Rosie (Roseline Diamond), our domestic worker, soon revealed that she is capable of much more than organising our house.  Another reason was that we wanted Rosie (who was living with her parents and six children in a two bedroom flat) to have a place of her own.

The day we saw the property at 35 North Rhodes Avenue in Die Boord, Stellenbosch, we knew the time for renovation had started…

Today, Rosie, her beautiful daughter Samantha (who is completely deaf) and Samantha’s fiancé (also deaf) are all part of the wonderful team we have at Baruch’s Guest House.  Both Samantha and Samuel have permanent positions at the Guest House.

During the renovations, Pretty (a Xhosa woman) came walking past the Guest House.  I started talking to her and heard that she is without work at the moment due to the fact that she had to look after her husband who was completely bedridden and later passed away.  Only after Pretty started as a permanent employee did she tell me about the dream she had the night before she came to Stellenbosch for the first time.  She dreamt that she needs to go and seek work at a place where she will see the “Tall Trees.”  There is a park right next to Baruch with tall trees!  After a year I asked Pretty to phone her sister in the Eastern Cape to come and join our team.

Baruch is the Hebrew word for “blessing” and I can honestly say that Baruch has been living up to her name!  We serve guests from all around the globe and have the wonderful opportunity to get to know them on a personal level.

The style with its slender, pitched-roof, rectangular core building and flat roofed abutments in predominantly white walls, small windows and door openings are suitable to this hot dry area.  The simplicity of the architecture has a romantic charm to it, which is further enhanced by the large fireplace abutments to the buildings and resultant internal large open fireplace referred to as an “Es” which is conducive to a family gathering, and living in farm-style kitchen spaces.

Developer: Miami Village
Architects:  Chris de Hart Architects
Structural Engineer:  Jannie du Toit
Contractor:  West Coast Civils

It is developed as 8 typical double storey town houses in the classical old Cape Batavian Architecture with a colourful narrow European style cobbled road and individuality created by the juxtaposition of different size windows and doors with the façades forming a back drop to the human scale pedestrian road.

All the units are essentially lock-up-and-go with small garden spaces, all orientated north to capture maximum sunlight and heat.

Developer and Contractor: JJ Dempers Pty Ltd Building Contractors
Architects: Chris de Hart Architects
Structural Engineer: Nortje and De Villiers

The race track is famous not only as the home of the horse named York, who was the 1904 Met winner, but equally his illustrious owner, Billy Anderson, who had the distinction of being the first double Springbok sportsman in rugby and cricket, as well as the likes of Karel de Baan who it is said could outrun a Bontebok.

A century later Chris de Hart Architects from Stellenbosch in the Western Cape South Africa were appointed for the design of 45 single-residential and six apartment units.

Appropriately, the “De Oude Arena”-Village housing estate honors the rich history of the site and the vernacular architecture and imagery of Bredasdorp and the similar rural language of the Western Cape with it’s reference to romantic building materials and forms.

The character of the old farm and racetrack was maintained in the architecture of all the structures. The Apartment building resembles old stables with the traditional grain-silos, dormered windows as well as farm type doors, all of which were cleverly worked into the planning of the apartments.

Care was taken to give every house its own individual character within a cultural, historical and architectural reference. By using different textures, wall finishes and paint colours different design elements were accentuated. The most prominent of these are the various chimneys and “bakoond motive” elements forming a very distinctive streetscape.

A Museum/Office building for the display of memorabilia representative of the old racetrack and town folk, forms the focal entrance to De Oude Arena. From here the Silo-culture of the Cape Agulhas is prevalent in the streetscapes with traditional local stone ‘leivore’ channeling water to a central Village Green ‘drinkbak’ water-feature. Lush, tree-planted, cobbled streets and textured articulated building and boundary walls, combined with the vernacular architecture lend an old town-like character to this quaint village

The present house options vary in size. They range from 114m² to 163m² single and double storey houses. Duplex apartment stable-blocks of 71m² to 88m² also form part of the village layout. In order to cater for the demand of the elderly, the future stable block apartment building will be constructed as a single story structure with two bedroom units, but still forming part of the stable block style of approx 80 m², two bedroom units.

