LOCATION, ESTATE AGENTS LIKE TO SAY, IS EVERYTHING. And this newly built home's position in Vermont - a holiday hamlet on the pristine shores of Walker Bay - is exceptional.
Tucked into the fynbos just steps from the ocean, the plot of land on which it stands has been in the family of one of the two homeowners, Alida Kannemeyer, for 60 years.
Throughout her childhood, Alida spent her holidays in the house next door (the rest of her family still does so); in 2014, she was given this adjacent plot by her parents.
In 2017, Alida and Piers Buckle her partner in both life and work (they run a graphic-design agency together) - decided to build their own holiday home on the property.
At the time, the couple were living in Observatory, Cape Town, and the new build was envisioned as a weekend escape from the city at which they could also spend longer holidays.
The initial plan, done with the help of an architect friend in Cape Town, was a simple single-storey cottage; it was later amended slightly by Onrus-based architecture firm Engelbrecht & Scorgie, who also assisted with the build.
"We always wanted to build something of our own rather than renovate. It's good to know exactly what's under the skin of your house," says Piers, citing both the regularity of unpleasant surprises during renovations as seen on today's ubiquitous reno TV shows, and the couple's own experience of living in their Observatory home, with its heritage layout and sometimes temperamental fixtures.
They were on a fairly strict budget, and knew they wanted a contemporary cottage without unnecessary frills. They explored prefabricated options, but after careful research realised that a bricks-and-mortar structure would work far better, both budget-wise and to conform to Piers's strict rule of seaside construction: "If it rusts, it's not going in the house."
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THE STORY OF AN AFRICAN ICON
With a long line of very successful ancestors, the new-generation TOYOTA LAND CRUISER PRADO had some big tyres to fill. We look at the approach its design team took to CONTINUE THE LEGACY.
THROUGH THE LENS
We asked one of VISI's favourite photographers, PARIS BRUMMER, to choose her four FAVOURITE CAMERAS. The brief? \"From the fun to the profesh!\"
YOUR GARDEN DAY CROWN
Gardens have the power to unite us - which is why the GARDEN DAY movement encourages plant enthusiasts to don a flower crown and CELEBRATE THEIR GREEN SPACES in unique ways.
RETRO-LICIOUS
Mid-century is not just making an interior design comeback: food is following right behind. So put on your vintage 1950s LUCIENNE DAY-PRINT APRON - or '70s HALSTON JUMPSUIT if you're feeling a little funkier - and get inspired by ABIGAIL DONNELLY's reimagining of classic dishes. Think moulded jellies, finger foods and soft-serve ice cream.
FERMENTATION
When you hear about FERMENTED FOODS, your mind probably goes to pickles and beer. But thanks to a growing interest in Asian staples such as kimchi and miso, we're becoming more used to these flavour profiles, and even seeing them in fine-dining restaurants. We asked ABIGAIL DONNELLY to share her favourite recipes for fermented flavour bombs that you can replicate in your OWN KITCHEN.
THE CERAMICIST
IN AN ART DECO BLOCK IN THE HEART OF CAPE TOWN'S CITY CENTRE, RENOWNED CERAMICIST MERVYN GERS HAS RENOVATED AN APARTMENT TO REFLECT HIS OWN TASTES AND HIS LOVE FOR FIRED AND GLAZED CLAY.
SEAMLESS
SITUATED ON A PRIVATE GAME FARM NEAR RUSTENBURG, THIS BUSHVELD GETAWAY HAS ARISEN FROM THE ASHES OF ITS PREDECESSOR TO PROVIDE ITS JOBURG-BASED OWNERS WITH A TRANQUIL WEEKEND ESCAPE.
BUILDING AN ICON
Kevin Fellingham, principal architect at Kevin Fellingham Architects, and a former lecturer at Cambridge University, UCT and the School of Explorative Architecture, talks about HOUSE HANSON and DENSTONE COURT, built in 1937/38.
THE VANGUARD KELLY WEARSTLER
In this instalment of our series on the new wave of INTERNATIONAL DESIGNERS, we look at the super-talented Kelly Wearstler's DISTINCT STYLE and seemingly INFINITE CREATIVITY.
COOL COLLAB OF THE YEAR
In a partnership that highlights the strength and diversity of local talent, this collaboration by LULASCLAN and POPSTRUKT had an unplanned helping hand from VISI.
