Built over three cleverly stepped levels, this holiday home on South Africa’s pristine Garden Route combines sculptural architecture with simple, pared-back interiors.
The typical building style here is a version of American clapboard. This new home, however, does something very different – and genuinely context-sensitive. Both client and architect Guillaume Pienaar know the area intimately. The client had “spent many holidays in the original house over many years and knew exactly what they wanted” from their new home, Guillaume explains. As for himself, he’s “spent time at this beach surfing since childhood – and I love this street”.
The built-in kitchen in a rich caramel hue contrasts beautifully with the concrete walls and floors. It features plenty of much-needed storage, and is situated adjacent to the central dining space, and main entrance to the house.
The dining table was designed “to suit the space and be able to accommodate all 10 of the occupants of the house”. The entire dining suite can easily be moved, so can be used in a number of places around the home including the interior courtyard and verandas.
Simplicity and clarity of line characterise the house as well as all of its furnishings and decor.
Due to the very linear nature of the indoor living space, built-in lounge seating was the obvious choice, “to allow for afternoon naps and reading” while on holiday. The round table was designed “especially for card games, puzzle building and so on”.
Designated as Guillaume’s own favourite space in the house is the bay window area on the facade, which he describes as “an intimate space for summer and winter use”. Perfect for rainy days, drinking morning coffee, quiet time and reading, it is furnished with locally manufactured timber lounge chairs.
This protected outdoor space is also much-used on windy days during the summer months.
At the centre of the house is a courtyard atrium, which allows light and air into its internal spaces, and allows its occupants to keep all the interior doors open, day and night. This protected outdoor space is also much-used on windy days during the summer months.
The minimalist interiors of the home make the architectural use of wood throughout a form of subtle decoration as well as being resolutely functional. An especially lovely decorative element made in wood is the custom-designed screen at the rear of the house, which filters natural light into the wide passageway between the en suite bedrooms on either side of the house.
“I love that you can ‘sculpt’ with wood by using timber frames and panels of various thicknesses,” says Guillaume.
The top-floor bedroom may be a study on holiday simplicity, but it also has spectacular views and leads out onto a spacious roof deck.
The bathrooms are also a study in elegant minimalism, with mosaic tiles covering walls and floors combined with pared-back tapware and accessories.
Words — Graham Wood
Photographs — Greg Cox
