. This is further compounded by the current recessionary state of the market and the fact that the barrier to entry in the residential real-estate industry has been raised with the introduction of a new curriculum for estate agents. The transformation

issue, and have been selling in areas where no one wants to do business. We are positioned and focused to take transformation forward from 250 to 500 agents of colour next year. We will be running training programmes to help and mentor new and existing agents. Lew Geffen: We are trying our best to transform our company. One of the biggest challenges facing the industry at the moment is that the barrier to entry is so stringent that we are getting far fewer applications from all race groups than ever before. Still, we are establishing innovative programmes that go right to grassroots to promote transformation through our training academy, The Learning Institute, to focus on developing black entrepreneurs. Samuel Seeff: We are not BEE compliant at this stage, but we are looking at understanding the requirements of the Property Transformation Charter (PTC) and assessing our situation accordingly. At one stage the company had roughly 15% people of colour in the workforce. This has been

‘It’s the age of technology and social networking. we sold a home to the lead singer of the Parlotones by accessing Facebook.’ Lew Geffen, Chairman and Co-Owner, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty

February 2011 | 29

INSIGHT reduced dramatically with the downturn of the economy. I believe that the main benefits we will see coming through will be far greater mentoring and assisting of those previously disadvantaged who are coming into the industry. Berry Everitt: We are ambassadors and proponents of the PTC, and while we believe it could have had slight practical changes, we have however, made provisions in this department, because we believe it’s positive and necessary. We have 108 companies, so from a scorecard perspective, each has to achieve targets. We are focusing on aligning our scorecards and making sure all the pillars are adhered to. It has been one of our biggest priorities, but has been difficult to achieve in the recession. Keith Wakefield: More than 50% of Wakefields Real Estate consultants are black and 70% of our consultants are female.

How are the government’s RPL qualification for the realestate industry affecting you? Samuel Seeff: Most agents and principals who wish to remain in the industry will have completed their Recognition of Prior Learning requirements by the end of 2011. The drive to professionalise the industry has been accepted as good for all involved. Berry Everitt: I hope that Seta has enough moderators to cope with it, because it is behind schedule. I’m comfortable we will meet the goal though, because the majority of our agents have done the course, and over the next three months a lot more are scheduled to go through. It’s good to have a standard, although I have to caution that academia doesn’t necessarily create salespeople. It’s all about having the right attitude. Andrew Golding: In 2000 we established the Pam Golding Training Academy – one of the first institutions to become a Services Seta-accredited training provider, and accredited to offer the new NQF Level 4 certificate qualifications introduced by the Department of Trade and Industry. At the start of 2009 we introduced a comprehensive training programme by incorporating the new curriculum within our own training programme and our process of accreditation

‘in 2010 we saw our number of sales increase by 20% off the 2009 lows, and this in an environment where house price values have, at best, remained flat.’ Andrew Golding, Chief Executive, Pam Golding Properties of all PGP agents. All agents will have completed the RPL programme nationally within the deadline of December 2011. Peter Gilmour: I foresee this causing the number of registered agents to drop off even further towards the end of 2011. Getting the whole industry qualified by the end of next year will be a big thing, seeing that to date only about 25% have completed the qualifications. Will there be enough trainers available? On the positive side, at least by 2012 all agents in the industry will be qualified and the standard of service delivery will be raised. RE/MAX is currently investigating having all its courses recognised as official training. Lew Geffen: Our agency is on top of it. All our people are qualified through our Learning Institute, but I am still worried about the lack of future entrants. Keith Wakefield: We have registered the Wakefields Training Academy with the Services Seta and appointed Lindsay Gartrell, the first assessor in the country to be registered with the Services Seta for the real- estate industry, to ensure that all our agents meet the new required qualification. As many as 80% of Wakefields’ estate agents have successfully completed the course, while the remainder are finalising their studies.This has clearly refocused their knowledge and improved their professionalism.

What effect will the new consumer Act havE on industry? Samuel Seef: In general, the legal advice given has been that the transaction between buyer and seller will in all likelihood not fall within the realms of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). But estate agents will need to be far more focused on ensuring that their marketing to their clients falls within the ambit of the Act. Estate agents have to comply to the code of ethics according to the Estate Agency Affairs Board, and many of

these provisions that regulate our behaviour are found within the Act and as such should not present too much difficulty in the way the industry operates. Berry Everitt: From a consumer point of view, it’s a world-class act, but I believe it simply follows on from the code of conduct of the Estate Agents Act, which our company already follows, so it won’t be a big change. I think it will mostly affect developers, and agents selling developments will have to be aware of the new clauses. Peter Gilmour: The Act impacts our franchise agreements, so we have already worked on changing these. Other than that, I don’t think it will affect us too much. We already get sellers to disclose any problems they are aware of in the house and sign it off to avoid any comeback. Lew Geffen: It’s good for the industry, as long as it doesn’t go overboard in terms of restricting advertising to the extent that all puffery is challenged by the consumer. Genuinely misleading advertising is out of the question. In terms of pricing parameter advertising, it should be allowed because it is an invitation to do business and is no different to the auction business. Andrew Golding: Agents will need to ensure that their mandates comply with the provisions of the CPA and take cognizance of, for example, the consumer’s rights to plain and simple language, and include provisions for a cooling-off period where applicable. Agents also need to ensure that their direct marketing practices comply with the requirements of the CPA. Keith Wakefield: There may be some implications with regard to mandates but these will be clarified on publication of the regulations.

Where do you see the future of the real-estate industry, and

‘More than representing a successful, long-standing family business and our values, the backbone of the brand is service to our clients. ’ Keith Wakefield, CEO, Wakefields Estate Agents

30 | February 2011

how Do you see the way you do business changing over the next five years? Keith Wakefield: The future of real estate is positive due to the new education requirements, which I believe will result in a more favourable public image, something that is well overdue. There may be fewer agents going forward, but those who remain will be knowledgeable professionals able to provide excellent service to the public. As far as we are concerned, we will continue recruiting in 2011 and are in a strong position to recruit rookies because of the training we offer. Samuel Seeff: I believe the next two years are going to be tough in terms of trading, unless the banks relax their stringent lending criteria. So we need to ensure that we focus on doing ‘the basics’ well. Technology will play an increasingly important role. Berry Everitt: I’m not looking as far ahead as five years – the industry is too dynamic for that. I’m planning for the next 12 months, but we review and reassess all positions every three months and take short- term interventions. Our structures are pliable, and we create an environment in which people feel comfortable by providing the correct access to data and systems and focusing on making sure our business model is not one or two dimensional but flexible for what’s required. Peter Gilmour: I have lots of expectations for next year, although I think property demand will remain flat for most of the year. I see the number of distressed properties increasing significantly. I believe 2011 will mark the beginning of accelerated BEE transformation in the industry and that the South African property market and the economy as a whole will largely be governed by external forces over the next 12 months, including move towards currency strength by emerging markets and the continuing recessionary climate in Europe and the US. Service delivery and transformation will become paramount to success. Andrew Golding: There are many expansion plans, locally and internationally, and in particular on the African continent. We plan to add about 10 to 20 offices a year for the next few years, depending on specific market conditions. This is likely to represent an increase of between 150 and 250 new agents per annum.

the NEIGHBOURHOOD

Lost in the woods

Words and photographs Ed Suter

Hout Bay is popular as an affordable seaside suburb, but competing demands for resources are pushing the area to the brink.

This page Riders at the Hout Bay Riding Centre. ‘Slow down – Horses’, is a common street sign in this seaside suburb.

February 2011 | 31

the NEIGHBOURHOOD

n a beautiful, clear day, with no trace of the infamous south-easterly wind, a speedboat whips across the sea below Hangberg on the slopes of the Sentinel. ‘There has always been talk of Hangberg being a mini Monaco, a rich man’s paradise,’ says Greg Louw, spokesperson for the Hout Bay Civic Association, an organisation formed 10 years ago to address issues facing the Hangberg community, as he watches the speedboat zip past another boat taking tourists for a trip around the bay. While some parts of Hout Bay could be described as having a touch of Monaco about them, in particular the luxurious homes in the Hanging Meadows estate with their views over the Atlantic, Hangberg, a low-income area predominantly settled by those working in the fishing industry, could by no stretch of the imagination be thought of as being one of them. If further illustration of this fact is needed, Greg is standing among the rubble where, in September 2010, the City of Cape Town pulled down dwellings constructed above the mountain’s firebreak, on land belonging to Table Mountain National Park. (The dispute is currently under mediation). At the same time as these illegal dwellings on the mountainside were being pulled down, in a piece of sociopolitical irony in which this country excels, environmental

on a 34ha site (of which 16ha have yet to be developed). In conversations with residents of Hout Bay, Imizamo Yethu is the topic most frequently raised, and most think they are getting a raw deal as a result of its existence. Those who live in Imizamo Yethu feel they are being used for political gain by different political parties but see little improvement in their living conditions. White residents see the township as the source of the water pollution that has resulted in the sea at Hout Bay beach being declared out of bounds. And coloured residents feel they are being sidelined by housing policies that give priority to Imizamo Yethu residents while their much longer association with the area is ignored. The Residents’ Association of Hout Bay (RAHB) is facing the challenges on a number of fronts: opposing the new estate development, which the association’s chairman, Len Swimmer, calls ‘an upmarket elite development for the very wealthy’, and working with the Hout Bay and Llandudno Environmental Conservation Group’s court action to get the City of Cape Town to decant 5 000 households from Imizamo Yethu to another site. Of the influx of residents to Imizamo Yethu, Len says, ‘The only way for Hout Bay to cope is to ensure capacity is decreased.’ In response to the proposal for the new housing estate on Erf 3 477, he counters,

‘The crime in Hout Bay is no more than other areas, but it has this stigma, and it is this stigma that has kept Hout Bay affordable.’ Stephan Cross, Seeff Properties permission was being granted by the Western Cape’s environmental and development planning department for the construction of a luxury gated estate to be built on the slopes of the Karbonkelberg, alongside Hangberg. Hout Bay, which its residents often describe as a ‘village’, and is only accessible from three different mountain passes, is at once the epitome of an idyllic neck of the woods looking for ways to expand, and a microcosm of many of the issues facing contemporary South Africa. In this racially divided city, it is unusual to have the three different communities of blacks, whites and coloureds, with their three vastly different standards of living, in such close quarters to each other, in one area. Imizamo Yethu, an informal Hout Bay settlement of predominantly migrants from the Eastern Cape, has been growing in size since its origins in the late 1980s to now accommodate approximately 40 000 people

‘The development is totally inappropriate on the urban edge. Our appeal is that there is no right for development there. It should not be there in the first place.’ The RAHB is one of 14 organisations, including the site’s developers, that have lodged an appeal against the environmental authorisation for the development on Erf 3 477. The developer, Elegant Square Trading, is appealing against the province’s reducing the development from 35 single residential properties and two general residential properties (for group homes) to 21 single properties and two general properties (for a further 26 homes). The project as it now stands is considered by Elegant Square Trading to be uneconomical. In its appeal, it says a new development on the mountainside ‘will ensure that this portion of Hout Bay will be maintained and not fall prey to speculative squatting and the spread of informal development’.

