House Invermark, Cape Town Residential Restoration, South African Architecture Photos
House Invermark in Cape Town
Real Estate Rescue and Redevelopment in South Africa – design by SAOTA Architects
8 Nov 2017
House Invermark
Design: SAOTA – Stefan Antoni and Leah Johnson
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
House Invermark Awarded 2017 CIFA Commendation
photo : Stefan Antoni
Located in the leafy suburb of Higgovale, set below the iconic Table Mountain, House Invermark overlooks the city and harbour of Cape Town. Forty seven years after receiving a medal for excellence, House Invermark has been awarded a prestigious Commendation from the Cape Institute for Architecture (CIfA), in recognition of noteworthy contributions to architecture.
photos : Adam Letch
Designed originally for himself by respected South African architect Gilbert Colyn in 1969, it was inspired by two iconic modernist houses, namely that of Phillip Johnson’s 1949 Glass House and Mies van der Rohe’s 1951 Farnsworth House. The house was purchased by architect Stefan Antoni, director at SAOTA, in 2013.
By this stage it had reached a poor state of disrepair and featured numerous inappropriate alterations and additions totally out of character with the language of the building. Had it not been for Antoni’s intervention, it might have faced demolition as its heritage status as being a fine example of contemporary architecture was not recognised.
photos : Stefan Antoni
SAOTA’s careful and sensitive alterations and additions have returned the threatened building back to its original state, enhanced its overall composition and significantly refined the living experience to bring it up to date with contemporary living. In the living area, kitchen, main bedroom and bathrooms, structure and screens were removed to facilitate improved flows associated with contemporary living.
photos : Adam Letch
Changes were also effected to the exterior spatial configuration involving the relocation of the swimming pool from the darker mountain side to the sunny street sea view side, providing much needed privacy from the street. This freed the courtyard to become a family garden planted with lawn and a row of Elderflower (Sambucus Nigra) trees running along a new linear water feature.
The street interface was also substantially redesigned. These changes have served to significantly augment the experience of the house relative to the landscape. It is noteworthy that when Colyn viewed the house after its completion, he was suitably impressed.
photos : Adam Letch
House Invermark, Cape Town – Building Information
Project Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Architects & Interior Architects: Gilbert Colyn (1969) and SAOTA
Project Architects: Stefan Antoni and Leah Johnson
Quantity Surveyor: SBDS
Consulting Engineers: Moroffe & Kühne
Main Contractor: Mansfield Construction
Interior Design: ARRCC and Home Owner
Landscaping: Nicholas Whitehorn
Project Photographers: Adam Letch and Stefan Antoni
photos : Adam Letch
House Invermark in Cape Town images / information received from SAOTA Architects
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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