Estate Living Magazine Alfresco Living - Issue 36 December 2018 | Page 40

Architectural guidelines are still very much in force to maintain the ‘Many young families are looking to raise their kids in the country.
look of the estate, while still giving home owners stylistic freedom. Even if they are not horsey folk, they’re looking for this quality
‘We’re having the guidelines overhauled right now,’ says Warring. of life,’ says Van de Merwe. ‘So, we seek to communicate and
‘They need to be updated to make them more green-friendly and educate them about horses, and we encourage kids to engage
move with the times.’ He says, for example, that guidelines in the with the horses, because they will probably be living next door to
past didn’t allow guttering, which prohibited rainwater harvesting. one.’
‘Rules have to evolve,’ he says.
There is no discrimination between
Security within Saddlebrook has recently been improved. riders and non-riders. ‘We all pay
Residents voted to spend a good percentage of their budget the same levies,’ says Warring.
on a new, state-of-the-art R2 million electric fence to replace the And, anyway, non-riders living
existing structure – a ‘top-class 36-strand fence with multiple in Saddlebrook often evolve
zones,’ says Van de Merwe. ‘If something were to go wrong, to become riders – or at least
we would know exactly where it’s gone wrong.’ The estate has their children do.
CCTV and armed guards on duty 24 hours a day. Access to the
estate is controlled through a biometric system using fingerprint ‘Because many new buyers are
recognition technology. Even so, a recently commissioned risk millennials who are proactive
assessment survey identified ways to further improve security. around
recycling,
we
are
committed to ensuring a low
‘The estate is “security-focused” with 70% of budget dedicated to carbon footprint by facilitating this
security upgrades, and technology plays an important role in the practice,’ says Van de Merwe.
advancement of the current security standards. We are presently
reviewing various options like thermal cameras and AI-based The estate has also invested in an extensive fibre
monitoring software.’ Saddlebrook is also moving with the times network, she says. ‘Millennials don’t believe in working
in attracting a new buyer profile, which includes young families nine to five. They want to be mobile, and connected around the
attracted to the ‘exclusivity and privacy’. clock. Our connectivity is top notch.’
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