With so much intensity in the air at the moment it's a luxury to look up at the night sky and be dazzled by infinite stars. Standing at the top of the tiered gardens at Bosjes just after nightfall, the ducks have settled for the night, the frogs are plopping and there doesn't appear to be another human for at least 10km. The air is sweet on this Monday night and while I may be the only guest, what was initially a shortfall has become a serious win. I have the whole Breedekloof farm to myself.
I'm in residence as part of the "Farm Retreat", a new two-day package which allows visitors to experience the recently opened Die Stalle spa. Designed by Liam Mooney, the two-roomed treatment centre is housed in what used to be the farm stables and Mooney, with his clever design sensibility, has paid homage to this.
"While we didn't want to be too derivative, we wanted to speak subtly to the history of the building," he says. "It was important that the design was soft and comforting, and as relaxing as possible. We wanted our guests to feel completely safe and at ease in the space," says Mooney.
To soften the linearity of the space, he opted for vaulted ceilings and rounded corners. There's a deft mix of textures, warm wood panelling and natural Zellige tiles, handmade in Morocco. Alongside the treatment rooms there's a sauna and a modern rasul steam room.
Design Destination
Die Stalle spa at Bosjes offers a luxe farm retreat that's hard to beat
A two-day package at Die Stalle spa offers guests a chance to reset in the lap of rural luxury
Image: bosjes.co.za/en/bosjes
With so much intensity in the air at the moment it's a luxury to look up at the night sky and be dazzled by infinite stars. Standing at the top of the tiered gardens at Bosjes just after nightfall, the ducks have settled for the night, the frogs are plopping and there doesn't appear to be another human for at least 10km. The air is sweet on this Monday night and while I may be the only guest, what was initially a shortfall has become a serious win. I have the whole Breedekloof farm to myself.
I'm in residence as part of the "Farm Retreat", a new two-day package which allows visitors to experience the recently opened Die Stalle spa. Designed by Liam Mooney, the two-roomed treatment centre is housed in what used to be the farm stables and Mooney, with his clever design sensibility, has paid homage to this.
"While we didn't want to be too derivative, we wanted to speak subtly to the history of the building," he says. "It was important that the design was soft and comforting, and as relaxing as possible. We wanted our guests to feel completely safe and at ease in the space," says Mooney.
To soften the linearity of the space, he opted for vaulted ceilings and rounded corners. There's a deft mix of textures, warm wood panelling and natural Zellige tiles, handmade in Morocco. Alongside the treatment rooms there's a sauna and a modern rasul steam room.
MAKEOVER | This small mismatched bathroom is now a chic spa-like space
The spa gives an opportunity for the farm to showcase a soon to launch own-label botanicals range. This includes the Bosjes Orchard Clay and Bosjes Orchard Salt Scrub, made with a handmade blend of wild sage, rosemary and ash bush, all collected from the extensive gardens; both are used in the rasul treatment, which is followed by a full-body massage and facial using the Bosjes oil.
"We created the 'Farm Retreat' to really give guests the opportunity to reset," says Carlen Vorster of Bosjes. "We want it to be something indulgent but also essential, especially at this time."
Perhaps it's because of the chapel that hinges the property to the valley, and as such anchors the farm, but it's impossible to ignore the feeling of peace that is imbued here.
Image: bosjes.co.za/en/bosjes
Image: bosjes.co.za/en/bosjes
Designed by Coetzee Steyn of London-based Steyn Studio, much has been made of the architecture of the building — it's been featured in numerous design magazines with it's winged roof to mimic the curve of the mountains in front, the gables of the manor house behind, plus imitate the shape a bird on wing. It's transient, but grounded, much like life.
The area directly around the chapel has been made into something of a spiritual enclave. There's a water feature that suggests walking through a massive mass of ocean, a mound of earth around which one spirals in the walk of contemplation, and somewhere in the indigenous tracks stands a lonely apple tree. To walk through this at dusk — the beauty and intonation — is something quite special.
If it's in an untamed wilderness that contemplation comes more naturally then the trick is to wake early and slip through the fence behind the Kombuis restaurant to walk with zebras, giraffe and blesbok in the bush that runs up the back of the koppie behind the manicured gardens of the guesthouse. It's a 10km track and here one is truly alone with one's thoughts — the only company the scurry of red ants across the earth.
Image: bosjes.co.za/en/bosjes
So while the massages are nice, as are the little lights twinkling in the steam room to give a false night sky, when coupled with the real thing — the possibility to wander alone under the stars, to be in solitude in nature and luxury, safe on a tamed farm, is a real retreat. Both restore and retreat have as an etymological base stepping back — moving away from confrontation. Space, nature, spirituality and softness — at this time, with change all around, the essence imbued in the farm definitely helped the equilibrium of my soul.
The 'Farm Retreat' includes a rasul, facial and massage and two nights' accommodation.
• For more information, visit Bosjes's website
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