Refined, resplendent isolation
Swartberg House is an architectural masterpiece in the remote countryside, perfectly located on the eastern edge of the town of Prince Albert, where a blissful existence unfolds.
What you least expect to discover, between the vineyard and olive groves of the historical Karoo town of Prince Albert, rugged and raw as the rural landscape reveals, is the architectural brilliance of Swartberg House. Gracefully resting amongst olive groves, flourishing vineyards, acacias and succulents, it offers easy walking access to the main street and restaurants alongside seclusion and vast vistas of the Swartberg Mountains. Cleverly designed to allow any passing mountain breeze to permeate, with sun traps aplenty, and enough outdoor spaces for infinite star-gazing. It’s well fortified against the heat of the African summer. ‘It was important that the house functioned well in the extremes of hot and cold’ says the owner. An esteemed architect who designed it as a cluster of contemporary-looking ‘boxes’ of varying volumes. Some laid on their sides, others upright. All of them interconnected by transitional spaces defined by low or high ceilings and steps.Â
There’s a wonderful sense of discovery as you turn yet another corner and find a view framed by an aperture in the wall – either a narrow slit or a vast square window that, when rolled back into its slot in the wall, lets in the breezes that ventilate the house and cool it down. The sitting room, kitchen and dining room occupy the bulk of the building. The roof soaring upwards and lit by high clerestory window slots, that direct the incoming sunbeams. So that light and shade are a moving pattern on the walls of the room down below.
Clear air and pacifying sounds
During the summer months in Prince Albert, most people are up and about early while it’s cool and the air’s still crisp. But by midday the searing heat silences even the geese squabbling in the leiwater. The water rushing through the irrigation channels lining the streets, as torpor grips the inhabitants – although nothing a cool beer or two in the shade of the pepper tree beside the museum can’t remedy. By contrast, winters – though sunny – are invigoratingly cold. Often there’s snow on the magnificent wall of undulating rock, the Swartberg Mountains, just to the south. It’s an old farming community here, at the heart of which African Relish; a cookery school that has gourmands going weak at the knees, has spawned a foodie culture. A place that gently inspires the pondering on our existence, and sternly places it into perspective. Where we are reminded of our resilience, fortitude and adaptability to the cycle of life. Just like the ever-changing landscape of the Karoo.
As you gather with your clan in this remote, peaceful part of the world, the hours will unfold as steadily as the resident weavers build their nests. As the African hoopoes sweep through the skies with the fish eagles, the goshawks and the bokmakieries. With its abundance of activities you’ll be on your bikes bouncing up and down the trails or in your hiking boots exploring the hills and their caves that feature some ancient San rock art. You’ll likely be in the vineyards, the olive groves and fruit orchards, plucking some ripe and ready tastings. Or you’ll simply be at the house, around the long tables and bomas, on the terraces, in the swimming pool, under the stars, listening to the pacifying sounds of your remote holiday unfolding. One blissful beat after the other.
What we love!
- There is something undeniably healing and invigorating about the Karoo air. The energy that one feels when sitting on the mammoth verandah, watching the landscape’s colours transform throughout the hours of the day. The jagged mountain ranges that surround.
- Gathering around the boma that rests upstairs, telling those proverbial bush stories.
- The entire home is nothing short of inspiring. Your holiday will throw many creative curveballs to any of your artistic endeavours when settled in this environment.
- The stars are simply spectacular! One of the best places in the world to sit beneath the milky way and marvel at the wonders of existence. In the quiet of the Karoo night.
What you need to know…
- The property rests just on the edge of the town of Prince Albert, which sits off the N1, or not far from South Africa’s famous Route 62. A truly magnificent voyage of the country’s diverse terrain. There’s plenty to explore and discover within the Karoo. An abundance of artisanal delicatessens and padstals along the way, as well as excellent restaurants, a wonderful farm shop and delis in town.
- There is full solar power backup during load shedding on the property. This powers everything except for the oven & the pool pump.
- If Swartberg House is not available on your dates, browse our full collection of exclusive-use holiday houses in the Karoo.
Edited by Colleen Ogilvie