An additional building option now allows for a two bedroom starter house of 85m² which includes a single garage and culminating in a three bedroom house of 120m² with a  double garage with different architectural treatment to fit into the present “De Oude Arena” village architecture.

Externally, farm-style chimneys and silos jut out from the main structures in a joyous and almost playful manner lending an element of excitement to the units. Internally the different volumes and traditional “bakoond” fireplaces with spaces opening into usable courtyards, relives the old farmhouse living. The interior materials have been chosen to provide a luxurious durable quality suggestive of rural living.

The buildings have been placed in such a way as to maximize erf utilization and to provide privacy from neighbouring units.

‘De Oude Arena” captures the romance of living within the Bredasdorp rural-architectural and ambiance.

Developer: Sarnia Property Development (Pty) Ltd
Architects: Chris de Hart Architects
Town Planners and Land Surveyor: RAP Land Surveyors
Structural Engineers: MH&A Consulting Engineers

Johan Venter’s brandy tank home in Montagu, Western Cape

Old Mother Hubbard lived in a shoe but, for many South African males, the thought of living in a brandy tank is far more alluring!  But that’s what Johan Venter has achieved.

The old KWV property in in the centre of Montagu was sold to Jannie le Roux and the property, comprising the brandy tank, boiler house, wine cellar and offices, was subdivided.   The offices were converted into a house, the brandy tank into a cold room  for fresh fruit and new houses built on vacant space.

When Jannie retired and left the town, the tank stood empty but Johan Venter — an electrician who had moved to Montagu from Welkom in the Free Sate — bought the house and workshops.  The properties opposite the derelict tank were not selling and Jannie toyed with the idea of turning it into a house after options for demolition and relocation were explored.

In the end, Johan bought the tank for “a good price” in 2009 and took up the challenge of seeing Jannie’s dream come true… a home in a brandy tank.  Plans were approved by the municipality in September 2010 and Johan started work with his own labour — he owns an electrical contracting company in the town.

The tank’s previous use as a cold room was a big advantage — it had been completely lined with cold-room panels (which would have cost around R150,000).  These had sufficient load-bearing capability to carry the flooring beams for the first floor — which occupies half the floor area while the other half over the living area is double volume.  The first floor was originally planned to accommodate two bedrooms and two bathrooms, but now just has one vast bedroom and a bathroom.

Guest bedroom, living, dining and kitchen areas on ground floor with one vast bedroom above.

An entrance lobby was added to the front of the tank and a scullery area to the back, above which sits the main bathroom at first floor level.  The ground floor below the first floor was divided into a guest bedroom and bathroom, and the kitchen.  The other double volume half accommodates the living and dining areas.

An entrance lobby was added to the front. The roof over the tank was part of the original structure, to keep the brandy cool. There was also an irrigation system around the top circumference.

It was not an easy job!  Everything had to be custom made and every part of the job was a challenge.  Not the least was cutting through the 6mm steel plate for the windows and doors, and installing these.  It was labour-intensive!

But after two years of part-time work, from the deck alongside the first-floor main bedroom, the view is priceless!

View from first floor deck

The original layout of Stanford dates to 1857 when the Kleinrivier Valley Farm was subdivided. This layout was typical of rural villages: a simple grid with large erven and a central public square. This simple layout still stands today and this set of guidelines has been compiled to assist owners and developers to become aware of the unique streetscape and architecture which has made Stanford the sought after rural village it is today.

The Core Conservation Area A & B (map at bottom of page) encourages the preservation and maintenance of the historical features of Stanford and guides all developments in this area. It encourages alterations and modifications of existing unsightly buildings to harmonize with the Cape Village atmosphere.

Stanford’s architectural styles from 1785 to the 1930′s:

CONSERVATION AREA A

Stanford’s unique street architecture
has the following features:

• Open stoeps (parallel to the street)
• Diamond windows at the sides
• Vertical sash windows
• Imposing front doors onto the streets
• Victorian profile iron or fibre cement roofs
• Roof pitches not less than 30 degrees unless flat
• Gables of various types
• Attic doors or windows in the gable
• Low street walls…
  

Do’s when renovating or building in the historic core area

• Do try to make sure that your building is not out of scale with its surroundings.
• Do try to relate your building to the street in a similar way to surrounding buildings.
• Do incorporate the elements of Stanford’s street architecture in your design.

