By Tshego Letshwiti, Property Consultant Lorna Ioakim, Property Co-ordinator Chantel Spence, Photography Nic Baleta
One of the most striking features about this home is the natural environment which surrounds it. The owners instantly fell in love with the location and had to purchase the site to build their dream home. This comes as no surprise as the residence lies in the heart of the tranquil Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, and boasts the most amazing scenic views.
“It was important to us that once the house was built, we’d still be in love with what attracted us to buying the stand in the first place – that being the views, the closeness to nature, the lush vegetation and its serenity,” explains the owners.
Situated on a densely vegetated hill, the house came to life after a five-year creative process, which involved considering factors such as the slopes, seasonal variations, views and traditions of the family.
“The form of the house was broken up so as not to dominate the landscape monolithically but rather as a series of structures loosely connected with in-between pockets, which become micro–habitats or open-ended and planned courtyards,” says the architect Mary-Anne Da Costa of kwpCREATE.
Part of the home owner’s request was that areas, which would be used on a regular basis, be built on a single level – this proved to be a bit of a challenge due to the site being very steep. However a detailed study of the land applied by the architects ensured that a zone where the house would be built would reduce excavations on the site.
Each segment of the house is connected by a prominent passage and the route is aligned to an outer pergola over a raised deck at the main entranceway, which leads into the passage that goes through the courtyard and connects via a walking trail to a koppie on site. This home embraces its natural landscape and displays the look of a luxurious getaway to the country, while still reflecting truly South African building traditions.
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