At home in an eco-estate
Simbithi Eco-Estate is nestled in a lush region situated between Ballito and Salt Rock on the Dolphin Coast. Building a home in this prestigious estate requires attention to detail to ensure designs are eco-friendly and blend with the natural landscape.
The homeowners built their home in an estate that has an eco-friendly ethos, so it was important for design to form part of the landscape. The site itself overlooks a dam that was too steep for a single-level building, and the house and garage were built in different levels to avoid too much cut and fill. LevEco Architects worked hand-in-hand with the owners to create a comfortable family home.
The pitch of the roof allows for the introduction of modern aesthetics and allows for high ceilings and large expanses of glass. An important part of the entire design was to incorporate green design wherever possible. The house was designed to require minimal air-conditioning .
The passive design makes use of a back courtyard to allow natural light to flow through the open plan living spaces and allow cool air to flow through during the hot, summer months.
Extended eaves and shady pergolas provide shade for the large windows and serve to keep the interior cool. Outdoor living areas on either side of the open plan living area can be seamlessly integrated with the indoor space, creating a much larger area for relaxing and entertainment.
To integrate the property with its natural surrounds, stone cladding and timber decks are used extensively for entertainment areas and walkways
The home owners are a young couple with two small children and wanted an open plan design to incorporate kitchen, dining and living room.
Lots of natural light, crisp white interiors and splashes of colour blend indoors and outdoors for a space that is spacious and airy. The exposed ceiling beams on the sloped roof are painted to match the ceilings and walls.
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