South Africa’s First Car-Free Eco-Friendly Village Makes Global News
A proposed luxury eco-village, near Somerset West in South Africa, is making news around the world after CNN International featured an article about the supercool, eco-friendly and car-less residential estate on Friday. Blue Rock Village – on the shores of Lake Blue Rock in the Western Cape – is being touted as the ‘Greenest Village in […]
A proposed luxury eco-village, near Somerset West in South Africa, is making news around the world after CNN International featured an article about the supercool, eco-friendly and car-less residential estate on Friday.
Blue Rock Village – on the shores of Lake Blue Rock in the Western Cape – is being touted as the ‘Greenest Village in South Africa’ (and perhaps the best one to live in during any future loadshedding). According to a press release, issued at the end of March, it will be not only the first Green Village in South Africa, but in Africa.
According to their press release, the R14 billion project is an upgrade of the Blue Rock Resort, with a view over “Blue Rock Lake, the only lake in Cape Town with crystal clear waters, with a depth of 60 metres and a water temperature of 27C, ideal for water skiing and scuba diving.”
Lukas Reichmuth, founder and director of Blue Rock Village said: “The project will be market driven, focusing on both the international market and the South African market…”
He says the vision is to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and that all parking is underground “to maximize the green living”.
“For convenience, we have planned a Helipad for business people to commute easily between the airport and Cape Town,” he adds.
The contemporary-designed buildings – which will house 1,000 apartments on 40 hectares of land – will incorporate LED lighting, water-management systems, solar water-heating systems, environmentally friendly building materials and more.
The village will also offer its residents restaurants, medical centres, boutiques, schools and a Life Style Centre with hotel, spa and conference centre.
The developers say their vision is to “pioneer the car-free lifestyle and set a precedent for future developments in South Africa.
“By removing vehicles, we are creating a safe, child-friendly and interactive village lifestyle for residents to enjoy.”
Cape Town-based architectural and project management firm Swisatec says: “All apartments and buildings are built to high European standards to ensure better climate control and energy efficient living.”
According to BlueRockVillage.co.za the village is just a 40 minute drive from Cape Town, and will be accessible from Bloubos Road, the new direct link off the N2 from Somerset West and central Cape Town.
Units will apparently start at just over R3.4 million.