Business Day HomeFront 24 February 2017

HOMEFRONT OCTOBER2017 2016 WWW .BDLIVE.CO.ZA WWW.BDLIVE.CO.ZA 24 13 FEBRUARY

MUST READ

Mesh Club mixes work with social PAGE 2

Grab a slice of Cyprus living PAGE 4

Car-free village at Blue Rock PAGE 14

Multichoice City

Randburg, the new frontier Multichoice City and the planned new Gautrain link are

Cape Town on its way to tallest list generating much excitement in Randburg, where demand for PAGE 16

property is increasing

PAGE 8

HOMEFRONT LIFESTYLE

Office economics The Mesh Club brings together luxury and edginess.

It reinvents the old-fashioned members’ club as a sociable, shared working space and bar WORDS: GRAHAM WOOD :: PHOTOS: DOOK

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very trend report for the year seems to have noted at some point that workplaces are becoming more like homes. More comfortable and stylish, less formal.

It is a development hand in hand with people not always working in offices anymore — they go to coffee shops, or have home workspaces. But this has not entirely done away with the need for places where people can meet, connect and share ideas.

The recently launched Mesh Club in Rosebank, Johannesburg, in the Trumpet building on the Keyes Art Mile, takes the concept a step or two further, building on the idea of a members’ club as a home from home meets networking space.

LOCATION Mesh has a great location, with beautiful views over Joburg’s treetops towards the northwest. It also has desks … and offices, boardrooms, other more casual meeting spaces and an auditorium. There are

Mesh founder Jonathon Meyer

lounge areas and sofas, semi-circular leatherupholstered booths, a café, a long dining table where lunch is served and a spectacular bar.

The bar is open to the public from 4pm, but numbers are limited. There is an in-house kitchen and plans to add an outdoor deck in April.

SOCIAL SPACE “There are a lot of coworking spaces across the country,” says Mesh founder Jonathon Meyer.

“They all have great location, desks and WiFi, but for me the most important aspect of what we offer is that we are providing a lot of platforms for entrepreneurs to connect and socialise.”

Meyer says the real differentiating factor is the way Mesh has been conceptualised as a place where entrepreneurs and established businesspeople can casually connect and exchange ideas and support. It is a place, he says, where the vitality of the creative class with its sense of the zeitgeist can

“Art was a big driver of the creative process” Tristan du Plessis, StudioA

HOMEFRONT cross-pollinate with the experience and business acumen of established CEOs and business titans.

He describes Mesh as “a curated members’ club”. It launched with 100 “handpicked” founder members who include “captains of industry” and those from “disrupting industries — young and established”.

Despite it being a members’ club, the focus is

not exclusivity but social and economic mobility.

PLANS Mesh is launching a series of events, which will run more or less fortnightly, under the banner The Mesh Lab. These will take the form of facilitated talks or workshops, run by members and external facilitators, designed to

stimulate conversation and the exchange of ideas.

“These events will fall under four main themes,” Meyer explains. “Connect, Create, Live and Lead.”

Nonmembers can also book to attend these events.

Meyer says he is planning to launch a Mesh Club in Cape Town before the year is out. He has plans to open more in the rest of Africa after that.

The interiors Mesh is luxurious and comfortable in the extreme.

Tristan du Plessis from StudioA designed the interiors to have a broad or crossover appeal in which both facets of its membership will feel at home. Rather than occupy the middle ground, however, Du Plessis chose to juxtapose opposites.

“Art was a big driver of the creative process,” he says. Mesh is adorned with spectacular artworks that are rotated and refreshed a few times a year. New works recently put up include a number of Pierneef casein paintings, William Kentridge’s Magic Flute “bird catcher” series, photographs by David Goldblatt and various other works by the likes of Phillemon Hlungwani, Cecil Skotnes and Walter Battiss.

Two giant murals by New York-based South African graffiti artist Skullboy cover entire walls. Around the bar are sculptures by the likes of Edoardo Villa and Ezrom Legae. Two spectacular

Wim Botha sculptures and a Karel Nel also feature in the communal spaces.

Says Meyer: “Art plays a big role in society with lifestyle and trends and design and business, and bringing all those things together.”

FURNISHINGS The furnishings also work on the principle of contrast — bringing together the sumptuous and the edgy.

Midcentury classics such as Le Corbusier’s LC3 sofa and Custom Cassina ultra-high grade leather couches are matched with the best in contemporary local design from Haldane Martin, Okha, Egg Designs and Guideline Manufacturing. A Pierneef is coupled with a bright pink Okha Nicci Swivel Chair, Du Plessis says, “as a nod of the hat to the pink Highveld sunset hues in the area’s own Pierneef painting”.

Du Plessis collaborated with Guideline’s Christoph Karl to design and manufacture a number of custom pieces, notably the modernist-

inflected wingback chairs and some of the bar tables that riff on the eyeteasing logo by branding company Jana+Koos.

LIGHTING Meyer points out that the lighting, especially designed by lighting architects Smith Tait, dims and brightens subtly throughout the day, adjusting colour and tone in imitation of the variations of natural light.

The designer-clad staff go beyond office support to high-end hospitality and beyond. When the work day is done, there are even bespoke cocktails. One, served in a paint box that releases a puff of fynbos smoke when you open it, features the reinvented Caperitif, an aperitif common in turn-of-the-last-century SA, but not manufactured for nearly 100 years before it was resurrected by AA Badenhorst. The taste and scent are a tribute to the Highveld setting of that pink Pierneef.

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HOMEFRONT incentives, probably the biggest drawcard for South Africans, says Ellinas, is that there are no socioeconomic problems in Cyprus, which has a low crime rate and was voted the safest country in the world with a population of less than five million, and the fifth safest overall.

