Historic House Jooste up for sale
Strong Afro-centric flavour in sought-after Waterkloof Ridge
WATERKLOOF Ridge’s most legendary home, which was designed by influential South African architect Karl Jooste and is currently the iconic five-star Diner’s Club award-winning restaurant Brasserie de Paris, has been placed on sale for the first time in its nearly 50-year history.
According to Retha Schutte, Pam Golding Properties regional executive in Pretoria and Centurion, the four-bedroomed home designed in 1965 and completed in 1967, offers a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an investor looking for a landmark Pretoria home, or to take advantage of the numerous business opportunities it offers.
“The home is situated on a large 3 679m prime piece of land in one of Pretoria’s most sought-after suburbs, and offers superb views of the city,” adds Schutte.
“The property, which has been placed on the market through Pam Golding Properties for R18 million, is sub-dividable with endless potential for further development. In addition, it retains guest house rights and other established business opportunities such as the magnificent restaurant.
“Karl Jooste, one of South Africa’s most outstanding architects of the 1960s, designed the home for himself,” adds Schutte. “The house was one of his last projects. It is an excellent example of modernist architecture and is widely considered to be one of Pretoria’s most groundbreaking designs.”
The home forms part of the PGP Pretoria Luxury Collection, the property group’s leading portfolio of luxury properties. The portfolio is managed by Schutte, who has 18 years of experience in advising and assisting property speculators and investors on what to buy or develop to optimise their investment.
According to her, the north-facing home is available on full title. It has, among a host of other special features, one en-suite bathroom, two additional bathrooms, three reception rooms, staff accommodation, a wine cellar and two garages.
She says Jooste had paid exquisite attention to the detail of the design.
Jooste was a friend of worldrenowned French architect Louis Le Corbusier. The meticulously designed “House Jooste” is influenced by Le Corbusier’s work but, in true Jooste style, also has a strong Afro-centric flavour, and makes extensive use of local materials and craftsmanship.
“Walking through the house, one is intrigued by arches created from intricate brickwork and the use of concrete, glass and stone to create an attractive and striking aesthetic,” says Schutte.
The Brasserie de Paris restaurant was established in 1994 with the aim of providing the highest-quality Frenchbased fine dining in a completely novel physical context, and has won numerous fine dining awards.
It is a highly profitable business frequented by Pretoria’s elite and embassy staff who are much in evidence.
Schutte says Waterkloof is one of the most exclusive residential suburbs in Pretoria and homes in the area are among the most sought-after. The properties are popular among embassy personnel, high-profile business executives, business professionals, entrepreneurs and celebrities.
Deputy Minister of Public Works Ntopile Kganyago recently declared the Waterkloof area a designated ministerial and ambassadorial suburb.
“Over the past few decades the original suburb of Waterkloof, with its hilly backdrop, expanded into newer extensions like Waterkloof Ridge, Waterkloof Park and Waterkloof Heights, offering homes with great views of the city that are today referred to collectively as ‘the Waterkloofs’,” says Schutte.
“The Waterkloofs have become increasingly popular with diplomats and discerning buyers because of their proximity to the city, top schools, the University of Pretoria, shopping malls and easy access to the main highways,” Schutte adds.
The development of Waterkloof started in 1890 when landowners Julius Jeppe and Sir Abe Bailey started the African Farm Development Company and enlisted Dutch architect Wilhelm de Zwaan to design the first homes in Waterkloof.
The original houses were simple and built according to a fixed plan that included three bedrooms, a dining room, lounge, kitchen and an outside toilet. Although Victorian architecture was the trend at that time, De Zwaan built houses in his own style using features like tin roofs and shuttered, wood-framed bay windows.
“Today, the one thing that is striking to an outsider is the fact that there is no building style that defines the Waterkloof neighbourhood,” says Schutte.
“From fabulous facebrick and Victorian mansions to the over-the-top splendour of Tuscany, no uniform style exists and a wide variety of attractive designs is in evidence.
“House Jooste is a very special property and is likely to appeal to a homeseeker who appreciates design legacy or an investor who is interested in exploiting the commercial opportunities on offer.
“We believe this home represents one of the most outstanding property acquisition opportunities on offer in Pretoria,” says Schutte.
For further infor mation, contact Retha Schutte of Pam Golding Properties on 012 365 900 or 083 268 1592.