Business Day HomeFront 25 June 2021

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HOMEFRONT 1325 OCTOBER 2016 WWW.BDLIVE.CO.ZA WWW.BUSINESSLIVE.CO.ZA JUNE 2021

MUST-READ

Standout trends PAGE 2

Century City open air exhibition PAGE 4

Harbour Arch: a safe haven PAGE 8

Retirement 101 PAGE 11

Room to breathe Two thousand acres of indigenous-treed parklands make for the ultimate back garden, whether you’re living in one of the beautifully appointed free-standing homes, apartments or clusters. That means space to walk, space to cycle, space to jog, space to explore - and space to breathe, and feel at one with nature PAGE 3

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HOMEFRONT Although 2020 brought about the term 'the new normal' it has taken some major adjustment to get used to this way of life. We spent a good part of last year adjusting to this term, which compelled us to become more techsavvy while locked down in our homes

LIFESTYLE

Décor and design hacks N

ot only were our eyes opened to this new way of living (and our minds to a new way of thinking), we also sat for long periods of time, forced to really notice our safe spaces – that paint colour on the wall, the layout of the TV room, the overused kitchen – and trying to cleverly create a decent home/office workplace for all.

Suddenly our curtains seemed a little shabby, our cupboards a little too tightly packed with unnecessary knick-knacks.

Forced time at home simply woke us up. Not only to behaving more responsibly, but to making our personal space more aesthetically pleasing and more deserving of our time.

Comfort, and a unique way of working together under one roof, became an integral part of our daily lives.

You may not be a decorator or designer but, despite sounding cliched, home is certainly where the heart is and if you’re reading this you are clearly open to turning your rooms into the best spaces you possibly can.

You may even be looking to buy a place for investment purposes or for use as a holiday home. Whatever

your need, help is at hand to make it more inviting.

These pointers will assist you in accentuating the strengths in your sanctuary, allowing you to create an appealing space without spending a fortune.

So, let’s discuss what’s trending in décor and design this year and how to utilise these ideas for your home.

ADD A LICK OF PAINT It’s relatively inexpensive and easy to do. By painting one wall a different colour you can create a space that is super relaxing in your home. What colour, you ask? Blue seems to be a popular choice for 2021 and has been known to achieve a calming aura. Paint an accent wall or even a supporting pillar and choose from a variety of blues to instantly add a soothing tone.

SEE THE LIGHT Filling one’s home with sunlight has never been more important. Increase your serotonin levels by letting in as much natural light as possible. Invite in this light by removing heavy-set curtains or adding sheer blinds to your windows instead. If sheer curtains or new blinds are not within budget, simply leave that window space

bare, and let the sunshine in.

TO PLANT OR NOT TO PLANT Plants are awesome and make any space look and feel beautiful. And, happily, the houseplant has never been more fashionable.

The sheer greenery and choosing interesting storage pots can lift one’s spirit.

Plants are low maintenance, easy to handle, easy to find and easy to care for.

FORGET FORMAL Gone are the days of formal areas within homes.

Besides, who are we inviting over anyway? Let’s turn those formal rooms into functional and cosy living areas. After all, we need all the space we can get.

Comfort is key for 2021.

KEEP IT NATURAL A natural texture is always a winner in any home.

So, try to stick to natural elements such as wicker storage units, some wooden furniture pieces and earthy tones when choosing decor pieces. Go for faux fur, a bit of leather or just about anything natural and clean to create an extra homey touch.

MINIMALISM IS SO LAST YEAR Let your rooms envelope

WORDS: NICKY OBEL :: PHOTOS: UNSPLASH

you with a huge warm hug (it’s been a while). Get rid of unnecessary clutter and play with a more curated look. Do it cleverly – use art, sculpture or décor pieces to create a fabulously warm look and feel. You know what you like, so stick to that and bring out all those cool collectibles or inherited encyclopedias to create a warm and inviting feel. We are slowly evolving our homes to be fulfilling, memorable and interesting spaces, but on a maximalist level.

(Note to self: Maximalism does not equal clutter.)

