Rosemary’s Garden was conceived to secure the long-term preservation of one of Simbithi’s most significant heritage landscapes: the original Beverley Farm homestead, its celebrated gardens, and the surrounding indigenous coastal forest. Developed by renowned floral artist Rosemary Ladlau from the 1940s onwards, the gardens form an important cultural asset within the estate, requiring a development strategy that would protect both their historical character and environmental integrity.

The challenge lay in accommodating new residential development within a sensitive ecological and heritage setting. Extensive indigenous vegetation, established garden landscapes, and the desire to retain the property as a single coherent entity precluded conventional subdivision and demanded a far more considered approach.

The architectural response was to adopt a sectional title model, allowing the estate to remain undivided while carefully positioning individual dwellings within surveyed clearings in the forest. Building forms were conceived as low-profile pavilions integrated with the landscape, using natural materials, restrained roof forms, and minimal visual impact. Roads, infrastructure, and building footprints were all planned around the preservation of existing vegetation.

The result is a residential enclave that safeguards the historic homestead and gardens while extending Simbithi’s ecological ethos. New homes are immersed within the coastal forest, balancing contemporary living with environmental stewardship and the conservation of a unique piece of the estate’s heritage.