DOGON GROUP PROPERTIES: Dogon Naturally at Home in Cape Town’s Luxury Market

2024 could be record breaking year for luxury property in Cape Town, with the tropical climate, beaches, vineyards, and a connection between city and nature that is almost unrivalled attracting buyers from all over the world. A number of exciting developments are going up, and the skyline looks healthier than ever. Realtors are receiving enquiries from ‘semi-grators’ coming from Gauteng and KZN, as well as international buyers making investments who see South Africa’s weak Rand as an opportunity to put money into assets.

The first quarter of the year was brilliant for Dogon Group Properties, a leading estate agency business, headquartered in Sea Point, with offices in Claremont.

Highly experienced Managing Director, Alexa Horne praised Cape Town as a city where things work, and said she expected to see continued demand throughout 2024.

“Prevailing economic and geopolitical instability in Europe and Asia may further incentivise additional investment from abroad into Cape Town’s property market. We also expect that relocation and the search for areas and regions where ‘things work’ are likely to remain a key feature in the property market in 2024. As such, we expect that the Western Cape will continue to outperform the rest of the major markets for the balance of the year.”

STRONG ROOTS

In 2021, Enterprise Africa spoke to Horne about emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic and how the property industry in Cape Town had changed. She said then that the business not only survived but thrived, taking on customers from companies that shut doors. Adapting to a new way of working at the time, and working to quickly understand the needs in a new market – such as work from home capability – Dogon Group grew its reputation.

In 2022, Sales Lead Keagan James highlighted one of Cape Town’s most exciting developments as a real coup for Dogon. The company has become one of the go-to marketeers of luxury Cape property, and when the Fynbos development was announced by Lurra Capital Dogon was the obvious partner.

“I have received many calls from people who are not necessarily in a position to purchase but just want to commend us for that we’re doing. They appreciate that it is a building that can help the environment and encourage more green urban development,” he said.

The Fynbos will stand on Bree Street, in the heart of Cape Town, connecting the Cape Town International Convention Centre and the Port of Cape Town in the north to the heart of the city bowl in the south.

Currently on site, the dig is underway, moving down three storeys to make way for underground parking. After demolition of an existing structure – which took time because of the dense location and nature of materials used in the old building – diggers have turned up large amounts of earth. The next step is foundations, when things start to feel real.

689 apartments will sit throughout 24 storeys, all with full access to a rooftop sunset terrace with lap pool and co-working space, a rooftop fitness centre, as well as a ground-floor plant-based restaurant, a tearoom/coffee shop, and a botanical bar. But arguably the most appealing draw about the Fynbos will be its biophilic building status – a living, breathing structure with green foliage and local plants covering the exterior, absorbing the city’s CO₂.

“It is designed to incorporate nature into its architecture. It does so by incorporating natural elements and vegetation. The plants of the Fynbos will be maintained by sky gardeners who will abseil down from the very top floor and trim and maintain where needed. There will also be a triple back up water system as well as an automatic irrigation system so that residents don’t have to worry about maintenance of plants,” says James.

“The Fynbos promotes sustainability by incorporating natural elements and we will also have solar panels on the façade and the set backs which will be used to power the elevators and the lights in the common areas.

“The rooftop pool will have amazing views of the mountain and the lower city and across Table Bay. There will also be a 24-hour security and concierge operation to make life easier for residents.”

ALL ABOUT LOCATION

Lead agent, Keith Anderson says: “I often get asked ‘why choose the Fynbos?’. For me, the primary reason is always the location. Situated in upper Bree Street which is fast becoming the trendiest part of the city.

“We are super excited to see this development take shape and become an amazing addition to the Cape Town city skyline.”

This first of its kind in Africa is available for buyers and investors from all over, and offers the kind of live-work-play mix that is often advertised but rarely delivered.  With completion estimated for end of 2024/early 2025, and apartments starting from just over R1.1 million, now is the perfect time to be a part of Cape Town, and South African, history.

For the wider Dogon Group, the industry remains buoyant. There are a number of industry leading developments in its portfolio, including the Rubik from Abland and the Villa Flora development in Newlands from Dragonfly Developments, offering those looking for return on investment or a bright and brilliant new home something truly unique.

Horne and team continue to drive real relationships, talking and listening to buyers and sellers and developers, and offering genuine solutions for each. Forecast by Savills Index as one of the foremost high growth markets, Cape Town is expected to outperform traditionally strong markets around the world with a growing level of high quality stock but not so much that pricing is quelled, and a recognised level of delivery from local government.

Even after the pandemic, and the many other economic challenges that have been thrown on South African real estate businesses, Dogon Group continues to display a robustness and an approachability that others cannot. When the Fynbos tops out, there will be a major celebration. And rightly so.