“At Century City, we are very passionate about greening our precinct, and to involve our residents in taking as much as pride as we do, we launched the Century City Garden of the Year Competition. The inaugural competition focused on residential Body Corporates and Homeowners’ Associations, with the plan to extend the competition to the mixed-use and commercial developments in the future.” says Louise de Roubaix, Environmental & Horticulture Manager for Century City Property Owners’ Association (CCPOA). “The competition highlights the importance of green spaces, biodiversity, and sustainable gardening practices, fostering a sense of community pride and environmental stewardship within Century City.
Century City is home to 24 residential developments, each committed to maintaining beautiful, sustainable gardens. The Century City Garden of the Year Competition 2024 focused on entrance gardens, recognising excellence in design, maintenance, and environmental consideration. Over the winter months, landscaping teams were tasked with preparing their spaces for Spring judging.
“Key criteria included using qualified landscaping services, maintaining a robust program with dedicated staff and budget, ensuring waterwise practices, and achieving aesthetic appeal through well-maintained plants, trees, lawns, and hard landscaping features.” explains De Roubaix.
A panel of judges, consisting of representatives from the Century City Property Owners’ Association’s (CCPOA) Environmental & Horticulture Division, the South African Landscapers Institute (SALI) and the Horticultural Sciences Department (Landscape Architect), of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) visited all entrants on 10 October 2024.
Subsequently, the winners were announced at an event hosted at the Century City Clubhouse on 18 October 2024, just in time for Garden Day, which is celebrated across the country on Sunday, 20 October.
Waters Edge was named the overall winner of the garden competition, earning a R20 000 prize. Anja Rose, Building Manager at Property Exponents, expressed her excitement: “The Waters Edge gardens were revamped recently and are maintained by Clifford Woods from Wood Weld Trading, who is doing an immaculate job at ensuring the gardens are always in tip-top shape.”
Shared first runners-up, Mayfair Residential (Marsh Property) and The Terraces (Marite Property Administrators), each received R10 000, while Manhattan Towers (Marsh Property) claimed second runner-up with a R5 000 prize.
De Roubaix concludes, “The judges were very impressed with all entrants, noting the remarkable dedication and effort shown in maintaining and enhancing the gardens. Each development reflected a deep commitment to creating visually appealing, functional, and environmentally sustainable spaces.”
The competition underscored the importance of landscaping in promoting a greener, more beautiful Century City, highlighting how well-planned gardens contribute to the overall quality of life in the precinct. This initiative fosters a sense of pride, community involvement, and environmental stewardship among residents.
Waters Edge, FLTR: Siyabulela Swaartbooi (Senior Horticulturist, CCPOA), Anja Rose (Building Manager at Property Exponents), Clifford Woods (Wood Weld Trading), Sally Robertson-Forster (Lecturer in Landscape Architecture with the Horticultural Sciences Department of the CPUT), Gaynor Demas (Operations Manager for SALI Cape), Antoinette de Beer (ARLA Consulting Landscape Architects & SALI Regional Judge); and Louise de Roubaix (Environmental & Horticulture Manager, CCPOA).
Manhattan Towers, FLTR: Louise de Roubaix (Environmental & Horticulture Manager, CCPOA), Faldiela Davids (Building Management at Marsh Property), Antoinette de Beer (ARLA Consulting Landscape Architects & SALI Regional Judge), Lujeanne Geldenhuys (Building Management at Marsh Property), Sally Robertson-Forster (Lecturer in Landscape Architecture with the Horticultural Sciences Department of CPUT), Gaynor Demas (Operations Manager for SALI Cape); and Siyabulela Swaartbooi (Senior Horticulturist, CCPOA).
The Terraces, FLTR: Louise de Roubaix (Environmental & Horticulture Manager, CCPOA, Gaynor Demas (Operations Manager for SALI Cape), Sally Robertson-Forster (Lecturer in Landscape Architecture with the Horticultural Sciences Department of CPUT), Antoinette de Beer (ARLA Consulting Landscape Architects & SALI Regional Judge), Siyabulela Swaartbooi (Senior Horticulturist, CCPOA); and Brandon Herring (Jane’s Garden Services).
Mayfair, FLTR: Siyabulela Swaartbooi (Senior Horticulturist, CCPOA), Sally Robertson-Forster (Lecturer in Landscape Architecture with the Horticultural Sciences Department of CPUT), Gaynor Demas (Operations Manager for SALI Cape), Antoinette de Beer (ARLA Consulting Landscape Architects & SALI Regional Judge), Faldiela Davids (Building Management at Marsh Property), Louise de Roubaix (Environmental & Horticulture Manager, CCPOA; and Lujeanne Geldenhuys (Building Management at Marsh Property).