WOLFGANG RIEBE ’ S MAGIC MANOR CAPE TOWN : SOUTH AFRICA
Join me , Wolfgang Riebe , as I delve into the challenging odyssey of a magician who dared to defy stereotypes and setbacks , ultimately finding triumph and fulfilment back where it all began .
Like most young couples , we had an overzealous idea of what our ideal home should look like during our days of performing on the international circuit , so we embarked on the ambitious challenge of building our dream home . Little did we grasp the magnitude of our vision , accustomed as we were to the small confines of hotel suites and cruise ship cabins . Yet , undeterred , we plunged headlong into the colossal project - a sprawling 1,200 square meter ( or 13,000 square feet ) living area . Only now did we begin to understand the concept of ‘ your home is your castle ’!
The vision unfurled like a magician ' s grand reveal , but very slowly with many ups and downs and being ripped off by unscrupulous builders who disappeared with all our savings , we fought on . Back to the ships , and a few years later , the shell of our home was completed . We envisaged a grandiose atrium entrance , primed to host cocktail parties that would dazzle corporate clients as I shared my offerings and success stories , hoping to break into the lucrative business magic market in Africa , Europe and the Middle East . It took many more years of sacrifice and hard work as our family grew , and our home slowly evolved into a tapestry woven with the threads of our adventures - a magical menagerie adorned with mementos and snapshots from our escapades across the globe .
Many years later , I landed numerous prime-time TV series , and our architecturally alluring home often appeared as a celebrity mansion in magazines and on TV . Time , however , is a relentless conjurer of change . With our daughters spreading their wings , leaving the nest and embarking on their own journeys , we bid farewell to the African sun once again and moved back to the heart of Europe , seeking solace in the embrace of Germany and Switzerland .
In hindsight , we luckily never sold our home and it kept whispering its siren song across continents , drawing us back to its embrace many years later as we returned to South Africa from the Alpine serenity of Geneva . Sadly , tenant neglect had tarnished our once-glistening gem of a home we left behind , where I wanted to enjoy early retirement in 2023 .
Being used to fighting my way through life , and rather than succumb to despair , my wife and I seized upon the opportunity to orchestrate a metamorphosis - an alchemical rebirth that would transform our already special home into something truly extraordinary . Thus was born the vision of ‘ The Magic Manor ’.
A sanctum where magicians can find refuge , a secret haven of luxury in Cape Town with one of the most breathtaking 180-degree views in the world over the entire Cape Peninsula and Table Mountain ; a mini ‘ Magic Castle ’ at the tip of Africa that includes a research institute ( The Institute of Magical Research ( Pty ) Ltd ), focusing on the use of magic in enhancing corporate messaging , a 32-seater theatre where dreams take flight , a library brimming with tomes of enchantment , and a bar where libations flow like potions . A Harry Potter-inspired barbecue
WOLFGANG REIBE
34 JUNE | 2024