I will always recall my first May – late-Autumn – in Johannesburg, many decades ago. I had arrived from the UK Spring and was renting a circa ‘50s bungalow in Craighall Park. We were chilled to the bone after dark; such were the thin walls and large areas of glass, flimsy curtains and no fireplaces. A puny electric heater did little to rectify the situation. This was an early lesson in climate control in South Africa.
Perched above the city is the suburb of Örgryte: a lofty location that enjoys panoramic views which reach out to the west. Villa Woldu’s siting offers a stunning vista at the top of the road that climbs up from the main highway to Stockholm.
This 810m² double storey house is set on a 1 300m² north-facing site overlooking the 18th hole at Pearl Valley Golf Estate. Its location is just a short stroll away from the main clubhouse and was carefully orientated to maximise views of the surrounding Franschhoek and Paarl mountains.
Since last I wrote, there have been major rumblings in this country’s political system, a resulting depreciation of our international image and a downgrading of our risk rating. Sad indeed, because South Africa is such a wonderful country and surely deserves enlightened leaders, not those who spend more time squabbling than achieving.
Giorgio Locatelli is considered by many to be one of the best Italian chefs in the UK; he will be one of the international star chefs appearing at the Good Food & Wine Show in Cape Town in late May
Collin Cole’s work is largely autobiographical, both a response to and a reflection of his personal life. He creates his own idiosyncratic mythology within the parameters and boundaries of intimate experience and reflects his journey within the context of world events to formulate a unique personal perspective.
Close to the wide open spaces of Clapham Common, in London, designer Sean Cochrane’s brief was to create an elegant home for a family of seven. It would succeed in incorporating timeless design whilst catering for the differences in the children’s needs and personal tastes.
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