Architect and Builder November/December 2015 | Page 64

WINNER RESIDENTIAL CATEGORY: Zinkwazi Beach House
Located on the steep eastward facing slopes above the Zinkwazi
beach, the judges said that this gem, using glass window walls
framed by an exposed structural steel structure, has unimpeded
views from the living spaces. “It was an absolute pleasure judging
this home. Even more of a pleasure was to see, first-hand, the
innovative, yet functional use of steel finished off by some skilled
and very neat fabrication,” they said.
The expression of this building is derived directly from the usage
requirements – enclosed spaces are built in concrete and masonry
and open or transparent spaces are constructed from steel and
glass. “These structural systems define the aesthetic language
of the building and speak directly to the functional aspects of the
spaces that they enclose,” the project team noted.
The proximity to the coast required careful attention to the coating
of the steel. Steel, with a high specification duplex paint coating
system, was therefore used. The balustrades are fabricated from
stainless steel.
Some important features of this home include:
• It is designed to be almost self-sufficient in terms of electricity
and water s \K