Steyn City’s distinctive master plan advocates pedestrian-centric design principles.

Nestled in Johannesburg’s new north, the award-winning development is a haven for urban dwellers, nurturing a connection with nature amid the hustle and bustle of city life.

When the founders of Steyn City initially envisioned this new community, they aimed to create an environment that would allow residents to move around freely, in contrast to the cities that we’re all accustomed to, where traffic tends to dominate our daily lives. Achieving this goal required careful planning. The central thoroughfare of the community was intentionally designed to culminate in cul-de-sacs, providing residents with a tranquil sanctuary, free from the chaos and noise of vehicular traffic.

At the heart of this pioneering blueprint for estate living lies the multitude of greenbelts and stunning indigenous parkland. This exceptional 2,000-acre estate boasts a thriving ecosystem brimming with exotic birds and wildlife, all perfectly harmonised with their natural surroundings.

However, the parkland is just one of the many features that make Steyn City a gateway to improved well-being, both physical and mental. The development boasts world-class facilities offering activities such as golf, running, cycling, swimming, fishing, horse-riding, tennis and outdoor gyms. It’s an ideal location for spending quality time with loved ones while relishing a delightful picnic amidst the lush greenery and tranquil surroundings.

Certainly, well-being also means freedom from worry, and Steyn City makes this attainable by providing outstanding world-class security measures – offering complete peace of mind.

To book a viewing, visit steyncity.co.za

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Nautilus Estate, a brand new luxury concept by international architecture firm Luxury Frontiers brings pared-back seaside living to the dunes of Keurboomstrand.

Surrounded by undulating dunes, rolling blue mountains, expansive milkwood forests, and the warm and inviting Indian Ocean, Nautilus Estate is set to put pure coastal relaxation at front of mind. The Garden Route is a hub of natural wonder, abundant with indigenous flora and fauna, with neighbouring towns close enough for all the comforts of city living around the corner.

Currently under development all villas in the estate will have unobstructed views of the ocean. Privacy is a key factor in the design, so that residents may not see their neighbours if that’s their preference. The design ensures that residents and visitors alike can feel completely isolated… in the best possible way, of course.

The architecture will embrace the surrounding landscape – remaining unobtrusive and mindful, while still creating a striking and contemporary atmosphere with organic shapes, flowing lines and the use of natural materials, blending the villas into the topography of the Garden Route and its natural beauty. With all of the architecture and design focusing on being entirely eco-conscious and entirely off-the-grid, the Nautilus Estate is also set to qualify for a Green Star rating.

There are also plans to expand the estate to include the Nautilus Resort, which will offer an exclusive lodge experience. Villa owners on the estate can opt to keep their home private or join as a part of the resort structure where owners may rent out their piece of paradise to holidaymakers wishing to share this exclusive experience. World-class facilities will be on offer to guests, spanning from a luxury spa and wellness facility, a fine dining restaurant, a state-of-the-art wine cellar and a helipad. 

The buried Guest Units on the resort will offer a one-of-a-kind guest experience while the architecture will accommodate the reinstated Milkwood forest – allowing nature to take over, with a leafy canopy enveloping the roofs.

With a juxtaposition between modern sleek design and a respect for nature, the Nautilus Estate and future Nautilus Resort will be the perfect holiday escape to completely immerse yourself in nature while experiencing peak luxury and design.

For more information on the Nautilus Estate, visit nautilusestate.co.za or contact Hein Pretorius at Sotheby’s International on 0837013159 and Nols Kotze at Carnivore Capital on 0828718001.

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Here’s your chance to experience a taste of country living, while only being a stone’s throw away from the city. Welcome to Helderfontein Estate, a secure lifestyle development located adjacent to Steyn City in Dainfern, Fourways.

Within the development you’ll find large stands, ranging from 500m2 to 1024m2, where you can either build your dream home or buy a building package that suits your family’s needs. Security is clearly important as every gatehouse is manned by trained personnel with highly visible security measures including CCTV cameras, large boundary walls and access control to deter any unwelcomed threats from the outside world.

As you enter the estate, paved roads lead you past 5 star homes as you approach the Riverside Retreat; a clubhouse situated along the wild Jukskei River and nestled in phase 2 of Helderfontein Estate. This is the perfect spot for catching up with family and friends or just taking in the sights of the abundant natural landscape.