Don’t's when renovating/building in the historic area

• Don’t build in or enclose your existing stoep on the street.
• Don’t fake reconstructions ie. Cape Dutch which competes with and devalues genuine buildings.
• Don’t use fake thatching, cement roof tiles, large profile fibre cement roof sheets or IBR.
• Don’t use modern horizontal windows or aluminium or steel doors that are visible to the street.
• Don’t use horizontal roof windows.
• Don’t use unplastered concrete or facebrick of any kind.
• Don’t remove good trees or hedges without a very good reason.
• Don’t build high walls on the street

AREA B (Outer Core Conservation Area)
Any buildings which are over 60 years old have to be dealt with as if they are in the Core Conservations Area A or B, otherwise the general building regulations apply.
Special considerations are:

• Sensitivity to the river frontage.
• Height restriction.

AREA C
Special considerations are:

• Sensitivity to the river frontage.
• No double stories. Only attic rooms if these are not more than 50% of the ground floor area.
• Cape Victorian or Cape Dutch style (as stipulated in relevant title deeds).
• No vibracrete walls.

AREAS E & F
General building regulations apply.
It is suggested that the general architecture and rural elements of the Stanford style is respected.

Contemporary Architecture in Stanford
There is no single approach to conservation!
Therefore conservation does not imply opposition to development and change. Selective overlaying of ideas and building types of different historical periods has made urban environments far richer than could have been the case if everything had always been conserved and if the new had simply blindly followed the patterns of the old.
Contemporary designs for infill buildings in historical areas are not undesirable provided that they are sympathetically executed.

Boundary walls
Like stoeps, boundary walls and security fences are an important part of the way your house presents itself to the world.
These should not exceed 1.2m on the street boundary and 2m side and rear boundary unless a special waiver is obtained.
If, however, for aesthetic or security reasons you need a higher wall, it should be designed with a doorway in such a way as to harmonise with the streetscape and perhaps set back from the building line.

Minor works building plans must be submitted for any street boundary walls or security fence.

Rules and regulations:
All proposals for alterations to any building or for the erection of new buildings within or without the Core and Greater Conservation areas must be submitted to the Overstrand Municipality of Stanford for approval by the Stanford Aesthetics Committee.
Preliminary sketches can be submitted for their comments and suggestions prior to being drawn up.For more information please see the following available at Stanford Admin.

• Zoning scheme Regulations Annexe A
• Concept Structure Plan for Stanford Policy Document 1998
  Available from Stanford Municipality
  Tel: 028 341 0640

Architects: Peter Rich Architects
Awards: Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction, Acknowledgement Prize, 2008, Africa/Middle East; Short listed for David Alsop Sustainability Award, Institute of Structural Engineers – Structural Awards 2009; Winner of the World Building of the Year award at the World Architecture Festival held in Barcelona in November 2009.

Related content: Mapungubwe, South Africa’s first kingdom

The Mapungubwe National Park celebrates the site of an ancient trading civilization in the context of a natural setting. The complex landscape was both the inspiration for the design and the source of the materials for the construction of the new Interpretation Centre, resulting in a composition of structures that are authentically rooted to their location. The building is visually contained by two hollow cairns that evoke route-markers found in Southern African cultures. Timbrel vaulting is used to construct billowing forms that expose the arched edges of their thin shells, an analogy of the archaeological revelation of past cultures.

The project’s agenda extends beyond the presentation of the area’s history to awaken an understanding of the vulnerability of the local ecology. These objectives are manifested in the construction process of the Centre in which unemployed local people were trained in the manufacture of stabilized earth tiles and in building the vaulting.

Report from World Architecture Festival 2009: “Designed to house artefacts from the region´s prehistory, the building connects intimately with an extraordinary veldt site in northern South Africa near the border with Zimbabwe. The jury admired the way in which the architecture responded to vernacular African types, synthesising forms, materials and light in a nuanced but unsentimental way to make what is still an indisputably contemporary building of immense resonance and richness. It also underpinned by a strong social programme, using the skills and labour of local people and involving them in the design and construction process. Engaging with tradition and modernity, place and people, it offers a different view of architecture as a subversive and poetic force for transformation.”

