AN 8 BED LUXURY BOUTIQUE VILLA SET IN THE SENSITIVE FYNBOS OF THE DE HOOP NATURE RESERVE, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA.

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DRIVEN BY A DEEPLY ECO-CONSCIOUS CLIENT (MR ED ZEEMAN), OCEANHOUSE MERGERS 5 STAR HOSPITALITY WITH A DEEP CONNECTION WITH NATURE. THE IMPERATIVES WERE SIMPLE, THE DESIGN WAS TO COMPLIMENT AND DRAW FROM THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE AND THE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT WAS TO BE LIMITED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE (THE VIILA WAS TO BE COMPLETELY OFF-GRID).

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THE VILLA SITS LOW IN THE LANDSCAPE, THE FYNBOS PLANTED ROOF HELPING THE BUILDING MERGE SEAMLESSLY INTO THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE. SANSTONE WALLS (QUARRIED STONE LOCALLY AVAILABLE) DRAW ON THE MANY SANDSTONE WALLS THAT WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE DE HOOP RESERVE, FOUNDING THE CONTEMPORY STRUCTURE WITHIN ITS SURROUNDING CONTEXT. THE SITE CALLED FOR THE VILLA TO HAVE A STRONG CONNECTION TO THE OUTSIDE, DUE IN PART TO ANNUAL MIGRATION OF THE HUMB-BACKED WHALE AND THE SENSITIVE FYNBOS FLORA. LARGE PICTURE OPENINGS AND GLASS ENCLOSED FIRST FLOOR LOOK OUT ENSURE A CONSTANT CONNECTION TO THE OUTSIDE.

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LOCATION: DE HOOP NATURE RESERVE, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

YEAR (COMPLETION): MARCH 2013

OWNER: ED ZEEMAN (MORUKURU FAMILY)

PHOTOGRAPHY: DOOK PHOTO