PROJECTS
Inside the kitchen with its rustic feel .
Verster decided to install a dry toilet that would not be connected to the municipal sewerage system , and designed the bathroom at the lowest point of the house . “ The slope of the site means it was particularly suitable to gravity-flow your grey water [ from shower and basin ], and design irrigation to work with the slope . The bathroom [ and toilet ] is at the bottom of the house and therefore the house is connected to the land by the water ,” she says .
This house is the perfect blend of function and elegance , and timber and steel . But why wood ? For Verster , wood is easier to work with on such a steep slope and small site and wood means there is less wastage and a lighter footprint .
“ Also , I like the idea of wood . Brick is very heavy . So , I went for an integrated approach of steel and wood ,” says Verster .
The biggest challenge Verster faced when building her house was where the various materials met and joining them together . The design had a lot of intricate details , and so she often had to improvise on site to make a plan .
“ I wanted a small house and a large garden . The site was quite a challenge because of the steep slope . But luckily , because the building is so small , there is a low risk of landslide . While they were building the house , I was living on site with my dogs in a wendy house for two years so I was very involved in the process along the way .
“ I did a lot of work to find the right architect for the project ,” Verster explains . “ Initially I spoke to two others but I didn ’ t connect with them . Eventually I reached out to Jacques .”
Jacques Cronje , of Timber Design , is well-versed in complicated projects and was immediately on board . When he and Verster met , she explained her idea to him and he sketched a drawing for her in his notebook . “ Afterwards , he showed me the drawing and I said , ‘ That ’ s my house !’”
Verster only had an idea of the basics that she wanted so she gave Cronje a lot of freedom but he understood her ideas .
CHALLENGES
Building a house is never without its challenges . One particular challenge for Verster was that it took quite a long while for the plans to be approved by the local council .
The steel frame was also a challenge . After the frame went up , they realised it was exactly 1m too high . There was a misunderstanding somewhere between the plans , the engineers and the manufacturers . So , the entire house frame was put in straps like a big – albeit wireframe – hippo about to be airlifted , ratcheted up and they cut a metre off the bottom before lowering it again slowly and welding it in place . “ We did it in a day and it was very nerve-wracking . The guys really knew what they were doing !”
This house is the perfect blend of function and elegance , and timber and steel .
// APRIL / MAY 2017 25