Architect Don Albert has spent his career working globally, but his latest chapter is unfolding in the small towns of the Western Cape. Through his firm, Sound Space Design, Albert is helping landowners and rural investors rethink the potential of the “platteland.” As young families and remote workers swap city skylines for space and safety, Albert’s focus has turned to agritourism—a movement where farm-based hospitality drives wellness and economic resilience.
From Restored Farmhouses to Social Hearts
In Piketberg, Albert is nearing completion on a destination that embodies this shift: Voyager Stoep-en-Kuier. Set within a restored 1880s farmhouse, the project is paired with the Flying Fig Garden Bistro, an outdoor dining space designed as the property’s social heart. Inspired by iconic stays like Babylonstoren, the project offers a balance between rural tranquillity and village life. As Albert notes, it is a place designed to “escape and do nothing, or do a lot of everything,” allowing visitors to engage with the landscape at their own pace.
This approach moves away from repetitive gated estates and “key-under-the-mat” rentals. Instead, Albert uses strategic design to create “micro-hotels” and “new towns” that feel alive. By combining international expertise with local building knowledge, he creates immersive spaces centred on food and culture. The Flying Fig Garden Bistro, for instance, uses shared meals beneath a large fig tree to connect visitors with the area’s culinary heritage.
Ultimately, Albert sees agritourism as a response to post-Covid priorities: a renewed desire for health, community, and outdoor living. For landowners, the message is clear—with the right design, rural land can become more than just a farm; it can become a sustainable, vibrant legacy for the next generation.
For more information visit For more information visit www.soundspacedesign.com