TAX

INTERNATIONAL

Cyprus calling The Med island offers South Africans a gateway to the EU, sound investment opportunities and guaranteed permanent residency WORDS: LUCINDA JORDAAN AND LORRAINE KEARNEY :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

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yprus is becoming an increasingly attractive property investment destination, with the latest figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) showing that its property recovery is under way. Residential prices for houses and flats in the country increased 0.6% and 0.9% respectively in Q3 2016.

Rents increased quarter on quarter by 0.7% for flats and 3.3% for houses, according to Rics’ Q3 2016 report. Cyprus’s economy also showed further signs of stability in the quarter, with its performance being better than expected.

Data from its land registry show that sales increased by 121% year on year in December 2016.

South Africans interested in sourcing second homes or attractive property investments can take advantage of this recovery, despite the fluctuating exchange rate. The rand’s

showing against stronger countries does limit our scope though, and for most, European property investment has been too costly to even consider.

Until now, that is.

Cyprus, home of the goddess Aphrodite, boasts the cleanest seas in the Mediterranean, with 57 blue-flag status beaches and a growing economy boosted by the recent discovery of natural gas.

It also has arguably the best permanent residency programme in Europe, with a Citizenship through Investment initiative that holds huge appeal for South Africans.

ECONOMIC SENSE It is easy to sell the nation as a viable destination for business, pleasure or families seeking a safe and healthy lifestyle. The third smallest country in the EU after Malta and Luxembourg, and the largest island in the Mediterranean, Cyprus lies south of Turkey, enjoying a strategic location as a trade and tourism

gateway between Africa, Europe and Asia.

Cyprus has successfully diversified its largely agrarian economy into services industries. It has a vibrant tourism sector, light manufacturing industry, real estate and, more recently, has become a financial hub.

Natural gas discoveries in the country’s exclusive economic zone are expected to generate billions of euros of foreign investment and cement Cyprus’s standing as a regional centre for natural gas and energy.

PROPERTY Cyprus is 225km long at its longest point and 97km wide at its widest with 644km of coastline and short, mild winters that allow for swimming in the sea in the morning and skiing in the mountains that same afternoon.

Over the past two years more than €2bn worth of property sales were made to foreigners via the residency and citizenship programmes.

“Properties in Cyprus

“Properties in Cyprus offer excellent value for money when compared to other European countries — especially homes right on or near to the Med” Jenni Ellinas, founder and MD, Cypriot Realty

offer excellent value for money when compared to other European countries — especially homes right on or near to the Med,” says Jenni Ellinas, founder and MD of investment specialists Cypriot Realty.

The company has partnered with Cypriot property developer Leptos Group to facilitate

property transactions for South Africans.

GROWTH Cyprus’s overall property growth posted the highest increase in Europe last year: an average of 7%, according to Ellinas. “I chose Cyprus as an investment destination because it is so similar to SA, yet offers a true Mediterranean lifestyle and a solid investment for fellow South Africans. With a topography similar to ours (dramatic mountain ranges, golf courses, nature reserves and protected areas), Cyprus has garnered appeal because people feel comfortable there.”

She says first-world infrastructure — two international airports, numerous marinas and a large port where cruise liners moor — lifestyle, first-class medical facilities and “the fact that you drive on the left-hand side of the road” positions Cyprus as “an obvious choice”. As a former British colony, the official language is English.

Along with the tax

An extremely favourable tax regime — including no inheritance tax — is coupled with property ownership costs at a fraction of those in SA, especially in relation to add-ons such as rates, taxes, levies and insurance.

The country has a doubletaxation treaty with SA, meaning there is no withholding tax when you take your income there.

It is the only country in the world that offers a Citizenship through Investment programme, which allows for three generations to secure permanent residency for life by buying one property.

The main applicant and spouse, all dependent children until age 25, plus parents and parents-in-law, all qualify for residency and EU passports. Dependent children to age 28 qualify for EU passports.

LIFESTYLE Cyprus offers a high standard of living, with world-class education and health care, even if you are not on private medical aid, but the cost of living is somewhat higher, too.

According to Numbeo. com, you would need about €2,600.00 (R36,752.85) in Nicosia to maintain the same standard of life with R34,238.14 in Cape Town, assuming you rent in both cities. Overall, consumer prices are 26.06% lower in Cape Town than in Nicosia.

PRICE COMPARISONS Rent city centre flat, one bedroom: Nicosia: €420.00 (R5,951.86) Cape Town R9,068.29 Property price per m² in city centre: Nicosia €1,514.29 (R21,459.08); Cape Town R27,468.75 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant: Nicosia €48.00 (R680.21); Cape Town R450.00 Cappuccino: Nicosia €3.55 (R50.310); Cape Town R22.44 Basic utilities: Nicosia €116.21 (R1,646.86); Cape Town R896.51 Annual mortgage interest rate: Nicosia 4.43%; Cape Town 10.56%

WESTERN CAPE Atlantic Seaboard 021 439 7415 / Southern Suburbs 021 673 4200 / South Peninsula 021 782 6440

V&A Marina / R24 million

Ref# AS1305218

Bedrooms 2 / Bathrooms 2 / Parkings 2 / Positioned directly on the V&A basin, this spacious apartment captures the essence of Marina lifestyle luxury. Contemporary open-plan layout affords seamless flow between the classically appointed interiors and an exceptionally broad patio overlooking the yacht basin. The main bedroom suite has ample closet space and both bedrooms have direct access to your own upstairs deck with Marina views through full-length sliding glass doors. The open-plan, state-of-the-art kitchen acts as the perfect entertainment link to the dining room, with a separate scullery recess. Within a short walk of the apartment is a fully-equipped gymnasium and pool deck exclusive to residents. The V&A Marina offers 24-hour security.

