Estate Living Magazine Connection - Issue 43 July 2019 | Page 38

C O M M U N I T Y
L I V I N G
DESIGN
LIVING
A
FOR COMMUNITY
Images: Dainfern Estate – post renovations
The estate that appears so avant-garde today will have lost its competitive edge in 20 years, as
developments with ever more sophisticated technology take the lead.
So, how do you remain relevant?
This is the question Dainfern sought to answer when it embarked on renovations
to its clubhouse, restaurant and outdoor areas. Upgrades of this nature are a must
for estates entering their second or third life cycle if they are to maintain their value,
ensure home owner satisfaction, and strike the right note with visitors – but the
process is not without its challenges, admits JP Beukes of One Point Zero, the firm
tasked with Dainfern’s revival.
START AT THE BEGINNING
According to Beukes, the best starting point when planning a rejuvenation is a
fairly obvious one: the estate offering. Which parts of the estate are well used,
which are ignored, and where do people feel there is a lack? The answers to
these questions will provide a guide to which facilities need a simple tweak,
which need to be introduced from scratch, and which should be scrapped.
‘You’re working towards a clear goal: breaking down the walls between
people to create a cohesive community. To do that, you need to create areas
of common interest, where people can mingle.’ This being the case, offering
areas that don’t speak directly to residents’ interests is counter-productive, so
it’s essential to establish what these are before you start planning further. Use
the estate’s portal to survey residents for ideas and insights regarding how they
would like to spend their time, and which facilities they consider indispensable.