...tackle a heritage home
Because Esté’s home is more than 60 years old, she first had to get permission from the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) before making changes to the building. SAHRA has replaced the old National Monuments Council (NMC). In addition to an organisation such as SAHRA, many historic towns have an aesthetics or heritage committee that provides strict guidelines for the renovation of old buildings.
“When looking for a heritage home to renovate, choose a house that meets most of your requirements right from the start so you can limit the number of alterations – this will reduce your costs and make submissions easier,” advises Sorina van Deventer of ARCXL Architects in Mossel Bay. “An historic home recommended for conservation usually needs a lot of love, so only make the purchase if you have the passion and patience.”
Sorina says approval can be obtained within four weeks but that sometimes it takes longer – or shorter – depending on when the committee meets. Municipal approval takes about 30 days if the structure is smaller than 500m², but this will vary depending on the municipality.