Sibaya Drive, La Mercy, South Africa
Location and Brief - A coastal site on a steeply sloping ridge. Fronted by a green belt of indigenous coastal forest. Sweeping ocean views. Protection from the prevailing north-easterly and south-westerly winds. Opportunity for both north-facing and sea views.
Covered Indoor / Outdoor hub - Entertainment area opening to pool and north-east fac
The client’s brief called for an all-steel building, fabricated off-site as far as possible; primarily for speed of construction. Steel spans with minimal columns achieve open-plan space, leaving the ocean views uninterrupted. Steel connections and bracing were left visible, as an honest expression of the building's structure.
The design response focused on sustainability, a free-flowing open plan layout; use of steel for speed of construction, large spans, and honest expression of detailing.
Free-flowing plan - Entrance corridor providing a sense of arrival and leading the visitor to the ocean view. All rooms open off this central spine.
