Winner:
TIDA International Home of the Year
SAOTA – Cape Town
With views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, the city of Cape Town and the mountains of the Boland and the winelands in the distance, the architecture of this home is shaped to take in as much of the surrounding landscape as possible.
The strongest gesture is the inverted pyramid roof which creates a clerestory window around the upper level.
This allows the building to open up, capturing views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head that would otherwise have been lost.
Each level has its own set of courtyards and gardens which extend from the mountain surface down against the house, screening the neighbouring buildings and intensifying the relationship with nature.
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Judges' comments:
A gem of a house – both spatially & functionally.
The simple plan with few walls makes for an open yet intimate series of spaces that are always in connection with the gardens and long views.
An enticing entrance sequence of spaces together with the glass lantern roof hold the promise a rewarding experience if explored further - and this is certainly fulfilled when this exploration is undertaken.
The use of the primary materials of timber, stone, concrete and painted brick creates a compact house that breaks down the barrier of inside/outside on this difficult but amazing site.
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