Opposite Yachts moored at the Hout Bay Yacht Club. The harbour is the epicentre of trade and tourism in Hout Bay. This page, top right The view over the bay from Hangberg, a predominantly coloured community mostly employed in the fishing industry. Bottom right The Mainstream Shopping Centre, an upmarket mixed-use development.

February 2011 | 33

The NEIGHBOURHOOD As one commentator on IOL’s website put it, ‘What is better – developing the land properly or letting it go to a land-grab?’ Len says in response, ‘This is hardly a reason to grant development on the urban edge. We heard the same cry in 1990 from developers who eventually built the Beach Club residential development right on Hout Bay beach.’ The conflicts in Hout Bay crystallise the issues of land and access to natural resources in South Africa. Everyone, it seems, wants a piece of Hout Bay. Louise Reister, a property consultant with RE/MAX Properties, says Hout Bay is so popular because of its affordability and its centrality. The area is particularly popular among young families with children, as well as with ‘swallows’, who are drawn to the ease of owning a property in the gated estates mushrooming in the area. Louise says, ‘What is unique about Hout Bay is the huge variation in properties, from the entry-level homes to the R25- million homes, compared to an area such as Clifton, where everything is priced so high.’ There is nowhere else on the Atlantic Seaboard, she says, where you can find a three- bedroom, two-bathroom family home with garden and swimming pool from as little as R1,5- million. Entry-level homes in an estate, of which there are now many in Hout Bay, begin at R3,5- million and stretch up to R25- million. Stephan Cross, an agent with Seeff Properties, agrees that Hout Bay is still affordable for young families, and puts this down partly to the perception of its crime levels because of the proximity of Imizamo Yethu. Stephan says, ‘Crime in Hout Bay is, in fact, no worse than it is in Constantia or Camps Bay, but it’s got a stigma of having more crime than anywhere else, because it has the informal settlement. Stats will reveal that most crimes committed in Hout Bay are not committed by residents of Imizamo Yethu, but by people coming from other settlement areas. The crime in Hout Bay is no more than in other areas, but it has this stigma, and it is this stigma that has kept Hout Bay affordable.’ Despite what everyone else believes – that Hout Bay is a village – Stephan thinks that is an outdated assessment. ‘Thank God the word “republic” has fallen out of use a little bit. People do still seem to think it’s a village, but I think it has very much outgrown its “village” status. I have been here 13 years, and it is nothing like it was when I got here. It has expanded hugely.

It’s only now we are seeing upmarket, modern apartment blocks being tabled and having the possibility of being profitable. Six years ago you wouldn’t have been able to do it, because no one would pay for an upmarket, sexy block in Hout Bay.’ The village atmosphere may be more of a reflection of a widely praised sense of community in the suburb. Spiro Ragavelas and his family moved from Johannesburg to Hout Bay, and earlier this year they opened Spiro’s, a popular Greek restaurant on Main Road. Sitting in the restaurant’s blue and white courtyard, Spiro says, ‘It’s more like a family-orientated village. On Sunday we had a street braai, and the whole street got together and all the children were playing. I had never done that in my life in Jo’burg. I didn’t even know my neighbours in Jo’burg for 10 years. It’s a different way of life here.’ Louise calls Hout Bay ‘a very community- driven village, where people are really actively involved, working together to keep crime and pollution at bay’, and adds that 97% of ratepayers are involved in the area’s recycling programme. The perennial popularity of Hout Bay among tourists revolves around its harbour, where, alongside the catches of tuna and crayfish that are regularly offloaded, tourists can take boat trips out into the bay, eat fish and chips, and watch a man trying to engineer a Cape seal into the sea with a shopping trolley. A high point is a visit to the beautifully restored Hout Bay Manor hotel, whose Pure restaurant serves locally sourced fusion cuisine in surroundings of almost monochromatic shades of putty and grey and decorated with Gregor Jenkin’s striking, oversize lamps and screens made of driftwood. Hout Bay’s origins lie in its ability to supply the Dutch settlers with timber from its plentiful sources, until its forests were quickly exhausted. It then became a supplier of fish, its ocean floor once described as being a ‘red blanket of crayfish’. Today, that too is a depleted resource, and the introduction of fishing quotas has left Hangberg’s fishermen facing a difficult future. The focus now is on that most precious of resources: land. The question of how land should be fairly distributed in this area, a place where the standard of living for white residents is no different to many other areas of Cape Town, yet brought into sharp relief because of the proximity to the overcrowded and impoverished conditions of their neighbours, is both urgent and, as a last resort, may only be decided by the courts.

Top left to right A walkway in the grounds of Hout Bay Manor; window-cleaning at the Hout Bay Gallery, where works by contemporary South African artists are displayed. Middle right Homes in Hout Bay with views across the Atlantic Ocean. The sea is frustratingly out of bounds due to high levels of E. coli. Bottom right A Hout Bay home. Today, houses in gated

With thanks to …

estates are much in demand in the suburb.

Hout Bay Civic Association, Greg Louw, +27 (0)73 954 1293 RE/MAX Properties, Louise Reister, +27 (0)21 791 7040, remax-prestige.co.za Residents’ Association Hout Bay, Len Swimmer, houtbay.org.za Seeff Properties, Stephan Ross, +27 (0)21 790 1032, seeff.com

Visit thepropertymag.co.za for more information

Spiro’s, Spiro Ragavelas, +27 (0)21 791 3897

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34 | February 2011

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DESIGN

Much has been made of the relative youth of Luke Pedersen and James Lennard, but there’s no denying their fresh look at form and function has timeless appeal.

‘We want to be known as a design house rather than carpenters.’ Luke Pedersen

36 | February 2011

DESIGN

YOUNG GUNS Words Vicki Sleet

Photographs Anth

ony Friend

‘OUR DESIGNS ARE ABOUT THE PLACE WHERE HAND MEETS MACHINE.’ James Lennard

Design duo James Lennard and Luke Pedersen have found a niche with their practical furniture designs, including the Bucket Stool (front), which has become practically iconic.

February 2011 | 37

DESIGN

eeting James Lennard and Luke Pedersen at Field Office, their new showroom and coffee stop in a gritty east city street, I find the industrial space a fitting stage for their contemporary, Scandi- influenced pieces, many of which feature an element of recycling. I recognise their iconic Bucket Stools from the get-go. They’re just as striking in real life as in the many pictures I’ve seen in local decor magazines, and Luke happily explains that the product has been developed in conjunction with a township- based metalworker who manufactures each zinc bucket by hand, delivering them by the bakkie load, ready for their reincarnation as a coveted style statement. The buckets have certainly helped the Pedersen + Lennard star to rise – it was the first product they released, and so far they have produced in excess of 200. In fact, a shipment bound for Paris has just left, says Luke. Sitting at a table that’s part of their Ingvar range (inspired by the designs of Swedish super-brand IKEA and named for its founder, Ingvar Kamprad, aka ‘the father of flat-pack furniture’), I get the low-down on these two 20-somethings who met at the then Cape Tech in the industrial design faculty, went their separate ways to travel and study abroad and met up again to hone their skills and create a workable business model and fully fledged design studio. Pedersen + Lennard was launched 18 months ago, and in a relatively short time

the duo has garnered an enthusiastic response from the marketplace, getting orders from architectural firms, hotel designers, retailers and a number of interiors experts keen to add a sense of pared-down chic and an element of surprise to the spaces they’ve conceived. ‘We’re still a little surprised at our relative success, but we’re pleased that our commitment to designing things our way is being met with such enthusiasm,’ says Luke, who is the ‘front of house’ arm of the business, with James something of a brainiac behind the scenes, devising computerised ways to eliminate wastage from laser-cutting and managing the manufacturing and production process in their Salt River factory.

explains Luke, the son of a practically minded pastor who bought his tool-mad son his first hacksaw at the age of two. Laughing, Luke says, ‘My mom used to collect all her broken appliances and take them with us on holiday. It would keep me busy for the whole time we were away.’ For James, with both his father and grandfather in architecture, his departure from the world of bricks and mortar was perhaps unexpected, but it has made all the difference. ‘I often ask my dad his opinion about different designs, and he has even started commissioning some of our work for different projects, so we’re connected on that level,’ says James who’s also spent time

‘There’s a distinctly utilitarian signature to their work, and a strong focus on clever storage solutions.’ The pair were group project partners during their studies, a time both spent immersing themselves in the how-tos of a myriad manufacturing processes, and though they have clearly defined roles in their business, they work closely together on the design and format of their products. ‘My family is originally from Denmark and James’s dad is an architect, so that probably explains the Scandinavian influence and the strong emphasis on form and function,’

in a forge learning the craft of metalwork in his desire to understand the process behind design rather than just the finished product. The pair started off as they mean to finish: first, they are committed to producing items that have some level of eco-pedigree, and though this can add to the price, they’re adamant that ‘made in China’ has no place in their world; second, they’re sticking to their guns. ‘We want to be known as a design house rather than carpenters,’ says Luke,

citing Michael Graves, Ross Lovegrove and Tom Dixon as inspirations. ‘Those designers are sought after because of their approach to design, and that’s how we’d like to be known,’ says Luke.. Their Ingvar range is an exercise in sustainable South African pine, while one of their newest offerings, the Elizabeth wardrobe, makes use of oriented strand board, usually a ‘behind the scenes’ product, but, says James, ‘we really liked the textured look of the wood and it’s great to work with – after a light sand it’s totally smooth and very beautiful’. There’s a distinctly utilitarian signature to their work, too, and a strong focus on clever storage solutions, no doubt also influenced by their ages. Like many of their contemporaries, they live in relatively small spaces, and finding furniture that’s both easy on the eye and hard working is no mean feat. ‘For transportation and practical reasons, a lot of our designs are flat-pack, which added a whole new design challenge to things which we really enjoyed. Our designs are about the place where hand meets machine and our challenge is to make this practically and financially viable,’ says James. Each of their 35 seating, lighting, storage and table designs is a neat, practical solution to an everyday problem. I imagine that in an increasingly complicated world, demand for such products will rise. Pedersen + Lennard couldn’t be more perfectly placed. pedersenlennard.co.za

Pedersen + Lennard’s designs have an unmistakably Scandinavian streak to them. Like IKEA, their furniture is at once simple, practical and beautiful. Among their furniture solutions are (from left): the Elizabeth wardrobe, made from oriented strand board; the plywood-based, Formica-topped Ingvar café table and dining chair; the Tree coat rack; a TV trolley; the unambiguously named Three Shelves; and the stunning, pared down Strand couch.

