A question of balance

One of the few freehold developments in the Sibaya Precinct, Gold Coast Estate offers a rare balance between elegant design, convenient location and extensive vistas on KZN’s beautiful North Coast.

Gold Coast offers a bit of everything. With luxury freehold homes and apartments, it’s perfectly designed for multi-generational living. Equally well suited for young families, empty nesters, or single young professionals setting up home in their first property. Gold Coast offers a balance of privacy, community amenities, and the sense of being way out in nature with the knowledge you are only minutes away from the airport and the city. When you discover the estate, you can easily envisage balmy summer afternoons with your family, relaxing on the veranda over the weekend, or being totally on your own – strolling through the extensive forest with a pair of binoculars and a bird book. If you’re quiet, and you walk slowly, you may even come upon a bokkie grazing in a clearing.

Gold Coast Estate’s position on the higher slopes of a hill that rises up from the sea gives its residents lovely views of the ocean and the protected coastal dune forest. The mindfully terraced plots provide a high level of privacy while maintaining the security and comfort of community living. The estate is designed with children in mind to enable families to have carefree, active lifestyles.

The houses on plan make good use of natural light, which  enhances the experience of living on a wide open coast.

‘We put a lot of effort into design and architecture to make sure that everyone maximises their views, and no-one is looking into someone else’s living area,’ says developer Charles Thompson. ‘Everyone looks out onto the ocean or the dam.’

The estate has 170 freestanding plots that range in size from 400 to 1,200 square metres. It is a plot-and-plan model. Owners can choose from five types of houses with a high level of variation. Architects have allocated specific house types to each plot to maintain privacy and views, and buyers keep this in mind when they select the sites for their new homes. Owners can also opt to build customised homes if they remain within the architectural vision of the estate.

Once a new owner has selected a plot and house type, DEVMCO Development Management then provides a turnkey solution. ‘Everything is done for you,’ explains Thompson. ‘We project manage the entire building and fitting process – all you have to do is choose what you want, and then come and collect the keys.’

At the highest point of the estate, The Apex is perfect for people who appreciate the lock-up-and-go convenience of a luxury apartment – whether it’s because they do a weekly commute to Gauteng, or for an annual overseas trip to spend time with the grandchildren. Intelligent design, using frameless glazing, heavy metals and earthenware, extends residents’ personal space seamlessly into the outdoors. The four-storey buildings house two residential units on each floor with three or four bedrooms each. Two-bedroom duplexes are also on offer.

On the edges of the forest and dam, Parc offers villas, which are ideal for starter homes, and for young families.

‘Our buyers tell us that they are attracted by the lifestyle and luxury amenities we offer – things like our sports facilities, wine and cigar bar, and restaurant. We are family-oriented and pet-friendly.’ Pets are welcome on the freestanding plots and the ground-floor Apex apartments. Children are welcome everywhere, and families can feel assured of their safety with the estate’s state-of-the-art security. It’s the kind of place where kids in the community become fast friends, and roam free over the weekend, frolicking in the dam, cycling the many paths, or learning the names and calls of the beautiful birds that live in the coastal dune forest. Chances are you’ll only see them when they come home because they’re hungry.

The estate includes an outdoor play area, central park, putting green, tennis and squash courts, a gym, a 25-metre lap pool, and jogging and cycling paths. There is easy access to the beach and forest, and a shuttle service is available on request. Outdoor amenities nearby include 350 hectares of indigenous forest with small game, beautiful beaches, and 75 kilometres of walking and cycling trails, paths and boardwalks. The property itself is 60% green space, and includes a dam.

Location is the biggest attraction for businesspeople. Gold Coast is minutes from King Shaka International Airport, and a short drive to Durban’s main business and conference venues. The shops and conveniences of Umhlanga Village are five minutes away.

The estate supports a work-from-home ethos, with the clubhouse offering mini-business services, a business lounge, and a boardroom with audio-visual facilities. The restaurant is an excellent venue for entertaining clients or business partners.

All homes are optimised for home automation, and residents can remotely control security, temperature and energy use, with options for mechanised control of lighting, curtains and appliances. A fibre-optic cable network enables uninterrupted flow of high-quality data.

Future development in the Sibaya Coastal Precinct includes an Advtech school, medical suites, and a retirement village nearby.

Thompson says that the freestanding plots are already 85% sold through network marketing only: ‘So far we have been meeting mainly people who are moving out from other parts of Durban. We are looking for residents, and we build personal relationships with each of our buyers individually.’

The estate will welcome its first residents in early 2020. Whether you’re looking for a safe home for your young family, or downscaling, Gold Coast Estate surpasses all other options available.