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PROJECT

UMTHUNZI VIEWS ESTATE

Umthunzi Views is a residential estate in Carlswald, Midrand. Its landscape design

and installation were undertaken by Landie Meyer of Landtech, who received a
silver award for it in the 2021 SALI Awards of Excellence.

View from the penthouse over the park and entertainment area. Photo supplied by Nicholas Foce.

he client and developer, Nicholas would make them feel as though they July 2019 and July 2021, and work was
Foce of Foce Property Investments, were living in a suburb, with colour and completed in phases, following the
Tbriefed Meyer to design a landscape texture from flowering plants both in marketing and selling of each phase.
that would complement the units and summer and winter. “As we mostly used A new phase had to be started just
provide a relaxation area for residents. plants grown in the client’s nursery, we before occupation and then usually
Even though the estate is high-density, were limited regarding the choice of had to be completed in a limited time
it was a priority for Foce that it be given species, but we nevertheless succeeded frame before the residents moved in.
a “relaxing and almost old-fashioned in providing colour and greenery to soften Meyer says they used a mountain of
suburb feeling”. This was achieved by not the landscape, to the extent that walking topsoil that was stockpiled in the park
only having several planting areas in the even in the parking areas is an enjoyable area. “It was affectionately referred to as
otherwise hard, paved parking spaces, experience.” Mount Carlswald,” she states. The height
but also by giving residents on the first difference between the park area and the
and second floors spaces in which they Taking environmental conditions into clubhouse assisted in shaping berms that
can relax on lawn. Walkways for jogging account, Meyer worked around existing formed a flowing, natural embankment
and strolling within the safety of the trees. The client had grown up on this site into which the play area could be set.
development were also important. and had even planted some of the trees as a
child. He showed her a Leopard tree that had A fully automatic irrigation system was
Other facilities include outdoor braai and stood directly behind his grandmother’s installed, combined with a turf valve
entertainment areas, large open park back door, and the sentimental value of system. Sprayers are used for the larger
spaces where children can play, a club these existing trees dictated the placement landscaped areas and drip irrigation for
house, gym and swimming pool. All these of units. Roadways were also diverted to the smaller ones. The system runs with a
add to the ‘suburb feeling’. accommodate the trees. booster pump from four 10 000 litre tanks
to ensure sufficient flow and pressure
Design philosophy Landscape installation and throughout the site. Irrigation water
Meyer says it was important to provide irrigation comes from a borehole and there is a back-
the residents with a landscape that The project was constructed between up connection to the municipal supply.

18 Landscape SA • Issue 111 2022