Mapungubwe Day Visitors Centre

Located 800 meters north of the Mapungubwe Interpretation centre this is a Place where local chieftains can meet and engage in ritual practice and celebrate their ancestry with their collective constituencies.

Sited on a plateau above a natural amphitheatre meeting and dining facilities for 30 chiefs enjoy wonderful views towards Zimbabwe. Simple linear and L shaped structures enclose a courtyard containing a circular meeting hut and veranda. A simple timber and latte shaded structure ‘Kgotla’ defines the edge of the plateau and functions as a gallery and dining space, elevating the chiefs above the masses. Under the latte canopy sits a roofless sky room, with seating where conversations are held with the ancestors.

L shaped ablution blocks catering for the staff and the public face North, defining a linear stepped street down the hill to the amphitheatre.

Direct community consultation was prohibited to avoid contentious issues with land claims from 17 contesting communities. The architect drew on his extensive knowledge of African vernacular and space making to create poetic spaces, defined by simple rhythms and animated by dancing shadows with the most economic of means.

Cape Town Stadium on the Green Point Common was the catalyst to transform what had become a dysfunctional public open space into a vibrant public amenity and destination point for the people of the Cape Metropole.

Additional photographs & plans will still be added.

Location: Green Point Common, Cape Town

Client: City of Cape Town
Landscape Architects: OvP Associates
Engineers:
Quantity Surveyor:
Project cost/budget

Reconstruction of the Green Point Common
Throughout Cape Town’s recorded history of over 350 years, Green Point Common has always played an important role. Diverse uses have ranged from the grazing of livestock, the staging of sailing regattas in the shallow seasonal vlei (filled-in during the 1800s), to housing the British prisoner-of-war camp during the Anglo Boer War.

Green Point Common was always a place for rambling and outings taken by Table Valley residents and became the site of the very first horse races held in the Cape in 1795.

Other firsts include rugby and cricket matches. The Green Point track became an important venue for cycling and other athletics sports and, in 1900, land was made available for a metropolitan golf course. As vested land, the Green Point Common was granted to the Cape Town City Council in 1923 by the Union Government as Commonage for general public recreation and sports fields.

Rapid population growth increased the demand for playing fields on the Common, as relatively flat land had become scarce and was placed at a premium.

By the turn of the 21^st century, the Common consisted mostly of dedicated sports facilities (some disused and overgrown) with associated clubhouses – many of which were dilapidated and unused. Sports fields were separated by fences of all descriptions, limiting public access through the Common and impeding flexibility of movement.

The term “Common” had become a misnomer. The public environment had become restricted to roads and parking lots, attracting people only on Sundays to the flea market and annual Pick ‘n Pay / Argus Cycle Tour.

The advent of planning and building the new 2010 Cape Town Soccer Stadium on the Green Point Common became the catalyst to realise the City of Cape Town’s long-standing objective; to transform what had become a dysfunctional public open space into a vibrant public amenity and destination point for the people of the Cape Metropole; through the construction of a high quality multi-functional park that will contribute to the identity and overall regeneration of the Cape Town city bowl; as well as Green Point and Sea Point beachfront.

Beyond the Stadium
The decision to locate the new stadium on the 107-year old metropolitan golf course combined with the objective of providing a park for passive recreation, necessitated the reconfiguration of the 105 hectare common.

The process of preparing a framework plan for the common entailed extensive negotiations with the various sporting bodies and interest groups who had leasing rights on the land. This was followed by a metropolitan wide series of participatory workshops for public input and comments. The plan was further subjected to City Council and Provincial Government approvals before construction could commence on the 18.5 hectare stadium precinct, 72.5 hectare golf course and sports fields, club facilities and informal trading and passive recreational amenities.

Green Point Urban Park consists of the stadium precinct, golf course, sports fields and a public park for passive recreation and concession use areas. These various components are described below.

The Stadium Precint
Covering 18 hectares of the common, the landscape architectural design of the stadium forecourts are structured to the needs of the stadium, comprising expansive paved surfaces to accommodate and channel vast surges of people in short periods of time to and from the podium gateways.

Trees, landform and low stone walls are used as space-defining elements, placed in rigid geometric patterns in the forecourts. These elements reinforce and interconnect the sequence of urban spaces. Tree placement and the choice of paving materials reflect the surrounding Cape Town streetscapes and ensure that the precinct is knitted into the larger urban fabric.

