Courtyard House, Hermanus

Modern family residence: spacious exterior with elegant design, minimalist architectural details, and panoramic sea views, creating a tranquil ambiance in a modern beachfront retreat

Description

The house is sited one row back from the water’s edge in seaside resort near Hermanus. The clients originally requested a house in the local vernacular with the style of a pitched roof beach cottage with a private core. The challenge was to maximize sea views to the south while orientating the court to the north and maintaining privacy.

A thorough analysis of the site led us to counter propose a stepped courtyard building with a green roof that required a more contemporary approach. The client liked the new idea and after considering budgets we got the go ahead. The new house concept steps up the site and wraps around a wind protected North West facing pool court. 

The garages, cellar and guest flat at the base level are stone clad and locate the main entrance. From here one ascends the main stair to the central landing, which opens onto the pool court flanked by the main open plan living room and the bedrooms. The landing has a screened TV lounge on the bedroom side.

The main open plan living area opens fully down both sides. Sliding doors stack to open to the internal pool courtyard on the north and an open terrace on the south with elevated sea views for whale spotting. This live-through open plan arrangement allows the house to respond to both the sun and the views and the changing seasonal winds.

Likewise, the bedrooms at courtyard level, open onto a private sunny garden on the north side and the pool court to the south. The braai terrace located beyond the bedrooms in the North West corner, opens on all three sides – to the sun, pool court and sea views. Hardwood slatted louver screens secure the terrace and slide into position to break the wind and screen the hot sun.

The main bedroom on the floor above is styled as its own apartment with terraces to the west and south. It has sweeping sea views over an established Fyn-bos garden which is the green roof over the living room.

The planted roof and surrounding water wise gardens were landscaped by Riaan Maritz, of the Garden Company and rainwater storage tanks are placed below the driveway, to meet the modest demands of the indigenous garden.

The clients were fantastic in their support of the design and construction process and worked as an integral part of the professional team. The entire house build was excellent, on time and on budget.

Contractors

Contractor – Owen Thorpe Construction 
Landscaper – Riaan Maritz, The Garden company

Modern family kitchen: spacious interior with elegant design, minimalist architectural details, and panoramic sea views, creating a tranquil ambiance in a modern beachfront retreat
Modern family residence: spacious exterior with elegant design, minimalist architectural details, and panoramic sea views, creating a tranquil ambiance in a modern beachfront retreat

Description

Contractors

Contractor – Owen Thorpe Construction 
Landscaper – Riaan Maritz, The Garden company

The house is sited one row back from the water’s edge in seaside resort near Hermanus. The clients originally requested a house in the local vernacular with the style of a pitched roof beach cottage with a private core. The challenge was to maximize sea views to the south while orientating the court to the north and maintaining privacy.

A thorough analysis of the site led us to counter propose a stepped courtyard building with a green roof that required a more contemporary approach. The client liked the new idea and after considering budgets we got the go ahead. The new house concept steps up the site and wraps around a wind protected North West facing pool court. 

Modern family kitchen: spacious interior with elegant design, minimalist architectural details, and panoramic sea views, creating a tranquil ambiance in a modern beachfront retreat

The garages, cellar and guest flat at the base level are stone clad and locate the main entrance. From here one ascends the main stair to the central landing, which opens onto the pool court flanked by the main open plan living room and the bedrooms. The landing has a screened TV lounge on the bedroom side.

The main open plan living area opens fully down both sides. Sliding doors stack to open to the internal pool courtyard on the north and an open terrace on the south with elevated sea views for whale spotting. This live-through open plan arrangement allows the house to respond to both the sun and the views and the changing seasonal winds.

Modern family residence: spacious exterior with elegant design, minimalist architectural details, and panoramic sea views, creating a tranquil ambiance in a modern beachfront retreat

Likewise, the bedrooms at courtyard level, open onto a private sunny garden on the north side and the pool court to the south. The braai terrace located beyond the bedrooms in the North West corner, opens on all three sides – to the sun, pool court and sea views. Hardwood slatted louver screens secure the terrace and slide into position to break the wind and screen the hot sun.

The main bedroom on the floor above is styled as its own apartment with terraces to the west and south. It has sweeping sea views over an established Fyn-bos garden which is the green roof over the living room.

The planted roof and surrounding water wise gardens were landscaped by Riaan Maritz, of the Garden Company and rainwater storage tanks are placed below the driveway, to meet the modest demands of the indigenous garden.

The clients were fantastic in their support of the design and construction process and worked as an integral part of the professional team. The entire house build was excellent, on time and on budget.