38 | February 2011

THE BLACK TIES

hen three of South Africa’s premier entertainers came together to start something new, a little magic happened along the way … Ladies and gentlemen, we’d like you to meet The Black Ties, starring Lloyd Jansen, Keeno Lee and Chad Saaiman. Entertaining, mischievous, charming, witty and – above all – fun, The Black Ties are the ultimate cover band, taking you on a lyrical journey through the music of Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Earth, Wind & Fire, Lionel Richie, Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé and many more! With ith a penchant for old-world charm and an eye for contemporary trends, The Black Ties bring the best of both worlds to the stage or dance floor. No venue is too big to be intimate, or too small to be fun, when the atmosphere, the energy and the music are … well … just right.

To book The Black Ties for your next event, please send an email to bookings@stereotyperecords.co.za or call Lee on +27 (0)82 889 1292. We look forward to hearing from you soon! theblackties.com | stereotyperecords.co.za

SHOW DEVELOPMENT

Fact box • The property is 2 480m2 in size and has its own borehole and salt-water heated pool. • The main house comprises four and a half bedrooms with four en-suite bathrooms and is 365m2 in size. • At 65m2, the one cottage is perfect for accommodating guests and the other, at 57m2, is ideal as a manager’s cottage. • Selling price: R11,5-million

A HISTORICAL HIDEAWAY This impeccably maintained Hermanus homestead is a living ode to the history of the area. Words Genevieve Fisher Photographs Ruvan Boshoff

40 | February 2011

SHOW DEVELOPMENT

Opposite South Pelham, Hermanus offers a lifestyle of serene luxury. This page, top left to right The living area, adapted to modern conveniences; one of four sumptuous bedrooms in the main house; breezy seaside decor; the huge farmstyle kitchen with quaint window seats. Bottom left to right A landscaped Eden redolent with the scents of indigenous fynbos, and the saltwater pool.

ike many small towns in the Western Cape’s Overberg region, Hermanus has a deep sense of history that visitors often forget when making the 90-minute trip to this vibrant holiday destination. Once a sleepy fishing village along the shores of Walker Bay, today Hermanus has become the fastest-growing town in the Overberg area, where just 65% of residents at any given time call it home. In the last couple of years the town has seen a lot of residential and leisure development in the form of golf estates and hotels as well as commercial development, including new restaurants, bars, coffee shops and small businesses. But scratch a little deeper than the well- known surface of the area – the clichéd sun, mountain, sea, whales and nature reserves – and you’ll find Hermanus littered with houses, homesteads and guest houses whose foundation walls and architecture are history books of the first people who settled here. One such establishment is a Cape Dutch homestead known as South Pelham, located at the end of a cobbled cul-de-sac in the well-to-do, leafy suburb of Fernkloof. Often referred to as Hermanus’s Bishopscourt, Fernkloof is a nature lover’s Eden, with Fernkloof Nature Reserve flanking the suburb, perched between mountain and sea. The properties here are reminiscent of an age gone by, with the large manor houses,

old trees and stone walls. A sense of history undulates here. Originally built by Englishman Max Michaelis, shortly after he acquired the land in 1879, South Pelham has undergone various incarnations and renovations since its inception. As it now stands, the property consists of a main house, a newly built guest cottage with wrap-around patio, a second manager’s cottage, a pool and a large garden laden with the scents of local fynbos. This house was Max and his family’s holiday home and was built to provide an escape from the growing city of Cape Town, where his primary home was located (on the grounds where SACS is situated today, in Newlands). Since Max’s death, not much has changed in the Cape Town-Hermanus dichotomy, as the majority of holiday homes here are still owned by Capetonians. South Pelham has had four owners, the most recent being a German architect and her husband, who in their 10 years of ownership of the property upgraded it to the highest standards. On arrival, it’s hard not to be charmed by the home’s quaint gables, neatly shuttered windows and cobbled driveway. Walking through the house, there’s a distinct feeling of history, although everything has been modernised and renovated to reflect current living standards. The main living areas are airy and bright and flow easily into one another. Large

cottage pane windows and doors ensure lots of light. There’s a spacious, open-plan reception room and dining area, which leads out onto the pool through cottage pane doors. The main lounge also has its own fireplace, ideal for cosy winters.The TV room has been designed with space for a flat-screen TV on the wall, and also interleads to the garden. The sizeable kitchen is in traditional farmhouse style, with ample space for a large breakfast dining table, as well as a double- door fridge and every appliance you could possibly need. Quaint built-in window seats offer the perfect opportunity for family and friends to relax and chat while the cooking takes place. There’s also a built-in eye-level oven. The four bedrooms, every one of them newly renovated, each have an en-suite bathroom with heated towel rails and glazed doors opening out onto the surrounding patio that overlooks the lush garden. Each room is the ultimate enclave of relaxation. Natural light streams through the bedrooms, reflecting off the terracotta and sandstone tiles and white walls. There’s also an angular carpeted attic bedroom (with en-suite bathroom) that oozes romance from every corner and makes you feel as if you are in your own private boudoir at the ‘top of the castle’.This is a special place, with its own wooden terrace looking out onto the trees and garden of the property as well as offering vistas of Fernkloof.

The newly built guest cottage has one bedroom with en-suite bathroom and its own wrap-around patio.The current owners, who live at South Pelham for six months of the year, built the manager’s cottage to accommodate a full- time caretaker in their absence.The cottage consists of one bedroom with en- suite bathroom as well as kitchen, dining and living areas and a private garden. South Pelham is the perfect escape for those looking for a slower, more relaxed and definitely quieter existence. John Leppan of Hermanus Property Sales comments, ‘The property is equally ideal as a permanent residence or as a lock-up-and-go for “swallows”, especially due to the possibility of it being fully managed and therefore enabling life to go on for those so lucky.’ The property is just 100m away from a 27-hole golf course, a 10-minute walk to the entrance of Fernkloof Nature Reserve and a five-minute drive to Grotto Beach and the centre of town. What more could you ask for? Not much, really. Exclusive sole agent: John Leppan +27 (0)82 801 5252, Virtual tour: hpsrealty.co.za

H HERMANUS PS PROPERTY SALES PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY PEOPLE

February 2011 | 41

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Day-to-Day Luxury Malaysia offers a vibrant, exciting and world-class holiday experience without the usual stresses of international travel. Words Tony Vaughan Photographs courtesy YTL Hotels

42 | February 2011

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Opposite The architecture at Tanjong Jara Resort is based on that of ancient Malay palaces. This page A huge beachfront Anjung Room overlooking a private garden and the ocean.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The philosophy of the resort is as unique as the resort itself. It is based on the Malay concept of Sucimurni, which emphasises purity of spirit, health and well-being.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

February 2011 | 43

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Clockwise from top left The Nelayan Pool is adjacent to the beach, near the Spa Village; take an easy stroll along the pristine beach fringing the resort; the free-form pool by Teratai Terrace, where in the evening you may enjoy cocktails and a private dining experience and take in the views of the South China Sea; loungers and umbrellas entice guests to the pool, where refreshments are served at the pool deck.

ave you ever stopped to think how tiring south-to-north travel is? Even if your budget allows a flat bed, it’s at most four hours of disturbed sleep. Sure, it’s the same time zone as South Africa (or close), but realistically you still feel whacked and weary for a couple of days. And have you then considered that you are leaving South Africa – with our beautiful, uncrowded coastline and affordable restaurants – to travel to a European destination that is more expensive, seriously crowded and often tacky? So when we were invited to visit Tanjong Jara Resort, on the east coast of Malaysia, and were sent the itinerary, I was immediately excited. A day flight – and you thought those were reserved for a Johannesburg to Cape Town hop or vice versa – fewer hours on- board than on a flight to Europe and the opportunity to get in some extra sleep

with a nap or two, after enjoying the amazing hospitality (read ‘wine’) provided by the Malaysian aircrew. Arriving early in the morning and after adjusting for the time zone difference, we found the idea of jet lag was as far from our senses as the smell of European fish and chips. After the short 45-minute flight to the resort (you may also opt for the luxurious 4-hour chauffeured drive through the beautiful countryside, with a stop or two to sample local delicacies) we arrived on the eastern side of Malaysia at Tanjong Jara Resort. Situated on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, between Kuala Terengganu in the north and Kuantan in the south, the resort itself is built on a 17ha site, some 8km west of the river town of Dungun. The staff greet you as though you were their only guest, after which they take you through the usual check- in procedures …

of course with a difference – a 15-minute back massage that makes swiping your credit card for the inevitable extras far less painful. Taken through the amazing gardens on the short walk to your suite, you see that you are perched alongside an amazing sandy beach with palm trees leaning towards the sea as if seeking a refreshing dip. As is often the case with Asian resorts, space is generous, from the balcony and bedroom to the living area and luxurious bathroom. With bedrooms finely appointed with luxury linen and those pillows that just keep on giving, you are treated to a suite experience to rival the best Europe has to offer – yet at a rate that is significantly more affordable, even for the South African rand. The resort offers 99 rooms designed in the architectural style of a typical 17th-century Malay palace, with clean lines, an emphasis on local woods and the employment of local traditional trades. The philosophy of the resort is as unique as the

resort itself. It is based on the Malay concept of Sucimurni, which emphasises purity of spirit, health and well-being. Authentic in the staff ’s extraordinary service and attitude – always warm and welcoming – it is an environment that allows you to let go, relax and take time to rediscover yourself. Dining doesn’t disappoint either, with several restaurants catering for your mood, appetite, time of day and location, from beach to pool to fine-dining venues. The Di Atas Sungai restaurant (the name is Malay for ‘Above the River’) offers an unconventional treat. There’s no menu. Guests are guided by the resort’s Menu Masters, experts in local cuisine, who provide a distinctive dining experience using only the freshest produce of the highest quality. Dragging ourselves from hammock or pillow, we returned to the airport and looked forward to our return journey – this time a night flight – and to lying back and dreaming of our next Eastern excursion.

All about YTL Tony travelled and stayed courtesy of YTL Hotels, a group that offers magical boutique experiences in Bali, Phuket, Malaysia, China, Japan and the South of France. These idyllic destinations fall within the ‘Private Client’ listing of The Roving Ambassador/Tourism Corporation Africa. The company’s preferred tour operators offering packages to YTL Destinations include: Thompsons Holidays, Sure Tours and Travel with Flair. The Roving Ambassador, +27 (0)21 426 0991, therovingambassador.co.za

44 | February 2011

PLAKA RESTAURANT. Margarita Haitas

Sean Williams Contracts is founded on the principals of outstanding furniture quality, excellent service and reliability. T he past few years have seen

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extinction by living

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ASK THE EXPERTS

DESIGNING

WOMEN

Photographs Ruvan Boshoff Shot on location MannaBay Boutique Hotel | mannabay.com

We speak to two women who are on the cutting edge of interior design.

