Bongani, a previous client and Farmer’s Weekly reader requires a second-phase development at Jozini on the Pongolapoort Dam.
In addition to his tribal village already built for a largely overseas clientele, he now requires a 25-unit cottage development that will appeal to the local tourists, particularly the “fisher-folk”. (The dam has the southern-most occurrence of the tiger-fish). About 12 of the new units will be located on the upper slopes of the natural highland bush reserve with views for about 10km over the Pongolapoort Dam – a truly magnificent setting. The development approval guidelines require that the natural environment be least disturbed, and that the units be located in the bushy hillside, so as to be almost invisible from any surrounding vantage points. These very strict requirements necessitate that these units should be blended into the sloping (30° to 40°) hillside, without any disturbances to the natural surfaces. The selected housing units would need to be of lightweight stilted construction and wooden floors, walls and roofs.
The sketch shown here is of a wooden house. Externally, the walls are half-logs fixed onto a wooden framework (stud-walls), while the internal wall finishes can be any other lightweight cladding. Similarly, the roofing would be either wood shingle or fibre-cement tiles. The external colour would match the surrounding bush – greys and browns like the tree stems and mottled greens for the roofs. The layout of the unit shown lends itself to a multitude of accommodation possibilities. As a getaway unit, with the bedrooms either side of the living room, it has that essential privacy for friends that might come along.
As a home to rent, bedroom 1 can be closed off for the owner and personal effects.
The developers envisage that interested persons will buy into the development and each will erect their own cottage. The developers will then establish administrative controls, which allow the cottage owners to rent out their units to visitors/tourists or friends, with the proceeds going to the cottage owners.Jetties, houseboats, wedding and conference facilities, as well as a restaurant are all on the cards.
Jonno
