Development

The Islands Estate, adjacent to Pecanwood at Hartebeespoort Dam, is a residential and marine  development comprising different components: free-standing homes, an over fifties development,  two further residential developments and a hotel. The latter two are still to be built in subsequent phases, and will be featured in a future issue of Landscape SA.

A key feature of the project is a system of canals six kilometers of navigable water at various points in the estate, with islands and jetties to accommodate boats. The idea to develop the property as a marina was the culmination of many ideas by a creative development team. The land previously belonged to Dries Pretorius, whose family has owned it for the past 160 years. Whilst in the United Kingdom some years ago, he observed the operation of long boats in the canals and locks of the Thames, and this formed the starting point of his idea for The Islands Estate. The flatness of the site was also ideal for creating the dams and canals.

Project team

• Developers: Andre Burger, Dries Pretorius, Roelf Burger
• Project Managers: CPJ du Toit & Associates
• Architects: Plan Studio Architects
• Consulting Engineers: D& G Encotech
• Civil & Structural Engineers: I M Ferreira & Associates
• Landscape Design and Installation: Greenacres Landscapes

The success of the project was due to the high level of co-operation between everyone on the professional team, and the fact that the clients themselves were very hands-on, attending site and co-ordination meetings as well as regular walkabouts.

The developers' vision has come to fruition and all involved agree that it was a privilege to take part in the project.