This unique and exclusive residential development has got that personal touch and encourages a more thoughtful and bespoke approach – with a strong focus on sustainable living
Boasting 9,7-hectares with a beautiful 5-hectare conservancy attached to it, 40 Haygarth Road really is a special place. Its striking heritage house, Broadmead, was built in 1938 and distinctively designed within the Arts & Craft movement. And this is the house developers Chris and Steve Harburn were born and raised in.
The Harburn brothers have been involved in the construction industry for years, and among other projects developed Giba Gorge, Silver Oaks Estate, Crowhurst Estate and Manorfields.
“My twin brother and I spent our childhood running around in the huge Broadmead garden and conservancy,” says Chris. “We used to go diving for golf balls at the Kloof Country Club dam, while surreptitiously netting baby Tilapia in order to stock our own dams and wells in the conservancy,” he laughs. “We were privileged to have this freedom, and really want to go back in time and replicate the lifestyle we so thoroughly enjoyed.”
Although thoughts of the Broadmead development initially began in 2000, it was in 2014 that the Harburns started bush clearing. Their vision encapsulates sustainable living – the concepts of reusing, recycling and being at one with their natural surroundings.
“We promote the use of natural materials like solar panels, water conservation and indigenous gardening. In general, we really hope all buyers will go green,” says Chris.
The Harburns are not in a rush, which may very well be part of the appeal for potential buyers. “It has taken us more than four years to get the final approvals in place. In those four years we have found a team of passionate, like-minded professionals who are helping us to deliver our vision,” says Chris. Although seven of the 21 sites have already been sold, the remaining 14 are just waiting to be moulded into your dream home.
Broadmead is not your usual gated estate, where you have to accept a readymade house or need to follow strict rules when building. Here you buy into the concept of artisanal living.
Although a similar look and feel and the same elements will be used, people will have the freedom and creativity to design their own homes. “There will be certain design principles that tie it all together, but no prescribed and restricted rules,” explains Chris.
Architect Werner Cloete is just as excited as the Harburns about this inspiring development and the rich architectural history attached to the house. “We had approached and involved a few architects previously, but were not completely happy with their visions for Broadmead,” says Chris. “However when we saw what Werner had in mind, we instantly knew it was right.”
“The natural settings, along with the characteristics of the existing house, are the two sources that inspired us to get to what we are aiming to achieve,” says Werner. Buyers will have the fantastic opportunity to work closely with him, creating a clean, simplistic, natural structure.
The Arts & Crafts movement saw architects and landscapers work closely together to achieve harmony between the two components. The architecture allows the landscape to become an extension of the internal living spaces. “It’s organic architecture, where it looks like the buildings come out of the site and have a tight relationship with its surroundings,” explains Werner. Materials used will be honest – such as clay, face brick and concrete. “We will keep the characteristics of what’s there already, working with it – not against it,” he adds.
The beautiful conservancy is an integral part around which Broadmead has been designed, and residents will have exclusive access to it. Clearing has begun to eradicate alien species and two stepped paths have been built – leading down into the conservancy and the dam. There are plans to build more paths and a picnic site with benches. It will also be completely secured with clearview fencing to ensure security is not compromised in any way.
Broadmead certainly has a nostalgic feel to it, and apart from being upmarket and eco-friendly, it’s also within the spirit of the artisanal approach – presenting the integrity of the site and its beautiful natural surroundings. What more could you want?
*www.broadmead.co.za; contact Jen Malcolm on 084 444 6333 for more information or to arrange a walk through the conservancy to understand and appreciate this unique development!
BROADMEAD FACTS:
- 21 freehold sites, each a minimum of 1800m²
• Priced from R1 750 000 incl. VAT, with no transfer duty
• Levy: R2 000 pm - 5ha conservancy for exclusive use of residents
- Freedom to design your own home within a building design code
• Sustainable living encouraged
• Pet friendly
• State-of-the-art security and 24-hour guard
• Smart metres
• Fibre optics
