including several trees, and the three
houses and administration building were
primarily placed to avoid these trees.
Most of these could be protected during
construction and at completion already
created a settled, shaded atmosphere.
The elongated inner pedestrian
courtyard between the houses provides
a safe place for children to play. This
area also provides a variety of spaces:
a small playing field, a wild tree space,
a paved braai area, an infants’ lawn,
a play-frame area and a flower and
vegetable garden. Shaded verandas
from each house overlook this central
space.
Buildings were oriented
predominantly north-facing, with
bedrooms and living spaces on the north
and service spaces (bathrooms, etc.) on
the south. Where southern orientation
was unavoidable, for instance in the
parents’ sitting room, a corner of the
space protrudes to catch north sun, or
a clerestory window lifts the southern
portion of roof above the northern
portion. Passive design principles
were followed as far as possible,
from an environmental sustainability
motivation as well as occupant comfort
and economic points of view. These
included:
• Good solar orientation by elongating
buildings to the north
• Short eastern and western facades
with minimal windows
• Large windows and clerestories for
day-lighting, but shaded to prevent
heat build-up inside
• Window placement for crossventilation
• High ceilings with opening
clerestories to use the stack effect
• Double-skin brick walling with cavity
walls on the eastern and western
sides
• Large overhangs on all four sides,
including the south
• Pergolas and verandas to provide
added shading