Everyday Escape

This Kwazulunatal Home References Both Its Urban Setting And The Owners’ Love Of The Bush.

- Pamela Whitby

The first step in building this house on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast was unconventional: planting a forest of 55 trees. ‘We bought the plot six years ago but knew we wouldn’t move in for a while,’ says the owner. ‘So we planned ahead for the feel we wanted from the house, which was the sense that we were in a bush lodge.’ The idea was for the forest to grow to the extent that neighbouring properties would be hidden by the canopy, leaving the home’s outlook to take in only green and the sea beyond.

When they were ready to build, the owners called on architect Lisa Rorich to design a house that would have the feel of a retreat, yet still sit comfortably in its urban location on an estate with contemporary finishes and amazing vistas.

‘The architecture is a response to the site and the context – it’s not just about putting a house on a plot,’ says Lisa. ‘Courtyard spaces were key, not only to blur the boundaries between inside and out but also to take into account the prevailing winds from the east at the coast. A courtyard on the inland side of the house provides a protected outdoor space.’