TOSS IT Go through all of the things you love and don’t be scared to get rid of the things you really don’t need. If you haven’t thought about it, you really don’t need it anymore.

Cleverly storing items is an art – and easy to do.

Find a great unit for storage and choose only the pieces you know you will miss to put away. Keep games and crafts together, but get rid of that old Monopoly set that is missing a few pieces.

KITCHEN CHIC The kitchen is often the heart of the home. Forget white and grey, it’s time to get creative with your wall

A

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EDITORIAL TEAM Editor: Jason Whitehouse Designer: Samantha Durand

cabinets (repaint them), storage and general layout in this space. Use new wall tiles or add vinyl stickers to existing ones, play with images on splashbacks or show off some of your amazing appliances. The kitchen area can easily become a work of art in your home and a great space for everyone to congregate.

you have access to online.

An internet search is quick and easy, and you’re sure to find fabulous choices at competitive prices.

Be it a few colourful scatties, coffee table books, a great candle or some funky artwork, life’s too short to not take décor chances.

If you like it and it works for you, it simply can’t be wrong.

TRUE COLOURS It’s time to infuse your home with personality by adding some adventurous colour bombs – bright yellow scatter cushions, a patterned throw or an emerald green piece of furniture.

Splashes of colour or some patterns show off a home’s personality and can add warmth and quirkiness to any room.

Peel-and-stick wallpaper also creates a great effect.

Dare to be different, it’s not forever. You can easily apply a patterned sticker or easy-apply wallpaper and remove it when you grow tired of that look. Or better yet, find an inexpensive, colourful rug to make a more neutral space really pop.

The beauty of being your own decorator is the abundance of suppliers

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FOCUS ON: ANTON SMIT OPEN AIR EXHIBITION ADVERTORIAL

Century City Arts Trail Seen something different around Century City lately?

A life-sized statue of a man, his arms open and his face turned toward the sky, his silhouette etched against the shape of Table Mountain in the distance. The figures of three women, balancing on the tips of their toes, circling inward. An enormous female face, its edges seemingly blowing in the wind WORDS AND PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

T

hese impressionable sculptures are part of a 30-piece collection that make up the new Anton Smit Open Air Exhibition at Century City.

Widely revered for his overwhelming heads and monumental African sculptures, Smit’s works grace public and private collections countrywide and internationally.

Smit collects sayings about the relationship between art and the individual artist’s experience of reality. “Art is not to render the visible but to render visible,” he asserts, and his art achieves this in many ways.

Smit achieved his first artistic breakthroughs in 1977, when he received special mention in the South African Art Association’s New Signatures competition in Pretoria. He went international when, in 1994, he put 35 sculptures on exhibition in New York at the Grand Central Station as part of the Strengthening the Link initiative to boost trade between SA and the US.

Anton Smit

GET IN TOUCH Visit the Century City website for more information www.centurycity.co.za and follow social media for all the latest news.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centurycityartsfoundation @centurycityartsfoundation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centurycityartsfoundation /@centurycityartsfoundation

Century City Art Foundation contacted the artist in 2020 to purchase one of his sculptures, Voëlvry, for its Century City Arts Trail collection.

Lockdown resulted in a complete shutdown of the arts and Smit made his work available during this time at discounted prices, with a portion of the proceeds donated to a local community.

It was at this time that a meeting of minds kindled, and the idea of an Anton Smit and Century City Arts Foundation partnership took flight.

“I had a consignment of sculptures returning from an international exhibition and when we heard about Century City’s love of the arts and its goal to increase public awareness and experiences, we loved the idea of an open-air exhibition,” says Smit. “On our first visit to Century City, we were blown away by the precinct. It is beautifully maintained, expertly designed and I could immediately picture my sculptures across all the

green open spaces, some of them near the canals and others etched against the architecture. We were also interested in the sheer space, it interested me that we could exhibit from one end of the precinct to the other, each sculpture exhibited against a unique backdrop.”

The exhibition is made up of various sculptures, ranging from the ethereal Crouching Angel, a winged figure which seems to be suspended in the air, to the imposing giant figures of The Walking Man and the famous masks, which have become synonymous with Smit’s work.

