Your home in the Country

Set amongst the peaceful rolling foothills of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is Garlington Estate. From its elevated position, it commands beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, including Otto’s Bluff, the Albert Falls area and the nearby farmlands, and is situated in the heart of Hilton and a five-minute drive down the hill to Pietermaritzburg. The overall philosophy is one of contemporary country lifestyle, totally unique in this part of the country. Embedded by traditional values, with a strong focus on community and a safe and stress-free rural lifestyle, this estate offers the perfect multigenerational environment for the young and the not so young.

When fully completed, the estate will have 330 units that provide a full range of housing options, including apartments ranging in size from 58 to 180 square metres, and a central core area, with houses loosely based on design elements of old-school Stellenbosch. Properties here range in size from 300 to 1 000 square metres, while outer-lying gentlemen’s retreats can have plots of more than one hectare.

At the heart of the development is Crowe Square, a public area developed as an important feature of village neighbourhood life. This will be the social hub of the development and is surrounded by luxury apartments, small offices, a coffee shop and the Homeowners’ Association and sales office.

In addition to Crowe Square, there are two other major squares in the village zone: Stelton Square and Gable Square. Both will be framed by double-storey houses reminiscent of old Cape Town homes, and each has been landscaped in such a way as to develop its own identity.

Adjoining the coffee shop is a gym and a magnificent indoor swimming pool, designed by one of the country’s leading architects, Paul Wygers, who previously designed the Constitutional Court and the famous Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. Another central location of note is the Promenade, which is in the process of being landscaped. Over time, this will also become one of the major features of this magnificent development.

From Crown Square comes the village zone. Here the architecture is based on the beautifully proportioned buildings of the Western Cape, especially those of old-world Stellenbosch. A great deal of emphasis is placed on aesthetics, comfort and creating a sense of place and belonging, with pretty pedestrian-friendly streets, lanes and avenues or squares that encourage walking and minimal traffic. There are also large green gardens, wide-open expanses and plenty of social communal areas.

Homes are tied by the common theme of the architectural code and vary in size from 420 to 5 000 square metres. The developers have retained a country feel that imitates the local area by keeping over half of the property as open spaces, allowing for horse riding, hiking and mountain biking. An area situated in the open space to the east of the residential development has been set aside for the building of stables to house the horses. Landscaping is managed internally and all homeowners are encouraged to go indigenous. Sustainable best practices are also in place, such as water management, rainwater harvesting and boreholes for dual supply. Solar panels and generators are also permitted. Young families are attracted to the central location, just a stone’s throw from some of the country’s best schools, including St Anne’s, Hilton College, Grace College and Michael House. There are also fantastic road links to the rest of the country, with many homeowners commuting to central Durban, Pietermaritzburg and the Midlands as well as further afield to as far as Johannesburg and Pretoria. A robust security operation gives added peace of mind for young families living and working on the estate. Biometric access control, camera-controlled electric fencing and 24/7 on-site monitoring ensure maximum security, so residents are able to live, work and play as they choose.

For the not so young, there is Lifestyle Village, an upmarket, safe and secure retirement estate that offers understated and secluded accommodation for the over-50s. Five different styles of houses are available, each one offering the buyer unique features.

All the houses have been designed with mature people in mind and offer luxurious comfort yet practical convenience, all within a setting of landscaped beauty. The bedrooms are fitted with carpets, the living areas and kitchens have easy-to-clean tiled floors, and windows and glass doors are fitted with clear double-glazed glass. There are a limited number of finishes to choose from, and all homes have standard inclusions such as a fireplace, garden and easily accessible garage.

In addition to the houses, there will be a readily accessible High Care Centre, with frail care and assisted living offerings.

Over the last decade, the objective of Garlington has remained the same – to create the finest development in Pietermaritzburg and the Midlands. A country home in the country, this estate embodies the cradle-to-grave concept with ease, and shows just how simple it is to live, work and retire without having to leave the comfort of your estate.

For any sales enquiries,  contact@estate-living.co.za