Cape City-based architect Chris van Niekerk has accomplished Mountain Home, a minimalist retreat within the rugged panorama of South Africa’s southernmost metropolis.
The home is positioned within the foothills of Steenberg Ridge, a bunch of mountain peaks to the south of Cape City.
Van Niekerk designed the constructing as a sequence of linear, gray blocks set at staggered heights that appear to narrate to the slope of the terrain.
“This constructing is nestled in a fashion to recommend it’s neither elevated nor buried,” the architect stated.
Mountain Home is owned by a pair from Belgium, who use it as a bolthole through the European winter.
The design takes cues from Belgian architectural masters such because the late Juliaan Lampens, whose work usually featured cast-in-situ concrete.
The 2-storey constructing achieves the same impact utilizing totally different materials methods.
Some sections of the construction are created from strengthened concrete, which was sand-blasted to create a extra textural end. Others are fashioned of brickwork completed in lime plaster.
The lime plaster was utilized utilizing a way referred to as bagging, named after the hessian luggage sometimes used within the course of, which leaves traces of the brick texture seen.
“The resultant color of the partitions is similar to that of the concrete soffits, which leads to a relaxing impact the place the color palette used all through is identical,” Van Niekerk instructed Dezeen.
The identical tone may be discovered on granite ground tiles that characteristic each inside and out of doors, enhancing the homogeneity of the design.
“In utilizing restricted supplies with recognisable qualities of the earth, the problem was to attain an alchemy the place end and construction are one and the identical,” added Van Niekerk.
Mountain Home’s structure follows the footprint of the constructing that occupied the location earlier than it.
A lot of the residing areas may be discovered on the higher degree, the place a U-shaped ground plan wraps a terrace and swimming pool.
This degree accommodates a big glass-walled house that serves as a lounge, eating room and kitchen. The primary bed room suite is ready behind it, that includes an en-suite with a sunken tub, whereas a visitor room, research and sauna are positioned reverse.
The decrease degree has a extra intimate really feel. It supplies a 3rd bed room and utility areas.
Minimal glass doorways and home windows prolong floor-to-ceiling in a number of rooms, facilitating indoor-outdoor residing whereas additionally giving occupants spectacular views of the mountain panorama.
“One can see as far outward as False Bay, but in addition by means of the home in the direction of Desk Mountain to the north,” stated Van Niekerk.
The view is especially putting within the residing and eating room, which is sheltered beneath an extra-thick concrete cover however glazed on three sides.
Chris van Niekerk’s studio was named The Fold Architects earlier than an eponymous rebrand in 2021. Earlier initiatives embrace Home IIIA, a Cape City home with a particular pink exterior.
The architect has since launched a furnishings firm referred to as Mūvek, in collaboration with enterprise associate János Cserháti.
Mountain Home is furnished with items from Mūvek’s debut assortment, which was developed in parallel with the design of the home. Key designs embrace the MŪ61 Lounge Chair and the aluminium MŪ1111 Spherical Desk.
The house is accomplished by landscaping that focuses on indigenous plant species which are naturally drought-tolerant.
“Because it continues to develop and encompass the home, construction and panorama change into one, permitting the home to resonate with its panorama,” added Van Niekerk.
The images is by Greg Cox/Bureaux Company.
Venture credit:
Architect: Chris van Niekerk
Engineer: Inovic Structural Design
Amount surveyor: DA Amount Surveyors
Mechanical engineer: Jo Lubbe & Associates
Moist providers engineer: Benatar Consulting
Panorama architect: Mary Maurel Gardens
Vitality consultants: Greenplan Consultants
Primary contractor: Eurodev Tasks
Panorama contractor: Heimo Schulzer Gardens
