blikhuis, stilbaai

Quietly nestled between its neighbours, this "corrugated iron" beach house offers endless holiday living, while still preserving the historical significance of this unique beachfront area. Our brief was to replace an existing asbestos holiday cottage with a new holiday experience to accommodate a growing family of three generations. The design was to be versatile to allow various guest configurations at different holiday times. 

Our inspiration was found in the scale, simplicity and character of the typical Stilbaai fisherman's cottage vernacular, complete with its different clapboard and corrugated claddings, simple raised cottage structures and typical "aanplak" extensions. The structure is reminiscent of the floating structures unique to the Still Bay beachfront. Instead of a traditional raised-pole structure, our structure floats on a perforated concrete retaining structure, built on seabed level, protecting it from tidal corrosion and the active fresh water spring found on the site. The "aanplak" / lean-to sea-facing stoep is enclosed with a double layer glazed and louvered skin, allowing the structure to open up completely to protect from rain, sun, wind and unwanted visitors when unoccupied. 

Although the design of the house is sophisticated, details of the screen, shower screens and gates reflects the elementary designs of yesteryear. On a perfect day, most of the walls disappear and the house becomes an open gazebo on the beach.