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."
This story is from the 132 edition of VISI.
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 132 edition of VISI.
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
ROOTS
LOCATED WITHIN THE EXTRAORDINARY LANDSCAPES OF THE SINCLAIR NATURE RESERVE, NOOISHOF IS A PLACE OF SOUL-STIRRING BEAUTY THE RESULT OF A LIFELONG LOVE AFFAIR WITH SOUTHERN NAMIBIA.
REMINISCENT
A CREATIVE COUPLE COMBINED IMAGINATION, SIMPLICITY AND A GOOD DOSE OF ENERGY TO TRANSFORM THIS FRENCH FARMHOUSE AND ITS OUTBUILDINGS INTO A HOME THAT REMINDS THEM OF CAPE TOWN.
SIMPLIFICATION
A SMART, SAVVY AND BUDGET-FRIENDLY RENOVATION HAS MADE THE VERY MOST OF THIS YOUNG FAMILY'S HOME IN CAPE TOWN. HERE, JAPANDI-STYLE SIMPLICITY REIGNS - AND THE INDOOR-OUTDOOR LIVING IS EASY.
UP
SITUATED IN A GROVE OF INDIGENOUS MILKWOODS OVERLOOKING AN EXPANSIVE BEACH, THIS CONTEMPORARY TREEHOUSE EMBRACES THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ECO-CONSCIOUS ARCHITECTURE.
CLARITY
ON THE SHORES OF WALKER BAY IN THE WESTERN CAPE, A CONTEMPORARY HOME CREATED BY A PAIR OF GRAPHIC DESIGNERS COMBINES CLEAN-CUT ARCHITECTURAL LINES WITH FRESH INTERIORS.
GEM
DESIGNED AND PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY ONE OF THE GIANTS OF AMERICAN MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE, ARTHUR WITTHOEFFT, THIS UPSTATE NEW YORK HOUSE BUILT IN 1957 HAS BEEN SYMPATHETICALLY RESTORED BY ITS CURRENT OWNERS.
POTENTIAL
A CREATIVE, HANDS-ON COUPLE TRANSFORMED AN ORDINARY HOUSE INTO AN ENCHANTED WONDERLAND OF INTERCONNECTED SPACES WITH INSPIRED DESIGN COMBINATIONS AND EASY-GOING GLAMOUR.
LARGER THAN LIFE
Four South African MURAL ARTISTS are transforming the local URBAN LANDSCAPE, one attention-grabbing wall at a time.
IN STUDIO WITH ZYDIA BOTES
For the powerhouse behind SOMETHING GOOD STUDIO and ROMARIA KNITWEAR, it's all about collaborative design, making connections and a calm, happy workspace.
ANATOMY OF A CHAIR
Founders of local furniture brand PEDERSEN LENNARD, Luke Pedersen and James Lennard, talk us through the inspiration and design process behind their new TULBAGH CHAIR.