46 | February 2011

JENNI LOUISE ART & INTERIORS

GIANT LEAP WORKSPACE SPECIALISTS

Jennifer Reynolds, Owner

Karin Lategan, Manager

What makes your company one of the best in the business? Interior design should be accessible to everyone, whatever their budgets. I’ve created five service options that offer varying degrees of involvement in the project execution: consultation, room redesign, bespoke interior design and an online design alternative suited to clients living outside Cape Town. I also offer home staging services to homeowners wanting to maximise the selling price of their property. I charge flat fees depending on the service desired, and help my clients cut costs by allowing them to implement my design ‘plan’ on their own. To meet the growing trend of incorporating art and sculpture into the home, I have launched State of the Art (stateoftheart.co.za), an online gallery offering easy access to an extensive collection of original and affordable South African artwork. I provide advice and guidance on choice of artwork, as well as on the hanging and placement of artwork. What is your company’s approach to interior design solutions? I’m committed to reusing as many of the existing fittings and furnishings as possible. Kitchen cabinetry and furniture can be refurbished, reupholstered, repainted or repurposed. Artwork can be used to create focal points. It is important to choose pieces that complement the owners’ existing collection and reflect their philosophy.

Tell us about the most exciting interior design project you’ve completed in the past year. Alexander Forbes – a project where we were involved from building evaluation phase right through to the relocation of 450 staff. The client had been in an old building in town for many years and a large part of the project was change management with the staff, by involving them in the excitement and challenges of relocating. The most exciting part of this project was seeing a space of 4 500m2 evolve to completion in nine weeks, including successfully helping so many people through the challenges. How does this project exemplify your company’s approach to delivering interior design solutions? We see the office as a key factor in any business’s success. Our philosophy is that offices need to be places where ideas are created, strategies developed and conversation encouraged. For Alexander Forbes we have designed and built an office that represents a leading and growing brand in South Africa. The interior architecture and design suit the company’s brand and position to a T. It is incredibly good-looking, highly functional and budget conscious. Your dream project? An open-minded client who is intrigued by new products and technology, especially green design, and who has the budget to implement it all.

+27 (0)21 801 4710 | propertystylist.co.za

+27 (0)21 425 2810 | giantleap.co.za

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workplace

Words Anne Schauffer Photographs Angela Buckland

The

workhouse This dockside warehouse exudes a raw energy thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part history, part blood, sweat and tears. Ogilvy Durban harnessed it, with a little help from some friends.

48 | February 2011

WORKPLACE

oint Road. Mahatma Gandhi Drive. There it is, up there on the left – a long, thin, vertical slice of blood-red paint encasing a black door. It’s Ogilvy’s advertising agency in Durban. Opposite are the docks, with all the complex fascination they hold for us – people and goods constantly on the move, massive ships manoeuvring into the port, the thuggish power of tugs, the odd pleasure boat, cars and containers, familiar names and foreign flags. It’s mesmerising. Of course, all of this could be a major distraction for the Ogilvy team upstairs, where vast windows facing onto this ever-changing scene invite in the light as much as they do this naval filmstrip; but it isn’t. It’s part of who they are, where they are. For the designers of this workspace, it was essential to integrate the agency into the environment rather than take a voyeuristic stance, so they’ve retained, even accentuated, much of the warehouse.The docks are clearly the inspiration behind the design. Ogilvy has always been up and around the Berea. With the expiration of the branch’s lease in Berea (King Dinizulu) Road and the team’s weariness of what they

drily term ‘urban decay’, the recurring breaches of security to person and property, MD John Gale juggled the wave of office options, then: ‘What about the Point?’ What about it? Fact is, much as the ratepayers and investors would like it to be different, few are progressive enough to commit to this precinct. The Point hasn’t quite lost its ‘Hell Run’ image, even though, ironically, it has an impressive safety record. Age-old perceptions die hard, but John was prepared to entertain the prospect. As Greg Dry of commissioned designers, Egg Designs, says, ‘The basic idea was not to be a typical ad agency’. So the Point worked for them on that level. It also offered creative, expanded spatial opportunities, a significant factor in their decision to move. John’s initial impression of the building was simple: ‘Very decrepit old warehouse

Opposite Enter the heart of the agency – still the vast warehouse, but with a quirky, functional layout to suit its new needs. This page, top left to right Ogilvy red; container ofﬁces inset with glass so as to retain the open-plan concept, invite in the light, yet provide quiet, private corners. Middle Up the staircase from Mahatma Gandhi Road. Below Neat staff lockers with one of Ogilvy’s out-of-the-box mottoes.

February 2011 | 49

workplace

Above left Angles, lines and shapes accentuated by the strength of the light flooding in from the harbourside. Bottom left to right It’s all in the detail; playtime at Ogilvy, as MD John Gale tries his hand at foosball; found dismembered under the stairs, he has been reconstructed and given a new lease of life.

with potential. The clincher was the staircase coming up off the street. We loved that.’ It was 2008 when Egg Designs began its relationship with the warehouse. ‘Obviously the building is king – it’s a listed one – and we addressed the interior space primarily from the location of the building within its surroundings.’ The warehouse was largely a vast vacuum, and Egg avoided the predictable choice of carving up the space with drywalling, partitions and carpet tiles. Both John and Greg are the first to admit that the global economic meltdown affected the budget dramatically. The essence of Egg’s initial concept is clearly there, but the detail has been pared down. In a sense, a smaller chequebook forced Egg Designs to think outside the box. In addition, Ogilvy International had just circulated a memo about upping the agency’s green consciousness, so recycling and reworking existing materials fitted everybody’s bill. As Greg says, ‘For us, it’s always about concept first, so that didn’t alter – it was about the location. The fact that the building is set in that old part of Point Road, with its chequered history, was the springboard for design.’The boardroom is a case in point.The location inspired a rather opulent boudoir or bordello, a dominant lifestyle element of the area – rich red curtaining and floral carpets with scroll-feminine copper-plated furniture details are a quirky surprise for clients. John’s ‘very dilapidated’ translated into the building’s requiring a new roof and some means of filling the huge holes in the floor.‘It would have been easy to lay carpet tiles,’ says Greg,‘but the need to express the honesty and

history of the building was more important. Old planks were sourced and holes filled with resins. They aren’t perfect, but that’s part of the charm. We selected certain walls to chip and expose the brickwork, which not only added warmth but also exposed the history behind the layers of plasterwork.’ The facade overlooks the docks and harbour, providing the impetus for Egg Designs’ bringing the outdoors in. Containers were installed as offices within the warehouse. ‘We used packaging pallets and crates, stripped the nails and screws, machined the timbers and laminated them to make tabletops, seating, desks, reception counters and so on – all old, yet new. We sourced weathered old doors as boardroom doors, and the office chairs are inside shells left exposed and raw,’ explains Greg. He enjoys the term ‘reductionist approach’. Egg Designs worked closely with John to determine the flow of this double-storey, double-volume space, effectively describing how an agency functions – 36 people in about 780m2. Integrated into the design is generous chill space, from the long refectory table and pub to the deck at the rear of the building and the rooftop deck, which begs for a 360º party to match the view. The space is vast and open, cleverly skirting an open-plan environment, and providing privacy without overt barriers. Light pours in, iconic Egg Design pieces swing or sing, ships pass in the night and day and, of course, Apples are everywhere. On so many levels, Ogilvy’s got the point. +27 (0)31 334 5600, ogilvy.co.za; +27 (0)31 783 4953, eggdesigns.co.za

‘For the designers of this workspace, it was essential to integrate the agency into the environment rather than take a voyeuristic stance, so they’ve retained, even accentuated, much of the warehouse.’

50 | February 2011

T ES U G R O IT ED L el Ra itt ev

Real estate

residential, commercial, auction, property funds, offshore, green building

AHEAD

It’s going to be a tough year, but keen investors should keep their eyes on properties below the R1-million mark.

he good news is that many of Auction Alliance’s predictions for 2010 were spot on. In December 2009 we stated that 2010 would be a tale of two halves – pre- and post-World Cup. And so it proved to be. First quarter results were significantly up as buyer sentiment was heightened by the upcoming event. Despite high levels of crime and a still-shaky economy, South Africa proved the sceptics wrong.

Many people predicted a glory period for property sales after the World Cup, but not us. We said that the second half of the year would be more challenging, that house price growth would be limited, with complications left by the last decade’s property boom still lingering. Again, if one looks backs at the year, this prediction turned out to be correct. In 2011 the greatest challenge for the auction industry will be to refocus on a buyer’s market still constrained by

Leisure residential properties at the coast, on golf courses and in other non- urban areas will also remain flat, with several properties being sold at auction below replacement value. Next year two pieces of legislation may have a major impact on the auction sector. The Consumer Protection Act will change a wide range of issues with regards to the auction process, mandates and sales processes; these are all designed to look after the consumer’s interests. The new Companies Act will also have a material effect, with the introduction of business recovery. This may cause an initial slowdown in liquidations as companies go through the business recovery process. The commercial property market will become two-tiered. Good properties with strong covenants and reliable cash flow will experience a surge in demand as investors look to place their cash in areas that achieve greater returns than bank deposits. Blocks of flats, retail property and key industrial sites will form the strongest part of the market. The office market will remain mild but A-grade properties in prime locations will attract strong demand on the auction floor. The auction industry will continue to grow in 2011 as sellers see it as a viable option to secure realistic offers in a difficult property market. +27 (0)21 443 6000, auction.co.za

CEO, Auction Alliance February 2011 | 51

Photograph Sam Norval

The rocky road

a shortage of demand and an oversupply of non- income- producing properties. As the country gets used to a long, hard and bumpy recovery, the economic headwinds will still be strong and unemployment rates alarmingly high. While the lowest interest rates in 30 years will boost sentiment and cause a bounce in properties with reliable cash flow, the favourable interest rate environment won’t be a magic pill that quickly relieves the downturn. Finding the right buyers at auctions and getting funding will remain challenging. Business confidence will be dependent on a host of local and international issues, including fears of a potential sovereign debt crisis in Europe. High-value bankruptcies will level off through the year, presenting opportunistic purchasing like never before seen in South Africa. As liquidators and banks offload bad debts and an oversupply of development land, a sweet spot will emerge for investors with access to financing as they pick up these assets at bargain prices. The residential property market will remain flat for most of the year, with a stronger recovery at entry level. Investors will snap up properties below the R1- million mark, which for the first time in many years will provide stronger returns than cash in the bank. The middle market will remain flat for some time as it deals with oversupply in newer residential areas. The luxury residential market across the country will remain sluggish all year, with little help from interest rates and a strong rand constraining international demand.

real estate Residential

Marina life

Even with an oversupply of property in the greater Jeffreys Bay area, erven sales in Marina Martinique, just 5km away, are increasing steadily, with 11 successful transfers having been completed since the beginning of 2010. The developer, C-Max Investments, is currently developing Bermuda Cove, a low-density development comprising 174 erven. ‘Marina Martinique has always been known for its security and very attractive lifestyle experience. It is a family holiday destination par excellence and remains one of the safest holiday options in the country,’ says C-Max Investments MD James Hinton. Also within Marina Martinique is the recently completed La Caribe development. La Caribe comprises 60 two-bedroom units, each with a full bathroom, a dining room/kitchen/living area and a balcony. According to Vernon Heunis, general manager of the Marina Martinique Home Owners’ Association, the development has set a new standard in secure marina living. ‘Marina Martinique creates a magic factor, a sense of belonging for everyone living here,’ he says. ‘Even though a large percentage of our landowners is comprised of holidaymakers, or seasonal inhabitants of the houses in the development, they all have a home away

residentia l

fact:

‘The lowest interest rates in 30 years are boosting buyer sentiment, and will cause a bounce in property prices.’ – Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance

The safe, 44m-w canals are perfecide t for family fun.

