There is far more to this house, however, than just its panoramic views of the Klein-Karoo, for owner Joel Immerman (63) decided to build his residence with the minimum impact on the environment with eco-sustainability and a low carbon footprint.
"All our electricity comes from solar panels, our water is the purest mountain water imaginable containing no chemicals, directly out of the Drinkrivier flowing from the Swartberg, the construction is from renewable timber and our gas stoves are fed by a biogas digester linked to the sewerage system," says Joel. "My house is thus completely off the grid and enviro-friendly, and I want to leave this property one day with the minimum impact, for it's not really ours, is it? It belongs to those of the future, and we owe it to them."
Joel's 124 square metre homestead has a spacious open-planned lounge/dining room/kitchen which also serves as an office, and two en suite bedrooms and various storage units, while a wooden sundeck virtually surrounds it, affording one with some of the most striking landscapes in the Klein-Karoo. Walls between adjoining rooms have been fitted with large windows which create the impression of space and the intimacy of the rolling hills just beyond.
"After a life time in cities like Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town, I became rather disillusioned with the rat race and put my house in the market for two years," says Joel. "Immediately after I saw this 1000 hectare mountain property, I knew I just had to buy it and almost immediately afterwards my house in Muizenberg was bought by a cash buyer, which allowed this dream to come true. I feel truly privileged to live in this piece of paradise in the mountains."
Former Springbok and world discus champion John van Reenen also lives on the property in a residence and studio with similar enviro-friendly features.
The farm forms part of a large corridor that will in future connect the Kammanassie Nature Reserve with the Swartberg Nature Reserve.
Joel Immerman's eco-friendly house has spectacular views of the Klein-Karoo.Photos: Leon Nell
'We bring you the latest De Rust | Klein-Karoo news'
