Property Trends - The Rise Of Boutique Developments in Cape Town

Bigger is not always better when it comes to property it seems, and a new trend in the property world is changing the face of new developments in Cape Town.

This is according to Alexa Horne, MD of DG Properties who says that smaller, exclusive and unique developments that have character, class and status are what people want.

"Developers have embraced this trend and are building more boutique luxury property developments - and the demand for these homes has increased as people are becoming more and more focused on exclusivity, as well as interior design and architecture."

What to Expect From a Boutique Development
According to Paul Upton, head of developments for DG, boutique developments offer only a few homes for sale in upmarket exclusive areas where space is a premium, and Upton says that developers are increasingly concentrating on creating original and bespoke buildings that give buyers the opportunity to feel special whilst owning a rare piece of real estate.

"Boutique developments are notorious for their attention to detail and developers are building beautiful, tasteful properties in limited numbers which are located in desirable areas. These home are considered to have far more prestige, and have better resale values than bigger development schemes."

Boutique Development Hotspots
Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard and Southern Suburbs have seen an increasing number of boutique developments being launched and snapped up by receptive buyers.

"The Southern Suburbs of Cape Town is proving to be one of the most popular areas in Cape Town, enjoying booming property sales over recent months as buyers take advantage of value for money properties, access to good schooling, an abundance of lifestyle options, and decentralised office nodes - all making it a highly sought-after address," says Upton.

"Claremont, Kenilworth, Rondebosch, Constantia, Newlands and Bishopscourt are great suburbs to live in - offering beautiful, safe surroundings and well-built homes. The Southern Suburbs has an abundance of restaurants, coffee shops, upmarket deli's, art galleries and boutique shops."

Areas in the Atlantic Seaboard, such as Oranjezicht, Sea Point, Fresnaye, Bantry Bay, Green Point and Camps Bay (to name a few) remain a firm favourite amongst buyers, who enjoy the exceptional location within walking distance of a vast variety of renowned restaurants, cafés, shops, some of the world's most beautiful beaches, as well as easy access to the CBD, good schools, Table Mountain and more.

Fabulous Foursomes - boutique developments newly launched in Cape Town
Upton unpacks two recently launched boutique developments in the suburbs of Claremont and Camps bay, which both offer a quartet of exclusive homes.

"19 On Torquay is a new development in Claremont Upper that has only four freestanding homes available, which are priced from R11.995 million (Incl. VAT - No transfer duty). These luxurious homes are large, with two of the units featuring four bedrooms and five bathrooms - the biggest is over 746 square metres - and the other two units feature three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The homes range down in size to 570, 479 and 463 square metres - all with exceptional views in the desirable heart of the Southern Suburbs."

"In keeping with the trend toward exceptional design, the homes at 19 on Torquay feature timeless dark exteriors with architecturally clean lines and expansive windows as well as roof top gardens. Each 2-storey home has segmented open-plan interiors maximizing the use of interior space and feature stonewall cladding, glass balustrades, vertical oak screens, and steel columns. Special features to be found include exclusive touches such as private cinema's, wine cellars, staff accommodation and some have HIS-and-HERS bathroom/dressing rooms," explains Upton.

In Camps Bay, the Medburn Villas, situated on prestigious Medburn Drive, also offers only four ultra-luxury homes priced from R18.950 million, up to R31.995 million (incl. VAT - no transfer duty). Conceptualized by award-winning Architects Gerd Weideman and Jenny Mills, these homes can only be described as ultra-luxe, with each unit configured over three levels with private elevator access.

According to Upton, the architecture and interior design focuses on bold contrasts of natural timber, high-gloss steel and glass, and trend-forward concrete. Jenny Mills notes that with spaces that feel well connected and generous, the villa layouts offer versatility for different homeowners and family configurations.

"The development also has sustainable features such as water saving fittings, filtered borehole water supply, eco-conscious heat pump geysers, low-energy LED lighting, and inverter/photo-voltaic backup electrical supply. Safety features include biometric recognition access, monitoring and access controllable remotely from anywhere in the world."

"A high price tag alone does not put a property in the luxury category," says Horne. "It has to be unique and exclusive, in a trophy address, and Cape Town's boutique developments are meeting these requirements. We anticipate seeing an ongoing demand for boutique developments from both local and international buyers and as such an ongoing response from developers who enlist the services of top architects and designers to produce premier exclusive properties that are more akin to built art than mere buildings."

For more information on these two exciting developments contact Paul Upton on 071 610 8088 or email: paul@dogongroup.com