Why do so many security estates - or gated villages - get a dated look after just a few years? It has to do with the philosophy when a security village is planned.
A few thousand years ago we still lived in caves.
It provided shelter against sun, wind, rain and also attacks from other people and animals.
Caves are basically all alike and for most inhabitants the interiors were of no concern.
They just wanted to sleep safely near to a warm friendly fire.
But, even then, some people yearned for more.
They started to paint their dreams and inspiration against the walls of these dwellings.
Their caves looked more impressive than their neighbors' and a few thousand years later, their paintings still inspire humankind.
Let's jump a few hundred centuries to focus on the 19th century and its impact on human dwellings.
Modernism brought a very one sided perspective on life to the fore.
The production line in factories had to adhere to the principle of delivering a nonstop stream of goods to sell to society.
A production line of similar looking cars, similar looking houses, similar looks in clothing were spinning out to the public that bought into the concept of similarity and they were not even aware that they were giving up their individuality as they kept collecting what was cleverly advertised as the real way to be, to drive, to live.
The industrial machinery got to them.
People bought soulless constructions instead of picking houses that whispered of the depth in existence.
As Des and Dawn sang a long time ago, "...
and they all lived in little boxes".
Postmodern times brought new variety also to the property market.
Creative designs presented us with constant new ranges of house types, but still, very often, it carries one dimensional intent.
"Let it appear new, entertaining and different...
just get them to buy whatever it takes", is the demand from a kind of human being that values superficiality or appearance way above a soulful existence yearning to explore essence and the unfolding of layers of life.
When a security village is planned with the overall intent of making money, the result will appear attractive as 'the flavor of the month/year' and be presented to buyers as the real thing.
Spanish style will be replaced by Tuscan that will be replaced by postmodern eclectics and when buyers have given up on their individuality and the stirrings of their own soul, they will buy to own the 'smell of the month' and then in time they will have to buy again to keep up with the image of what will then be deemed attractive.
Buyers in security estates or gated villages should rather be adamant that a new house reflects the facets of their own soul, the interplay with the seasons and the creativity that goes with such an approach.
They should be particularly aware that the effective advertising machinery can easily mimic one's apparent interest.
Watch out that developers, architects and estate agents do not present the average approach in purchasing a new home so effectively that you in the end just fall into line with modern day perspectives on housing.
When one engages with soul in the development of your own home, it will become an ongoing interaction through the years to follow.
The result of this will never become dated.
It will always intrigue and astonish.
The human mind is multi dimensional and reflects the well of life.
Our houses, in security estates in Cape Town, Gauteng, or gated villages in the Western Cape or along the Garden Route, should also reflect this, or our souls will keep protesting the cheapening of existence.