ARCHITECTURE & landscaping
architecture
Architecture surrounded by Cape Nature
To make sure we always preserve the innate beauty of Imhoff’s Gift, we’ve created straightforward architectural and landscape guidelines.
The homes within the estate embody historical and local influences like Cape Vernacular, Cape coastal, Cape farm, and “Beach” house styles. We’ve carefully chosen colors and materials that capture these influences. Additionally, architectural elements like latticed verandas, pitched roofs, loft rooms, and lightweight timber construction all come together to enhance a seamless and harmonious architectural style.
landscaping
As Imhoff’s Gift borders on a Heritage nature reserve and is in itself a unique environment, we all have an interest in preserving the natural environment in which we are privileged to live. The spirit of the estate is to maintain it as an indigenous environment, or as close to that state as possible. Members / Residents are encouraged to plant vegetation that is endemic or at least indigenous to the Cape. There are several reasons why this makes sense:
To help preserve the unique nature of Imhoff’s Gift in a manner that has the least negative impact on the natural environment; Indigenous plants are more likely to survive the harsh climatic conditions of the estate; Indigenous plants are well adapted to the Cape climatic conditions and help to conserve water, which is a scarce resource throughout South Africa.
If Members have an excess of any indigenous plants in their gardens, they are invited to contact the Board, hello@imhoffsgift.capetown, who can arrange transplanting to a common area to promote and conserve the local flora, and thereby the local fauna as well. The Design Manual contains a list of recommended and prohibited plants in the Recommended Planting List.
Members / Residents are responsible for clearing invasive Alien Vegetation (e.g. Rooikrans, Port Jackson) or any vegetation which jeopardizes the environmental integrity of Imhoff’s Gift. Non-invasive alien vegetation is to be confined to individual erven and must be controlled within containers, vegetable patches or borders. The costs of eradicating any spread or contamination to other erven or public open spaces by such vegetation will be recoverable from the Members through their levy account.
No Member or Resident may remove fynbos or other indigenous plants from the open places on the vlei side. No levelling of ground, cutting of reed beds or use of lawnmowers or brush-cutters is permitted along the vlei edge without the prior consent of the relevant Table Mountain National Park manager or other relevant conservation authority.
living with baboons
We are lucky to live on the Urban Edge with baboon neighbours, it just takes a little preparation and understanding to live side by side peacefully. Baboons can cause expensive damage to your home (TV aerials make great swings!), but you can minimize costly repairs by ensuring you are not attracting baboons onto your property by unwittingly supplying them with easy food rewards.
TIPS FOR YOUR GARDENS
- Fruiting trees, vines, vegetable patches and herb gardens (and even fish ponds and water features) offer rich rewards to baboons and attract them to residential areas.
- Nothing is more infuriating than your lovingly tended veggie patch being destroyed by baboons in a matter of minutes! Baboon-proof your vegetable garden – there are various options for this such as wire or mesh that will let the sunshine in but not baboons.
- Use contained composting bins, rather than an open compost heap,
- If possible, plant indigenous plants that offer no fruits or seeds that baboons will eat.
- Try to keep your garden fairly open and minimise dense thickets of plants which will provide cover for the baboons and places for them to hide.
Just remember, they were here long before we humans were. By following the guidelines and information provided, we can live together.
BABOON MONITOR HOTLINE – 071 588 6540
