Areas and Places

Bryanston: one of JHB’s most popular & iconic northern suburbs

Bryanston Estate Home, PGP
This charming Bryanston estate home overlooking the Bryanston Country Club golf course is being marketed by Pam Golding Properties for R18 million.

Leafy, community-orientated and conveniently situated, Bryanston remains one of the northern suburbs most iconic and popular family neighbourhoods, says Rupert Finnemore, who heads up Pam Golding Properties’ Gauteng region.

“We tend to think of Bryanston as upmarket and a highly aspirational Johannesburg suburb of large double-storey freehold residences on substantial 4 000 sqm properties that are home to well-to- do professionals and business people with families,” he adds.

“While this traditional view of Bryanston still holds true to a great extent today, the area has also undergone rapid development over the last 20 years and a range of property options are now available in the area, including a number of highly impressive estate and sectional title developments”.

“These developments have served to create a much richer and more complex local property market, which blends the old and new, and a wide selection of different property options have become available to those who desire a home within this highly regarded area,” he notes.

“While this is so, Bryanston has at the same time lost little of its attractiveness, community spirit and appeal, with the local residential property market remaining highly active, with homes of all types being much prized.”

According to Finnemore, in common with a number of other northern suburbs, high-security residential estates have become a much more widespread feature within Bryanston in recent years. In Bryanston, however, these tend to be smaller, highly exclusive enclaves consisting of between six and up to 60 properties in some of the older estates.

“Some of the smaller cluster estates consist of just three or four homes. These share some facilities, have hi-tech security and are usually built to complement one another architecturally, creating secure upmarket mini-communities. Three highly sought after estates overlook the world-class Bryanston Country Club golf course include Villa Torino, The Royal Parks and Wentworth Village.”

One of Johannesburg’s most striking estate homes, with high double-volume ceilings, is located in Bryanston and has been put to the market by Pam Golding Properties for the first time since its development in 2003. It is being marketed for R18 million.

“This charming home, which overlooks the golf course, is one-of- a-kind, having been largely designed by the owners themselves, who conducted years of research and eventually presented their own basic plan to architects. The result is a remarkable five-level, five-bedroom home, packed with modern features and possessing enormous character”.

“We at Pam Golding Properties feel privileged to be associated with this distinctive property, which offers an exclusive Highveld suburban lifestyle, and we have little doubt that it will soon catch the attention of a discerning family or executive couple looking for a highly convenient luxury lifestyle”.

“The current owners have thoroughly enjoyed the home, which they say was developed to meet their dream. Now, however, they have become ‘empty nesters’, and are looking to move to a more compact property,” says Finnemore.

Pam Golding Properties agent and area expert, Dominic Courtney, concurs that the home “is something special”, and believes that it represents a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity for a discriminating buyer.

“Upon entering the home, one is immediately struck by its immense volumes and a feeling of flow and spaciousness. The double volume entrance hall is impressive and you are greeted there with an internal bell tower containing a 100kg brass bell”.

“As you proceed into the residence, you are flanked by two internal courtyards containing mirror image 3m fountains. Two marble double-storey stairwells serve three of the levels of the home,” notes Courtney.

“Developed to be spacious and airy, the 1000 sqm home has five internal layers, with additional wall and door frame heights. The doors and doorframes are all solid wood. It boasts six upstairs balconies, three of a Juliette type and three rectangular. With some 1000 sqm of stone paving and stone wall cladding throughout the residence, and a total of 100 m of metal balustrades and iron gates, it is earthy, warm and welcoming.” points out Courtney.

There are four spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms plus a self-contained guest suite with its own lounge and bathroom, which offers magnificent views of the Bryanston golf course. Three of the rooms have separate dressing rooms, says Courtney.

“In addition, to being a highly practical family home, the home is also an entertainer’s dream. It has four reception rooms, two informal lounges, and a substantial patio room with large glass sliding doors, a 12-seat lounge, 10-seat bar, gas fireplace and a 1.8m large screen television. The patio room opens out ontoa compact garden with a 9m heated pool while an audio system is piped throughout the property.”

Among a long list of other highly impressive features are the three-and- a-half kitchens with marble and granite surfaces and trimmings. Eight of the rooms in the home are air-conditioned and there is underfloor heating throughout. Five large gas fireplaces scattered through the residence are finished in marble and sandstone. All of the major rooms have IT, telecom, television and intercom connections.

In addition, the home has a total of four reception rooms; two formal lounges; a formal dining room; a family dining room; a gym room with TV; utility room; a fully contained staff quarters, lounge, bathroom and kitchen; and four garages with solid wood motorised doors.

Courtney, who has many years of experience in the Bryanston property market, says that the boutique home is one of the most charming estate properties he has had the privilege of marketing during his career.

“It is beautifully and thoughtfully designed, is well positioned on the scenic Bryanston golf course, conveniently situated between Sandton and Fourways, and is likely to be snapped up by a buyer who will respond to the warm family lifestyle that is on offer,” he concludes.