Location: Cape St Francis, South Africa

The site is located at the edge of a nature reserve on the Wildside at Seal Point in Cape St Francis.

The design of the house takes it’s cues from the untamed rugged beauty of the surrounding landscape, the tumultuous weather and ocean winds, and the iconic lighthouse and its utility buildings that have withstood the test of time in these unforgiving conditions for almost 150 years.

Here the environment demanded an especially pragmatic approach in order to build a comfortable and robust home. The result is unapologetically simple structures that nurture wind sheltered outside spaces, and cozy north facing rooms with views across the vast wilderness reserve. 

The main house is rotated on its rectangular site so that its long edge faces exactly north. This long north facing edge of the house is where most of glass is placed in order for the house to absorb as much low winter sun as possible. At the same time these large glass sliding doors take advantage of splendid views across the adjacent nature reserve.

The rotation of the house also turns the front door to face the street, and locates it as close as possible to the road boundary. This was a deliberate neighbourly gesture in what is an especially quaint neighbourhood. Many of the houses here don’t have fences or gates, and the local store and coffee shop is just short walk away. 

In the summer months the expanses of north facing glass are shaded by overhangs above. These overhangs are the exact width for this location at 34.2 degrees south, ensuring that low winter sun comes into the house, and high summer sun stays out.