A Night Under the Stars at Steyn City
Steyn City marked the opening of its vibrant retail elements at its flagship City Centre – the internationally ranked lifestyle estate’s latest luxe apartment development – with a Night Under the Stars; a glorious celebration of fine food, art and music.
Bringing together the cream of South African celebrities and socialites, media and performers, Steyn City’s celebration had all the hallmarks of the development’s signature style and elan. Famous faces in attendance included the likes of fashion designer David Tlale, celebrity chef Siba Montangana and Hot 1027fm DJ Bunny Majaja. Interior designer Bilala Mabuza was also there, while other celebs on the scene included Grammy award-winning flautist Wouter Kellerman, Sharon Wapnick and Frank Kramer, PJ Powers, artists Gary Stevens and Philemon Hlungwani, internationally recognised jewellery designer Kevin Friedman and his industry peer Angela Yeung, and Trent and Mark Read of the Everard Read Gallery. Guests were chauffeured in style by Steyn City’s on-site ride-hailing service, Hailo.
“Steyn City’s ‘wow’ factor has been very much in evidence since inception. It has given residents an opportunity to experience convenience and luxury in a setting that has no comparison,” says Steven Louw, CEO of Steyn City Properties. “The City Centre continued this tradition when it launched in 2021. Offering urban living of an unprecedented standard, it impressed purchasers and lessees alike with its groundbreaking design, the spaciousness of the homes and the array and quality of facilities within our unprecedented 2000-acre parkland.”
Those facilities include the recently unveiled retail stores in the City Centre’s piazzas, all in keeping with the City Centre’s accent on unabashed luxury.
A Night Under the Stars welcomed those retailers who have just opened their doors, as well as those who are set to do so shortly. The evening commenced with the unveiling of a bronze bust of Steyn City visionary and founder, Douw Steyn. The work of sculptor Heidi Hadaway, the bust was commissioned by The Gallery at Steyn City, and will remain on display at the gallery for six months, after which it will find its permanent home in Steyn City.
Gallery director Bianca Bellamy says that she is thrilled to be part of the City Centre. Her love of art is best described as a family inheritance, as both parents are art lovers. However, it was only when Bianca and her family moved to Steyn City in 2019 that she first considered leveraging the relationships her father had built with many South African artists to establish her own art gallery. After her father introduced her to Trent Read, son of legendary gallerist Everard Read, the idea was on its way to becoming a reality. “Trent’s knowledge of the fine and applied arts is superlative. We were excited to introduce him to the site – and he was just as eager to collaborate as we had hoped,” Bianca recalls. She explains that the Gallery at Steyn City is set to showcase a range of contemporary fine art, including painting, sculpture, ceramics and mixed media.”
The unveiling of the bust by Douw’s wife, Carolyn Steyn was followed by a spectacle of entertainment which utillised the magnificent backdrop of the upper piazza for a series of theatrical performances. Guests were stunned by a performance from former Cirque du Soleil mime artist Daniel Buckland, followed by a display of talent from saxophonist Cathy del Mei. More thrills followed, with aerial artists delighting with their displays of strength and agility while electric violinist Cristina Rodrigues seemed to defy physics, performing while encased in a translucent sphere.
Then came the highlight of the event: South Africa’s own Tenors Given Mabena and Lucky Sibande with Soprano Loveline Madumo, who transported guests to a street in Rome with their rendition of classical favourites, including Nessun Dorma. The piazza rang out with their songs, performed from various balconies around the space, showcasing its generous dimension and adding a touch of romance to the proceedings.
Finally, South African Music Awards winner Mi Casa got the party started with the group’s unique take on house beats.
Guests were invited to tour the upper piazza, and view the newly designed show apartments and explore the various retail offerings available.
Retail Offering
These include the Seattle Coffee Company, which is already an entrenched part of the Steyn City community, having first started pouring espressos, cappuccinos and freezachinos 18 months ago. With the parkland residence being the first gated community to welcome the brand, meeting at Seattle has become a much-loved tradition amongst the resident cyclists who make use of Steyn City’s 50km MTB trail, as well as those who need a convenient spot for business meetings or are simply on the search for a delicious cup of coffee.
