Friday, February 3, 2012

Architecture House of the Year

Pictures and introduction courtesy of http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com

Mountainside home integrated into its powerful natural surroundings


Spa House is set on the mountainside on the urban edge of Hout Bay, overlooking the bay and harbour, and surrounded by weathered sandstone formations. The primary design intention was to integrate the building with the powerful landscape and to derive its poetics from the qualities of its surroundings.

The house is separated from the principal residence by a berm, and is connected to it by footpaths. The brief called for a guest house and entertainment facility. It incorporates swimming pools, guest accommodation, spa facilities and general living and poolside areas.

The house is conceived of as a hovering set of elements, suspended over a large waterscape, which forms an extended terrace on the mountainside.

Water constitutes the primary experience of the building. The floor planes are arranged to provide contrasting experiences of water, and the underwater spa with large viewing windows into the pool has a sense of stillness and mystery.  read more here >> 





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