PROJECT 214
The project consists of a new double-storey extension to the rear of an existing, single storey, stone faced house on the public street edge. A new, materially contrasting, but formally neutral container of activities bridges between the old and new. When viewed from street level the new extension is hardly visible and chooses not to intrude on the streetscape, yet, when found, it nevertheless has a strong though not overpowering individual identity. This deference is acknowledged as a sound strategy given the historic significance of the streets in the town.
Throughout, the old and the new have been formally and spatially well integrated, with the open lightness of the new contrasting the solidity of the old. The new is well organized with straight-forward but well-founded planning, clean lines and clear but unfussy details -finished to a noteworthy, high standard of craftsmanship.
PROJECT DETAILS:
Client – Mr & Mrs van Jaarsveld
Completion date – December 2016
Project type – Private residential
Awards –
2017 SAIA-EC Awards for Architecture Regional Award
Photography – SL Photography Photography
LOCATION
Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape
Graaff-Reinet, often called the jewel of the Karoo, is one of South Africa’s oldest and most beautifully preserved towns, known for its Cape Dutch architecture, wide streets lined with historic homes and the vast, soulful landscape that surrounds it. Framed by the Camdeboo National Park and the dramatic Valley of Desolation, the town carries a quiet, timeless charm, where heritage, hospitality and Karoo stillness meet. With art galleries, family-run eateries, restored museums and centuries-old character, Graaff-Reinet offers a rare blend of history and heart in the heart of the Karoo.