This Modern, but natural Family home is situated at 143 Ridge Road, La Lucia. The site was a Subdivided site with a Pan Handle Modern Residential home situated on the rear Sub-division of the site. The concept of the Design came about as a result of the narrow and long boundaries being orientated along the Long East-West Axis. This 4 Bedroom Family home needed to have lots of light, and a sense of scale due to the narrow street frontage. We were also limited by a viewing window imposed on the Property by the Residence at the rear. As the site was on the minimum allowable Sub-division site of 1000 sq.m, we needed to cleverly design the internal spaces so as to limit as much as possible the passage space in order to provide the largest usable space with the least possible transition spaces. The concept of turning the Layout through to face North and create a feature plunge pool along the strong axis through the covered patio, Bar and Fire pit gave rise to a Plan that allowed very little passage space.
The garages and entrance at the rear of the site gave rise to a large wrap around covered Patio facing East and wrapping around the feature plunge pool on the North side and getting sun most of the day. The open plan Ground floor layout comprises of Kitchen, Dining, Lounge and Bar,as well as a Guest Suite, opening out onto the Covered Patio. Sliding folding doors, almost full ceiling height, help bring in Natural light and allow the space to be naturally ventilated.
The First Floor comprises a Main en-suite, 2 Bedrooms, a shared 2nd Bathroom, TV Lounge and Study. A large Patio allows the Main Bedroom, TV Lounge and Study to also be opened up with large sliding folding doors for ventilation and Natural light.
The flat roof design allowed us to increase Floor to Ceiling heights and still stay within the limitation of the Viewing window imposed. The use of Horizontal Louvres helps to protect the internal spaces from the Harsh Durban Winter Sun. The Natural feature Cladding Stonework and Timber Cladded Steel “H” columns helps to give a the Modern house a Homely feeling.