Mariël Burger 082 372 2573 / Kim Bailey 083 448 2632 / Paul Levy 083 300 3001

Bishopscourt/Constania / R30 million

Ref# KW1304525

Noordhoek / R8.75 million

Ref# NH1252756

Bedrooms 5 / Bathrooms 5 / Garages 3 / World-class elegance and style. This sleek architectdesigned home in a quiet cul–de-sac enjoys panoramic views over the beautiful Constantia Valley and False Bay. The home is light and airy and offers sumptuous living spaces that seamlessly flow to the feature rim flow pool and outside entertainment area with built in braai. The home is sold with most of the furnishings. Inventory available on request.

Bedrooms 6 / Bathrooms 5.5 / Garages 2 / Spacious, elegant, 670 m² triple-storey, 6-bedroom Belvedere family home. Stunning entertainment sea views terrace, with rim-flow pool for memorable sunsets over Noordhoek's iconic Longbeach. Belvedere is fast becoming one of the most soughtafter suburbs in South Africa. Horse-riders and surfers enjoy the relaxed rural lifestyle by the sea.

Myrna Duveen 082 443 8417 / Christiaan Steytler 082 658 0071

Lilian Bron 082377 3725

FOCUS ON: THE WINCHESTER

ADVERTORIAL

In a league of its own Introducing The Winchester, a new Rawson development that is making a bold and contemporary statement in an iconic Cape Town suburb WORDS AND PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

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ocated in the heart of Observatory, a suburb famous for its strong community spirit, easy-going atmosphere, casual restaurants and trendy bars and cafés, The Winchester promises to remain relevant for years to come thanks to its clean, modern lines and future-forward design.

Each of the 105 New York-style apartments on offer feature smart

design elements such as recessed cupboards and integrated eating areas that maximise the living space and contribute to the effortless sense of space, as well as first-class finishes.

Floor to ceiling glass panels create light, bright spaces and reveal unrestricted views of Cape Town and the surrounding mountains.

The Winchester includes the full spectrum of features, from sophisticated security and a host of green design

“Not only does it include a rooftop pool deck and braai area, it also features a ground floor lifestyle space” elements (centralised heat pumps, LED lighting and VOC-free paint to name a few) to carefully considered communal areas where neighbours can connect.

PERFECTLY POSITIONED Situated just minutes from the University of Cape Town’s main campus and medical school and within easy reach of the N2, The Winchester is the ideal address for students and young professionals.

DESIGNED FOR LIFE As with all Rawson developments, The Winchester is built around

the lifestyle of its future residents. Not only does it include a rooftop pool deck and braai area, it also features a ground floor lifestyle space where residents can catch up with friends and neighbours over breakfast, lunch or a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

LAYOUTS Hybrid studio-one bedroom, one bedroom or two, The Winchester offers a choice of more than 15 unit layouts.

Hybrid studio-one bedroom apartments range from 50m2-59m2 and are designed to maximise your space with features such as built-in sliding bedroom shutters, which offer the freedom of open-plan as well as compartmentalised living, and a wraparound kitchen with a cleverly concealed eating counter.

At 48m2-84m 2, one bedroom apartments offer a sizeable kitchen and ample space for a dining room table, allowing you to entertain with ease.

The ideal choice for dual

living and those who love company, two bedroom apartments (77m2-143m 2) include a welcoming entrance area and spacious kitchen with a dual-purpose counter for serving and eating. The generous living area has sliding doors on to the balcony for seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining.

All three apartment options include builtin cupboards and are ADSL- and DStv-ready with telephone line and fibre optic access.

YOUR CHOICE Love the idea of a city apartment in the heart of energetic Observatory?

Or perhaps you prefer to wake up to the toned-down textures of a more intimate environment? With two interior palettes to choose from — New York Loft and Classic Luxury — you will always feel right at home.

Ready to stake your claim?

A deposit of just 10% of the purchase price will secure your apartment.

THE WINCHESTER AT A GLANCE 105 new luxury apartments 15 layouts to chose from Rooftop pool, deck and braai area Ground floor lifestyle space Sophisticated security Choice of two interior design palettes UDZ tax benefit — Observatory falls within the city’s Urban Development Zone, so anyone buying to rent can claim a tax deduction allowance of up to 55% of the purchase price over an 11-year period.

GET IN TOUCH Rawson Developers rawson-developers.co.za Candice Viljoen Tel: 073 815 4800 e-mail: sales@rawsondevelopers.co.za

estlake

eco-estate m o d d e r f o n t e i n

HOMEFRONT

Multichoice City in Randburg

REDEVELOPMENT

Randburg, the new frontier Multichoice City and the planned new Gautrain link are generating much excitement in Randburg, where demand for property is increasing WORDS: HELEN GRANGE :: PHOTOS:: GLH ARCHITECTS, ISTOCK AND SUPPLIED

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andburg is widely regarded as a throughway town, the centrepoint between Sandton and Rosebank, Joburg CBD and Fourways. Yet travel down Bram Fischer Drive through Bordeaux just south of Randburg CBD, and you cannot miss the gleaming R750m Multichoice City, a four-storey green office complex covering 35,000m² that opened just more than a year ago.

Property stakeholders confirm that Multichoice City and other peopleintensive businesses such as FNB and the South African Revenue Service have had a great impact on Randburg as a whole, driving up the demand for residential and commercial property in the suburbs of Ferndale, Bordeaux and Blairgowrie.

Says Trish Luthuli,

Northcliff deputy branch manager for Pam Golding Properties: “The new Multichoice building is stimulating the local economy and generating strong interest in the residential property market in the area, especially for sectional title apartments and townhouses in the region.”

