The multi-million Rand development currently underway at Silverstar and set to be completed by September is bringing the complex into the open air with the addition of a large outdoor village square surrounded by leisure and entertainment facilities.
The positioning of Silverstar close to the Cradle of Humankind and the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden means that the landscape lends itself to the beautiful Highveld environment.
The outdoor village square is at the heart of the development and is designed to be a multi-functional daytime and evening venue surrounded by restaurants. The square will offer a comfortable and relaxing space that is lively and fun thanks to the surrounding restaurants, big outdoor screen and other entertainment activities planned.
"We're introducing an outdoor square so that our guests can enjoy spending their leisure time outside in our spectacular location," says Shane Collinson, Director of Operations and Complex General Manager at Silverstar.
The restaurants surrounding the square will have doors that lead onto terraced seating facing the square. The openness will create a sense of energy and activity around and between the restaurants.
Some of the square restaurants open into courtyards that provide more secluded spaces while others take the form of dining gazebos overlooking the water feature separating the square from the hotel.
The landscape design, once complete, will play a crucial part in creating a welcoming, playful and friendly outdoor setting for guests to enjoy their experience of the new-look Silverstar. Naturally shaded areas will be created as well as a garden-type atmosphere to ensure guests take full advantage of the outdoor facilities.
Bordering Silverstar is the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden that is home to over 600 naturally-occurring plant species, an abundance of wildlife with over 200 bird species recorded on site as well as a breeding pair of majestic Verreaux's Eagles which nest on the cliffs alongside the Witpoortjie waterfall.
Silverstar was built on sound environmental principles and these same standards are being applied in the current development. "Every effort has been made to ensure that the complex will not pose a risk to the flight patterns or the natural habitat of the Black Eagles of Roodekrans," says Collinson. The developers are consulting with the Black Eagle Project throughout the construction of the complex.
The plant material proposed for the redeveloped complex is indigenous with special emphasis on the vibrant African flowering colours of the majestic coral tree, numerous varieties of aloes and red hot pokers.
The aloes will bring colour to the winter gardens with their abundance of flowers against the backdrop of the natural rocky outcrops while red and yellow pokers will have an added bonus of attracting birds to Silverstar's gardens.
Large groupings of Strelitzia will be incorporated through the gardens with their beautiful orange and blue crane like flowers.
The trees chosen for the main square will be predominantly coral and fever trees. These two tree species complement each other with the lovely yellow and green bark of the fever tree and the mass flowering of the coral trees.
The coral trees will give ample shade during the summer months and allow sun through during the winter as they drop their leaves.
The trees for the square will be mature specimens carefully selected for this area to give maximum impact. The branches of the trees will allow for the hanging of lighting elements for an enchanting night experience.
Medium size evergreen indigenous olive trees will be dotted around the perimeter of the square and within the intimate courtyards to create a serene outdoor dining experience. Small water features will be incorporated within these courtyards with the sound of trickling water adding to the tranquil atmosphere.
"It's business as usual at Silverstar. Our primary operations are unaffected by the construction and guests can come and enjoy our restaurants, hotel, spa and casino," says Collinson.