Filled with immense natural beauty, the river-banks running through Helderfontein Estate boast some of the finest bird and tree species. Landscaped responsibly with indigenous and water-safe plant life, this estate is a haven for bird watchers, hikers and nature enthusiasts. Several kilometres of walking trails meander through vast indigenous parklands with extensive water features. This is a magnificent backdrop for trees, selected grasses and fish – all carefully chosen to create a sustainable and integrated ecology. Careful consideration is given prior to the planting or removal of a tree with characteristics such as evergreen versus deciduous, fast-growing versus slow-growing, flowers, fruits and foliage as determining factors. 

Parents have the luxury of Reddam House Helderfontein being right there, on the property. Reddam House is a prestigious school that holds itself to international standards and also has boarding facilities available for students. The school boasts an Olympic size indoor swimming pool and sports facilities galore.

The final phase of Helderfontein Estate is ready to launch this weekend. In phase 3, you’ll find large spacious stands set out across the three sections; Meadows, Fields and Grasslands. In this latest phase of the estate you’ll find a newly built clubhouse with a restaurant, swimming pools, fully-equipped gym, kid’s play areas and business centre which all overlook one of the many catch-and-release fishing dams. This luxurious space has been designed to complement your lifestyle; the perfect place to work, live and play. This final phase has just opened its doors to homeowners wanting to build something amazing in one of the most sought after developments in Joburg.

If you aren’t a resident at Helderfontein Estate just yet, get in touch with Vee and arrange a viewing to find your perfect space in phase 3! The first official show day opens on 22 and 23 October 2022.

For more information, visit century.co.za or contact Vee on 082 937 1680 (vee@century.co.za). 

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With land in prime position on which you can build your ideal home from the ground up, Helderfontein Estate is a bespoke property investment. Could this be your new dream address?

In such scenic surrounds, you’d be forgiven for thinking Helderfontein Estate was miles away from the bustling city. But, this award-winning estate’s main entrance is just off William Nicol Drive near Dainfern Square, with a second gatehouse on Chattan Road in Lonehill.

Nestled among greenbelts and parkland along the Jukskei River, surrounded by open parks, roaming fauna and natural streams, Helderfontein Estate is where families enjoy all the perks that are expected with country lifestyle estate living – a top private school, Reddam House Helderfontein; catch-and-release fishing dams, beautiful walking trails, a riverside retreat with tennis court and swimming pool, and state-of-the-art security. A larger main clubhouse with a restaurant, swimming pool and double-storey gym is in the works.

With vacant stands ranging between R1.8 million and R4.2 million, what better canvas to let your architectural and design imagination run wild? Investors can use their own architects and builders, or make use of one of the four diverse building packages on the estate.

For more information on this exciting development, or for a personal tour of the estate, please contact Vee on 082 937 1680 or visit century.co.za.

When you buy into Helderfontein Estate from now until December, you could win an exclusive interior design and architecture consultation. For more info, click here! 

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Pieter Mathews of Mathews + Associates Architects has designed a distinctive, sculptural Flemish barn-inspired home in an Irene Estate that undoes binary preconceptions to create a bold but layered living experience.

Southdowns Residential Estate in Irene, developed on the grounds of a former a dairy farm, has strict aesthetic guidelines. They require that new houses relate architecturally to the “turn of the century” Irene architectural vernacular at the heart of the estate’s identity. They add, however, that a contemporary interpretation of the guidelines is encouraged.

The order and uniformity of the architecture are part of what attracted businessman Albé Geldenhuys to the estate; but when he commissioned Mathews + Associates Architects led by Pieter Mathews, he encouraged them to “think out of the box”. Pieter immediately noticed the prominence of the site Albé had selected and its importance to the character of the estate. It’s on a circle where three roads converge, demanding a certain architectural presence. At the same time, the design needed to tread a fine line between its public street-facing character and Albé’s privacy.

The stand overlooks a large field with mountain-biking paths and running tracks. Luckily, Albé enjoys the buzz of human activity. “It’s energising,” he says, so he didn’t want to be walled off from the sights and sounds that animate the estate.