GAUTRAIN Demand in Randburg is also boosted by the muchanticipated plans to link the Gautrain service to the suburb, although it is not yet clear when and where this station will be developed.

Says Keller Williams Realty agent Adri van Wyk: “The new Gautrain route is not only generating residential interest but commercial interest as well.

I’ve been approached by three or four businesses that moved out of Randburg, now wanting to come back.”

At the same time, Randburg’s aesthetics have received some muchneeded attention. The city of Johannesburg has upgraded the Hill Street pedestrian mall and Bram Fischer Drive to include new paving, tree planter boxes, new lights and dustbins, and has also removed a large bridge in Randburg which has improved the flow of the intersection of Bram Fischer and Jan Smuts Avenue.

NEW FLATS Property developers have responded to these investments with the release of hundreds of new sectional title flats on the market in and around the Randburg CBD. Notting Hill in Ferndale, for example, is a new luxury estate developed by Renprop which is “extremely busy with first-time buyers”, according to Renprop agent Brenda Perkins, who is

selling the units for between R550,000 and R660,000 and renting them for R5,300-R6,800.

Keller Williams Realty is marketing two new cluster estates, The Marigold and Vine Valley, also in the heart of Ferndale, which are selling from R2.4m. “These prices seem high to some investors, but the value trajectory in Randburg is rising quickly because of the investment of Multichoice City and the new Gautrain route. These properties will be highly valued in five years,” says Van Wyk.

“The market in Randburg is robust right now” Tracy Bayett, agent, Cherry Grove Realty

CONVERSION Meanwhile, Randburg Square, Randburg’s tall landmark shopping centre that opened to 1979, has undergone a major R80m conversion to add 180 contemporary flats.

Developed by Vukile Property Fund, the flats are set on the roof of Randburg Square and are targeted at young families looking for a new urban living option in the heart of Randburg.

Its central position gives residents direct access to shopping, banking, gym, leisure and medical facilities, all within easy walking distance of bus and taxi transport.

Says Vukile Property Fund CEO Laurence Rapp: “The redevelopment project responds to the Randburg area, which in recent years has fallen out of vogue for business.

“The conversion responds to the general rising demand

for urban accommodation in Johannesburg and, importantly, supports the trade of shopping centre tenants.”

Leases are being managed by Trafalgar Property Management, which confirms the “strong interest” in the units, ranging in rental from R4,200 for a bachelor flat to R6,500 for a two-bedroom unit.

SCHOOLS For young families, the good schools in the area are another strong drawcard.

These include Unika Primary School, Bryandale Primary, Bryanston Primary, Brescia House, Radley Private School and the British International College.

Shopping centres are also easily accessible from Randburg, including Northgate, Cresta, Brightwater Commons, Fourways Mall and the popular Montecasino.

HOMEFRONT “The new Gautrain route is not only generating residential interest but commercial interest as well” Adri van Wyk, agent, Keller Williams Realty

smartglass-homefront-hp.indd 3

Older residential suburbs northwest of Randburg, such as Bryanston Ext 5, Vandia Grove, Beverley Gardens and Robinhills, proliferated by large family homes with swimming pools, are also holding their own in what was a difficult sellers’ market last year in Johannesburg.

Says Arthur Baron Estates agent Tracy Farrell: “There’s been a definite renewed interest in the area since the beginning of the year, and the decision by banks to retain the prime lending rate at 10.5% has boosted the buyers’ market.”

The proximity of these suburbs to the N1 highway, offering easy access to cities around Johannesburg, means these homes are also attracting commercial buyers.

Says Farrell: “Businesses are taking over these big homes and converting them into office space, because the location is good and it’s less expensive to set up offices here than in Sandton.”

Cherry Grove Realty agent Tracy Bayett confirms this trend. “The market in Randburg is robust right now. A house evaluated for R350,000 in 2001 would sell for about R2.8m now,” she says.

Top-level offices have been converted to apartments and a shopping centre takes up the lower levels

14/02/2017 1:36 PM

FOCUS ON: WATERFALL VALLEY

ADVERTORIAL

Carefree living for over-50s at Waterfall Active over-50s can enjoy a healthy lifestyle with all the five-star trimmings at Waterfall Valley Mature Lifestyle Estate, where they can buy their dream home from as little as R4.2m WORDS AND PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

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ust 10km north of the Sandton CBD, between Woodmead and Kyalami, lies the 24ha Waterfall Valley Mature Lifestyle Estate. Located within the impressive Waterfall development precinct, this sought-after lifestyle estate offers the over-50 resident an upmarket, secure, hasslefree lock-up-and-go lifestyle in a spacious, five-star resort-like environment.

Clients will be spoilt with a myriad facilities and the ability to buy a completed show house or customise and have their dream home built from only R4.2m.

Waterfall Valley offers an opportunity to experience a quality lifestyle unparalleled in SA. It has been designed for mature clients who enjoy an active, socially varied lifestyle with an emphasis on healthy living but who also wish to simplify their lives by removing the issues of the maintenance, insurance and security normally associated with private home ownership.

With state-of-the-art security, a multitude of lifestyle facilities, permanent on-site nursing staff and a fully equipped care centre, residents are catered for in every way in an upmarket social environment.

Says Mark Corbett,

CEO Century Property Developments: “There is a growing trend among mature buyers towards highsecurity estates that focus on living rather than growing old, and 90% of our buyers cite this as a major reason for moving to Waterfall Valley rather than elsewhere.”

SHOW HOUSES With more than 460 homes and apartments already sold, there are only eight homes left, which are on show daily from 9am-5pm.

Clients have the option of either securing a stand and building their dream home or buying a completed cluster, both of which are a great investment.

