Since the suburb of Greendale in Harare was rezoned for high density residential development there have been a number of town house and cluster house projects built in the area but none quite as impressive or upmarket as the new Sitari Private Estate situated at 146 Coronation Avenue. If you’re passing, Sitari is unmissable with its landscaped street frontage and the gate house with a distinct V-shaped roof.
It’s a great location being conveniently close to Kamfinsa Shopping Centre on
one side and Food Lovers Market on the other side. There are a number of
ECD and day care centres close by and Courtney Selous junior school is within easy walking distance. There are medical facilities and a veterinary centre close by as well as numerous other facilities like churches, the Greendale District Office and the Greendale Library. It’s close to the Msasa industrial area and has easy access to the CBD.
The complex, developed by Troika Design Workshop, has 48 three bedroom units each with double parking space and there’s overflow parking for visitors.
There’s communal front garden space and each unit has its own small fenced
off garden along the side and at the back. Other amenities within the complex
include a swimming pool, a clubhouse for residents and an on-site gym. There
are water storage tanks, a borehole and a 400kva generator for the whole complex – so if you’re staying here water and power woes will be a thing of the past.
The single access point at the gatehouse is manned 24 hours a day and in additionthere’s CCTV, Rapid Response and the perimeter wall has razor wire and electric fencing. This makes the complex very secure and creates the perfect ‘lock up and go’ environment for people on the move who are travelling for business or pleasure. While the units are designed with young families in mind they’d also be ideal for retired or elderly couples looking for security and convenience with the added benefit of guest rooms for visiting friends and family.
Each freestanding, duplex unit contains two individual homes with the entrances slightly offset for privacy. The front entrance doors are solid timber on a pivot hinge with in-set mortise locks for added security. The units
are constructed largely from facebrick so there’s little exterior maintenance. Feature wall sections on the facades have been painted in bright, fun colours which are mmodern and trendy and give each home a ,unique identity. Roofs are Chromadek, also slightly offset so that the A-frame shape is partially broken up. The windows and the ,folding doors at the back of the units are
framed in anodised black aluminium which are virtually maintenance free.
Inside, on the ground floor, there’s a fully fitted open plan kitchen with a separate scullery and laundry area. The scullery has its own entrance so domestic staff can come and go without disturbing the main living space. The laundry has a built in washing machine and the kitchen has built in top of
the range Bosch appliances.
The built in fridge and freezer are concealed behind doors that blend in with the cabinetry and there’s ample storage space for a home pantry behind matching doors. Overall it’s sleek, neat and efficient as well as being easy
to keep clean and well-ordered and there’s generous counter space for food preparation or for serving meals.
The kitchen overlooks the open plan lounge and dining area which has Italian ceramic floor tiles that look great and are easy to maintain with minimal fuss. There’s a built in asymmetrical unit for storage and display that’s ideally suited to support a TV, decoder, DVD player and sound system. There’s also
additional overhead storage supplied.
The feature wall has been left un-plastered but painted to add texture and
interest to the space. Doors open out to the private garden for space, light and that characteristic Zimbabwean lifestyle – indoor/outdoor living.
Just inside the front entrance is a guest powder room and opposite
it a staircase with a stainless steel balustrade that leads up to the
first floor. At the top of the stairs is the master bedroom with en suite
bathroom. The bedroom has very spacious built in cupboards as well
as an asymmetrical wall mounted unit similar the one in the lounge.
The wall unit has drawers for storage and could also function as a
dressing table for ladies to do their hair or makeup. The bedroom has
large windows which make the space airy and light as well as a small
Juliet balcony overlooking the back garden. The generous en suite
bathroom is elegant and functional.
Along a short passageway are two smaller bedrooms which are
ideal for visiting guests or family, or as children’s rooms. The smaller
rooms also have built in cupboards for storing clothes or toys. Both
rooms have large windows for light and air – one overlooking the side
garden and the other overlooking the front.
There’s a shared bathroom for the two smaller rooms which has
both a shower and a bath tub. The units have been designed
to provide everything needed as a starter home for a young,
professional family or as a convenient ‘lock up and go’ home for
people on the move.
The excellent 24 hour security and the communal recreational facilities make Sitari a very attractive, hassle-free option. Troika Design Workshop is a collaborative design and construction consultancy offering architectural services, structural engineering, project management, quantity surveying,
interior design and related services. They have vast experience in projects for both private homes and upmarket residential clusters as well commercial and retail developments, projects in the hospitality industry and interior design.
“At TDW, good design is our primary minstrument for making our world a
better place. We believe good design results in beautiful and high performing
environments. Our studio blends exceptional design skill, creative vision
and superior construction management capabilities to produce buildings that
create value for our clients and the communities they live in.”
Contact Troika Design Workshop:
Address: 9 Maiden Drive, Harare
Phone: 08677 008490
Troika Design Workshop (TDW) is a Construction
Consulting Collaboration offering multidisciplinary
built environment services including Construction
Management, Architecture, Quantity Surveying &
Structural Engineering Services.
For Rentals and Letting: Esnath 0773403910
text by Michael Nott
photos by Structure and Design
