17 Nov 2004 :
Spectacular 15-storey luxury apartment towers providing truly breathtaking mountain and sea views are to be built on a private island and adjoining wharf at Century City.

Offering the ultimate in secure, urban living for discerning home owners, the landmark KnightsBridge development has been designed by leading architectural firms to be the resplendent flagship building of Century City.

Being developed at a cost of R275m by the Rabie Property Group which is the main shareholder in the new company which acquired all the assets and remaining undeveloped land at Century City earlier this year, the exclusive 194 apartments – single bedrooms through to double volume duplex and simplex penthouses – offer an exceptional lifestyle surrounded by water, bordering Century City’s award-winning nature conservation wetlands, Intaka Island and within a stone’s throw of all the amenities of Canal Walk shopping centre.

At the cutting edge of global trends for upmarket urban living, KnightsBridge, will exude luxury with a Porte cochere and double volume foyer at the main entrance and an array of superb communal amenities which will include an executive club lounge, gymnasium, 20m indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi as well as a boutique wellness spa. Private trainers, masseuses and beauty therapists will be on hand at the wellness spa for the convenience of residents.

Cascading water features flowing into the canal and extensive landscaping will provide a tranquil and relaxing ambiance with pathways providing easy access to the water for those wishing to go boating or canoeing with these walkways linking into planned walking and jogging trails along the 6km of waterways that meander through Century City.

With vehicular and pedestrian access via a series of private bridges onto the island, Knightsbridge will comprise three imposing buildings with the two main buildings linked by a 30m water-spanning penthouse bridge. Over and above the outer security ring provided at Century City, the main bridge access to KnightsBridge will be controlled by a gatehouse which will be manned around the clock while lobby access will be controlled via a smartcard system similar to that which has been successfully implemented at the neighbouring The Island Club development. Security will be further enhanced through closed circuit television cameras strategically placed on the approach to the development and internally in the lobby areas.

Designed to maximise uninterrupted views and water frontage, KnightsBridge offers buyers the choice of luxury or super luxury finishes selected by an interior decorator who will be on hand to assist with any additional décor requirements. All kitchens will be fitted out in line with stylish, slimline European trends.

John Chapman, a director of the Rabie Property Group, said Century City had become firmly established as a premier residential node with national and international appeal. This, he said, had been evident in the sell-out success of all other residential projects launched at Century City in the past year including The Island Club and Villa Italia.

“With KnightsBridge we have a truly magnificent development, one that is in a league of its own. There is no doubt it will set new standards for urban living offering an unmatched lifestyle on the doorstep of every conceivable convenience with the added attraction of undisturbed views into perpetuity, particularly for those in the higher apartments.”

Chapman said apartments ranged in size from 50 square metres to over 200 square metres and were priced from R750 000 through to R3,5m with the largest unit, which includes a roof-top plunge pool room with 360 degree views, selling for about R4m. A 10 % deposit will secure a purchase with the balance due on transfer which is anticipated to be mid-2006

He said one of the unique aspects of the innovative design of the building was that all apartments, including the smaller one bedroom units, would enjoy views of the water from not only the living rooms but also from all the bedrooms.

“The design has also ensured that all apartments will be sunny as they either face north, north east or north west. Aesthetically pleasing sweeping roofscapes articulating the roof profile have also enabled the architects to create shaped ceilings and clerestory lighting in the top level penthouses which will ensure these units are flooded with natural light year round.”

The most luxury units include five bridge apartments which will be suspended over the Grand Canal linking the two main towers. These duplex apartments will enjoy sweeping views in all directions from Table Mountain across Table Bay to Tygerberg Hills and Hottentots Holland mountains to the north.

Air-conditioning will be a standard spec in all penthouses and will be available in other units as an option.

The apartment towers will be serviced by four high-speed lifts, two of which will be glass backed scenic lifts providing views of Intaka Island on the one side and Table Mountain on the other.

Undercover parking with lift access to apartments will be provided in each of the buildings with generous parking bays for visitors. Undercover parking bays would be provided on the ratio of one per every one bedroom apartment and two for all two and three bedroom apartments.