“When Anton approached us for a possible collaboration, we were humbled and incredibly excited at the prospect of joining forces with such a renowned South African artist,” says John Chapman, chairman of the Century City Arts Foundation.

“Anton saw the unique potential of Century City as an extensive open-air exhibition space, and we are delighted to make his art accessible for free to the

public in this manner.”

To complement this growing ensemble of sculptures, murals and installation art, Smit’s collection will be displayed from the one end of the precinct to the other for two years.

“A map of the Century City Arts Trail is available online and as a printed brochure and we have created a separate map for the Anton

Smit Open Air Exhibition,” says Chapman. “You will be able to start your walking, running or cycling tour of the collection at any point and make your way through to the end. Each sculpture has a QR code, enabling you to find out more about the artwork as you scan the code with your smartphone.”

For those interested in purchasing any of the artwork on display,

contact info@centurycity. co.za for prices.

The Century City Arts Trail currently consists of 26 works of art in its permanent collection. In addition, and completing the wide variety of art on display in Century City, 100 bronze statues make up the outdoor procession of the Long March to Freedom, found opposite entrance 3 of Canal Walk.

FOCUS ON: DE ZWARTLAND WERF ADVERTORIAL

Modern living in a village atmosphere Award-winning company Devmark Property Group has launched De Zwartland Werf, an exciting 10ha mixed-use development that lies on the northern boundary of Malmesbury, adjacent to the N7 and the town’s main road, Voortrekker Road WORDS AND PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

D

e Zwartland Werf will consist of a retail centre, office space, residential apartments, a motor showroom and more.

Says Jean-Pierre Nortier, Development Director of Devmark Property Group: “Malmesbury fulfils an important urban niche in the Swartland and Western Cape. Its high development potential can be attributed to factors such as its relative accessibility along the N7 road/rail corridor, closeness to Cape Town and diversified economic base, which not only includes agriculture but also welldeveloped industrial and commercial sectors.

Malmesbury is home to a number of large companies, as well as regional offices of

provincial and national government departments.

De Zwartland Werf will offer Malmesbury and the surrounding towns a much needed space to shop, eat, work and play in a beautiful setting. Upon completion, it will offer a convenience precinct of 37,000m².”

According to Nortier, the buildings will be designed in a fine grain of smaller units spread across the site to create a farmyard and community village ambiance. “The architecture will be integrated with a network of continuous pedestrian links, fragmented parking areas with trees for shade and landscaped access roads for direction and organisation. It will offer a contemporary interpretation of the town’s

architecture, steeped in history. Subtle use of natural materials and elements will lend itself to a contemporary Cape Vernacular barn style. A restaurant courtyard in the format of a mini village square, at the southern end of the retail centre, will create a sense of community and become the place to be seen,” he says.

Phase 1 of the development will offer De Zwartland Markt, a convenience retail centre consisting of about 100 stores, services, restaurants and entertainment; De Zwartland Voorhuis, a residential area with 120 apartments; De Zwartland Werk, commercial spaces ranging from 40m² to 1,500m²; and Samaritan Healthcare.

“The Samaritan Malmesbury Hospital will be a 102-bed private hospital, which intends to attract leading medical, dental, nursing and allied professional practitioners to serve patients at its facilities. The hospital will not only serve the inhabitants of Malmesbury, but also the surrounding areas,” Nortier adds.

He says that high

property values in the Cape Town Metropole and the allure of a tranquil, rural lifestyle are motivating more and more people to settle in the countryside and commute to Cape Town for work. “Situated in the heart of the Swartland region, Malmesbury lies about 65km north of Cape Town’s CBD. The town is the largest in the Swartland, an area which takes its name from the indigenous plant known as Renosterbos (“rhino bush”) which turns black during the warm, dry summers.

The Swartland is known for agriculture, especially grain, livestock farming and wine cultivation.”

Nortier concludes: “Malmesbury, with its 36, 000 inhabitants, fulfils an important role as the urban centre of the Swartland region and is the northern gateway to Cape Town along the N7 highway, the dual carriageway running from Cape Town to Namibia. We believe De Zwartland Werf offers the three Ps – position, position, position. It will become the place where people live, work and play!”

