BANTRY BAY
MAIN HOUSE
The original house was built by an architect in the 1930’s as his family residence. It had the beautiful proportions and the timeless decorative details so typical of the era. During the seventies, the then owners made extensive renovations to the house, turning it into a faux Spanish villa. When our clients purchased the property it was in an advanced state of disrepair.
The brief for the property was clear. Our clients, who own a successful advertising agency, wanted an elegant, timeless space, retaining some of the classical architectural features and adding slick modern interiors.
Our investigations into the history of the house and the structure, led to our design philosophy, to return the house to its original form, updating the exterior circulation and entertainment areas with lightweight steel and timber pergolas, which would double as shading devices, protecting the north-west aspect of the house from the summer afternoon sun.
Internally we consolidated the communal spaces and reorganized bathrooms and bedrooms into well-functioning private spaces. Stripping away unnecessary walls and creating effective circulation axis through the house. Our goal was to turn the once dark and gloomy interior into welcoming spaces filled with natural light.
In line with our approach to re-use as much of the existing structure as possible, we managed to save some of the original timber floors, two original Victorian sash windows and an interleading door. These were painted in contrasting colours, making them prominent features. Doors were given extra height to accentuate the high ceilings and we used traditional steel framed external doors and windows, to complement the character of the original house. Polished marble floor tiles speak of tradition, whilst providing a modern edge to the scheme. The neutral colour scheme, ties together the traditional architectural features, with frameless glass elements, the sleek fireplace and the minimalist open plan kitchen.
The external spaces surrounding the house, are arranged in a series of courtyards, each linked to an internal space. Each courtyard has its own water feature, visually connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces. The rest of the garden was terraced to reduce the impact of the steeply sloping site. We worked closely with the landscapers to turn the garden spaces into areas that would offer a physical and psychological retreat from the busy road below.
SUMMER HOUSE
One of the best features of the property is the unobstructed views of Table Bay. In the garden at the top end of the property, a previous owner prepared a platform for future development. Here we created an entertainment area, which offers a retreat from the rigors of daily life. The summer house is designed as a modified shed structure, in contrast to the exquisite main house. Comfort is provided with a fireplace for winter and irresistible couches for lazy afternoons. The entire front façade of the summer house opens up onto the lawned pool deck which terminates in an infinity pool. The summer house is equipped with a kitchenette and indoor braai, offering the necessary home comforts to ensure the perfect entertainment space for long, leisurely summer or winter days. |
