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House Muller 2022
This holiday house was originally built in 1977 by the Muller family who still owns it. The site commands a breath-taking view over Pringle Bay towards the Klein Hangklip mountain range with False Bay as backdrop.
Being sited just off a rocky outcrop on the coast, the years of exposure to the sea spray and wind, left its mark on the structure which by now required extensive remedial work. This presented the opportunity to re-assess the architectural programme while re-conceptualizing functionality with the advantage of the client having experienced this habitat for 45 years.
The early floor plan consisted of a main double storey dwelling with kitchen, bedroom and living on the ground floor and two bedrooms with bathroom and balcony on the first floor. The outbuilding was a single garage. The re-imagined response led to the introduction of a strong north-south axis by means of a sunroom/ walkway linking the main building with the outbuilding. The outbuilding was repurposed into a living unit with bedroom, en suite, kitchenette and lounge space. The open space between the two structures was designed as a protected wind-free entertainment deck onto which the kitchen opens. An internal wall was removed which allows a visual view corridor through the house to the sea.
Conceptually, the closed compartmentalised box structure was opened up to allow light, views and improved spatial flow. Durable low maintenance materials were specified while introducing sustainable technologies.
In conclusion, the client summarised the design approach best by saying that all the weak areas have been turned into strengths.
“I am bowled over. You have addressed all the issues and turned negatives into positives.”
– Martin Muller
– Martin Muller
Project Team
Raymond Smith assisted by Jennifer Wrench
Category
Single Residential
Service
Full six stage architectural
Date
28 November 2022