![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thinkmint.ng\/reallifemagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ALBERT-1-Image-2023-10-10-at-10.33.19-212x300.jpeg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thinkmint.ng\/reallifemagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ALBERT-2-Image-2023-10-10-at-10.33.19-212x300.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Being his own client offered Philip the opportunity to push boundaries \u2013
\ncombining wisdom earned designing houses with SAOTA over the years
\nwith something a bit more whimsical and experimental. \u201cWhen architects
\ndesign their own homes,\u201d he says, \u201cthey can have a bit more fun; they can be
\na little bit less intellectual\u201d.
\nThat doesn\u2019t mean that the design of his own home is any less rigorously
\nthought-out, but rather that Philip could take the opportunity to explore
\narchitectural ideas without necessarily feeling the need to present a definitive statement or conclusive theory and weave in personal associations and
\npreferences.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thinkmint.ng\/reallifemagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ALBERT-3-Image-2023-10-10-at-10.33.15-1024x911.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
The corner site he secured was steep and had an \u201cunmemorable\u201d 60s ranch
\nstyle house in the centre of a large garden, as was typical of the garden
\nsuburbs of the era. Philip points out, however, that the City of Cape Town\u2019s
\ndensification strategy in this area presented new possibilities. In response, he
\nsubdivided the property along a contour and redeveloped it to create a five-bedroom family home on the upper section and two four-bedroom rental apartments on the lower.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe objective was to create a single house that enjoyed the
\nactivity and the energy of the city,\u201d says Philip. At the same
\ntime, he sought to recreate something of the spirit of a single
\nstandalone house in a garden suburb for a changed urban
\ncontext.<\/p>\n
Conceptually, the relationship between the main house and the
\naccommodation below, separated by a shared wall, references
\nthe row houses that historically characterise the area. When it
\ncame to designing the main house, however, instead of a garden
\non the ground level, Philip extended the footprint of the house
\nright out to the setbacks to create a podium on the lower two
\nlevels. \u201cI wanted to build my garden up in the sky,\u201d he says.
\nThe podium includes garages with a gym, guest and staff accommodation, and utility rooms.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thinkmint.ng\/reallifemagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ALBERT-4-Image-2023-10-10-at-10.33.15-660x1024.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
The upper two levels are
\ndedicated to the living space, which, from that height,
\ncan take maximum advantage of the spectacular views
\nof the city. The third level accommodates the living area
\nand a covered outdoor terrace. Four ensuite bedrooms
\nplus a small lounge and study occupy the uppermost
\nlevel, including a generous office for Philip and a yoga
\nstudio for his wife.<\/p>\n
From the street, the boundary walls and plinth are
\nfinished in grey stipple plaster, which is a reference to
\nCape Town\u2019s mid-century residential buildings and is also
\nassociated with the campus of the University of Cape
\nTown and its prominent place in the city\u2019s architectural
\nheritage.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thinkmint.ng\/reallifemagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ALBERT-1-Image-2023-10-10-at-10.23.26-1024x684.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thinkmint.ng\/reallifemagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ALBERT-5-Image-2023-10-10-at-10.20.58-192x300.jpeg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thinkmint.ng\/reallifemagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ALBERT-6-Image-2023-10-10-at-10.32.18-203x300.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
However, the building\u2019s primary identity is imparted by the
\ndistinctive red-pigmented off-shutter concrete of the
\nupper levels, especially the angled pre-cast concrete
\nscreens mounted on steel frames, which provide shading
\nand privacy for the extensive fa\u00e7ade glazing. The choice of
\ncolour, Philip says, was partly based on memories of a trip
\nhe and his family took to Mexico. He also, however, repurposed terracotta breezeblocks that formed part of the old boundary wall, which, he says, were \u201cremoved, stored,
\nsandblasted, brought back and built into the structural
\nsteel screen\u201d.<\/p>\n
The colour, however, also expresses and emphasises the
\nraw materiality and texture of the concrete. Philip says that
\nhe, like a lot of architects, \u201cloves the way things are built\u201d,
\nand something of that fascination and delight is built into
\nthe tactile use of materials and expressive tectonic
\nelements of the facade.<\/p>\n
Internally, the character of the house is best exemplified by
\nthe main living space, which has been conceptualised as a
\nsingle, large, open-plan area that takes in the living room,
\nkitchen and dining rooms. These constitute a series of
\noverlapping, interconnected spaces, which is a distinctive feature of a SAOTA-designed homes, forming a flowing platform for living.<\/p>\n
Philip says that the \u201ccontrast of crisp lines, clean
\ngeometries and tactile finishes\u201d is central to SAOTA\u2019s
\napproach \u2013 \u201cthe idea of combining contemporary
\ndesign with natural materials to create an architecturally progressive space that is also a comfortable and
\nhappy space to live in\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lighting, too, is fundamental to the experience of the
\nliving space: \u201cThe whole upper level is characterised
\nby soft light,\u201d says Philip. The screens, of course, filter
\nthe light, but skylights, south-facing clerestories,
\nwhich let in a light that is \u201cmoderate and beautiful,\u201d
\nand even high windows in the stairwell, which catch
\nthe late afternoon light, are thoughtfully positioned.
