The Estate has been designed to offer a full range of properties and living environments. A high density area of the luxury apartment block, along with the gym & swimming pool complex, coffee shop and small office units, form the ‘town centre’. From here the estate spreads out to ‘the village’, a central core based on the design elements of Stellenbosch with properties ranging in size from 300m² to 1000m², starting with townhouses and family homes, and then further out to the ‘gentlemen’s retreats’ on the further reaches of the estate which, are over a hectare.

The objective of Garlington’s developers has been to create the finest development in Pietermaritzburg and the Midlands. It is important to the developers that the country feel of the area is retained. To do this, over half of the property has been kept as open spaces, allowing for horse-riding, hiking and mountain biking.

The founders of Garlington have set out to rediscover the beauty of scale and proportion, as well as the feeling of permanence that belongs to the vernacular so admired in the Western Cape and old farmhouses of KwaZulu-Natal.

Their inspiration was derived from the surrounding area. After carefully researching the architecture of Hilton, it was decided that the dominant architecture statement was made by the Cape architecture of Hilton College. It seems even more appropriate that Garlington should derive its architecture from Cape, and specifically Stellenbosch architecture, as it was discovered that the original farmhouse built by Mr Otto, in the shadows of Otto’s Bluff had a Cape Dutch Gable.

Major characteristics of Stellenbosch architecture are:

• • Symmetry
  • Pleasant proportions
  • Strongly walled Architecture
  • Narrow primary spaces
  

The ambience of Garlington is to be one of timelessness. To achieve this, it is necessary to not only focus on the architecture but, the public spaces, the streets and the connections between the houses and the streets.

The design has ensured that all those living at Garlington will have the opportunity to enjoy the feeling of “living in the country”, as well as the views of Otto’s Bluff (KwaQuela, as it was known by the local Zulu people), Albert Falls Dam and the surrounding countryside. These magnificent views from the upper plateau are one of the features of Garlington. The Layout of the promenade is an acknowledgement of the importance of these views. The promenade is in the process of being landscaped and over time will become one of the major features of this magnificent development.

The promenade has been positioned in such a manner that those living in the village and apartments will share the enjoyment of this special amenity with those who are fortunate enough to have properties with views over Otto’s Bluff and Albert Falls Dam. The fact that over 50% of the estate will be left undeveloped, as common land either for grazing the estate’s Nguni herd, or as squares that intersperse the streetscapes, leaves room for family life to flow out onto the estate and create a community feel.

The individual homes will also contribute to the Harmony and Beauty of the whole, and ultimately the estate will be greater than the sum of its parts. Each house should be seen as part of the greater picture; it is therefore important that all home owners join the founders in realising their vision.

The heart of the development is Crowe square from which everything else radiates. Crowe square is a public area developed along the principle of neo-traditional town planning, where public spaces are important features of village neighbourhood life.

The square is surrounded by luxury apartments, small offices, a coffee shop and the homeowners’ association office. Adjoining the coffee shop is a magnificent indoor swimming pool, designed by one of South Africa’s leading architects, Paul Wygers, better known for his work on the constitutional court. The architecture of this area has been inspired by the old homes of the de Waterkant and Bo Kaap in the Cape.

While inspired by traditional Cape Dutch architecture on entering the apartments one is struck by the contemporary proportions, high ceilings, skylights and comfortable open plan living areas all dictated by the demand for modern hassle free living.

Paul Wygers of Urban Solution believes “that the choice of site and the positioning of the town centre at Garlington, the approach from the entrance and the principle that buildings are the transition between public and private spaces in any town centre are the most successful aspects of the urban design framework of the Garlington development. The construction of the apartments and the pool building has given the entire development a centre and has differentiated it from most if not all gated communities both in Pietermaritzburg and the region.