TIME TO INVEST Property at Waterfall Valley is almost sold out and, as with the earlier phases, the developer is expecting a 50% increase in property values.

Since Waterfall’s launch, its clients have already seen their initial investment amount double — at least.

Owing to high demand and Waterfall Valley’s unrivalled lifestyle facilities, the value of properties on the estate will continue to far outperform the industry growth norm.

“It is definitely not too late to invest, as we expect values to continue

FOCUS ON: WATERFALL VALLEY “There is a growing trend among mature buyers towards high-security estates that focus on living rather than growing old, and 90% of our buyers cite this as a major reason for moving to Waterfall Valley rather than elsewhere” Mark Corbett, CEO, Century Property Developments sd

to double every three years,” says Corbett.

“Buying to rent is also a good investment as owners are receiving high rental returns that easily cover their expenses, while benefiting from exceptional capital appreciation.”

On completion, the Waterfall precinct will comprise secure residential estates, mature lifestyle villages, business parks, a Netcare hospital, fivestar hotels, a Reddam House private school, a Gautrain station and convenient commercial and retail elements, including southern Africa’s largest shopping centre, the Mall of Africa.

CUSTOMISED HOMES Waterfall Valley consists of 244 stands at an average size of 800m².

Buyers may select from a variety of customisable building designs and get the opportunity to meet and brief Century Property Developments’ team of experienced architects to discuss the design of their dream home.

Meticulous attention to detail has been paid to every aspect of these homes. Only the best fittings and finishes have been selected for each unit.

All units feature liquid petroleum gas for cooking.

Underfloor heating is standard in the living areas and in the master bedrooms and bathrooms.

All units have access to the Smart Village fibre optic connection, which is linked to the fast Seacom cable, ensuring high-quality DStv reception, speedy internet connectivity and clear sound over not just the intercom system but also

the internal and external telephony services.

FACILITIES One of the key elements of Waterfall Valley Mature Lifestyle Estate is its array of facilities.

The clubhouse, offering panoramic views of the valley, river, natural greenbelts and chipping and putting greens, is the social core of the development.

It boasts a 100-seat movie theatre/auditorium, multifunction ballroom, library, multiple lounges, an elegant restaurant and ladies’ bar, and a fully equipped gym with steam rooms and swimming pool.

For the more active retiree, the estate offers 37km of walking paths along the scenic river.

Tennis courts, bowls, croquet, a horticultural centre, arts and crafts studio, hairdresser’s salon, billiard room, cigar lounge, delicatessen, health spa and travel agency are available at Waterfall Valley’s sister retirement development, Waterfall Hills, nearby.

HEALTH Other important considerations also come into play at Waterfall Valley, particularly the health of its residents. To provide for this vital facet of the estate, specialist doctors and nurses are on call 24 hours a day.

The nursing staff is permanently on site, offering in-home assisted-living services to residents or referring them to the fully equipped care centre at Waterfall Hills. Also, rapid access to specialist medical services is ensured by the development’s proximity to the Netcare Sunninghill

Hospital and the Netcare Waterfall Hospital on Maxwell Drive.

SECURITY Designed to raise the bar for secure lifestyle estates in SA, security at Waterfall is managed at the highest level while maintaining a sense of personal freedom for residents and their guests. A combination of thermal imaging and optical cameras with built-in analytics allows security personnel to monitor movements in and around the estate.

Visitor access is controlled by state-of-the-art systems and well-trained security personnel. The 4m-high perimeter wall is reinforced with concrete and topped with electric fencing and mounted cameras.

There is a dedicated control room for monitoring all aspects of security, ensuring peace of mind for residents and their guests.

Fixed panic buttons will be placed in all units in Waterfall Valley and will be linked to the central security room. All security systems have dedicated back-up generators to ensure uninterrupted surveillance.

AWARD-WINNING Century Property Developments has a trove of accolades, including being voted Best Retirement Development in the World 2009 at the prestigious CNBC International Property Awards and again in 2011 in the Global Over-50s Housing Awards.

Sophistication, comfort and elegance are what residents have become accustomed to and for which they have worked so hard.

Corbett says the award for best retirement development in the world is a major coup for a South African developer, not to mention SA. “This category is intended to differentiate mature lifestyle resorts from typical retirement villages and old-age homes,” he says. “The judges were particularly impressed by the focus on bespoke homes and the quality of amenities available to residents.”

SUSTAINABLE There is a strong focus on green design within the development, the aim

being to create a healthy community centred on the principles of environmental sustainability. This means living in harmony with the natural environment, considering the social, environmental and economic aspects of one’s decisions and reducing one’s carbon footprint by adopting a lifestyle that is less energy-, water- and material-intensive.

In line with the green initiatives at Waterfall, Century Property Developments is striving to implement a long-term energy management

strategy. The group believes that it is its moral obligation to start thinking not only smarter but greener.

To achieve this, it is introducing initiatives that will ensure a minimal impact on the natural environment while creating longterm cost savings.

GET IN TOUCH Century Property Developments Century.co.za Vee Hofmeyr Tel: 082 937 1680

FOCUS ON: REEFLORDS ADVERTORIAL

Luxury apartments at affordable prices Spanning the Reef, from east to west and out north, Reeflords offers a choice of well-appointed, well-priced homes WORDS AND IMAGES: SUPPLIED

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eeflords Property Development is a growing property development company registered in 2011. Its objective is to become a significant player in the South African residential (freestanding homes, medium density and mass scale, multistorey housing, retirement complexes and affordable homes) and commercial development markets.

THE WEST END Located near Vodaworld and Carlswald Lifestyle Shopping Centre in Midrand, The West End is an exclusive investment opportunity. These apartments have a prime location and are available at market-leading prices, with zero transfer cost guaranteed as well as zero bond cost (terms and conditions apply).