\nWhile artificial lighting is unnecessary during the day,
\nat night, Philip has been sure that light falls in \u201cwarm
\npockets\u201d to \u201ccreate interest\u201d and variance, often
\nemploying freestanding lights.<\/p>\n
The seamless fusion of the interior and exterior
\nspaces, separated only by floor-to-ceiling glass
\nsliding doors that disappear completely when
\nopened, impart a palpable sense of place. As Philip
\nsays, SAOTA\u2019s most successful living spaces are
\nthose in which the connection between interior and
\nexterior space is direct and uncomplicated.<\/p>\n
The garden itself, however, includes \u201cbeautiful little
\npockets of space framed by landscaping\u201d. Philip says
\nhe \u201cabsolutely loves\u201d Spanish architect Ricardo
\nBofill’s famous house built in a converted cement
\nfactory. He\u2019s always been enchanted by its simple,
\ngenerous, flowing spaces, raw materiality and the
\nway in which \u201cthe landscaping seems to invade the
\nbuilding\u201d. The wild, overgrown character of the landscaping of Philip\u2019s own home constitutes a vision of
\nthe happy co-existence of architectural and organic
\nelements.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thinkmint.ng\/reallifemagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-10-at-11.53.23-1024x571.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
The interiors introduce a new dimension of complexity and interest to Philip\u2019s engagement with materials,
\noften including extensive research and development,
\ninnovation and collaboration. The materials he\u2019s
\nchosen for the interior finishes introduce a thoughtful
\ndialogue with the living heritage inherent in the skills
\nof artisans and craftsmen. The polished polymer
\nconcrete floor, for example, used extensively over the
\nliving room, floors, staircases and exterior paving, is
\nmade with a green stone aggregate that is a byproduct from the historic copper mines in the Namaqualand area in the
\nWestern Cape. Rustenburg granite is used for paving in some areas,
\nand local sandstone pavers around the pool and the dining outdoor
\ndining area.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thinkmint.ng\/reallifemagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ALBERT-9-Image-2023-10-10-at-10.41.57-206x300.jpeg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thinkmint.ng\/reallifemagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-10-at-11.54.28-278x300.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Solid stone features prominently in furniture pieces, too. Paarl granite, for example, was used for the striking four-piece server in the
\nliving room, a console in the master bedroom and the basins, all crafted by JA Clift, a third-generation stone mason in Paarl known for
\ntheir work on the Afrikaans Language Monument.<\/p>\n
Other heritage finishes referencing the 50s and 60s include the
\nhessian wall. The timber lattice ceiling design (a lightly stained locally
\nhardwood, Meranti, which complements the cast concrete screening)
\nadds richness and a sense of continuity between inside and out.
\nOther elements are more \u201cquirky\u201d or sentimental. \u201cThe breakfast
\ncounter in the kitchen was the old dining table,\u201d says Philip. \u201cWe modified it and mounted it on a stainless-steel counter.\u201d<\/p>\n
This fusion of this home\u2019s exploratory engagement with materiality
\nand heritage, in conjunction with its bold aesthetics, proposes a creative solution to the city\u2019s shifting urban context while making a striking addition to the suburban landscape.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
UPPER ALBERT CREDITS:<\/strong> Project Location<\/strong> Architects<\/strong> Project<\/strong> Team<\/strong> Interior Designer<\/strong> Project Team<\/strong> Structural Engineers<\/strong> Quantity Surveyor<\/strong> Main Contractor<\/strong> Lighting Consultant<\/strong> Landscaping<\/strong> Project Photographer<\/strong> Text by<\/strong> \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Being his own client offered Philip the opportunity to push boundaries \u2013 combining wisdom earned designing houses with SAOTA over the years with something a bit more whimsical and experimental. \u201cWhen architects design their own homes,\u201d he says, \u201cthey can have a bit more fun; they can be a little bit less intellectual\u201d. That […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2655,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nProject Name<\/strong>
\nUpper Albert<\/p>\n
\nCape Town, South Africa<\/p>\n
\nSAOTA<\/p>\n
\nRiaz Ebrahim, Anthony Whittaker,
\nMichelle Mills, Casey Hunter<\/p>\n
\nARRCC<\/p>\n
\nMark Rielly, Nina Sierra Rubia, Anna
\nKatharina Schoenberger, Amy King<\/p>\n
\nMoroff & Khune<\/p>\n
\nMeyer Summersgill<\/p>\n
\nRed Sky Projects<\/p>\n
\nMartin Doller Design<\/p>\n
\nReto Mani Garden Services<\/p>\n
\nAdam Letch<\/p>\n
\nGraham Wood<\/p>\n