The project was simple: create a home where the owners would be in constant visual contact with the beautiful mountains and the nature around them. Inspired by local agricultural structures, the architects designed this house.
The project combines the simplicity of the wavy structures found on each farm in South Africa and the use of local raw materials. The house is designed on a property that borders a nature reserve to the north and is slightly elevated, allowing uninterrupted views of the tree tops and the beautiful mountains surrounding Stellenbosch. The design consists of four simple wavy structures coupled with local "kraal" stone walls. The steel structures are carefully positioned to maximize mountain views and protect against the winds. The placement of each structure has been cleverly designed to best frame the views from all living areas and bedrooms. The position and dimensions of the dormers are determined by the height of the mountains, carved and sloping stone walls to recognize the views and create protected courtyards. The oversized glass walls disappear into the stone cavities transforming the living areas into a large open veranda. A solar roof on the north veranda heats the water of the house and the pool in winter.