Albé has travelled widely, living in countries around the world, and the agricultural character required by the estate put him in mind of the Flemish barns he’d first encountered in the Netherlands in the early 2000s. He and Pieter were keen to try out a contemporary take on the style. Flemish barns, with their blackened timber façades, also provided an “original twist”, as Pieter puts it, on the estate requirements without being “gimmicky”.

The simplified archetypal form of the barn – reinterpreted in contemporary materials, dark metal cladding, light timber screens, raw off-shutter concrete and sleek refined detailing – provides a kind of “sculptural composition for the estate”, says Pieter. He refers to it as a billboard for the “less-is-more” take on the vernacular.

At the same time, he points out that the simplicity of the design is deceptive. On closer inspection, the barn-like structure is an elegant and harmonious resolution of a rich variety of materials and forms. In all, Pieter refers to the approach as “simplexity”, in which simplicity and complexity complement rather than contradict each other.

On the one hand, “Albé’s Barn”, as its owner has dubbed the striking street-facing façade, acts as a screen. On the other, it allows a delicately layered transition from the public realm to the private sanctuary at its heart. From the garage, which functions as a kind of foyer, there are glimpses right through the house, and framed views of the field beyond.

The monolithic façade gives way to courtyards and in-between spaces filled with plants. “It’s a visual spatial progression,” says Pieter. You don’t experience the entrance as a barrier or a sharp transition at all; instead, there’s a sense of permeability. On your way out to the pool and lawn beyond, the pergola and the stoep are like a filtering device, Pieter points out, using Australian architect Glenn Murcutt’s term “feathering” to describe the effect.

The way in which glass sliding doors open onto the green pockets not only lets through cooling breezes, but blurs the distinction between inside and out, once again fuzzing binary conceptions. The sleek architectural lines are offset by bursts of organic greenery. “I’m not the best when it comes to plants, but during lockdown, I seem to have developed green fingers,” says Albé with a laugh.

Inside, the barn is unembellished but stylish, allowing the materials to bring character and warmth to the spaces rather than relying on an abundance of furnishing and objects. It’s “more of what you want, less of what you don’t need”, Pieter says. While the ground floor is characterised by raw concrete finishes, the transition upstairs yields to blonde timber cladding.

A subtle choreography of rhythm and repetition – the exposed rafters, for example – progresses through the upstairs spaces. Even from up here, windows look down on the green pockets, and the trees push upwards towards the sky.

Early-rising Albé’s northeast-facing bedroom welcomes the morning light, while the balcony makes a relaxing vantage point from which to enjoy a glass of wine and take in the animating presence of joggers, bikes and family strollers at the end of the day. The whole place is characterised by a calming clarity without ever becoming stark. The complexity is unfussy, bringing warmth, diversity and humanity to the sense of home.

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Take a look at this family home in Bainskloof.

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The gardens of The Newt in Somerset, recently opened to the public, are a mix of formal planting, wildflower meadows, apple orchards and more. We can’t wait to see what other delights the South African owners of this English country estate have in store.

The talents of South African style-setter Karen Roos are already legendary. Nine years ago, this visionary and her husband resurrected the previously neglected Babylonstoren farm near Paarl, which today draws visitors from all over the world.

Porky Hefer’s human-scale weaver nests have been wowing visitors to Babylonstoren and Cape Town’s Company Gardens, and now visitors to The Newt are in for a treat, too.

In 2013, the couple bought Hadspen House and its surrounding 120 hectares of land in Somerset, Emily Estate – a property that once belonged to generations of Emily Hobhouse’s family. With the help of French architect Patrice Taravella and a theatre full of skilled artisans, Karen, the creative director, reshaped the estate into gardens, potagers, lawns, ponds, wooden walkways, hornbeam hedges, and a maze of 460 apple trees inspired by gardens of the baroque period. They make cider on the estate, and there are restaurants, a garden shop, and a hotel and spa. Renamed for the protected newts that occur here, The Newt in Somerset fuses 2 000 years of British horticultural fashions and traditions with contemporary South African design.

For more information, visit thenewtinsomerset.com.

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One viewer of SABC3’s Win a Home competition got to pick a home decorated by one of three young design duos. Imagine our delight when the winner chose the VISI team’s house!

