July 21 - Ballito Umhl

“Every site has a has an essence. A story it wants to tell and a way it wants to be
treated. This site was no different.” Gerhard Architect founder Gerhard Breedt
loves what he does.
He started his company 16 years ago in office which, he says, was so small
that he had to meet clients in the coffee shop across the road! Now his firm
is receiving acknowledgement on an international platform and he is being
recognised for his environmentally-aware, integrated approach to design. We
chatted to him about this incredible Mount Richmore Estate home.
What prompted you to enter this particular property into the
awards? We were actually contacted and asked if we would consider entering
this home in two categories (Luxury Residence - Global Award and Project Value
of 1 - 2.5million Pounds) after a social media post. The fact that the property was
picked up on an international platform and recognised was what prompted us
to pursue the nomination to the next level.
Tell us about this home and the client’s brief to you when you
set out to design this home? This is a permanent family home, but the
owners wanted it to have the feel of a holiday home where one can ‘escape’
to from day-to-day stresses and routine. Our goal was to design a modern but
timeless home with clean design lines, floating planes and integrated, eco-friendly
elements and timberworks. We focussed on creating open plan living areas,
a sense of ‘arrival’ and integrating the sea and forest views. There are four bedrooms
(all en-suite) and an open plan living (kitchen, dining, lounge) area, all of
which seamlessly lead out to the large outside veranda. There is a private study/
office space, a second lounge and balconies off of all the bedrooms. There is
also a massive lap pool and we maximized the beautiful ocean and inland bush
views, while still ensuring privacy.
How did the location and the look and feel of the estate influence
the design? The site has beautiful sea views, as well views of a stunning
forest greenbelt. We wanted it to feel as though you were in the forest when you
enter through the double-volume foyer with floating bridge, which we staggered
slightly to maximise the sea views. Every estate has an ethos and code to
create a ‘standard’ to be upheld. The Mount Richmore Estate architectural code
allows for quite a modern, coastal interpretation and expressiveness.
Architect Gerhard Breedt
How did you achieve the
almost seamless indoor/
outdoor flow of the home?
Integrated inside-outside living was
a non-negotiable directive from the
clients. Large sliding glass panels that
‘disappear’ and a lot of large glass
elements on the view sides blur the
lines between the inside and outside
to a large extent. It also helped greatly
that there was no level change between
the inside and outside.
What are some of your favourite
design elements of
this home? We love the design as a
whole and how every element plays
its part. We do, however, feel that a
home must have a sense of arrival
and just love the entrance detail, from
when you open the massive doors
and then just experience the forest
right in front of you. Strong horizontal
planes and large glass areas further
enhance the integrated feel between
the home and its surroundings.
What does it mean to you to
have been shortlisted for
these awards? As a small, passionate
firm receiving international
recognition means a lot. It’s so great
knowing that your architectural
abilities are not only being recognised
and showcased, but also confirms
our theory that limitations are just
a self-imposed concept … and that
‘David and Goliath’ do indeed fight on
the same battlefield!
Details: 082 652 3889, gerhard@
gerhardarchitect.co.za, IG/
FB: @gerhardarchitect, www.
gerhardarchitect.co.za
July 2021 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga 35