Hermanus Beach House, South African Property Design, Voelklip Home Photos

Voelklip Beach House, South Africa : Hermanus Property

South African Beach Residence design by SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects

2 Apr 2012

Voelklip House

Location: Hermanus, South Africa

Design: SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects

South African Beach House

‘We have bought a vacant site in Voelklip, Hermanus. We are a family of four. Design a beach house, different from the house you have just completed for us. Three Bedrooms and a Guest Cottage are required’.

The site is a rectangular sub-division stretching between 10th and 11th Streets in Voelklip with both sea and mountain views.

photos : SAOTA & Adam Letch

The sloping site facilitated planning of the split-level living space allowing the lounge, dining and all bedrooms to have sea views. Fairly restrictive Title Deed and Planning conditions also contributed to the nature of the building.

The form of the house and detailing is purely functional. The linear nature of the site resulted in a covered walkway stretching from the entrance portico through to views of the beaches. The roofs are flat cantilever slabs allowing the first and ground floor levels to be raised to the maximum permissible height.

The lower ground floor accommodates the main bedroom with internal glazed sliding doors allowing a feeling of open-plan flow and plenty of light into the main bedroom from the living room and kitchen areas. The sea-facing façade of all 3 bedrooms is glazed from side to side and fitted with Balau timber sliding shutters for privacy and security. The rest of the floor accommodates a staff/guest bedroom, a games room and store room.

The first floor lounge and dining room have large panel glazed sliders which open onto the sea-facing balcony. The lounge, dining area and terrace also have views through the house and up to the mountain through clerestory windows.

The living room and kitchen open up completely onto the patio, pool and deck. The indoor/outdoor braai room overlooks the rim-flow pool and opens onto an intimate courtyard and waterfeature with stepping stones.

The garage has a glazed sectional overhead door facing the courtyard which allows views into the courtyard over the pool towards the house as one drives into the garage. The main garden courtyard functions as an outdoor entertainment room. A line of newly-planted trees forms a screen enclosing this space. The guest cottage comprises two bedrooms sharing a bathroom, a kitchenette, courtyard and living room opening onto a private terrace and garden.

Floors are white cement screed from the beginning of the entrance walkway through to the passageway leading to the sea side garden. External decks, shutters, cladding, screens and pergolas are Balau timber which will weather to a silver-grey patina. The lower ground floor bedrooms have broad width lime-washed Oak timber floors. The steps and ledge at the split-level are clad in solid lime-washed Oak and lead up to the lounge and dining area which also have timber floors.

Walls are all plastered and painted the same colour. White sandstone dry-pack cladding is used on the sea side boundary wall. Ceilings are all off-shutter concrete and frameless glass balustrades with brushed stainless steel handrails add a slick contrast to the dominant materials.

Internal doors extending from floor to ceiling are satin finished dark walnut stained African Mahogany. Joinery is high gloss white lacquer with sandblasted glass splash backs and mirrors. Mosaics are used throughout the bathrooms; black glass in the smaller bathrooms and shades of white and clear glass in the other bathrooms. The pool has a dramatic reflective quality with black mosaic tiling to the rim-flow and spillway and the water level. Stainless steel and Balau timber pergola’s and screens are used extensively.

photos : SAOTA & Adam Letch

Voelklip Beach House Hermanus – Building Information

Project Name: Voelklip
Location: Voelklip, Hermanus, South Africa
Architects: SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects
Interior Design: ANTONI ASSOCIATES
Project Team: Mark Rielly & Ashleigh Gilmour
Completion Date: 2009

Photographs: SAOTA & Adam Letch

Voelklip Beach House images / information from SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects

SAOTA Architects

Location: Voelklip, Hermanus, South Africa

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