Courtesy of mblimaging.co.za

from home at Marina Martinique.’ +27 (0)42 292 0537, marinamartinique.co.za

On the bay Rialto Bay is a new luxury beachfront apartment development in Strand in the Cape. Developed by Invest Afrique in association with LKC Investment Holdings, Rialto Bay has 24 upmarket two-bedroom and three-bedroom units, priced from R1,59-million (including VAT). The apartments range from 97m2 to 230m2 in size and feature magnificent views, quality finishes (including granite kitchen counters and vanity tops, carpeted bedrooms and porcelain-tiled floors in the living area and kitchen), entertainment balconies with built-in braai, security and on-site parking. Just 30 minutes from the city centre, Strand offers all the required amenities, from good schools, malls and clinics to retail outlets and a vibrant

Never a dull moment Developed by Frank Gawenda of Gavcon and marketed by Pam Golding Properties (PGP), Angler’s Court, in Dullstroom, comprises five stylish, fully furnished private suites. ‘These brand-new units are well priced, with three units available for purchase at R820 000 plus transfer duty and the other two units priced at R1,05- million plus transfer duty,’ says PGP Area Principal Elisme Swart. Other features of the development include secure, gated access and a boundary wall. A Jacuzzi is also being installed. ‘Because these units provide upmarket, luxury accommodation, they will be rented out at R450/person per night on weekends. That is comparable to other luxury accommodation in Dullstroom,’ says Elisme. Buyers may block their units for leisure purposes and rent out them out the rest of the time. +27 (0)13 254 0205, pamgolding.co.za

52 | February 2011

Compiled by Tidi Benbenisti and Genevieve Fisher

nightlife, all within a tranquil setting. +27 (0)21 424 4325, lkcholdings.co.za

Residential REAL ESTATE

Living and loving in the City Bowl RE/MAX Living is currently marketing The Higgo Firs, a sectional-title development of 30 units ranging from studios (39m2) to three-bedroom apartments (the largest is 112m2, including a patio and swimming pool). The units are priced from R1,35- million to R5,8-million (including VAT). Gerlinde Moser, broker/owner of RE/MAX Living, says the City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard areas are growing in popularity among South Africans returning from working overseas and who want to invest in property. ‘The City Bowl and surrounds offers an excellent return on investment, and there is huge demand for short-term and long-term rental properties in the area,’ says Gerlinde. She adds that the number of properties sold in the upmarket suburbs of the City Bowl, such as Higgovale, increased in 2010, with average prices either increasing or remaining relatively stable. +27 (0)21 423 4488, remaxliving.co.za

The herby smell of success At least 40% of the units in Camphor Close, the ﬁnal phase of Melkbosch Village, has been reserved prior to launch, says Shiraaz Hassan, sales and marketing director at Asrin Property Developers. ‘We are conﬁdent that the take-up here will be as fast as that at Coral Heights,’ says Shiraaz, referring to another of the seven precincts that make up the Melkbosstrand residential development. (Coral Heights is scheduled for handover in March.) Camphor Close will comprise 39 single-storey, freestanding homes and detached two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes on erven of approximately 200m2, priced from R589 000. Asrin credits its success in Melkbosstrand to its ability to provide affordable homes in an area that, until now, has been known only for its moderately expensive houses in the middle and upper categories. +27 (0)21 713 3012, asrin.co.za

At home in the wild Own a tiny piece of indigenous paradise at Gondwana Game Reserve, near Mossel Bay. The reserve, which is set on 11 000ha of glorious ﬂora, is the only fynbos reserve in the world with free-roaming Big 5 animals. While holidaymakers can enjoy a glorious getaway at Fynbos Camp, those looking to stay longer can invest in freehold property in the reserve. Choose from ﬁve different residence camps, each of which is on 300ha and is fenced for safety, although still inhabited by plains game. The sites are all north facing to take in the incredible views across the Swartberg Mountains, and have a 1ha exclusive-use area. Following strict design guidelines, the double-volume

Shades of Burgundy

homes are thatched, have wrap-around decks and a distinct safari-lodge

MSP Developments is celebrating the success of two of its developments in

theme. All owners have full access to the reserve. There is also a luxurious

Burgundy Estate in Plattekloof: the completed Le Rouge complex and the Mode

bush lodge with pool, sun deck and conferencing and Wi-Fi facilities for

De Vie complex. Construction on Mode De Vie will commence in the ﬁrst quarter

your personal use. A rental pool has been established to ensure you get a

of 2011, says MSP CEO Riaan Roos. New owners and residents have started to

return on your investment when not using the home yourself. A full turnkey

move into Le Rouge, and there are only two units left to purchase out of 47. Mode

package, including furniture, is available from R3,5-million.

De Vie will be a 100-unit apartment complex with three professionally designed,

+27 (0)82 829 2121, gondwanagamereserve.com

tasteful interior themes. Priced from R599 900 and averaging about 60m2 in size (including patio or balcony), all the apartments will have two bedrooms, a full family bathroom (with shower and bath) and one exclusive parking bay per unit. (Ground floor apartments will have beautiful garden areas.) Burgundy Estate has easy access to the N1/N7 highway and includes amenities such as Burgundy Square shopping centre with its flagship Checkers Food store and Bunker Bar & Restaurant at the clubhouse. For the fitness conscious there are various cycling and jogging tracks as well as sports fields and the nine-hole golf course, which add to the sense of community. Construction has also started on the private school on the estate. Residents are assured of state-of-the-art security, including patrol vehicles and cameras. Plattekloof is just north of Cape Town, near Durbanville Hills and De Grendel wine estates. +27 (0)21 914 6703, mspd.co.za

February 2011 | 53

real estate Commercial

Commercia l

fact

The design will : tone for the expaset the of the Mandela nsion Bay Met area.

Hanglip service A 309ha industrial park in the Lephalale region in Limpopo Province is set to break ground in the second quarter of 2011. Developed by PDC Holdings, Hanglip Industrial Park will be situated in the industrial corridor between the Medupi and Matimba power stations, near the Grootegeluk coal mine. Area Principal for Pam Golding Properties Ellisras, Assis Pontes, says Phase 1 comprises 82 stands of between 5 000m2 and 18 000m2, with prices averaging

Anchor tenant

R610/ m2 (including VAT). ‘Hanglip Industrial Park is aimed at industries that provide services and goods to mainly construction, energy and mining industries as well as industrial end users. There are opportunities to let industrial space, and these will be tailor made

The first phase of an 80 000m2 (GLA) shopping mall complex being developed by Billion Group and

to client requirements,’ says Assis. The development

Abacus Asset Management in Port Elizabeth has broken ground. Designed by dhk Architects, Bay West

is also an ideal investment for owner- occupiers,

Mall is part of a larger multibillion- rand development of some 300ha. The completed development will

Assis adds. Commenting on the residential market,

contain the shopping mall (including more than 250 individual stores), a commercial office block, private

Assis says 10 sectional-title complexes have sprung

schools, a hospital and a residential and leisure component. Paul Krynauw, group director of dhk, says,

up in the past year, with buy-to-let investors driving

‘Our role as architects is to create a design that will blend the retail mall components into the greater

demand. The most popular units are priced at

project, setting the tone for the future expansion of the Mandela Bay Metropolitan area.’ The shopping

R662 000, generating a guaranteed rental income of

mall complex is due for completion in 2013. +27 (0)21 421 6803, dhk.co.za

R6 5000/ month, says Assis. +27 (0)14 763 1242, pamgolding.co.za

Plastic fantastic An alternative to conventional brick-and-mortar housing construction, the award-winning moladi formwork construction system promises to reduce construction costs by 40%. The plastic shutter formwork system is filled with mortar and removed once the mortar has set, allowing for quick, efficient building and making the system perfect for constructing low-cost houses. The system is lightweight, easily transportable, does not require skilled labour and shortens construction time. It has been approved by the South African Bureau of Standards as well as by the National Home Builders Registration Council.

Compiled by Andrea Firth

+27 (0)41 372 2152, moladi.net

54 | February 2011

Commercial real estate

Brave new Century Century 21 South Africa has regained its footing after the death of franchise holder Dr Duncan Gray left the local branch of the American brand ‘in limbo’. The SA branch’s new master franchise licence holder and group CEO, Harry Nicolaides, has reassured existing franchisees that Century 21 Global still views its presence in SA as crucial to expanding the group’s international presence. To this end, Century 21 SA, which was launched in 2006, has been recapitalised for further growth and has introduced training programmes for agents and franchisees as well as the National Pearl Awards for recognising top achievers within the group. The newest franchisee to join the group is Andrew Nkomo, whose mandate is

‘The demand for well-tenanted commercial property together with a sound property sector augurs well for 2011.’ – Guest Editor, Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance

to focus on the Silverton and Mamelodi areas. The Century 21 real-estate system is comprised of about 8 000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in over 73 countries and territories worldwide. +27 (0)11 455 0066, century21.co.za

Woodstock reboot The Stockyard, a new commercial development in Ravenscraig Road, in Woodstock, is set to become the area’s next IT and creative hub, with almost says Selwyn Sharon, leasing sales and investment broker for property services

Retail revolution

group, JHI. The complex comprises double-volume air-conditioned units with

RetailLab Property Advisors MD Adam Bravo predicts that

lots of natural light, and offers 24-hour security, undercover parking and a coffee

new retail developments in previously disadvantaged areas

bar/restaurant. The rents, Selwyn adds, are realistic. ‘What we are seeing in the

will eventually overtake high- income retail nodes, such as

Woodstock node are pockets of regeneration that are positive indicators of the

Hyde Park Shopping and Sandton City, as the leaders in this

future,’ comments Selwyn, referring to the development of The Boulevard Office

sector. Citing figures released by the City of Johannesburg

Park, The District, Fairweather House, Upper East Side, the redevelopment of

that show that Soweto residents have combined annual

Buchanan Square and the current construction of a new, huge University of Cape

buying power of R10,5-billion – an estimated R4,3-billion of

Town students’ residence in adjacent Observatory. +27 (0)21 417 7878, jhi.co.za

which is disposable income – Adam says retailers are ‘missing

90% of the space already let to production, IT, decor and creative companies,

out on capturing a large amount of disposable income from an ever- increasing number of middle- and high- income

