Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa November/December 2014 | Page 17

PROJECTVIEW
27BOXES, MELVILLE

SITARI COUNTRY ESTATE, SOMERSET WEST
Sitari Country Estate, a R4 billion new suburb in the Helderberg basin, was officially
launched in July 2014.
Sitari Country Estate is set on 192ha, and is one of the last private access-controlled
estates that will be built within the Western Cape. Full development is expected to be
achieved over the next seven years.
The architecture envisaged for Sitari Country Estate is that of contemporary Cape
Dutch vernacular design. The estate’s architectural language will include low internal
‘werf’ walls, allowing each property to become an extension of the greater estate. This
will be complemented by three 40m landscaped corridors and a central formal spine that
leads up to the Clubhouse and Klein Zeekoevlei Wetland.
The main gatehouse will have six monolithic gable ends framing huge glazed
facades. Each side of the gatehouse is essentially a colossal, modernistic Cape Dutch
manor house.
The landscaping is reminiscent of old Cape farm landscapes and elements of these
have been brought into the landscape design. Orchards with olives, limes, lemons,
oranges, figs, pomegranates and pears will instil a farm-like feel within the open spaces.
Some vineyards will also be installed for use in wines unique to Sitari.
The most visible features of the landscape in Sitari will include white-washed walls,
silos, dovecotes, a windmill, parks, orchards and timber decks with bird hides.
Features include unparalleled 24/7 security, a Country Clubhouse with restaurant,
kids’ play zone, pool and day spa, CrossfitTRF gym; a 22ha wetland with timber decks and
bird hides, various play parks as well as a central park spine with windmill, gardens and
water features; a 14 km cycle and running route; 2 Curro Schools as well as a shopping
centre, retirement village and medical centre. www.sitari.co.za
Developer: Uvest Property Group
Architects: Gisele Vanderstraeten, BPAS, Orbic Architects
Main Contractor: Power Construction

The first shipping container retail
centre in the country is under
construction. What was previously
Faan Smit Park, will now become
27Boxes, a retail centre in the
middle of Melville. The design
of the centre will reflect the
vibrant, trendy and somewhat
bohemian character that made
Melville famous, transforming it
into a bespoke shopping centre
and parkland. The development
will also offer 200 parking bays,
providing a secure and convenient
centre for shoppers, casual visitors
and shopkeepers alike.
Known for its innovative building
techniques used in the conversion
of the Newtown grain silos into
student accommodation and the
successful
shipping
container
apartment block in Windsor, Citiq
has created a retail centre with
2,400m² of contemporary retail
space for the Melville site, built
entirely from modular units using
63 shipping containers, making up
78 shops.
Citiq’s CEO, Paul Lapham says
the centre will revolutionise retail
shopping. “Affordable shop space
and being geared towards the
needs of small entrepreneurs,
artists, creative people and food
lovers, 27Boxes will provide an ideal
environment to attract shoppers
and encourage visitors to linger
and enjoy what’s on offer from the
eclectic mix of tenants.”
“Shipping containers have long
been associated with pop-up malls
and temporary exhibition stands.
They have also provided the basic
building block for a number of
internationally acclaimed retail
developments. Box Park in London,
and a retail park in Christchurch,
New Zealand, are both examples
of what can be achieved with the
humble shipping container.
www.citiqproperty.co.za
www.27boxes.co.za

Project Watch

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