African project Granite House – South Africa
An encrusted cave for modern day
Nomads
Designed on an awkward 700m ² residual site in Johannesburg , South Africa by MMA Design Studio , this modern 4 bedroom house is planned as a village around a central courtyard with multiple “ situations ” and living arrangements .
The north and south wings are both autonomous with their own living and sleeping areas . These can be reconfigured in various ways through sliding partitions to accommodate the changing needs of multi-adulted family . As in most African homesteads , the kitchen and “ Leifo ” or hearth occupies the central position and is common to all .
The existing slope of the site is employed to re-create a landscape of caves as are found in the nearby hills at the Cradle of Humankind . This is achieved through several split levels and overlapping / overlooking spaces with cracks in the surfaces that allow in light , air and views of
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