Infill House | Bantry Bay in Cape Town | studioMAS

Infill House, on the slopes of Signal Hill above Bantry Bay in Cape Town, sits on a site that has breathtaking views up the mountain and across the Atlantic. The clients requested a comfortable, functional house for easy-living with a simple and natural exterior that, while timeless, was also daring and unusual. The house sits in harmony with the landscape and its magnificent setting. RATIONALE
The design has two long boxes arranged around a courtyard connected by a circulation block of modular exposed concrete. Sea views are revealed from an extensive entrance hall where a top-lit stairway descends to the two lower levels, becoming lighter and more transparent as solid walls give way to a beautifully crafted oak balustrade and screen. Sunlight and air is controlled passively by way of sliding doors and timber screens. The relationship with nature is enforced by a selection of strip windows that frame views and the courtyard with White Stinkwoods that give testament to the seasons.
COMPLETION DATE 2007
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Epping Road Long House | Johannesburg | studioMAS Architecture

INTRODUCTION
Situated in Forest Town, Johannesburg, this house attempts to complete the incomplete modernism. Its protest against modern architecture as a freestanding sculpture to be admired in monumental isolation is evident as it attempts rather to produce architecture of frontality respecting the idea of a street.

RATIONALE
The street is seen as the first layer and departure point. Next comes the set-back needed by the regulation – positively seen as yet another layer, followed by the elegant single flight steel stair leading to the piano-nobile. This floor contains the foyer flanked on either side by study and workshops leading to the double height dining and living zone. Separating the living area and the study/workshop areas is the strip of servant spaces of storage, cupboards, wardrobes, bookshelves and so on. Giant sliding doors from living/dining open on to a terrace of timber decking housing the swimming pool. At ground level are the garages, cellars and workshops.

COMPLETION DATE
2004
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Guest House | Highveld Pavilion | Johannesburg, South Africa | studioMAS

Architect's statement
This private guest cottage is situated in a lush smallholding along the Vaal River in Vanderbjlpark south of Johannesburg. The buildings function is as garden pavilions, with open entertain areas that also provide weekend accommodation. The building maximises the scenic surrounding by providing complete visual connection between the interior spaces and the surrounding landscape.


The building consists of two parallel blocks set within the densely treed landscape. They are connected by a garden wall along their eastern façades, creating an intimate courtyard space. The illusion of being completely outside while inside is enhanced by the use of frameless glazing on all sides as well as seamless external floor finishes. Bedroom suites feature open plan bathrooms as well as an intimate television lounge. Laser cut artworks by Willem Boschoff slide across the façade providing an interesting and beautiful solution for adjustable privacy.

COMPLETION DATE
April 2008
More pictures of the pavilion here