Over the course of 16 weeks, three pairs of young designers were mentored by a decor magazine representative as they tackled the challenge to decorate and add the finishing touches to three homes at Eye of Africa Golf & Residential Estate in Gauteng.

During the finale, broadcast live on 10 November 2017, the name of the grand prize winner was drawn from the many viewers who had watched the show on SABC3’s Afternoon Express and voted online for their favourite pair and design. The winner, Zintle Kom from Plumstead in Cape Town, chose the home decorated by Mpho Mphaga and Lesego Masekele – who were mentored by VISI’s own Annemarie Meintjes– to call her own.

Annemarie says in the process she discovered that it is easier to be an influencer than it is to be a mentor. “Mentoring a couple of young designers with a loaded budget, generous sponsors and the opportunity of a lifetime that could open the doors to a promising future in design was not easy,” she says. Mpho and Lesego had strong ideas of their own and didn’t always heed her suggestions. But in the final week of the challenge, when the snags had to be made good and time and budget were running out, the three of them put their heads together and pulled through as a team.

“I am proud of the fact that Mpho and Lesego designed a real home for a real person,” Annemarie says. “Every design decision was made with an imaginary client in mind, and it is not surprising that the grand prize winner chose to own our home! “I wish Mpho and Lesego a brilliant career in lifestyle design.”

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Established in 2003 by world-renowned French winemaker Madame May de Lencquesaing, wine farm Glenelly has been revamped into a contemporary estate.

As you drive into Glenelly Estate, you’re struck by the sight of a rectangular building that seems to jut out of a slope as though it were a tunnel that might lead you beneath the vines and into the soil.

Its angular lines suggest it shouldn’t work, not here in the Greater Simonsberg region, where much of the architecture on the wine farms is steeped in Dutch culture. But then again, the owner of Glenelly, Madame May-Éliane de Lencquesaing, is no ordinary winemaker. The intrepid owner and managing director of iconic Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Bordeaux, France, for 30 years, she bought what was a fruit farm in Idas Valley in 2003 at the age of 78 to start a new venture.

Twelve years later, in June 2015, she – together with her grandsons Nicolas Bureau and Arthur de Lencquesaing, and winemaker Luke O’Cuinneagain – closed the farm to the public for renovations, which took nearly 18 months. Now fully refreshed, Glenelly has been reopened.

The contemporary vision suggested by the shape of the building has been taken inside, with a nod to May’s French heritage and her love for hand-blown glass, but more about that later.

Sandwiched between the tasting room above and the Glass Collection below is a restaurant, The Vine Bistro, which welcomes you into the state-of the-art winery. “We were looking for that French bistro feel,” says Luke, “hence the style of the tables, but we wanted to bring it back to a South African heritage so we sourced antique Cape furniture.”

The restaurant opens onto a patio with views of the vineyards, but first there is a transitional space between the interior and the patio differentiated with patterned floor tiles and cane chairs. And out on the deck are French-bistro-style tables and chairs. To the right of the patio is an area where guests can play pétanque, a form of boules.

A beautiful view of Simonsberg from Glenelly Winery.

The upstairs tasting area is split into three spaces: a private tasting room, a public tasting room, and a lounge and wine library. It’s a contemporary affair, with angular lines that reflect the building’s exterior. Large windows and glass doors that open onto the balcony afford guests near-panoramic views of the vineyards and mountain. The most impressive feature, however, is the custom-made granite bar. A great deal of granite was removed from the soil when vineyards were planted on the farm, so it was decided to crush some of the stone and incorporate it in the counter, giving guests a link to the soil.

Above the counter hang custom-made glass pendant lamps, reflecting May’s fascination with hand-blown glass. Her private collection is housed on the floor below the restaurant. Luke says the collection holds all sorts of glassware in different states, not just wine glasses, as some may expect. There are pieces that date back to 1 AD.

This is where Glenelly’s magic lies: in its interweaving of contemporary and antique, South African and French, a winery and a museum, New World and Old World. All these elements, even the most unexpected combinations, live together here in harmony.

For more information, visit glenellyestate.com.

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When candidate architect and photographer Juané Venter was selected as a finalist in the SABC 3 Win A Home competition, she set about creating a pad with a specific design signature… and walked away with a R50 000 prize.