New MD at Partnership

earners resident in these areas’. The Financial Services

Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana has

the funding of projects in these areas. ‘If the growth and

been appointed as the Cape Town

development strategies between developers and retailers

Partnership’s new managing director.

are correctly aligned and implemented, these previously

Previously the deputy chief executive,

disadvantaged areas will represent far greater returns, over a

Bulelwa will now be taking over the

greater period,’ says Adam.

day-to-day running of the Partnership’s

+27 (0)11 786 3635, retaillab.co.za

Charter is providing further incentive by setting targets for

operations, while also looking after new business in terms of the organisation’s mandate to manage, promote and develop Cape Town Central City. A qualified town planner, Bulelwa has extensive experience with the Partnership, having been with the organisation since 2004. She is also vice-chairperson of Cape Town Tourism, chairperson of Cape Town Grail, and is on the boards of the Cape Town Heritage Trust and Wesgro. Bulelwa says, ‘There are many exciting new projects on the go in the Central City, each with the potential to bring a new set of partners together. This will require additional coordination and alignment, and the development of new capacity and skills.’ +27 (0)21 419 1881, capetownpartnership.co.za

February 2011 | 55

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18 months. His main focus has been on

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showcasing premium properties, auctioned

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‘Several new auctioneers will open shop during the year as they look to the auction industry as a growth area.’ – Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance

First art auction for 2011 Stephan Welz & Company’s ﬁrst Decorative and Fine Arts Auction for 2011 will be held on 22 and 23 February at their auction premises at the Great Cellar at the Alphen Hotel in Constantia. Headlining

Breede River dreaming

this auction is Irma Stern’s 1935 portrait, titled

A Breede River mansion is going under the Auction Alliance hammer on 8 February at Crystal Towers

sale include works by JH Pierneef, Walter Battiss,

Hotel in Century City. No. 4 Barracouta Street is a newly built 650m2 luxury home facing onto the mouth

Pieter Hugo Naudé and Maud Sumner. There is also a

of the Breede River in the coastal town of Witsand. The home offers four spacious bedrooms, three

full complement of decorative arts available, including

bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, walk-in fridge, wine cellar and numerous wrap-around balconies. The

highly desirable collectable pieces of Scandinavian

house also contains a gym, Jacuzzi, indoor lift and underﬂoor heating, and is built on spacious grounds.

furniture. +27 (0)21 794 6461, swelco.co.za

Zulu Woman, which is scheduled to fetch between R16- million and R20-million. Other highlights of the

‘The property is 40km from Heidelberg on the N2, making it an ideal weekend and holiday escape from

Compiled by Genevieve Fisher

the bustle of the city,’ comments Ish Hendricks of Auction Alliance. +27 (0)21 443 6000, auction.co.za

56 | February 2011

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REAL ESTATE Property Fund

Better days ahead for hotel owners While many hotels – particularly the

newer ones built in the run-up to the

FINANCIAL

Soccer World Cup – experienced tough

QUOTE:

trading conditions in 2010, listed-hotel

‘The tourism m arke in SA could dou t ble in volume over the next five years. ’

owners are starting to report an uptick in room demand. AltX-listed Quantum Property Group (QPG), owner of the ﬁve-star 15 on Orange Hotel in Cape Town (pictured right) and the Park Inn by

– Chaim Cohen

Radisson in Sandton, has seen a dramatic rise in occupancies since October 2010. Executive Chairman Chaim Cohen says he is cautiously optimistic that trading conditions in the South African leisure and tourism market will improve in the year ahead. ‘Indications are that the tourism market in South Africa could double in volume over the next ﬁve years,’ he says. ‘The successful Soccer World Cup showcased South Africa’s solid infrastructure, centring South Africa on the global stage and positioning the country as a highly attractive business, conferencing and leisure destination.’

Emira sweating its assets Emira Property Fund continues to pour money into improving the quality of its R8-billion portfolio through selective acquisitions, the disposal of non-core properties and the refurbishment of existing buildings. Management is currently focusing a lot of time, effort and money on the latter. Upgrades to older buildings generally deliver good returns for shareholders, as they enable management to rent out space at signiﬁcantly higher rentals. Some seven projects, worth R161-million, are already under way, including refurbishments and extensions to Randridge Mall in Johannesburg, the refurbishment of Rigel Ofﬁce Park in Pretoria, an upgrade to Wesbank House in the Cape Town CBD and extensions to Woolworths at The Market Square Shopping Centre in Plettenberg Bay (pictured below). Emira plans on spending a further R130-million in the next 12

Hyprop propelled into the big league

months on upgrading, among others, Cresta Corner shopping centre (on the corner of Judges Avenue and Beyers Naudé Drive in Randburg). Emira CEO James Templeton says Cresta Corner is in a prime location opposite the Cresta

Plans by shopping centre owner Hyprop Investments to purchase its unlisted

Shopping Centre, but in need of a facelift. James notes that, following the

counterpart, Attfund Retail, for R9-billion will help create more funds that

upgrade, gross rentals for the ground- ﬂoor retail space should rise from around

can compete with sector heavyweights Growthpoint Properties and Redeﬁne

R83/m2 to R95/m2,

Properties, in terms of size. Growthpoint’s current market cap of R27,5-billion and Redefine’s R21,1-billion comprise more than a third of the listed-property sector’s total market cap of R125-billion. They are also the only two out of the sector’s 19 counters that have market caps of more than R10-billion. Hyprop is currently in third spot, with its current market cap of R9,3-billion. However, the Attfund deal finalised. Attfund’s portfolio includes Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort, Woodlands Boulevard in Pretoria, Cape Gate Retail Precinct in Cape Town and a 25% share in Centurion Mall. Attfund’s malls are widely regarded as a good fit for Hyprop’s retail portfolio, which includes Canal Walk in Cape Town and Hyde Park Shopping, The Mall of Rosebank and The Glen in Johannesburg. Property analysts have welcomed the tie-up between Hyprop and Attfund, as they generally like the size and liquidity offered by bigger funds. For institutions that tend to invest only in counters worth more than R10-billion, it will offer an attractive alternative to Growthpoint and Redefine. ‘There’s no doubt the Hyprop-Attfund deal will significantly raise the attractiveness of listed property as an asset class,’ says Evan Jankelowitz, director of Sesfikile Capital. Property analysts are also looking forward to the possible listing of Old Mutual’s R12-billion, retail-focused property portfolio by mid-2011.

58 | February 2011

Compiled by Joan Muller, FINWEEK Property Editor

will see Hyprop’s market cap swell to R15-billion by April, once the acquisition is

Offshore real estate

Urban action The completion of Rihan Heights, five luxurious residential towers that make up Phase 1 of the Arzanah project in Abu Dhabi, is a major milestone for its strategic planner and developer, Capitala. The 1 400 000m2 development encompasses residential, retail, commercial, sports and leisure components. The project is now officially on schedule to be completed in 2011. Rihan Heights is situated on the north-eastern corner of Arzanah, on 3,8ha of prime land. The five towers vary in height from 20 to 32 storeys and include 854 apartments and 14 villas. The buildings, which are surrounded by lush landscaped gardens and parklands, offer a range of recreational features, including a children’s playground, a gym and

offshore

fact: Arzan

ah is a US$6-billion development.

fitness suite and a clubhouse, and are protected by high- tech security and management systems. Centrally located in the Grand Mosque district, Arzanah is fundamental to Plan Abu Dhabi 2030, an urban-planning framework that aims to provide a sustainable foundation for the emirate’s growth. For its part, Capitala promises to deliver to Arzanah’s residents ‘the ultimate active

urban lifestyle’. +971 2 412 1111, capitala.ae

Mediterranean marvel Set on 110ha in the coastal town of Paphos, Cyprus, Neapolis is more than a property development – it’s an entirely new city. Neapolis Smart EcoCity will provide an integrated, healthy, smart lifestyle. The developers, Leptos Group, have set themselves the ambitious goal of creating ‘the most innovative, smart eco-city in the Mediterranean that will set standards of

‘A strong rand coupled with substantial foreign

allowance allocations opens a window of opportunity for offshore investments.’ – Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance

excellence in health care, education, research, business parks and planned green living, with an integrated blend of lifestyle, retail, entertainment and culture’. In October last year Phase 1 broke ground and the foundation stone was laid, making Neapolis the only European city currently being developed with infrastructure based on a single intelligent platform capable of accommodating green-living technology, the latest digital applications and sustainable design. With the Cyprian culture being so focused on family and good living, it is no surprise that Neapolis will contain expansive, green urban parks and themed neighbourhoods to encourage community- building. It will also have a state-of-the-art health park and hospital and an English- language university alongside the residential and commercial offerings. Michael Leptos, founder and chairman of the Leptos Group, says that with the renewed and growing interest in clean-tech and eco- friendly ventures, Neapolis Smart EcoCity is a diversified investment opportunity for any property buyer. +357 26 880 601, neapolis.com

Country charmers on the cheap Owning a home in the English countryside has never been more accessible to South Africans, says Lanice Steward, MD of Cape-based firm, Anne Porter

Compiled by Genevieve Fisher and Andrea Firth

Properties. ‘With the rand at its current levels and our UK associates, Knight Frank, reporting that UK manor houses have dropped in price by 1,3%, farmhouses by 0,6% and country cottages by 0,8% in the last quarter – with further drops to come – now is a good time to buy a lovely UK country house, if you are in that asset bracket,’ Lanice says. The more rural the property and the farther away it is from urban hubs – particularly from London – the more reasonable prices become. And if you buy in Scotland, Cornwall or Wales, you will possibly pay only 25% more than you would for a three-bedroom home in South Africa’s Constantia, Kloof or Sandton areas. Currently on Knight Frank’s books are a manor house at Poole Keynes, Gloucestershire, priced at £2,5-million, an 18th-century farmhouse (The Malthouse), in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, priced at £1,26-million and a historic, renovated thatched cottage in Newton Abbot, Devon, priced at £475 000. +27 (0)21 671 9120, anneporter.co.za

February 2011 | 59

real estate Green Building

Green gaining ground

GREEN

South Africa now has three buildings certified as earth-friendly by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). This

fact:

indicates that green building practices are indeed finding fertile ground in this country. ‘We are very excited to have awarded our first Four- Green-Star SA certifications,’ says GBCSA CEO Nicola Milne. ‘We have a large number of applications, and considering the significant task for developers to put together a submission form, the uptake and use of these Green Star Rating Tools shows that the South African property industry is ready to adopt global best practices in green building.’ The first three buildings to be certified are Nedbank Phase 2, in Sandton, Nedbank Ridgeside, in KZN, and The Villa Mall, in Pretoria. The Villa Mall is also the first building to receive

There are curren three Green Sta tly r SA rating tools.

a Four-Green-Star SA Retail Centre Design v1 rating.

