Century Property Developments, renowned property development company was awarded the Globals 2011 award for the world’s best retirement resort.
Aerial view of Waterfall Hills Mature Lifestyle Estate in Sunnighill, Johannesburg. The estate won an international award for best retirement resort.
The Midrand based company won the award for its Waterfall Hills Mature Lifestyle Estate in Sunninghill, Johannesburg which was launched in 2010.
The Globals Award is held annually to recognise excellence in over 50s residential housing.
Over 1260 developers, operators and managers from 102 countries were evaluated for a total of 20 awards.
The award was presented at a gala dinner at Grosvenor House in Mayfair London. Other winners included representatives from Malaysia, Australia, the US, Netherlands and the UK.
"The over-50s housing sector is becoming international in its brand delivery, intellectual property interchange, and incapital assembly," said Esmonde Crawley, editor of the UK-based Over 50s Housing Weekly News, at the awards dinner.
The Global Awards Judges were impressed by the level of security on offer at the estate, and the fact that the amenities cater for mature people seeking an active lifestyle.
It offers walking trails, facilities for arts and crafts, gourmet restaurants, all within a no-walls residential estate, which creates a genuine sense of community among the residents.
International property consultant Dan Brown, one of the project managers of the development, says the award for best retirement resort in the world is a major coup for a South African developer.
“This is a new category intended to differentiate retirement resorts from typical retirement villages and old age homes,” says Brown.
Individual homes in Waterfall Hills feature indigenous gardens with no high walls between them.
He explains that the judges were particularly impressed by Waterfall Hills’ focus on customised, bespoke homes and the quality of amenities available to residents in the form of restaurants, tennis court, bowls green, cinema, convenience stores, cinema, gym and aerobics facilities and the like.
Brown says Waterfall Hills, though launched in 2009 in the teeth of the property slump, sold out in 18 months.
Century Property Developments has since launched its next mature lifestyle village, Waterfall Valley, comprising 244 bespoke residences, also in Sunninghill or what is now known as Waterfall.
Brown says Waterfall Valley will emulate the successful formula adopted at Waterfall Hills, offering residents similar amenities and a greener lifestyle.
“There is a growing trend towards high-security over-50s estates that focus on living rather than getting old.”
Ninety percent of buyers cite high security as a major reason for choosing to live at these estates, he says.
Waterfall estates have a heavy focus on going green.
Entrance to the clubhouse at Waterfall Hills. The Global Awards Judges were impressed by the level of security on offer at the estate, and the fact that the amenities cater for mature people seeking an active lifestyle.
He adds that they are among the first to offer gas reticulation to all homes on our estates, all trees are indigenous and homes are designed using climate and the northern orientation using materials and appliances that reduce their carbon footprint. – Denise Mhlanga
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