This is why, when she was elected as one of the three contestants to battle it out on the decor front in the Win A Home competition, she took cognisance of her surroundings and set about creating a space that reflected the mink-and-manure sense of luxury synonymous with Val de Vie Estate near Paarl and coupled it with special touches that are a clear reflection of her own design aesthetic.

The only woman among the three contestants, Juané saw the competition as an opportunity to grow. “It was the perfect challenge for me,” she says. “It took me out of my comfort zone.”

Win A Home, which was sponsored by Private Property in association with Nedbank, aired on Afternoon Express on SABC 3 every weekday between 4 pm and 5 pm for 10 weeks between May and August this year.

Under the expert mentorship of VISI editor-in-chief Sumien Brink, Juané set about stamping her design signature on the apartment.

The swish Polo Pads in the Polo Village at Val de Vie, designed by renowned architect Stefan Antoni, who was also one of the judges, feature neutral-coloured exterior walls, a grey slate roof, a balcony and a modern, uncluttered interior.

Juané took these factors into account when making interior design choices. “I went for a neutral colour palette, because I wanted the walls to be like a canvas for the designer pieces I brought in. I think a neutral pallet is timeless.” Her favourite paint colour, Plascon In the Mood, is a neutral yet warm shade that works well in any space.

“My style is still developing, but at this stage it is functional and contemporary with an industrial edge. That said, I am proud of the quirky elements I introduced into this apartment to give it life and set it apart.”

The striking chandelier in the living room is one such element. Juané commissioned Yellow Thread to make the piece to add a focal point and an element of drama to the other-wise restrained interior. “It’s my favourite piece!” she says.

The competition was a great confidence builder for Juané, who says she could not have done it without the dedication of her mentor, Sumien. Winning the R50 000 viewers’ choice prize was the cherry on top.

What’s next for this shining light on the South African design and architecture stage?

“Next year I will write my professional practice exam, the culmination of seven years of study to become an architect.

My dream is to have my own studio where I can work on creative ventures that include photography, architecture and interior design. For me, the greatest thing about decor and design is that you get to give a little of yourself on every project. It is an art form in which you get to express yourself.”

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One of the world’s most exclusive boutiques, 100% Capri offers an opulent clothing and homeware range that evokes the essence of la dolce vita. A true visionary, young entrepreneur Antonino Aiello has exported this dreamy island’s lifestyle to the world. In Africa, the brand is available exclusively at Delaire Graff Estate.

Born in Sorrento, Italy, Aiello encountered textiles and tailoring for the first time through the Neapolitan style embraced by his family’s business. At the age of 23, he moved to the alluring Italian island and founded his own highly successful fashion and household linen brand.

Inspired by the fabric’s versatility, Aiello creates fashion designs that are able to transform from stylishly relaxed for day, to casually elegant for evening. The captivating fashion range features the brand’s signature colours of deep navy, white and taupe that are inspired by the mysterious grottos, sandy beaches and dramatic stone cliffs of Capri.

We caught up with Antonino to find out what inspires his designs and why he chose to open a boutique in South Africa.

What does fashion mean to you?

It is my hobby, my work, my passion. It’s my life.

How do you define elegance?

Sophisticated simplicity, being able to carry yourself with grace and exuding serene confidence.

Which fashion designers do you most admire?

Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld have both interpreted fashion with an edge beyond everyone else. Their avant-garde and research-led approach to fashion is what I admire most.

What do you love most about your island home?

I have a strong fondness for the architecture. There is so much history behind the walls, the pathways, courtyards and homes of Capri. Each one tells you something about the island. Equal to this is the memory of the island, of the many people who have walked the shores over the centuries and enjoyed its beauty. This connection to the island, feeling part of both its history and future, is what I love most.

What drew you to opening a boutique at Delaire Graff Estate?

Graff Diamonds was always an inspiration. Being a part of the team here in South Africa, on this gorgeous estate in a beautiful country, makes me very proud. Graff is tantamount to the highest level of quality, purity and beauty. Beauty and quality are my credo and the basic concept of the 100% Capri project since the beginning.

The 100% Capri boutique at Delaire Graff is open daily. Visit delaire.co.za for more information.

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