Salt Rock, South Africa
The Grey House
Designed on three levels, this bold beach house is inspired by the Palm Beach homes of Paul Rudolph, and the symmetrical and interwoven "nine square" circulation patterns preferred by Andrea Palladio in his villas such as the Villa Rotunda, which was designed for spectacle and command over the landscape, as much as everyday living.
Referencing the fashionable Cape Cod construction idiom that is in vogue in the area, but proportioned in a more brutal style, the building is arranged in a symmetrical manner in order to emphasise its command over nature and indeed its resistance to the hostile marine climate of the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.
The deep verandahs ameliorate the harsh sunlight and heat, without the need for excessive air conditioning. Retractable timber screens shelter from the prevailing winds when needed.
The arrival court is a welcoming and sheltered space regardless of either prevailing wind
Coral trees flank the main entrance with the kitchen creating a privacy foil to the house proper
Large volumes and generous spaces epitomise the grand and informal hospitality of this gregarious couple, and the well-appointed double-volume kitchen is truly as the centre of the home!
The double-fronted island bench presents a wine cooler to the central verandah for convenience
The formality of the home extends into the landscape. Connected by a gigantic floating staircase, the swimming pool appears as if it has been carved from the central volume of the house and carefully placed in the centre of the lawn.
Architects - soundspacedesign
Project Managers - soundspacedesign
Interior Design & Decoration - Mario Rodrigues
Photography - David Southwood
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