C L I F T O N   B E A C H  H O U S E 2

Residence - 3 and a half Clifton beach, Cape Town

2007

 

The bungalow is situated on “3rd and a half beach” – along the idyllic coves that form Cape Town’s world-renowned Clifton.

 

Clifton is a protected area where strict heritage guidelines apply. The sites are small and difficult to access (some 200 steps in this case, back to Victoria Road) and, whilst set in a dream like setting, the conditions are harsh – cold and wet in winter, dry and hot in summer – and at the very edge of the ocean.

 

The bungalow contains 3 en-suite bedrooms and a ‘cabin room’, lounge, dining and kitchen, a first floor terrace. A separate erf, across a public footpath, contains a pool in a landscaped setting around an old existing palm tree. The area of the site measures 180m² for the bungalow and 79m² for the pool.

 

Prescribed guidelines dictate the external envelope or form of the building, in this case all clad in Siberian Larch wood. Primary openings are screened by semi see-through shutters of Larch slats, the terrace is similarly screened with Larch battens and sheet glass, supported on a slender steel frame.

 

The interior planning maximises the constrained space available, through the incorporation of joinery and storage space in the layout, whilst also focusing the interior towards the spectacular views. Leads for the interiors, formed mostly by the joinery, were taken from maritime pleasure craft design and technology.

 

Interior surfaces consist of highly polished cherry wood, with inlaid stainless steel beading. Floors and vanities consist of largest format stone slabs. The bungalow is wired for full electronic automation and integration of all appliances, sun screens, music systems­­ etc.

 

The design of the bungalow supports the intent of the heritage regulations and the evolution of this unique built environment.