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Bellamar House / Metropole Architects
Text description provided by the architect. Metropole Architects envisioned Casa Beiramar as being 750m long. Modern four-bedroom house located in the prestigious Simbithi Golf Estate on the north coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The design concept revolves around the harmonious integration of modern aesthetics and the natural environment. The house is a bold testament to sophisticated modernism, using materials such as steel, glass and concrete with meticulous attention to detail. Clean lines are juxtaposed with tactile elements such as wood and stone to create a sophisticated yet understated atmosphere.
On approach, the house attracts attention, sitting proudly on its site, its cantilevered form emphasizing horizontality and creating a sharp contrast in the streetscape. An elegant, gently sloping driveway leads one from the estate road to the home, into a stylishly appointed driveway courtyard decorated with polished aggregate concrete slabs and artificial turf strips, setting the stage for a beautiful arrival experience.
The public entrance, whose façade is deliberately low and minimalist, houses a three-storey garage clad in horizontal slatted timber. This façade directs the eye to a covered entry walkway roof that hovers over a tile-clad feature blade wall and the home’s main entry point. A large pivot entry door clad in dark tile panels provides a safe transition into the private realm of the home. The deliberate solidity of the entrance facade serves multiple purposes. It not only provides a surprise to the act of entry and enhances the privacy of the residents, but also provides effective protection against the elements, especially the prevailing strong winds from the southwest. This ensures that open and sheltered private spaces designed for living, entertaining, relaxing and enjoying sea views remain comfortable and enjoyable.
Passing through the entrance, the building unfolds into a generous space on the upper floors. The open-plan living room, kitchen and dining area blend seamlessly into the outdoor space through sliding glass doors. A covered balcony supported by dramatic steel ‘spider’ columns extends the living space outdoors, providing shelter for an entertainment area, barbecue space, swimming pool and small garden. A generous oak ceiling above adds warmth and visual continuity to the interior. Facing ocean views, this level’s master suite is a haven of private rest and relaxation, complete with walk-in dressing room and luxurious full master suite bathroom. The adjacent balcony allows one to venture out to a veritable “observation deck” on the edge of the cantilever to enjoy the sun, sea and breeze.
An outstanding feature of the Casa. Beiramar is a sensual organic curved oak ceiling. This provides a “wow factor” at the entrance, enhancing the vertical volume of the entrance hall and open-plan living area. Combined with skylights, it allows natural light to penetrate deep into the plane, creating a visually engaging experience. Descending through the main staircase, the spatial experience transforms into a more intimate one. The TV lounge, study, double-sided Neolith fireplace and wine cellar provide comfortable retreats. The three en-suite bedrooms all have access to the garden, offering privacy and views over the neighboring forest and distant sea.
Materials and color palette of Casa. Bella Mar is a delicate balance between man-made intervention and natural landscape. The extensive use of glass in the building envelope and balustrades breaks down traditional visual barriers between interior and exterior, promoting immersion in the sights and sounds of the coastal forest environment and providing reflections of the natural vegetation that characterizes its environment. Generous overhangs effectively block sunlight. The combination of solid panels and steel and aluminum overhead pergola extensions provides a variety of experiences and graded sun exposure as well as a dynamic interplay of light and shadow.
Inside, a blend of colors and textures in moldings, furnishings and finishes complement the architectural spaces to present a cohesive, contemporary aesthetic. Considerations such as views, orientation, privacy and response to the subtropical climate extend the overall success of the product. Casa. Beiramar goes beyond mere functionality. It offers a visually captivating, comfortable and intimate living experience that blends seamlessly with the surrounding natural environment and reflects the artistry and thoughtful design of Metropole Architects.
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