DEVELOPMENT FEATURES

Royal Reef West — launching March 26

• 896 units • One to two bedrooms with one bathroom • Starting from R602,700 • Two to three bedrooms with two bathrooms • Starting from R951,600

DEVELOPMENT AMENITIES • • • •

Clubhouse Swimming pool Gym Recreational room

ROYAL REEF WEST Introducing Royal Reef West, situated in the upscale suburbs of Boksburg. It is to be launched on March 26.

Want to soak in the afternoon sun and play a round of golf at a tranquil golf club on your door step? Want a modern lifestyle but at the same time keep a touch of South African heritage within the same complex? Want to enjoy serenity but have all modern conveniences (schools, shopping centres, hospitals, major routes) around you? Want to invest in property but can’t yet afford anything more than R1m?

If your answer is “yes” to all of the above, then look no further. This development is for you.

The masterminds of a professional team have ensured that you will have a relaxed and comfortable lifestyle. This elite development is a one-of-akind venture with a holistic

approach to suit your lifestyle, with zero transfer cost guaranteed as well as zero bond cost (terms and conditions apply).

DEVELOPMENT FEATURES • 256 luxury apartments • One to two bedrooms with one bathroom • Starting from R507,600 • Two to three bedrooms with two bathrooms • Starting from R902,400

DEVELOPMENT AMENITIES • Full fibre optic network coverage • Enclosed garden units • State-of-the-art landscaping • Clubhouse • Gym • Swimming pool • Kids’ play area • Prepaid electricity • Biometrics (fingerprint access control)

ORCHID RIDGE Orchid Ridge is conveniently situated in the hub of the north-western suburbs of Johannesburg, in Randpark Ridge, at the corner of Beyers Naudé Drive and CR Swart Road.

This gem of an investment is close to nature reserves,

FOCUS ON: REEFLORDS

schools, churches and shopping centres, and is central to most other areas in the region.

A unique architectural design approach includes opulent elements. The development is an amazing opportunity for both investors and firsttime home buyers.

DEVELOPMENTS NOW SELLING The West End in Midrand

DEVELOPMENTS LAUNCHING THIS YEAR Royal Reef West in Boksburg, launching March 26 Orchid Ridge in Randpark Ridge Midview Garden in Midrand

MIDVIEW GARDEN At Midview Garden, luxurious sectional title apartments in Carlswald, in Midrand, with one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments are launching this year.

SOLD-OUT DEVELOPMENTS The West End — selling now

Kengies Square — one unit left

The View in Dainfern Kengies Square in Fourways

GET IN TOUCH

Orchid Ridge — launching 2017

The View — sold out

Reeflords Property Development Tel: 011 516 0057 / 011 702 3076 reeflords.co.za The West End: Kyle Ludlow Tel: 076 259 4187, kyle@reeflords.co.za Claire Store Tel: 060 993 2574, claire@reeflords.co.za Royal Reef West: Eduan Janse Van Rensburg Tel: 079 431 6194, eduan@reeflords.co.za

HOMEFRONT SUSTAINABLE LIVING

All shades of green at Blue Rock Village A planned development outside Somerset West aims to be SA’s first true green village WORDS: LUCINDA JORDAAN :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

T

his summer, visitors have been drawn to Blue Rock resort on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain outside Somerset West for its watersport activities. By next summer, owner Lukas Reichmuth hopes many will have made it their home.

Reichmuth, founder and director of property development and management company Swisatec, is investing R14bn into what many would call

a utopian dream: upgrading the popular resort into a communal village where residents can work, play and live in a safe, car-free eco environment they will never want or need to leave.

The ideology, says the Swiss-born developer, is based on a reality that is a way of life for many Europeans. “I grew up in Europe, which is clean, organised and as ecofriendly as possible …

In many European towns people live close together.

Phase one: Giovanni Luxury Terrace Apartments

ZONING DEPARTURES The complexity of the design, planning and building specifications has presented challenges for Swisatec.

“It took me close to seven years to have 60% of Blue Rock Village approved by the city of Cape Town.

“A comprehensive framework plan for our Hotel and Lifestyle Centre is in principle 100% accepted and supported by the city and local municipality,” says Reichmuth.

According to town planner Barry Blount of Diesel & Munns, whose practice specialises in land surveying and town planning in the Helderberg Basin, delays in approval for such highly complex developments are expected. “But this particular development is not a simple

one, and there are various other considerations. This was a wholly new concept at the time; when it was first started it wasn’t an urban area, which brought in challenges such as servicing and policy issues.

“Prior to 2013, the area was initially designated a rural setting; now, it’s distinctly on the urban edge. Zoning is one of the challenges we face.

We are in the preliminary stages, but fortunately the council is not averse to positive development and with extensive development outside the urban areas, policy has evolved.

“The fact that it’s a soft, green development is beneficial — the concept is good and everyone is positive about it and there is a clear

vision from the owner.”

INTEGRATED This vision is carried through in every aspect of the development, from planning to building design, with Reichmuth projecting that his integrated buildings will save about 60%-80% energy alone. His only regret is that not everyone can buy into the long-term benefits that Blue Rock Village may bring.

Units start from €230,000 (about R3.2m).

As a result of the high demand for Blue Rock, the developers have decided to start the project on a bigger scale. Along with the residential component, the first phase will include the lifestyle centre, security and direct access from the N2.

This will also cut down on building time.

