The brief from the client was to design a house for their family on a special piece of land overlooking the Krugersdrift dam. Our client, helicopter pilot, found this space very suitable to work from home. The bedrooms are all north-facing, and the living areas overlook the dam towards the east.
The initial brief of the client was to resolve the storm water issues on site and fix leaking roofs of previous additions. The end result was a complete face-lift with minor additions making existing spaces more functional.
Completed: Dec 2021
On the outskirts of George as you approach the town from Wilderness, you find the Welgelegen Eco Estate. Our clients where amongst the first people to invest in this estate, and we had the privilege to design their house. The erf sits on a steep slope, overlooking a green belt with a creek. It is extremely private and oozes tranquility. The house is essentially built on 2 levels, with master bedroom, kitchen and living area on top, opening up onto a stoep from where this awesome view can be appreciated. The lower level also have access from the natural ground level, and accommodates a self catering guest unit for family and guests.
This house was completed in 2015.
The addition to house Raubenheimer was completed during 2011. Two large study facilities were added on top of existing garages, adjacent to the main bedroom, to provide personal executive office space and a new facade to the existing house.
Completed in 2010. An L-shaped steel structure with mono-pitch roofs, houses separate living and bedroom areas. The pavilion-like construction is intended to fit snugly within the forest surroundings.
I came across this site whilst working on another project in this unique area and fell in love with the surroundings and the intimacy which this site had to offer. It reminded me of an article I read while still being a student entitled The Forest Edge. The site had no spectacular view unlike all the other pricy sites did, but it was nestled in a forest of trees and protected from the harsh south western wind. A house on this site had to provide shelter as well as maximum recognition to the surrounding trees. The name “Forest Edge” explains the transition from the built environment to the forest of trees it faces.
The plan of the house was inspired by the Herbert Jacobs House of Frank Loyd Wright, 1936, which was an early, but also a fine example of his Usonion Projects. The house was designed in an L-Shape, with the living- and dining room as well as kitchen accommodated via the one wing and the bedrooms within the scope of the other. Both wings open up to a communal outside space which was an extension of the house itself. The services such as geysers of both the upper and lower bathrooms are clad with curved corrugated iron sheets as to symbolize the water reservoirs and dams typically found in the Free State landscape. These organic shapes are enhanced by the strong light quality which is a characteristic of the classical landscape in which the building is located. The position of the house on the plot turns its back to the street and really opens up to an ever changing palate of colours from the forest on the North Eastern side. The orientation provides ample shade during summer and really catches all the rays of sunlight from early morning to sunset during the cold winter months.
This house was never built to impress, but rather to humble, to learn and above all, to keep my dream alive!
Professional Consultants:
Structural Engineer: Eddie Arter, BVI Consulting Engineers.
Contractor: Owner/builder together with a team of local builders
Completed in 2009 in Waverley Bloemfontein. An existing outbuilding, previously used as garage, garden shed & domestic quarters, was renovated to function as a creative studio, housing architects & designers.
The total floor area and different spaces created through the addition certainly provide sufficiently for all the needs of a small Architectural Practice such as our own. The approach to this building from street level is a pleasant experience and the transition from house to office via sandstone cladded garden walls that set the boundaries for the walkway also creates a terrace to distinguish these spaces. The new reception area portrays something of who we are and gives the visitor something to ponder on. The library upstairs is not frequently used but contributes to the character of this space at large. The newly built area is linked with the offices by means of a covered walkway as to bypass the boardroom / studio. The verandah of this walkway also serves as an extension of the boardroom should the stack-away doors be opened. This area is used with great success to accommodate meetings, photo shoots and entertainment for clients under the oak tree. The bay window accommodates a long worktop where drawings are discussed amongst staff members. The frameless corner window allows the oak tree to become part of the inner office space. The great achievement from a client’s point of view is that the budget could be met with all the existing walls, structures and even roofs that could be re-utilised.
Structural Engineer: Eddie Arter, BVI Consulting Engineers.
Contractor: Stefan Sander Building Contractor
This modern 4-bedroom family home was completed in 2013. House De Villiers boasts its own character while complying with estate architectural guidelines. It gives recognition to the adjacent koppies by incorporating the landscape into the design.
If we say we work all over the country, you can take us up seriously. This new home, currently under construction, is designed for a retired professor and true gentleman who is really in love with nature. Despite strict architectural guidelines of the Home Owner’s Association, we had Carte Blanche with the design on this 2 hectare site. The bedrooms are separated by a living area and open plan kitchen, which opens up onto the verandah overlooking the pool. This verandah connects the living area with all the bedrooms externally.
My client Fred and myself set out the plan on site ourselves with care in order to ensure that no trees are removed unnecessarily.
All the sketches, building of the model, detail design and site visits for this project have been an amazing journey and a really big privilege.
The addition to the architect’s home in Kestell Street was completed during 2016. A classic 1940s Waverley family home was converted to accommodate the changing needs of the owners, by adding a second storey, removing internal walls and adding modern finishes. The renovation also established a visual and aesthetic connection between the house and the creative studio.
This Townhouse development in Rayton, Bloemfontein, consists out of 36 units with 4 different designs. The designs comprise 2 and 3 bedroom units, as well trendy open plan loft apartments. The units are placed closer to the access road, which is a public area, in order to create a bigger private outdoor space at the back of each unit.
These units are currently under construction.
