Carlswald Boulevard

The developers of Carlswald North Estate made stands on the Boulevard available to young architects to express the design guidelines of the estate ie. the use of natural materials and original form and space in order to bring the concept across to new stand owners. The two dwellings on one stand differed in layout but were uniform in design.

Kruin Street, House van Zyl

(Perspectives by Claire McCusker)

The original house is a two storey, sixties house with glass, steel and stone. The owners want to add another storey to make maximum use of the spectacular view over Pretoria. The original design was taken into acccount when the addition was planned and the structural work was considered carefully since the house is on a steep slope. Construction to commence in 2009.

Agulhas Lighthouse Precinct

(Drawings by Heleen du Toit and Claire McCusker)

SAN Parks architectural competition required a concept design of the new focal point for the southernmost point in Africa. A familiar, uncomplicated architectural language was employed. The local vernacular of fisherman’s cottage and Cape Dutch farmstead was used as precedent to ensure that the focus of the visitor remains on the lighthouse and landscape throughout the experience. The architecture will provide and facilitate an experience, rather than something to be seen or looked at. The architecture is of a horizontal form to emphasise the vertical line of the lighthouse. Buildings grow from the landscape as to not take attention from lighthouse.

Nicholson Street, Pretoria

(3D's by Claire McCusker)

The old Brooklyn house was enlarged and the original outbuildings became part of the residence (Photos by Heleen du Toit).

House Pretorius, Orion Street, Pretoria

(3D's by Claire McCusker)

The existing Harveytile roof and first floor will be removed and replaced with a corrugated iron roof to restore the house to its the original design. The sun room will be replace with a more formal lounge with open trusses and high windows for light yet privacy. Construction will be completed in early 2009.

House Paul, Carlswald North

The client wanted a Maroccan look with a roof garden to make optimum use of the view. The erf is situated on the Highveld, however and a flat roof is not necessarily the best for the climate. Therefore the house was designed to adapt to the local climate. Withouth a roof overhang to shade the windows, the openings on the north façade were reset and concrete projecting lintels were used to protect the house from the sun in summer, but sun is let in through the ample window area in winter. The house is orientated to true north and the footprint follows the triangular site boundary on the south, resulting in mutually shading blocks which allow for maximum garden with swimming pool on the north.

New office for Avis Menlyn

The residential scale of the new car rental was a requirement of the Menlo Park Conservation Community in order for the new building to fit in with surrounding residences in the area. The existing garage was converted into the Avis kiosk and the car wash, boardroom and driver's facilities were built where the previous residence stood.

Addition to house in Somerset West

The roof of the existing house will be removed and a second storey will be added to the footprint, to make the most of the view and to bring in more northern sunlight through clerestorey windows. The double volume will add to the feeling of space lacking in the existing house. Projecty to be completed in 2009.

Menlo Park Group Housing

Interior

Winter's day

Summer's day

(Models by Alet Verster)

This group housing scheme consists of four different houses that each respond differently to site, orientation and planning principles. The houses were to be constructed with face brick and IBR-roofs to reflect typical Menlo Park architecture of the mid 20th century, but with a contemporary feel, open spaces and luxurious finishes. The houses are context sensitive, were designed according to passive thermal criteria and react to the climate as indicated in the diagram showing flow of air throught the building, which is different for a summer's day, summer's night, winter's day and winter's night.

House Naudé

Adding another storey on top of an existing garage was a structural challenge because the foundations had to be underpinned. Open trusses were used and the extension complements the street facade of the existing house.