The Olive Tree Villa, Yzerfontein, West Coast, South Africa
The stylishly designed three suite guest house is located on the west coast north of Cape Town. Taking full advantage of the ocean views and responding to the coastal dune context, Gavin Maddock designed a private get-a-way with a sense of calm and understated luxury. The project was awarded Winner of Best Guest Houses 2019 in South Africa.
The guest house is accommodated in two pavilions separated by a courtyard. Two ground-level suites form the base of the ocean-side pavilion, enjoying the interaction with the courtyard. The upper-level suite above this base is enclosed by an off-shutter concrete slab roof folded down to a suspended off-shutter concrete wall. The street-side pavilion that accommodates the service areas acts as a backdrop to the courtyard. Garage, Entrance, Laundry, Staff Room, Study and vertical circulation to access the upper-level pavilions are located in this structure. The upper-level suite is accessed via a Rheinzink clad bridge that spans the two pavilions.
The off-shutter concrete surfaces reference the natural rugged environment of the coast. The hardened coloured cement screeded floors throughout the building and the coloured plastered brick wall construction provides a relaxed holiday feel, while finely detailed timber cabinetry and stone finishing that form kitchens and fireplace room dividers exude a sense of luxury in a minimalist aesthetic.
The grey massing of the building form is softened externally by the greying-off solid timber screening devices on the upper-level Terraces, street-front windows, garage door and front door cladding.
The result is a paired back modern building with warm finishing and refined detailing in holiday comfort.