Large trees further function as sheltering windbreaks and provide shaded gathering and meeting spaces. A gridded copse of trees forms a counterpoint to the vast western forecourt and, on maturity, will provide a tree canopy that will cover the entire Sunday traders market.

Parallel to the southern edge of the podium, a mature stand of Eucalyptus and Ficus trees have been retained. Low seat walls demarcating spaces beneath the trees are faced with blue-stone harvested from excavations for the stadium and are congruent with the traditional stonework as found at the adjacent Fort Wynyard historic site and elsewhere within Cape Town.

A generous pedestrian connection to the stadium from the city underpasses a raised traffic roundabout and is in itself a landmark. A generous “open to the sky” plaza extends under the road circle, giving access to a rapid-transit bus system and provides a protected meeting and waiting space for spectators and park users.

The new golf course and sports fields extend over 55 hectares of the common. The application of modern golf course design standards resulted in a much larger course area than the earlier configuration had occupied.

Previously, many different sports bodies, clubs and schools had leased premises on the common; with golf having the largest land requirement. Demand for land on the reconfigured common was extremely high and to accommodate it all was an almost impossible task.

Thus, the holistic framework plan focused on the consolidation of sport entities to form a single club for each sport, i.e. one rugby club, one soccer club and one cricket club to replace the myriad of duplicities.

The original golf course was unique in its layout with 9 holes and 14 greens, enabling an 18-hole game. The City was obliged to replace the same, but with sufficient space to accommodate modern standards for golf course design which, as mentioned, requires a much larger land area.

Geo-technical investigations revealed growing soil depth to be minimal and under-laid by bedrock. To provide profiles and landform interest, the course was filled with 300 000m³ of soil excavated from the stadium and other nearby construction sites.

Clearing from the old golf course and stadium site included the harvesting of grass sods (transplanted to other city fields) and selected trees uplifted and held in on-site nurseries for later transplant to the new golf course and park. So, too, was topsoil harvested and stockpiled for later re-use.

The completed golf course accommodates an extensive pond system that functions as a water reservoir for irrigation use as well as a management system for the stormwater flowing from the stadium and surrounding paved-surface areas.

The northern edge now provides a kilometre long golf course frontage to the adjacent residents. The amenity value of overlooking the golf course is now clearly reflected in the increased real estate values of these properties.

On the south-western edge, the golf course interfaces with the Green Point Park, adding to the ambience and landscape diversity of this urban setting.

Green Point Park
Green Point Park as a distinct entity, independent of the Stadium forecourt precinct, may be considered a ‘Park in the City’ – a place for relaxation and urban respite – for mind and body. It is a place for recreation and social interaction within a green context. It has the propensity to become a place to share, to observe and to learn about our ecological interdependence; and through this, to engender in society an appreciation and attitude of stewardship of the earth and understanding our place within it.

The park is by its very nature, a green landscape, and as such needs to be defined in the appropriate terms to convey its meaning. It is seen in contrast the harsh urbanity of the surrounding city, by portraying a consolidated green image.

The park has significance at two scales: in serving Cape Town’s Metropolitan Community in the broader sense, as well as the Local Community in the immediate sense. Thus a great diversity of user-needs and range of requirements are to be met within the Park. This encompasses (inter alia) diversity of in terms of cultural references, diversity in age-groups, and diversity in physical ability and agility. Thus inclusivity and universality underpinned the conceptual formulation of the park.

The 12.5 hectare park within its physical limitations embodies a network of pathways, multi-functional spaces, shade structures, play park, an amphitheatre, signage and park furniture.

The park’s poetic landscape “spirit of place” is derived from landform, tree avenues, windbreaks, diverse vegetation and a strong presence of water in the form of water ponds and cascading streams.

Park Access
Although the perimeter of the park is fenced for security measures, it will be freely open to the public from dusk to dawn. Special events after hours may occur by special arrangements. Five gateway entry points to the park are provided to maximise accessibility.

Promenade and Pathways
Most prominent is the tree-lined lighthouse promenade linking Gateway East to Gateway West over a distance of 700 metres reminiscent and of similar length as the “Gentlemen’s Walk” in the City’s Company’s Garden. The promenade is centred on the Mouille Point Lighthouse being the oldest lighthouse in the country, aligning and offering views onto the golf course and stadium to the north. Generous in width; strollers, joggers and cyclists on the promenade by-pass special events spaces, show gardens, water and sculptural features, crossing the water ponds over an elevated wooden bridge.