Then there’s Paul’s Homemade Ice-Cream, a name which is certainly familiar to those with a sweet tooth. What started out as everyone’s favourite ice cream store has evolved into a must-visit for treat lovers: dishing up buttery waffles, ice cream cakes and scoops of yummy ice-cream as well as its signature flavours, from the classic to the experimental.
Café Del Sol is another name that’s already known to food lovers. This much-loved, upmarket Italian restaurant has found its element in the City Centre’s piazza; a place where the freedom enjoyed by families holds a mirror to the Italian family lifestyle that is so much a cornerstone of this brand. This al fresco eatery is set to delight with a celebration of Italian flavours and selection of apertifs and fine wines from the bar – but there is far more on offer than the delicious dishes, based on family recipes that have been passed down generations. Café Del Sol tempts with a range of scrumptious, authentic Italian deli goods (think charcuterie as well as cheeses and readymade meals) – ideal for entertaining, or even for a night without cooking! Look out for Café del Sol’s Neapolitan pizzas, with their airy, light crust, hot from the on-site pizza oven.
These enterprises will soon be joined by colourful cookware brand Le Creuset next month, as well as a gym, laundry service, and a cellular network provider.
“We have chosen our ever evolving retail partners with great care to ensure that they reflect our values and are in line with the convenience and luxury which form the foundation of the Steyn City lifestyle,” Louw says.
Show Apartments
The new designer show apartments feature the talents of Head Interiors, Cocoon Lifestyle and Jovic Interiors.
The one-bedroomed apartment designed by Jovic Interiors has been planned with a careful eye to space: it’s clean and clutter-free, but enriched with the addition of small details that beguile the eye and capture the imagination. This not only ensures that the space is adaptable, but also reflects the texture that is present in nature – the inspiration of the design.
Head Interiors chose to bring to life aspects of its three-bedroom apartment, located on the fifth floor, which emphasise the City Centre’s nod to Italy. ‘Terraced Comfort’, as Head Interiors named the generously dimensioned apartment, salutes the design inspiration of the City Centre’s piazzas, which form the centre of the development’s outdoor-oriented lifestyle. The home’s design also has a strong accent on outdoor living, with two large terraces overlooking the lagoon inviting homeowners and their guests to marvel at the views. In keeping with a design ethos rooted in relaxed sophistication, the apartment features warm timbers and umber hues, while bespoke pieces like couches are layered with colour and texture. The result is warm and welcoming, ideal for entertaining but cosily intimate, too.
Elegant and modern are words that come to mind when viewing the three bedroomed apartment by Bilala Mabuza and her team at Cocoon Lifestyle. Minimalist design ensures that it is the materials in the spotlight: oak, stone, metal and leather, all coming together to create a cool colour palette, with moody grey-blue-green tones complementing the view of the lagoon outside.
Like all other homes at the City Centre, these apartments stand out for their sheer spaciousness. Whether a one, two, three or four-bedroomed single or double storey apartment, each City Centre home boasts rooms large enough to accommodate a king size bed. Integrated Gaggenau appliances in the blu_line kitchens and Kohler sanitaryware elevate each apartment to ensure luxe living, while double glazed windows and climate control are standard. Add to this ‘always-on’ living, thanks to back-up generators and a water reservoir and piped gas to each home.
The City Centre has paid equal attention to the basement, an area that’s typically neglected in most developments. Providing covered parking for over 2 000 vehicles, this space ensures easy navigation with 18 unique cores ensuring that residents are able to identify their entrance with ease, while greenery and cut-outs make for an airy space. Security is assured with biometric access and a concierge service located at each core reception.
“Although we are proud of all that Steyn City has to offer, there is no denying that the City Centre has become the heartbeat of our development. We have been so very proud to welcome the first 100 residents who have made it home since August last year, and we look forward to seeing the community continue to grow and thrive.”
With the City Centre providing a rental option, followed by the innovative ‘rent to own’ model earlier this year, this community comprises a mix of buyers and lessees. Louw reports that uptake of the ‘rent to own’ model – which enables residents to rent as per usual for two years, after which they are able to purchase their home – has been especially successful. “We’re not surprised by the popularity of this model, as it affords great savings. First, residents are able to save on levies, rates and taxes during their two-year lease period; plus, the rentals they have paid during this time are deducted from their agreed purchase price.”
The official launch of our retail emporium marks an important milestone on this journey,” Louw concludes.
Visit www.steyncity.co.za
