House Stoney Ridge 2019

Rejuvenating this heritage structure, where the original core cottage was built in 1948, was most rewarding. Appreciated for its positive contribution to the streetscape character as one of the first holiday houses built in Pringle Bay at the foot of Pringle peak.

It was designed by the Cape Town architects Richard Day & Raqul De Wet and built by the late Springbok rugby player Jock van Niekerk who was responsible for building a number of the early houses in the area. The site enjoys spectacular sea views over Pringle Bay towards Klein-Hangklip mountains.

Over the years it received two layers of accretions westwards, one in 1969 and again in 2004/5. This is therefore the fourth state of completeness.

The original Cedar shingle roof was replaced with natural slate and the steel frame windows with timber and later with aluminium. Fenestration was updated with low energy glazing and aluminium frames side hung-type to reference the original. Stone plinth walls and spatterdash concrete exterior wall rendering of the Arts & Crafts style structure was restored. With the new additions in the rear, restorative maintenance was also undertaken to preserve the authentic spirit of place.

Connectivity with place and space was improved by opening up the middle section with openable glass curtain walls which leads to a timber deck courtyard – the new heart of the villa onto which the various spaces flows – facilitating awareness of context while improving spatial sequence and function.