Architecture

FRESNAYE

Our client bought this property for its magnificent views and fantastic wine cellar in the basement. The house needed an update and our brief was simply to open up the kitchen to the living spaces and to redesign the entrance and the access to the pool deck.

The existing house had no features, worth preserving. We decided to do a radical renovation, within the existing footprint and with only a few structural changes. We wanted to introduce a raw edge to the design, using weathered steel, rough stone, natural timber and off-shutter concrete, contrasted with frameless glass, water and white limestone floor tiles.

The south facing entrance court was upgraded into a major feature of the house and integrated with the internal spaces through a glazed wall. A new water feature, running the length of the space, is used to reflect light into the once dark entrance hall and the new study.

The stair well was opened up and the wall separating the entrance from the kitchen was replaced with a sheet of glass, forming a visual connection between these spaces. The new stair was designed as a sculptural element, becoming the focal point of the living space.

For the owner, being an enthusiastic cook and wine connoisseur , meant that integrating the kitchen with the living area was important, when entertaining friends and family. Our client’s state of the art record player and extensive record collection is housed in a bespoke wall hung unit, which runs along the entire length of the dining room and lounge. A timber clad fireplace was inserted, into the unit to form a focal point in the lounge and to transform it into a cosy haven during winter.  

On the first floor level we redesigned the main bedroom suite as an integrated whole. A solid timber bath sits on a raised plinth in front of a glass wall, which offers a view of the lush tree canopy just outside. The warmth of solid Kiaat teamed up with travertine tiles and frameless glass, gives the space a feeling of luxury and indulgence.
Externally we installed frameless glass balustrades on the patio to ensure uninterrupted views of the city and ocean below. We replaced the tile and gravel floor finishes with synthetic grass to prevent heat buildup from the west facing patio transferred to the adjacent bedrooms. The lovely soft texture underfoot, invites you to kick off your shoes and come outside.

An off shutter concrete stair links the garden level pool deck with the entertainment patio on the ground floor. The hardwood timber decking connects the spaces visually and transforms it into an enticing leisure area.

Slatted timber screens and cladding adds texture and warmth to the modernist exterior.