Troika Design Workshop, in conjunction with sister company Turnbury Property Developers, have just completed yet another fantastic project at Glenara One, close to the intersection between Samora Machel Avenue and Glenara Avenue in Highlands. It’s a prime location with easy access to both the CBD and Msasa via Samora Machel Avenue. It’s also close to Newlands, Eastlea, Greendale and the surrounding suburbs and there are restaurants, service stations, schools, churches, shops, golf courses and other facilities close by.

The scheme consists of 6 duplex blocks of two units each, making a total of 12 upmarket townhouses. The townhouses would be available to rent through Pam Golding’s letting department.

Turnbury has three divisions – Turnbury Property Developers, Turnbury Construction and Turnbury Property Management. Turmbury’s promise of “turnkey delivered” is executed through these business units.

Each unit has an entry lobby with a guest bathroom to one side and the staircase leading up to the first floor. The lobby leads to an open plan kitchen with a scullery to keep all the clutter out of sight. There’s a door from the exterior to the scullery so domestic staff can access the kitchen without coming through the main living area. The kitchen has been fitted with a double electric hob as well as a double gas hob and an oven. A unique feature of the design is that the kitchen island, which demarcates the separate areas, also functions as the dining room table, so the kitchen and dining room are completely integrated in an elegant, seamless manner.

There’s a generous lounge with doors opening out to the garden – perfect for coffee in the morning or cocktails in the evening. The lounge overlooks the private back garden which each unit enjoys, so it feels very open and spacious. The gardens are about 90 sqm so they’re big enough for kids to play in. Large windows and the sliding glass doors allow for loads of natural light and make the open plan space bright and airy. A slatted portico shelters the lounge from the afternoon sun.

On the exterior, near the front door, each unit has covered parking for two vehicles. Each unit has a different brightly coloured door to create individuality and personality.

On the first floor are three bedrooms. The generous master bedroom has a luxurious en suite bathroom with a walk in shower and loads of built in cupboards for clothes. Large windows from the master bedroom allow views across Glenara Avenue to the neighbouring suburbs and also create an airy, fresh atmosphere. Leading off the upstairs foyer at the top of the stairs are two other bedrooms which share a family bathroom. The bathroom has a bath tub for a touch of extra luxury and convenience.

The front bedroom has a large corner window and the second bedroom has a big window that creates a feature wall. Both bedrooms have simple, elegant built in wardrobes. Although they’re just about the same size they each have a unique style and personality.

The units are around 130sqm each so there’s plenty of space inside, but they’re compact enough for easy maintenance. The site was difficult due the very steep slope so extensive ground work was necessary before construction could even begin. A large part of the hill was cut out at the back and the area facing Glenara Avenue was filled in to create a more level space for the gardens. Robust retaining walls were needed to keep the different levels stable.

The overall size of the stand is around 6,200 sqm and the buildings occupy around 800 sqm so there’s plenty of garden and communal space. The communal facilities include a club house at the highest point of the site which has a large lounge that can be used as a meeting room or for events like birthdays or other celebrations. There’s a kitchenette for catering purposes and two bathrooms and showers which service the club house and the shared pool.

The pool has an infinity rim flow that pours down to a shallow paddling pool that’s safe for kids. The pool is quite special in that it has been built mostly above ground level. A huge boulder, which was an unforeseen obstacle, meant that it was almost impossible to build the pool as originally designed – but Troika came up with an alternative design that’s probably better than the original.

Other outbuildings on site include a caretaker’s cottage, concealed borehole and water tanks, a service room for the pumps and a guard house at the gate. There’s 24-hour security on site for residents’ peace of mind. Services include garden maintenance and daily rubbish collection – a problem which many suburban residents struggle with.

All the internal lighting, the security needs and the pumps are solar powered so it’s quite green. The units each have solar geysers and 3kVa solar set ups – enough to power the lights, TV, fridge, Wi-Fi, and for charging phones and laptops. Each unit has a parallel water supply system – water can be sourced from the Council when available or from the borehole and tanks for an uninterrupted supply. This means that tenants have reliable water and electricity supplies under any circumstances.

Tenants are expected to come from various walks of life – all looking for an aspirational lifestyle, easy living on properties that are simple to maintain, and good security for peace of mind. There will be people looking to downsize and experience a more sustainable way of life, young professionals, couples with young families and even individuals.

Landscaping on site has been done by Orange Turf Landscaping. Troika and Turnbury have committed to regreening their sites – lots of trees will be planted to keep the area shady and cool in summer – and more aesthetically pleasing. Should there be any noise from Glenara Avenue traffic the trees will also help to mitigate the problem.

Troika Design Workshop and Turnbury Property Developers are subsidiary companies so they can see a project through from the concept, architectural design, construction, interior architecture and interior design right down to the finished product. This means that there’s excellent communication between all the various departments helping to save money and complete projects on time and on budget. It also means that architectural designs are drawn up bearing in mind the methods and limits of construction practices.

The project was originally started in September 2022, and despite the very difficult and challenging prevailing economic climate it was completed in November this year without compromising on any of the finishes
or design details. The launch, held on 2nd November, was an exciting event which saw over 100 invited guests
and members of the construction and property development community come together to witness the official transfer. At the event Phillip Kudzayi from Troika Design Workshop officially handed over the ceremonial key to Tafadzwa Mahachi, the Chief Financial Officer from Stanbic Bank. It sealed the successful completion of yet another collaborative project and pointed the way to more developments to follow.

Text by Michael Nott

From: S&D ISSUE 60