Francois Engelbretch Architect
HOUSE LOUW
Perched on the slopes of The Hottentots Mountain
Range (Gordon’s Bay, Cape Town) with striking views of
False Bay on the west, the site offered a unique design
opportunity. Favouring a modernist approach, the
design waswell structured with strong horizontal lines,
accentuated by the flat roofs and the timber louvers. Those
elements besides adding to the aesthetical value of the
house, are shading strategies against the harsh and yet
magnificent sunset. Another spatial defining feature of
the design is the 25m lap pool, next to which runs a gabion
laid stream which is part of the storm waters system.
When I joined Francois Engelbretch Architect, the main
structural elements of the ground floor had just been cast.
I was fortunate to track the progression of the construction
process up to the beginning of the finishing stage. I
was involved mainly with the designing and detailing of
components, namely the timber façade cladding, the
boundary walls, timber decks, balustrade and sun screens.
Regular site visits gave me a hand-on approach to
designing and detailing. I was able to witness the
sequential execution of the details on site, thereby
understanding ‘details-buidability’. The simplification
process of detailing aspires to a coherent whole
between the many components of making up the house.
The House Louw project gave me an insight of the
dynamics behind the success of a highly detailed
project. The cooperation between the design team and
the contractor pay an important role in the process as
well as the coordination with other parties involved.
16
2x COATS CEMFLEX WATERPROOFING
TO COVER COMPLETE UPSTAND BEAM.
AND DRESSED INTO ALUM. GUTTER WITH FLASH BAND
90x25mm THICK PURPLEHEART SILL PLANKS ON
69X44 TREATED GRADE 6 S.A. PINE SUPPORTS
65x50x6 GMS ANGLE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT RAIL
BOLTED ONTO 150x90x10 GMS BRACKET
150x90x10 GMS ANGLE BRACKET
CHEMICAL ANCHOR FIXED INTO RC BEAM
69x32 TREATED SA PINE GRADE 6
VERTICAL SUPPORT RAILS SCREW FIXED TO
90x65x6 GMS ANGLE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT RAIL
150x90x10 GMS BRACKET
CHEMICAL ANCHOR FIXED INTO RC BEAM
TO ENGINEER'S DETAIL
90x65x6 GMS ANGLE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT RAIL
BOLTED TO ANGLE BRACKETS ON R.C. BEAM
TO ENGINEER'S SPECIFICATION
90x65x6 GMS ANGLE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT RAIL
BOLTED ONTO 150x90x10 GMS ANGLE CLEATS WELDED
125x75x8 GMS ANGLE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT RAIL
BOLTED ONTO 150x90x10 GMS ANGLE BRACKETS ON WALL
100x80 SEAMLESS ALUMINIUM GUTTER
90x75x8 GMS ANGLE BRACKET
CHEMICAL ANCHOR FIXED INTO RC BEAM
22mm THICK PURPLEHEART
RANDOMN PATTERN SHIP LAP CLADDING
WITH CONCEALED FIXING TO VERTICAL
SUPPORT FRAME
TREATED SA PINE GRADE 6 GROUND
VERTICAL SUPPORT
60x60x6 GMS ANGLE CLEATS WELDED ONTO
150X75 RHS VERTICAL SUPPORT POSTS
60x60x6 GMS ANGLE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT RAIL
BOLTED ONTO 60x60x6 GMS ANGLE CLEATS WELDED ONTO
150X75 RHS VERTICAL SUPPORT POSTS
150x75 GMS R.H.S. VERTICAL SUPPORT POST UP TO R.C. UPSTAND BEAM ABOVE
DOWN PIPE
150x75 GMS R.H.S. VERTICAL SUPPORT POST UP TO R.C. UPSTAND BEAM ABOVE
125x75x8 GMS ANGLE FIXING RAIL
BOLTED TO ANGLE FIXING BRACKETS ON WALL
THROUGH OBLONG HOLES FOR ADJUSTMENT
22mm THICK PURPLEHEART
RANDOMN PATTERN SHIP LAP CLADDING
WITH CONCEALED FIXING TO VERTICAL
SUPPORT FRAME
65x50x6 GMS ANGLE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT RAIL
BOLTED ONTO 150x90x10 GMS BRACKET
60x60x6 GMS ANGLE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT RAIL
BOLTED ONTO 60x60x6 GMS ANGLE CLEATS WELDED ONTO
190X76 RHS VERTICAL SUPPORT POSTS
STUDY TIMBER DECK
150x75 GMS R.H.S. VERTICAL SUPPORT POST UP TO R.C. UPSTAND BEAM ABOVE
150x90x10 GMS BRACKET
CHEMICAL ANCHOR FIXED INTO RC BEAM
44x69 TREATED SA PINE GRADE 6 VERTICAL SUPPORTS
VERTICAL SUPPORT
150x75 GMS R.H.S. VERTICAL SUPPORT
Ground Floor
A
B
D
C
44x69 T