29 QUEENS ROAD

Apartment Building, Sea Point, Cape Town

2020

No 29 Queens Road is a compact block of 16 micro apartments

The site was formerly a suburban single residential site, some 345 sqm in extent. The site faces onto Queens road, in a generally South West orientation.

The design proposes lifting the structure off the base level to allow for onsite parking, and stacking the micro units above, at 4 units per floor, arranged around a central lift and access stair way. 8 of the unit’s face North, looking toward Sea Point and Signal Hill. 8 of the unit’s look out over Bantry Bay, with side views of Lions Head and the Atlantic Ocean.

The first 3 levels consist of single micro units, (32 sqm), all accessed off a central landing. Each unit has an outdoor balcony, enough to place a table and chair on, a fitted kitchen, bed space alcove, and separate bathroom. The top 2 levels consist of double level units, (42 sqm), with open mezzanines. Sleeping space is upstairs, and entry, living, dining and balcony are downstairs. The plan configuration allows for joining 2 units into one larger one, between front and back facades.

The street elevation serves as a screen to the necessarily maximised inner footprint which underpins the market viability of the proposal. As such, the screen is continuous, covering the circulation access, units and balconies. The screens are both fixed and sliding. The screens are made of translucent sheeting attached to steel framing and provide flexible privacy from the street, while allowing South light into the apartments when closed. The north elevation rakes back in line with Town Planning setbacks. The openings are protected with projecting horizontal sun screens.

The street boundary wall consists of open breeze blocks, with adjacent planting. The breeze block wall and translucent screens propose a lighter materiality to the given ‘block shaped permissible envelope’ determined by the Town Planning regulations which place restrictions on form and design sensibility.