The conceptual approach of this project was a response drawn from inspiration gained from an exceptional site. The site is surrounded by distant mountain views, a view of the towering granite boulders below Paarl Rock, a mature olive grove and rolling vineyards. The design explores the reinterpretation of the local vernacular, overlaid by a modern accommodation schedule and instilling the principles of ‘Cape place making’, whilst continually exposing its inhabitants to its sense of place.
The building consists of two barns, each with their respective private and semi-private functions. These are arranged in an L-shape around a raised central courtyard flanked by secondary grassed courtyards to allow free movement through the barns within the ‘werf’. A vygie planted green roof is edged by a lap pool and allows for a visual link to the vineyards over the service building below. This separates the private living area from working areas and provides complete privacy to the main courtyard and house from the road below.
Large sliding doors allow the living areas to spill onto the grassed courtyards whilst matching slatted timber shutters act as a privacy screen and provides sun control when necessary.
The palette of materials used, the landscape design as well as the interior was carefully considered to compliment the client’s brief requirement of a “liveable barefoot house”.