Set beside her sister Shawn Slovo's house on Monaghan Farm, this two-person cottage is a refuge for Robyn Slovo, who calls London England home.

 

The cottage is designed to work in unison with the main house but must function as a separate & private retreat for Robyn. The cottage has a distinct form, but it shares the main house's material palette of timber, stone, glass and steel.

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The northern and eastern sides of the cottage float above the landscape with views away from the main house into the nearby valley, while the southern and western elevations are cut back into the earth, hiding the building completely from the main house & roads. A wraparound patio on the north and east is enclosed by sliding screens, operated manually or mechanically. Closed, the cottage reads as a timber box whilst internally it opens up onto an internal courtyard that brings in light, ventilation and greenery. Open, the occupants feel as if they are sitting on a open covered patio at one with the surrounding highveld landscape. More than its aesthetic advantages, the timber screens also temper sun and heat, and act as a security device that allows ventilation at night without compromising safety.

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The roof (which is accessible) acts an extension of the landscape allowing occupants 360degree views of the surrounding valley and the opportunity to experience Monaghan's celebrated sunsets.

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The interior spaces are simple & elegant with sliding doors separating the private & public spaces of the cottage. One of the special experiences in the cottage is the bath tucked into the landscape, beneath a large skylight. This allows Robyn to bathe under the stars, with a recess for candles adding to the calm of a highveld retreat.

Warthogs, jackal, small antelope and farm cows regularly pass by the cottage. Raising the cottage slightly off the ground keeps these visitors at a respectful distance, unless they are invited closer.

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The biophilic design approach of the cottage offers Robyn a welcome retrieve from the hustle & bustle she experiences in everyday city life.

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Project team: Principal architect: Carl Jacobsz - Collaborator: David Pillay