Wellness and leisure will be focus of South Africa's Blue Rock eco-village

wellness-and-leisure-will-be-focus-of-South-Africa-Blue-Rock-eco-village

Architecture and property development practice Swisatec have announced new additions to their planned 40-hectare leisure village in Cape Town.

A seven-storey mixed-use lifestyle centre and a five-star hotel are among the facilities the studio has revealed will feature prominently at Blue Rock Village – billed as Africa’s “most environmentally friendly estate”.

The former, called the Santa Luzia Lifestyle Centre, will be designed to host interactive events such as local produce markets, product launches and concerts and music festivals. It will also feature boutique shops, a doctor's centre, clinics and restaurants.

The centre will have a wellness, spa and sports venue with its own “beauty farm” – containing therapeutic centres, gym facilities, saunas, a steam room, roman bath, thermal pool, medical spa, dance and yoga studios and health bars.

“The centre will be a vibrant hub of Cape life where sophistication and chic collide with history and tradition,” said Lukas Reichmuth, director of Swisatec. “Its universal appeal will make it one of Cape Town’s foremost attractions for both locals and international visitors.”

Meanwhile, the Blue Rock Village Hotel will provide luxury facilities “in a calm and relaxed environment.” It will have over 150 guest rooms, 30 condominiums, a conference hall for 500 delegates, high-end restaurants, a bar and lounge areas and South Africa’s biggest outdoor pool.

Construction on Blue Rock Village is set to begin next month on the shores of Lake Blue Rock. Work on the hotel and lifestyle centre will follow next year. The R14bn (US$978m, €882m, £735m) development, which also includes private housing and public leisure facilities, is designed to be car-free.

Swisatec aim to create the first village in Africa to be awarded a six-green star rating from the country’s Green Building Council.

Cape Town is becoming something of a hub for architects embracing green design practices. In addition to Swisatec, local hospitality operator Hotel Verde is committed to building extremely environmentally-friendly hotels across South Africa and the continent.