‘It’s a huge achievement that South Africa is making such positive inroads in terms of Green Star certification.’ – Guest Editor Rael Levitt, CEO, Auction Alliance

Rating Africa The goal of creating a Green Building Council African Network is one step closer. Some 20 African states are in full support of the initiative,

Team effort

which was first proposed in May 2010 at the

The importance of green living has made its mark on the country’s students. A team of third-year

kind in Africa, the Green Building Council of

University of Cape Town students have taken top honours at the institution’s 2010 BSG Information

South Africa (GBCSA) has undertaken to assist

Systems Expo for their green-building management system, which they developed for ICT business

in putting together the network and support

incubator, Bandwidth Barn. The innovative system created by team members Kate Dawe, Nick

the implementation of rating tools throughout

Kuilman, Richard Pilkington and David Scheepmaker allows tenants to liaise directly with the building’s

Africa, in partnership with the World Green

administration on complaints and maintenance issues, as well as to book boardrooms and automate

Building Council (WorldGBC). The African

offices to cut down on electricity and provide an electrical analysis. BSG Information Science CEO Greg

countries involved are willing to adopt the rating

Reis says the design impresses him, because it provides tenants with a private, world-class service while

tools of the WorldGBC, but stress that the rating

reducing a building’s carbon footprint.

system must be adapted to each country’s

Green Building Rating Systems Conference in Nairobi. As the only established body of its

unique conditions. With the Green Star Rating System already modified and adapted to South African conditions, the WorldGBC is hopeful of a speedy assimilation of the rating tool throughout the rest of Africa. Bruce Kerswill of the GBCSA indicates several challenges, namely resources, training and financing. However, with support and positive feedback, the network is fast becoming a reality.

eThekwini in a first for SA The Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department (EPCPD) of the eThekwini Municipality, in KZN, together with the landowners in the Giba Gorge area (in Hillcrest, just outside of Durban), has launched the Giba Gorge Environmental Precinct. It is said to be the first special rating area (SRA) in the of the area, including the KZN Sandstone Sourveld grasslands (classified as ‘endangered’), the scarp forests (‘vulnerable’), the water sources and the many birds and animals in this ecosystem. Landowners in the area are paying an additional municipal levy towards the management of the area, and the municipality is contributing  significantly to ensure the sustainability of the forest. EPCPD Deputy Head Debra Roberts says

Environmental

much of the  natural beauty within the municipality has already been lost, giving rise to the need for multiple

Department Deputy Head Debra Roberts, Community

stakeholders to make a joint effort to protect that which remains. The project demonstrates the important role

Leader Mike Lourentz, Councillor Jaco Pienaar

communities can play in protecting and managing their natural heritage, she adds.

60 | February 2011

Planning

and

Climate

Protection

Compiled by Andrea Firth

country to be used for environmental management purposes. The project will help protect the biodiversity

Society

society

The city’s stylish set came out to play at these high-profile events

Compiled by Genevieve Fisher

Life Residential’s fifth birthday: 1Leopald Kruger, Siew Tai 2Corne Steynberg, Jonny Datt, Richard Boxford, Kim Faclier, Taryn Lewis. Fabiani and Callaghan Fashion party: 3Ange King, Justin Gray 4Nadine Barkai, Mark Bayley 5Michelle McLean. Auction Alliance’s new office opening: 6Gayle Bowey, Renée Gore 7Craig Berman, Annette Cowley, Jeremy Nel 8David Ginsburg, Rael Levitt, Mervyn Smith 9Michael Dos Santos, Ish Hendricks, Charlton Williams.

To see who else we’ve featured in our Society pages, visit thepropertymag.co.za. Email social photographs for consideration to socials@medianova.co.za.

February 2011 | 61

society

1 2

Meet the Neighbours Dec 2010 button Front.pdf 1 2010/11/17 12:52:51 PM

CMY

Buchanan Square in Woodstock recently hosted its third ‘Meet the Neighbours’ event, where guests were treated to the cool tunes of Nick Turner and then a rocking performance by the fantastic group, Merseystate: 1Steel, Wayne Joshua, Nick Turner, Shai Caleb, Caroline Coates Arlene Bell, Nanine du Plessis 3Brigit Wiechmann, Hanno de Swardt 4Hylton Hirschson, Neville Kopping 5The ISS team 6Dave Evens, Martin

Bingham, Ivo Nestel 7Alistair Wilson, Caroline Coates 8Megan Sherratt, Stephen Rothgiesser, Noa Rothgiesser 9Fred de Jager, Andries Loots Elena and Gavin Young 11Nick Turner 12Stuart Boyd, Lisa Firer 13Wayne Joshua

To see who else we’ve featured in our Society pages, visit thepropertymag.co.za. Email social photographs for consideration to socials@medianova.co.za.

62 | February 2011

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CAMPS BAY CAMPS BAY CAMPS BAY R35 Million R35 R35Million Million

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R14.95 Million LUXURIOUS BALI STYLE HOME

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 Garages 3

Nestled on the edge of a lake with sweeping views of the golf course from this stunning home, designed and built for entertaining yet affording so much privacy. Finished to a high standard with central AC & UFH, central vac and so much more. You will love the open plan living, flowing out onto the patio with its wide eaves and framed pillars leading onto a 13m long pool. DOT FRASER 083 261 0652 dot@seeff.com

PEARL VALLEY

R17.9 Million

ULTRA SLEEK & STYLISH NEW HOME Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 5 Garages 3

Elements of the Med and chic styling abound in this designer home, with various expansive open plan entertaining areas including a very large stylish bar Beautiful lighting, tiling, wall finishes, central audio and themed setting controls. The large sliders float from floor to eaves creating expansive views out onto the pool, the golf course and lake on the 18th green. DOT FRASER 083 261 0652 dot@seeff.com

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SOMERSET WEST

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     

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     

AREA NAME HIGGOVALE

R0000 000 000 000 R24

AREA R0 000 000 000 000 UPPERNAME TAMBOERSKLOOF R12

THE

COLLECTION PRIME POSITION + STUNNING VIEWS HEADING

Associate name & contact no Petra Davidan 082 490 6329 RE/MAX number RE/MAXOffice Livingname 021 &422 3976

Petra Davidan 082 490 6329 Associate name & contact no RE/MAXOffice Livingname 021 &422 3976 RE/MAX number

Wind-free, sunny + views. N-facing Largeelit, erf. 5 Bedrooms, Lorem ipsum dolorvilla sit amet, consectetur sithome. adipisicing sed do eiusmod separate flatlet gym & dwelling im tempor ad minim+ veniam, quissauna. nostrud Double exertion dolore amet,opportunity. consectetur Subdivision pending.ut labore et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing. sed tempor incididunt

www.remax.co.za AREA NAME HIGGOVALE

RELAXED LIVING IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF STYLE HEADING

R0 000 000 R8 R0900 000000 000

SEA POINT AREA NAME

WIND-FREE HIDEAWAY – TIMELESS MASTERPIECE

SUMMER IS HERE

Precious private spaces for individualistic buyer – 985m² of land. HEADING Leafy 5 star position. Romantic pool area. Versatile property. Perfect, Lorem ipsum dolor amet,family. consectetur sit adipisicing elit, sedoptions. do eiusmod lock-up-and-go forsitlarge 3 Wonderful investment im tempor ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exertion dolore amet, consectetur Gerlinde Moser 082ut 569 4644 sed tempor incididunt labore et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing. RE/MAX Living 021 422 3976 Web ref: MP 399182 Associate name & contact no RE/MAX Office name & number Web ref: 123456

HOUT BAY

AREA NAME

R3 600 000

R0 000 000

TRANQUIL ESTATE LIVING IN GATED OAKWOOD VILLAGE

Dbl storey vernacular 3-bed house (mes). 3 Bathrooms. Spacious modern kitchen, dining room / sunken lounge leading to terrace. Pool, dbl garage + 2 p/bays. PLUS 1-Bed loft apartment.

HEADING

WebMP ref:238045 123456 Web ref:

R3 R0295 000000 000

Spacious 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom home with a large chef’s kitchen, HEADING built-in braai area, plunge pool and staff quarters. Secure carport Lorem ipsumaccess. dolor sit amet, consectetur sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod with remote im tempor ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exertion dolore amet, consectetur Cindi Marcus 082 290 3211 et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing. sed tempor incididunt ut labore RE/MAX Living 021 422 3976 Web ref: MP 304244 Associate name & contact no RE/MAX Office name & number Web ref: 123456

CITY BOWL

R1 250 000

AREA NAME

R0 000 000

TRENDY LIVING FOR ALL SEASONS

Superb city apartment. 24/7 Security, gym, pool, 2 en-suite bedrooms, open-plan kitchen / lounge in the East Side Urban Renewal Hub.

HEADING

Lorem ipsumHarms dolor sit082 amet, sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod Hannelore 337consectetur 6992 im temporLiving ad minim quis nostrud exertion dolore consectetur RE/MAX 021veniam, 422 3976 Web amet, ref: MP 410784 sed tempor incididunt ut labore et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing.

Lorem ipsum amet, consectetur sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod Gudrun Hilledolor 082 sit 550 3054 im temporLiving ad minim quis nostrud exertion dolore consectetur RE/MAX 021veniam, 422 3976 Web amet, ref: MP 410143 sed tempor incididunt ut labore et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing.

Associate name & contact no RE/MAX Office name & number

Living

Web ref: 123456

www.remax.co.za |

N-facing character with contemporary finishes. Several Lorem ipsum dolor sitfamily amet, home consectetur sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod entertainment areas.veniam, Gardenquis withnostrud 15m lap pool. Ample im tempor ad minim exertion dolore accommodation, amet, consectetur studio, separate flatletutand much more.ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing. sed tempor incididunt labore et magna

AREA NAME CAPE TOWN

Web ref: WebMP ref:368526 123456

R0 550 000 000 000 R4

EXECUTIVE LIVING ON GREENMARKET SQUARE

3-Bedroom penthouse over 2 floors. Open-plan living area leading to HEADING N-facing terrace. Views of City and bay from Devil’s Peak to Robben Lorem ipsum dolorbays. sit amet, consectetur sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod Island. 2 Parking 24-Hour security. im tempor ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exertion dolore amet, consectetur Wolfgang 083 484 6143 ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing. sed temporWunderlich incididunt ut labore et magna RE/MAX Living 021 422 3976 Web ref: MP 375697 Associate name & contact no RE/MAX Office name & number Web ref: 123456

SOMERSET WEST

AREA NAME

R12 250 000

R0 000 000

ELEGANCE, LUXURY, VIEWS …

Brand-new 609m² home in upmarket area. This secure exec residence has 5 bedrooms, all en-suite, study, lounges, patios, wine cellar, linen room, storerooms, pool, domestic suite, water features and more.

