New members
A unique option as a venue in Stellenbosh
The Chamber's network is growing, Johannesdal 1207 has joined the FSACCI last week.
Learn more about our new member in Cape Town:
Expect the extraordinary at Johannesdal 1207, the Cape Winelands’ newest exclusive-use venue for weddings and other celebrations, gatherings and retreats, set in one of the most enchanting and intimate locations in the Banhoek valley, near Stellenbosch.
A surprise of contemporary architecture set amid multiple, magical gardens comprising fruit trees and wisteria-tangled walkways, creeper-festooned gates leading to ever more secret nooks and luxuriant expanses of lawn, Johannesdal 1207 is a rare and special find in the winelands. Not just a venue for a party, with a capacity for 150 to 200 people and complete with all the necessary elements required for hosting a variety of occasions, this unique, secluded estate also provides beautifully styled lodgings to accommodate groups of 12 (and up to 20).
A significant factor in what makes Johannesdal 1207 such a unique option as a venue – whether for weddings or retreats – goes beyond its picturesque setting. Here, hosts and guests will enjoy the exclusive use of the entire estate, including the exquisite grounds, swimming pool, a private two-bedroom cottage with its own garden and plunge pool, and four spacious suites (the neighboring Johannesdal guesthouse can be rented separately for an additional eight people).
Johannesdal 1207: The Vision
Johannesdal 1207 is the embodiment of friends’ dream to create an exclusive destination where their guests could celebrate in fitting company and in an unforgettable location. A hidden gem, the estate and its particular aesthetic and the amenities it offers is the culmination of their creative expertise and talent in their respective fields. The owners have been living in the region for many years, sharing a passion for its mountain scenery, charming old wine estates and the vibrant energy of the surrounding villages.
French expatriates Louis Orlianges and Benoît Thomas have made a new home for themselves on an adjacent property in 2014, a contrast to their busy urban lives in Paris, and long nurtured the idea of being involved in a creative, leisure-focused project in an area in which they fell deeply in love many years ago.
This lightness of touch in the approach to the architecture has been matched by efforts to develop Johannesdal 1207 with its long-term sustainability in mind, leaving as minimal an impact on the environment as possible. While no additional buildings were raised during the renovation, all rubble produced throughout the development process was crushed on site and reused as gravel. Particular care was taken in the design and construction of the reception pavilion to minimise energy consumption and noise emission according to green building standards, including double-glazing the monumental windows.
The spirit of reducing, reusing and recycling pervades the project, including in the lightly renovated cottage and suites where reclaimed wood from the roof of the original old house has found a new purpose in shelves bearing a soulful patina, alongside an array of original décor pieces crafted from timeworn doors and windows. Vintage or gently worn furniture was sourced from antique and second-hand stores, and then smartly upcycled.
You are invited to share the vision and, indeed, to join them on this journey.
For more information, please visit www.johannesdal1207.co.za