“Blue Rock Village is the first of its kind in Africa and has raised the bar of building construction in SA” Lukas Reichmuth, director, Swisatec

Blue Rock Village aerial view

HOMEFRONT GLOBAL TREND: GREENER COMMUNITIES Blue Rock Village might be the most ambitious development in Africa, but it is not the first of its kind internationally. Innovative eco villages are springing up globally, with an equally ambitious pilot project due for construction in the Netherlands this year.

In Malaysia, sustainable hi-tech “smart villages” are already providing positive socioeconomic results for rural families.

ReGen Villages in the Netherlands will combine modern technology to build homes that share ecosystems in fully sustainable communities that produce their own solar and biogas power, and harvest rainwater and recycle waste, among other eco features. Construction begins in mid-2017.

Villages are earmarked

for similar projects in Sweden, Germany, Norway and Denmark, as well as China, Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Malaysia already has three smart villages each comprising about 100 affordable homes, all made from recyclable materials and constructed within 10 days. Each has integrated farm systems as well as hi-tech educational, training and recreational facilities.

Apart from providing homes, the communities have also tripled monthly income for villagers. Four more villages are being built; 11 more are on the cards for completion by next year.

In the UK, phase two of the country’s first zero carbon Exemplar development, in North West Bicester in Oxfordshire, gets under way this year.

The Dollar House

“The biggest problem of the 21st century is industrialisation, resulting in ‘day’ and ‘night’ camps” Lukas Reichmuth, director, Swisatec “The biggest problem of the 21st century is industrialisation, resulting in ‘day’ and ‘night’ camps.

The day camp is where we work, the night camp is home — and we spend most of our time travelling between the two, which means we have less time for ourselves and our loved ones.”

This, says Reichmuth, underpins Blue Rock’s holistic approach to sustainable living, with the central theme being “live work play”. “The approach results from a combination of studying the European lifestyle in old cities such as Zurich and Florence,

where you have restaurants and offices within walking distance from homes.

“We also studied women — what they want, which is to successfully combine a working life with family life.”

MIXED USE Blue Rock Village will be a mixed-use village divided into five hubs, explains Reichmuth.

“The first phase, Giovanni Luxury Terrace Apartments, comprises 64 luxury flats, with a vision of 1,800 on 40 hectares of land in five layout types for one- to four-bedroom options.”

The residential hub

will be complemented by a health hub — with a wellness spa and sports centre that houses clinics and incorporates a MAC@ HOME service that brings medical assistance to your door — a lifestyle centre, hotel and conferencing, and a finance hub known as The Dollar House.

There is one internal ring road. “Blue Rock Village is the first of its kind in Africa and has raised the bar of construction in SA.” The biggest demand is coming from Johannesburg, other African countries, as well as investors from Sweden, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and the UK.

Blue Rock Village Lifestyle Street

GREEN BY DESIGN Lukas Reichmuth, director and owner, Blue Rock Village

In November 2016, the Green Building Council SA (GBCSA) introduced the Green Star Communities Pilot rating tool, based on the Australian model.

This takes the building rating one step further by creating a standard for sustainable communities.

Blue Rock Village is a registered pilot project for the new tool, which sets out five principles of sustainable communities: enhanced livability, economic prosperity, environmental responsibility, design excellence, and strong leadership and governance.

It is aiming even higher though: it is targeting the coveted six-star rating, which recognises “world leadership” from the GBCSA and Green Building Council of Australia.

Swisatec’s innovative building designs focus not only on minimal environmental impact,

Blue Rock Village Hotel

but also on wellbeing.

Features include: Insulation, in the form of cladded buildings, to save 60%-80% energy.

Double-glazed windows and high ceilings to prevent frost and condensation and nullify a need for air conditioning.

Insulated roofs will retain the same temperature.

Environmentally friendly building materials and construction methods, including low volatile organic compound paints.

Self-generated solar power will produce 80% of electricity, including underfloor heating and central water heating systems.

Underground parking will ensure car-free streets and fewer CO² emissions.

Water management systems in place from showers to irrigation.

HOMEFRONT PROPERTY NEWS

Raising the glass standard New skyscraper for Cape Town Through increased insulation and thermal performance, glass can make a difference to your home comfort WORDS: GENEVIEVE PUTTER AND SUPPLIED

N

ew glass legislation set out by the National Building Regulations means that safety regulations involving thickness and size of glass panes have changed. Energy considerations are now required to prove that a new home design or extension falls within acceptable glazing standards.

WHICH TO CHOOSE? Says Bomax Architects director Dion Walters: “It’s become standard practice to select different products for different windows, depending on whether they

face north, south, east or west, as sunlight transmits differently from each of these directions.”

There are four variations of PG SmartGlass X2 available, suited to each of these orientations: Standard, Plus, Elite and Superior.

These are SANS 10400 XA compliant to avoid compromising on aesthetics, views and comfort.

GLASS GUIDELINES Watch out for south-facing, cold views. Large-format windows installed for the view are largely responsible for heat loss. Double

glazing or low-emissivity insulating glass is best.

Beware hot, westfacing views. Heat gain from this direction can be uncomfortable in the afternoons: the further south from the equator you are, the lower the sun.

Solve this by installing smaller windows, verticalshading devices and spectrally selective PG SmartGlass X2 for low, late-afternoon sun.

North-facing glazing is best. It is easy to control heat from the north with shading pergolas as the sun is high on the north side.

Depending on where you are located, allow some direct light to penetrate and warm the house.

East light is great for morning sunlight in bedrooms. East-facing windows or doors are always good in a kitchen.

South-facing bedrooms are not a great option.

Klein D’Aria: secure estate on working wine farm

D

evmark Property Group has launched Klein D’Aria Private Residential Estate, a small, secure estate on a working

wine farm, in a joint venture with D’Aria Vineyards in the Durbanville Wine Valley. It will offer 22 luxury homes in a prime

location. Construction will start in July, for completion by the end of the year.