HEADING

Lorem ipsum dolor amet, consectetur sit adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod Di Havard 082 497sit7685 im temporHelderberg ad minim veniam, quis6464 nostrud exertion dolore consectetur RE/MAX 021 852 Webamet, ref: 300232451 sed tempor incididunt ut labore et magna ipsum dolor sit amsit adipiscing.

Associate name & contact no Bowl 422ref:3976 RE/MAX OfficeCity name & numberand Atlantic: 021 Web 123456 www.remaxliving.co.za | Each Office Independently Owned and Operated Web ref: 123456

FOR OVER 50 000 PROPERTY LISTINGS VISIT Each Office Independently Owned and Operated

www.remax.co.za

100 95 75

25 5 0

Creative and intelligent marketing of individual and country property

... 600 offices globally

AUASBLICK

N$ 10 000 000

N$ 6 800 000

EROS

A PERFECT BLEND OF MODERN FINISHES

SEEING IS BELIEVING

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 Garages 4 This house is for a big family. Very stylish, modern. Also for the executive. All the furniture is included. Large rooms, amazing views and modern finishes.

Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 Garages 2 This is a beautiful property. Flat, swimming pool, study and mountain views.

ChrisJan +264 (0)81 309 4212 & Cecilia +264 (0)81 247 7244

KLEIN WINDHOEK

N$ 5 800 000

N$ 11 750 000

WINDHOEK CENTRAL

SECURE 3-LEVEL HOME IN SECURITY COMPLEX

PERFECT INVESTMENT

VIEWS, VIEWS, VIEWS Spacious rooms, modern kitchen, saltwater pool and patio with braai.

Modern and new with fantastic views. Current tenants in building.

Helena +264 (0)81 289 9909

Ockert +264 (0)81 122 4238

LAFRENZ INDUSTRIAL

N$ 7 600 000

CBD

N$ 35 656-50 excl VAT

ASKING PRICE N$ 2 200 000 BELOW VALUATION

PRIME OFFICE TO LET

Invest here and get a great return! Large office building with 4 warehouses, storage area and 2 flats situated on 2 500m² erf. Total building size 2 460m².

Office in the centre of Windhoek. This is prime office space. Measuring 225m².

ChrisJan +264 (0)81 309 4212 & Cecilia +264 (0)81 247 7244

Ockert +264 (0)81 122 4238

Namibia

property investment, real estate & leisure

A tranquil

oasis

Whether you are looking for a fun place for a family weekend, a romantic getaway or the ideal conference venue, Midgard Country Estate is the perfect choice.

Words Sandy Welch. Photographs Courtesy Midgard Country Estate

n Norse mythology, Midgard was a place surrounded entirely by a world of water that was impassable. While this may not hold true for Midgard Country Estate, the setting is equally exotic. Situated in the foothills of the Otjihavera Mountains, just an hour and a half out of Windhoek, this historic homestead can truly be considered an oasis of luxury. The property, which is owned by the Ohlthaver & List Group of Companies, was upgraded at the end of 2009. Midgard now offers modern, beautifully decorated rooms, gorgeous rolling lawns, conference venues to rival any in the country and a wide array of activities to occupy the whole family. Although the aridness of the desert is a short hike away, the gardens of the lodge are lush and beautiful, and the two huge swimming pools offer the perfect opportunity to while away the summer days, soaking up the sun. Fine cuisine is a highlight here as top chefs create mouth-watering delights. In fact, many Windhoek residents frequent the lodge’s restaurant as a popular Sunday lunch venue, especially as it offers the opportunity

of dining al fresco in the lapa or boma dining area. The accommodation comprises 46 luxurious en-suite double rooms, each luxuriously and tastefully decorated in its own distinct style. In terms of conferencing, Midgard caters to all needs. A full set of services is on offer, including a large-screen video projector, slide and overhead projectors and a sound system. It’s also perfect for team-building. There’s even an amphitheatre for large- scale presentations. The luxurious gym and sauna offers delegates the chance relieve stress and unwind. But most of all, Midgard is the ideal family escape. The list of things to keep you and your children busy is almost endless – there’s an amazing activity playground, two swimming pools, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, snooker, tenpin bowling, a gym, hiking, abseiling, mountain climbing and fantastic nature drives to see a wide variety of game, including the wildebeest, kudu, giraffe, warthog and buck that roam the property … Indeed, something for everyone. +264 64 461 677, midgard.na

Clockwise from top right The romantic boma at Midgard Country Estate lets guests dine beneath African skies; breakfast is served on the lush lawns of the oasis; the honeymoon suite; fine dining at the opulent restaurant is a major drawcard. Right A peaceful sunset and glorious views of the Otjihavera Mountains, seen from one of the estate’s deluxe swimming pools.

February 2011 | 75

NAMIBIA profile

The accidental

Magnate Owner and co-founder Benny Joseph gives us some into one of the most recognised names in Namibian real estate and property management – Joseph & Snyman.

A real estate agency that’s stood the test of time Joseph & Snyman acts as property managers for landowners, ranging from private investors to financial institutions. The company also deals with neighbouring countries,

Tell us about your company. What type of success have you had in the industry? Most of the big buildings in Windhoek, such as the Sanlam Centre, the Old Mutual building and Maerua Mall were my ideas. In 1970 the staff consisted of me, a secretary and Karel, and grew over the years to a staff complement of 60 employees and 10 agents. Karel left the firm 21 years ago and retired in South Africa.

and can best advise potential investors on fixed properties. Its clients include Oryx Properties, Growthpoint and the Frans Indongo

In what fields do you specialise? The commercial and industrial fields are where we do extensive development. We manage a portfolio of N$2,5-billion throughout Namibia.

Group. Commercial and industrial properties managed by Joseph & Snyman have a value of over N$2-billion. Its property portfolio includes Gustav Voigts Centre, Channel Life Building, Maerua Mall, Eros Shopping Centre and Frans Indongo Gardens. The company also has a team of real-estate agents who regularly win at the annual Bank Windhoek Estate Agent Awards.

76 | February 2011

Tell us about the Namibian property market. Is it going well at the moment? How did it fare during the recession? What trends are emerging in the residential and commercial markets? The market has been quiet with regard to housing, although agents still sell in the region of between N$1-million and N$1,5- million. The worldwide recession didn’t really have an effect because our economy is so small that we didn’t feel it quite so badly. Still, the commercial and industrial markets are quite buoyant. A lot of the investors are looking for property, especially in these areas. We have to remember that interest rates are coming down, and we expect a boom very soon. There are five uranium mines opening in Swakopmund and this will have a large

impact on this little town, which currently consists of a population of 50 000 that will most likely double, meaning that residential, commercial and industrial property will be in demand. We are quite positive that the agents in Swakopmund are going to be reaping the benefits.

The perfect place to own property Here are a few reasons why Namibia is currently attracting property investors: • no capital gains tax • properties registered in CCs don’t attract transfer duties • Namibian government

Who are the main buyers in the Namibian market at the moment? The majority of buyers are Namibians as well as South Africans, and quite a few foreigners constantly buy property, especially in Windhoek and Swakopmund. There is peace, the market is very stable – it’s as if Namibia is not part of Africa.

guarantee to repatriate funds • more relaxed credit laws • part of the SADC • freely transfer money between banks in Namibia and South Africa • several flights per day between Cape Town, Johannesburg and

Why would you say Namibia is a good place for people from South Africa to invest in? Do you have many SA investors? Yes, we invest a lot of financial funds for South Africans. They like to invest in Namibia, as their return on their investments is better here than in South Africa.

Windhoek, with flying time of a little under two hours • low rate of violent crime • well-developed infrastructure • top private hospitals, malls and private schools.

Are there any areas or developments that you would recommend to foreign investors? The areas that we consider as being ripe for development are Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. What is your feeling about the year ahead? If interest rates stay at 10% – the expectation is that there will be another drop of 50 points – it will result in our having a good year. Tell me about your life outside work. What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you travel? Do you have family? I don’t have a hobby. However, I do travel quite often. I do have a family – my wife, three kids and five grandchildren. +264 61 278 100, joseph-snyman.com

Words Sandy Welch. Photograph courtesy Joseph & Snyman

ow did you get into real estate? Was it something you always wanted to do? I qualified as a journalist and I was in that field for eight years. In 1970 I started a business with a friend of mine by the name of Karel Snyman and that is how the business name came about. It wasn’t what I’d always planned on doing, but it became a success and grew to where it is today, 40 years later.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY @ OMEYA GOLF ACADEMY

CHAMPIONSHIP 18-HOLE GOLF COURSE DESIGNED BY PETER MATKOVICH Boasting an 18-hole Peter Matkovich signature golf course, Omeya Golf Academy will help you improve your game. Set against the backdrop of a magnificent desert oasis, the Academy forms part of the Omeya Golf & Residential Oasis, the first of its kind in Namibia. Golfers can expect a course to rival any other in the world, a course that is set to become one of the most sought-after and unique golfing destinations in southern Africa. Experience 18 holes of true Namibian bushveld with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and Camel Thorn trees. Novice and average golfers will enjoy the wide playing areas and balance of a course shaped on site among the trees, the riverbeds and the stunning contrasting landscapes.

PHASE 2 NOW SELLING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR LIFE

Construction on the Omeya golf course has begun and the ﬁrst nine holes will be completed by the end of February 2011. Omeya Golf & Residential Oasis info@omeyagolf.com | www.omeyagolf.com Tel: +264 61-400-848 or +264 81-141-5882/3/4/5/6

Namibiaยนs best-kept secret...

Elisenheim Lifestyle Village Estate

From as little as N$ 185 000

Namibiaยนs best-kept secret Elisenheim Lifestyle Village Estate lies on 2100 hectares of land just 8.5km north of Windhoek. It has been conceived and planned as a total living environment with all the opportunities & benefits of urban living, while maintaining an intimate association with the Namibian bush. Ultimately, it will be home to some 6000 families, incl. accommodation for both young and old, with all the retail, commercial, recreational and social facilities they might need. The site is magnificent. It consists of undulating hills and valleys covered with pristine indigenous veld and are home to a wide range of bird and animal life. Contact our office for more information: +264 61 229 306 | regardt@fineandcountry.co.na Fine & Country Namibia Telephone: +264 61 229 306, Fax: +264 61 229 504 Email: regardt@fineandcountry.co.na Address: Kaiserkrรถhne, Shop 10, Windhoek, Namibia

www.fineandcountry.co.na