This Kwazulunatal Home References Both Its Urban Setting And The Owners’ Love Of The Bush.
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.’
This story is from the April 2017 edition of House and Leisure.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2017 edition of House and Leisure.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
At The Breakfast Table With Jonty Rhodes And Family
Recently renovated, the historic Cape Town home of Jonty and Melanie Rhodes is an adaptable base for an active, clean-eating clan of six
LUNCH IN THE GARDEN with siblings Bronwyn and Jonathan Cane
Alfresco gatherings are the order of the day at this updated century-old semi – the home of a design-centric sister and brother in Brixton, Joburg
IN THE KITCHEN with Karen Dudley and family
For Karen Dudley, food informs the family dynamic and her home is as multilayered and as delicious a delight as her colourful personality and cooking style
THE TRADITIONAL KITCHEN
The perfect piece to pull together a country-style kitchen is a beautiful wooden table that will age with time and hold its place in the memories made around it.
IN THE FRAME
'The history of architecture is the history of the struggle for light.’
DRINKS AT THE TABLE with David Cope and Donné Bullivant
A dream kitchen renovation meant wine lovers Dave Cope and Donné Bullivant could finally settle down in their wondrously moody City Bowl apartment
THE MODULAR KITCHEN
DECOR TIP Modular elements like these USM Haller systems are a great way to create interesting, non-permanent storage that can be customised to your needs.
SUPPER IN THE BARN with the Thatenhorst family
Munich-based interior designer Stephanie Thatenhorst transformed the barn at her parents’ farm in Bavaria into an eclectic family retreat
BREAKING BREAD
The pendulum has swung back for this nutritious, crusty staple of flour, yeast, water and time – the much-beloved artisanal loaf
SNACKS ON THE TERRACE with sisters Vicky Crease and Maira Koutsoudakis
The traditional Cycladic home of dynamic sisters Vicky Crease and Maira Koutsoudakis on the island of Serifos is a reminder of what it means to be a part of a close-knit family