Completion of Phase 1 is expected in October 2022.

GET IN TOUCH Devmark Property Group Tony van Heerden, Leasing Agent Tel: 083 325 3978 E-mail: tony@oprops.co.za Jean-Pierre Nortier, Development Manager E-mail: jean-pierre@devmark.co.za. dezwartland.co.za

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HOMEFRONT INVESTMENT FOCUS

Harbour Arch: a safe haven

Harbour Arch is a key contributor to Western Cape Covid-19 recovery plan WORDS AND PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

T

he tourism and hospitality sectors have been hardest hit by the Covid-19 outbreak but construction and property development industries have also been brought to their knees, plagued by project delays and contract cancellations resulting in widespread job losses and retrenchments.

“The construction industry has taken a pounding in recent years, with the collapse of Group Five and other big industry players,

but its decline has been significantly exacerbated by the nationwide lockdown imposed last year,” says Nicholas Stopforth, MD of Amdec Property Developments.

While many developers have responded to the sector downturn by taking a cautious approach and adopting a wait-and-see attitude, one company bucking this trend is the privately-owned and operated Amdec Group, developers behind the Harbour Arch mixeduse precinct on Cape

Town’s foreshore.

At a recent site inspection attended by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, Wesgro CEO Alan Winde, Wesgro Investment Manager Rehana Boolay and Amdec Group’s CEO James Wilson, Wilson said he wasn’t aware of any other privatelyfunded developments of the scale of Harbour Arch in Cape Town - and possibly even nationally - under construction and progressing at such an aggressive pace.

“Our decision to

forge ahead with the development under current conditions is a real statement that demonstrates our confidence in this country and that we believe in the long-term future and economic viability of SA,” Wilson said.

“Current levels of poverty and unemployment are excessive and unacceptable, so it is vital that the public and private sectors work together much more closely and create employment opportunities to alleviate this.”

Winde commended the Amdec Group for being bold in the development space, saying that Harbour Arch would contribute significantly to the region’s post-Covid-19 economic recovery plan.

“Harbour Arch is a flagship investment in Cape Town, and will contribute in an important way to job creation at a time when our province desperately needs it,” he said.

“These are really exciting times for a developing city and I think that job-creating investments such as this one are definitely going to

influence further future development in the region.”

Harbour Arch will see the redevelopment of the 5.8ha Culemborg site on the north-eastern edge of the Cape Town CBD into a large-scale mixed-use

development comprising six individual towers.

With close to 200,000m² of usable space, the precinct will accommodate residential apartments, commercial office space, hotels, shops, restaurants,

motor dealerships, an urban park and more.

Wilson said that Harbour Arch hopes to provide in the region of 20,000 construction jobs over the next 10 years, varying from labour opportunities through to highly skilled artisans and project managers.

“The Amdec Group believes strongly in transformation and empowerment and will have a firm focus on partnering with small black-owned businesses which operate within the construction and real estate sectors. We hope to bring them on board as subcontractors to our main contractor, WBHO, and provide opportunities for growth, learning and upskilling,” said Wilson.

“A project of this magnitude does not only show that Cape Town is open for business and that people are still confident about investing here but it’s also critical for job creation and attracting trade and investment into the province. I support the Amdec Group’s vision, and hope that this is not the last development we will see from them in our city and province,” said Harris.

Construction of Harbour Arch Tower One is on track for completion in May 2023.

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HOMEFRONT RETIREMENT

Retirement: what to consider The Evergreen Lifestyle Village at Val de Vie Estate in Paarl

Should you consider living in a retirement village?

WORDS AND PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

R

etirement villages have an inherent appeal if you’re considering re-organising your accommodation and lifestyle options when you retire. They offer the advantages of independent living in your own space, without all of the timeconsuming maintenance in your own home, and there’s talk they even boost your life expectancy with all the amenities they offer.

So how do you weigh up the pros and cons and make a balanced decision on whether it’s the right move for you? Here are some pointers to get you started.

THE PROS AND CONS OF MOVING TO A SECURE RETIREMENT VILLAGE

As a Baby Boomer, you can expect to live 10 to 25 years longer than your parents did, and there’s a good chance you’ll be healthier and more physically active than they were at the same age.