Gateway South is centre to the park and adjacent to the bus, car and bicycle parking areas. This entrance leads to intersect with the promenade, passing the future restaurant and eco-centre complex and a special events square.

In the middle of the park, a large round lawn area provides space for informal kick-abouts, kite flying and for special events. The lawn is framed by trees and surrounded by a circular path containing a series of pavilions and pergola structures offering places for social interaction and picnicking in shade.

Beyond, a series of outdoor “rooms” are formed by vegetated windbreaks and scattered trees, allowing for informal recreation and future uses.

Water in the Park
Ameliorating the poor on-site soil conditions and tempering the severe prevailing winds posed major challenges. Most problematic however, was the uncertainty of a source of water supply for irrigation purposes. Relying on potable water for the irrigation of a large-scale park is simply not sustainable from cost, moral and environmental perspectives.

This problem was overcome by procuring water directly from Cape Town’s original and forgotten water source – the spring fountains on Table Mountain. With a gravity fed and secure source of water, it became possible to ensure a green common and to transform the park to include water features, ponds and wetlands.

At the point where the water emerges from the underground pipe, it is articulated as follows : it wells-up to resemble the source of a river; from there it flows over a textured surface and then falls over rocks into a pond. From this, city children can learn about nature and the dynamics of water. In addition, a water wheel showcases the possibility of alternative power sources by generating enough electricity to operate the wetland pumps. A turbine, driven by the gravitational pressure of the water supply will, in future, supply electricity to the planned Eco-Centre.

The Eco-Centre
Earmarked for the future is the development of a ‘smart living educational centre’ – a building that will display technology and innovations related to sustainable development. Green technologies such as construction from renewable resources, environmentally-friendly building materials, solar and wind energy supply systems, water conservation systems, recycling of materials and Green Star standards are to be incorporated in the building.

These features collectively are to reduce the Eco-Centre’s impact on the environment and to cut energy costs significantly. The Eco-Centre will serve as a model of sustainable construction that others can follow.

A Bio-diversity Showcase Garden
In line with its educational function, the park also contains a bio-diversity show garden, designed with the assistance of botanist and educationalist, Marijke Honig. This is a display garden rather than an ecologically balanced landscape. The aim is to educate people about bio-diversity and water-wise landscaping.

The Garden will be a place where people can wander along paths and marvel at the incredible diversity of plant species indigenous to the Cape. The Garden will be integrated into a wetland eco-system, showcasing amongst other roles, the wetlands water-filtering ability.

The Garden and the wetlands also provide the opportunity for habitats to develop hosting insects, amphibians, birds and small reptiles.

With a full understanding of the Green Point Park’s ecological context, it will be possible to create many areas of diverse vegetation that are allowed to grow naturally. Maintaining wildflowers, for example, can be cheaper than gang-mowing large areas of grass – and a field of brightly coloured indigenous flowers may be far more appreciated by the local community than a dull patch of grass. The open space areas of the Park will enable the integration of the more formal landscaping areas with the character of the more indigenous Bio-diversity Garden. Allowing indigenous grasses to grow tall creates a more natural look and softens the landscaping.

Storyboards, signage and handouts will tell the story of the importance of bio-diversity conservation in Cape Town through the ages and offer tips on what people can do in their own environments. Compelling and engaging signage will offer something for every age group.

Play for All
Play is an integral and extremely complex part of a child’s mental, physical and social growth. It can be divided into three major categories : physical play, the development of motor skills; social play, the interaction between children; and cognitive play, the problem-solving process.

Green Point Park aims to provide opportunities for all of these types of play for all age groups including those with physical or mental disabilities. A tot-lot for the very young and an adventure park for others are being constructed on the lee and sunny side of a 5 metre high berm.

To be inclusive, catering for the agile and disabled together, specially designed play apparatus are being integrated with custom-designed sculptural timber space frames.

For the young adult and elderly, a trim park furnished with robust outdoor exercise equipment, provides a further measure to support the park ethos of healthier lifestyles.

Green Point Park at night