Page 22 - Landscape-Issue149

PROJECT

WESTOWN SQUARE, KZN

Westown Square is a mixed-use property and lifestyle development
situated between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, with a number of
interconnected precincts and spaces forming its urban core. The
area has a rich equestrian and agricultural history.

Project Team
Developer: Fundamentum Property Group
Project Management:
Orion Project Management
Main Contractor: Steffanuti Stocks Coastal
Urban Design/ Town Planning: Urban Praxis
Architects: MDS, Boogertman & Partners
Landscape Architects:
Uys & White Landscape Architects
Landscape Contractors: FSG Landscaping

The amphitheatre and tower lights. Screens were botanically inspired, with Jasmin flower cut-outs in the stainless steel sheets.

urrounding sugar cane fields have we have lost the plot! They should refer introduce the idea of orchards into the
been rehabilitated into an active to the project as the gardens at Westown public spaces.
Sgreen belt and The Barn, a signature Square.”
feature of Westown Square, serves as a Landscape architects Ignes de Beer and Soft and hard landscaping
hub of artisanal activity. Overlooking the Lucas Uys state that the design concept De Beer explains that due to Shongweni’s
landscaped gardens, children’s play area and was predominantly an agricultural theme, rich heritage and exotic plants, they
open-air amphitheatre, the development leading to the introduction of vineyards specified both indigenous and exotic plant
is a reflection of its community and the in all the parking areas. Every entrance is material for the project. “We could reminisce
broader Westown vision. considered as a feature and a botanical and relate back to the ‘old Durban’, using
theme was therefore created for each flower colour, seasonal colour and year-
Brief and landscape design concept one, for example avenues of Flamboyant round colour in our selection of trees, shrubs
The equestrian and agricultural history, as trees and Laurels; a rose arbor, bridge and groundcovers”. More than 550 000
well as the client’s love of equestrian sport, arbor and concrete ‘smarties’ cut into plants have been planted at Westown.
formed the basis for a shopping experience the contemporary brick road are other Currently, Uys has a large tree Bonsai
in a village/country garden setting, as features at entrances. To represent the exhibition to reflect community interests, and
opposed to a shopping mall. The client agriculture, wooden crates on wheels one Portulacaria afra is the oldest Spekboom
says: “If people refer to the shopping or the and wine barrels cut in half were used bonsai in the world. This tree species holds
shops as references for Westown Square, as planters - they contain lemon trees to significant local, cultural beliefs.

20 Landscape SA • Issue 149 2025 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za