Says Devmark Property Group CEO Hein Ehlers: “There is a shortage of upmarket, luxury housing in the more sought-after areas of the northern suburbs of Cape Town.

Klein D’Aria will provide the discerning buyer with a top quality product in a wellestablished, secure and upmarket area.”

It will give future owners an excellent return on investment, as there is not an oversupply of these types of developments in the area, says Ehlers.

Stands start at 213m² for a townhouse and 300m² a house, with prices starting at R4.211m all inclusive.

Savills associates form Pam Golding Commercial Africa

P

am Golding Properties and 5th Avenue Africa this month joined forces to create a new venture.

Both are associates in SA of international real estate adviser Savills.

Pam Golding Commercial Africa will expand the commercial offering of the two companies across sub-

Saharan Africa, including into Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, SA, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Savills formed an association with Pam Golding Properties in 1986, and extended its presence in SA in 2013 with the formation of a strategic alliance with 5th Avenue

Properties. It specialises in transaction management, advisory and corporate real estate services.

Pam Golding Commercial Africa will operate from regional hubs in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Lagos, focusing on tenant representation, landlord agency, capital markets and workplace consultancy.

W

ork is scheduled to start in April on the soonto-be tallest building in Cape Town.

Old Mutual Centre and Exchange Place, on the corner of Adderley

and Strand streets, were recently bought by property developer Land Equity Group, and will be redeveloped into the 44,000m 2 tower.

Costing R1.5bn, it will have 44 stories comprising

624 flats, 760 parking bays, retail space of 5,000m 2 and a 360˚ viewing deck and restaurant at roof level.

FWJK is the co-developer.

It is expected to take 30 months to complete, and 60% is already sold out.

Says Stuart Chait, head of Land Equity: “This building is set to transform the Cape Town city skyline and, once complete, it will mean that Cape Town finally features in the ‘top 10 tallest buildings in SA’.

“Statistics continue to show that both buyers and tenants are prepared to sacrifice bigger homes or apartments in outlying suburbs, in exchange for the convenient and urban lifestyle that the city has to offer. There are already at least a dozen new high-rise buildings in development in the CBD, with many more on the drawing board for 2017.”

Land Equity is planning to invest R4bn in new developments in the City Bowl this year. Says Chait: “Buyers and investors are able to get the tax benefit of the urban development zone allowance which makes their investment highly attractive.”

Sales open for The Winchester

O

ff-plan sales for flats in Rawson Developers’ new The Winchester in Observatory, Cape Town, opened this week, and each buyer is automatically entered into a draw to have their flat decorated

by a renowned homeware or decorating brand.

Flats are priced from R1,699,990. The building comprises 105 one- and two-bedroomed New Yorkstyle flats, with an integrated living and eating space and floor-to-ceiling glass panels

to maximise views and light.

Observatory offers convenience and entertainment. It is just minutes from the University of Cape Town and within easy reach of the N2, while the Observatory Station adds to its transport convenience.

BRYANSTON

Luxury Apartments

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Bruton Rd

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Contact Brendan

M 073 343 2449 T 0861 777 725

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edfordview is considered to be the city’s ‘Jewel of the east’. It is highly sought-after for its leafy surrounds, generous space, and easy access to greater Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni. Modern and slick, Infinité Bedfordview is characterised by light, comfort and the muted hues of charcoal, stone, brushed steel, oak and iceberg white. There are quality finishes, including porcelain tiles, and the latest Bosch and Hansgrohe appliances and fittings.

Large windows open each living space to expansive surrounding views.

Fully Furnished Show Unit available for viewing.

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Pointers from Nicol and Bradford Rds. Opposite Eastgate Mall (JHB).

JOHANNESBURG EAST SPECIAL PROJECTS Glen Bester 082 870 4264, Office: 010 595 4300 pamgolding.co.za/infinite

Live

INVEST Capitalise

UNDER CONSTRUCTION One on Whiteley, the new residential phase of Melrose Arch, is the ultimate in luxury cosmopolitan living. When you invest in an apartment at One on Whiteley, you are investing in a secure convenient and vibrant lifestyle.

One on Whiteley provides an amazing opportunity to be part of the success and attraction that this unique new urban precinct offers.

By owning an apartment at One on Whiteley, you open the door to 21st century living. Call now to secure an exclusive lifestyle second to none.

KEY FEATURES: • 216 luxury apartments • 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments available • Priced from R1.85 million • Secure, pristine and immaculately maintained precinct • Exquisite Finishes • World-Class conveniences and amenities • Green building efficiency • State-of-the-art security • Modern technology

Priced from R1.85 million. No Transfer Duty.

To be part of the ultimate residential address, please contact: Peet Strauss 083 675 1212, peet.strauss@pamgolding.co.za Victoria Russell 074 683 1222, victoria.russell@pamgolding.co.za Tersia Taljaard 063 695 7571, tersiat@amdec.co.za pamgolding.co.za/melrose-arch

HOUGHTON 2017

AN EXCITING

NEW RELEASE

25%

MORE SPACIOUSNESS & GRANDEUR

8 IN TEN OF OUR now

only

THREE-BEDROOM EN-SUITE APARTMENTS

Our last phase of penthouses and three- and four-bedroom luxury apartments are ready for occupation. We are near final completion so don’t lose out on a great lifestyle opportunity

YOU DESERVE TO LIVE ONE OF THE BEST LIFESTYLES IN AFRICA Come and experience it from the rooftop of apartment 12029. Available daily for viewings

Houghton on 12th, 53 Second Ave, Houghton | Show apartment 12720 ALAN BECKER 082 718 8100 | alan@thehoughton.com WARREN BECKER 082 302 3004