Casa á Beiramar envisioned by Metropole Architects is a 750m² modern 4-bedroom home
situated in the prestigious Simbithi Golf Estate on Kwa Zulu Natal's North Coast of South
Africa.
The design sought to create a vision that was in harmony with the site itself, estate
streetscape, relationship to the neighbouring properties and estate design guidelines, yet
one that represented the individual taste and aspirations of the home owner, their
appreciation for contemporary design and desire for a distinctive, progressive and dynamic
architectural aesthetic.
Accordingly, the design pursues a bold yet refined modernism infused with a rooting of the
building in its climate and coastal forest landscape, with a sequential build-up of space, the
celebration of sea views and the concept of relaxed outdoor living echoing the essential
characteristics of the South African residential model.
The house is refined and rigorously detailed; a sophisticated yet understated use of steel,
glass and concrete, with clean crisp manmade lines and a garnish of tactile natural material
of timber and stone, buried in, yet offset from the natural coastal forest landscape
On approach the house ‘perches’ proudly on its site and is a progressive cantilever form over
two principal levels with emphasized horizontality that proclaims its presence in the
streetscape. and successfully commands one's attention and interest.
The architecture aims to impress right from the start.
An elegant, gently sloping driveway ushers one from the estate road towards the home onto
a generous driveway court adorned with a stylish linear patterned arrangement of staggered
polished aggregate concrete panels creatively interspersed with strips of artificial turf that
enhances the overall arrival aesthetic and experience.
The (public) entrance facade is intentionally low slung and minimalist. A solid and planar
triple garage façade clad in horizontal slatted timber directs the eye and movement towards
a covered entrance walkway roof and feature blade wall clad in large format dark porcelain
tile slabs. A large full height tile clad pivot entrance door provides the primary access point
to the interior of the home beyond.
This intentional solidity provides for an element of surprise on entering the home whilst at
the same time is effective at providing privacy to the inhabitants and provides efficient
protection from bad weather and prevailing strong winds coming from the south west to the
open and sheltered private space used for the purpose of living, entertainment, relaxation
and enjoyment of the sea view beyond.
The entrance composition is crowned by the setback sheeted mansard style roof form that
emerges from over the main body of the home with integrated clerestory glazing allowing
valuable ambient south light to enhance the entrance and upper-level living experience.
At the upper level internally, a voluminous entrance hall and stairwell with guest toilet
quickly unfolds into generous open plan living, kitchen and dining area where perimeter
sliding glass doors allow for the integration of inside and outside space and allows for easy
connection and movement to the covered verandah entertainment area, braai area, pool
and a small garden.
A generous external covered verandah area with large span roof supported by a single
feature steel ‘spider’ column provides shelter from the elements to an outdoor living and
dining area as well as a firepit. An expansive oak timber clad ceiling above is a visual material
extension of the curved ceiling over the internal open plan space and providing an additional
visual warmth to the experience.
Here the principal design intent has been to provide an unconstricted, uncluttered
comfortable outdoor space with effective cross ventilation and access to the expansive sea
views to the east encouraging the inhabitants to indulge in and celebrate an outdoor
lifestyle of entertainment, play and relaxation.
The master suite at this level is orientated towards the sea view and is a generous space for
private rest and relaxation complete with walk in dressing room and opulent full master
ensuite bathroom. An adjacent balcony allows one to venture outside to the edges of the
cantilever on a veritable ‘lookout point’ and engage with the sun, sea and breeze.
One of the stand out, talking point features of the home is the sensual organic curved oak
timber clad ceiling that provides the ‘wow factor’ on entry that enhances the experience of
the vertical volume of the entrance hall, main circulation spine of the house and open plan
living areas. This provides additional aesthetic interest at high level and works together with
the clerestory windows to visually lighten the experience of the building mass overhead and
helps to conduct natural ambient light deep into the plan.
As one ventures downstairs via the main staircase the voluminous spatial experience of the
upper level quickly gives way to a more intimate and cosier tv lounge and study divided by a
double-sided neolith clad fireplace and a wine cellar tucked in under the stairs. A further 3
ensuite bedrooms, each with their own garden access, are located at this level orientated
towards the adjacent forest and distant filtered sea views.
In general, the palette of materials and colours for Casa á Beiramar is a unity of opposites.
The clean, hard and straight lines of the man-made intervention in concrete and steel meet
the soft flowing irregular line and textures of the indigenous landscape context in a
respectful harmony.
External textured paint finishes are executed in earthy colour tones.
Bronze powder-coated aluminium screens and vertical fins provide maintenance free
effective privacy mechanisms that maintain visual coherence.
The extensive use of glass for building enclosure and balustrading breaks down the
traditional visual barriers between inside and out promoting the immersion of oneself in the
sights and sounds of the coastal forest context as well as providing reflections of the natural
vegetation that is its context
Generous overhangs allow for effective solar screening. The combination of solid slabs and
pergola extensions in steel and aluminium overhead provide a variety of experiences and
graded exposure to the sun and a dynamic interplay of light and shadow.
Natural stone cladding juxtaposed with the bold and progressive architectural form makes
for a raw and tactile compliment to the modern smoother surfaces elsewhere.
Interior styling, furniture and finishes are a fusion of colour and texture that complement
the architectural spaces and synergise with a contemporary aesthetic.
Further considerations such as views, orientation, privacy and the prevailing sub-tropical
climate have all contributed to the successes of the overall finished architectural product.
Ultimately, Casa á Beiramar transcends mere functionality, offering a visually captivating,
comfortable, and intimate living experience.
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