As we age, change becomes more and more difficult so if you’re planning to downsize your life while upsizing your security and your circle of friends thanks to retirement village living, why wait?

No one enjoys having to move house, nor the expense involved, but this is about taking a long-term view of your future.

Garry Reed, MD of Evergreen Lifestyle Villages, offers this checklist for those weighing up the pros and cons of staying in their own home versus moving to the

safety of a professionally managed and operated retirement village:

PHYSICAL HEALTH Our bodies naturally require more care as we age, and no matter how fit we are, we’re all susceptible to accidents, sudden falls and broken bones. And as debilitating as this can be physically, the financial implications are often more dire. According to a 2018 report by Just Retirement, pensioners who require 24-hour care can expect to pay almost twice as much in their own home versus living at a retirement village that offers both primary and personalised home-based health care services, on-site emergency facilities and 24-hour nursing, as well as frail care

and dementia care for those who need it.

In later life, the importance of being able to access medical care quickly and easily, while not breaking the bank, will become a priority, so having health care facilities and trained professionals close at hand means that you’ll be able to enjoy your golden years without worrying unduly about these unforeseen eventualities.

communities of elderly people who are keen to make new friendships, to stay active and even to learn new skills. There’s always something to do, and someone to do it with. In addition, for those who may have a partner who ends up suffering from dementia, top-class assistance is on hand, allowing you to share the onerous burden of care.

MENTAL HEALTH

Cooking, cleaning and gardening all get much more difficult as you age, and keeping up with home maintenance can be both onerous and costly. As your property ages, you’ll probably have to deal with rust, rising damp, leaking roofs and rotting timber frames, and you might need to replace worn carpets and curtains, all of which will make a substantial dent in already tight budgets. For example, the cost of replacing a geyser currently runs to about R7, 500, while repairing your roof, will set you back between R10,220 and R14,600 on an average sized home in SA. Unfortunately, you can expect your home to need more attention - not less - and those big bills will be a reality for many years to come.

A professional onsite team takes care of all aspects of daily life – like cleaning, painting and repairs, gardening and landscaping, health care, housekeeping, laundry, catering and more – so that our residents can relax and enjoy complete peace of mind.

Loneliness, boredom and social isolation become a reality as you age, particularly if you’re stuck behind high walls in the suburbs, nursing a spouse or no longer able to drive.

However, retirement villages are home to vibrant

HOME AND GARDEN MAINTENANCE

SAFETY AND SECURITY

The Evergreen Lifestyle Village in Noordhoek

We all become much more physically vulnerable as we age too, and with home invasions an unfortunate reality in SA, security is a burning issue for young and old alike. Staying safe isn’t cheap either; consider the costs of insurance, security systems, alarms and armed response services. These are

among the less obvious costs that continue eroding your hard-earned savings and investments when you choose to remain in your family home for the long term. At most professionally run retirement villages, 24-hour security is part of the package. And if you do go away on holiday, you can simply lock up and go, knowing your home is safe and secure.

FINANCIAL PEACE OF MIND When you buy into a retirement village, you get a lifestyle, that suits your needs in every way.

Evergreen Lifestyle for example, runs its villages on a Life Right model which means for” an initial investment and a monthly fee, you and your spouse gain the inalienable right of occupation for the remainder of your lives. And because the developer retains ownership of the property, no bond registration or transfer fees are payable.

VAT also doesn’t apply, and monthly levies are transparent and affordable. It is a cost-effective way to plan for the future, giving you financial peace of mind.

QUALITY LIFESTYLE At professionally managed retirement villages, cleaning and catering are taken care of for you, so you can focus on what really matters – living life to the fullest. The village’s resort-style facilities include communal lounges and entertainment areas, libraries, bistros, gyms with heated indoor pools, lots of green spaces, as well as organised activities like excursions, bridge evenings, film nights and social dinners, ensuring that residents can remain as busy, active and sociable as they wish to be.

So rather than wondering whether you can afford to move, you should be asking yourself whether you can afford not to!