Benguela Cove Coastal Estate is a wine estate, nature reserve and residential development situated on the Botrivier Lagoon en route to Hermanus from Cape Town. The estate comprises of 70 hectares of vineyards, 10 hectares of olives and lavender, and 80 hectares of nature reserve.

When completely developed, the estate will have a 500 ton winery, tasting facilities, restaurant, retail and a boutique hotel. The estate further has 124 residences, with erven ranging from 1200m² to 4000m².

The design challenge at Benguela Cove was to create a synergy between a very sensitive and conservation-worthy natural environment, the farming activities, and the residences. The residential density of the estate was kept very low at about one unit per two hectares. Residential development is used as a buffer between the farming activities and the nature reserve.

dhk Urban Concepts were involved from the outset in the conceptualisation of the estate, developing the overall layout as well as assisting with the agricultural planning. Our roles included spatial planning, assisting with the planning and environmental applications, infrastructure design and co-ordination, the design of landscape elements such as bridges, and the architecture of the estate buildings and winery. We have further been the architects on two of the houses on the estate.

Site Development Plan

3d view of Site

3d view of Site

Winery Precinct plan

Winery Precinct sketch

Landscape photograph

Landscape photograph

Guard House photograph

Guard House photograph

Guard House photograph