Some times i am surprised

Sometimes i am very surprised at the things i find in South Africa. I came across this house in Cape Town on the Cool Hunter. This House, designed by Antonio Zaninovic received an ASLA Honor Award for Residential Design in 2010.

 This is a residence that is based at the base of Table Mountain. One would think that due to it's geometric nature, it would stand out from it's surroundings, surprisingly it blends in, it doesn't impose on it's surrounding landscape.

This residence exudes classical elegance with Japanese lightness, scale and precision, very much like Mies Van Der Rohe, the above image reminds me of Mies' Barcelona pavillion with the use of luxurious materials. The proportions and divisions of the walls and the windows create a sense of openness but not one of exposure. the windows of similar to those of Le Corbusiers in Villa Savoye, "picture windows" windows that are almost a frame for the surrounding landscape, forming "artworks" on the walls.

The Interior and exterior merge together and flow smoothly from one into the other, this adds to the fact that the structure belongs and fits in with the site.

The Interior was designed by Lucien Rees from New York City based company Rees Roberts and Partners .

 

Most buildings that are constructed these days have been designed with sustainability in mind. In this house both the building and site consider sustainable solutions, which include a self-cleaning outdoor pool, natural ventilation, the use of heat-repelling glass as well as the maximal use of local materials such as poured concrtete and balau wood.