Philip Olmesdahl , a director of SAOTA agrees : “ In terms of materiality we favour concrete , natural materials and finishes that impart a serene and uncluttered environment . The authenticity of these materials means they are suitable for all projects , whatever the budget .” As ARRCC director Mark Rielly points out , “ Really good contemporary design has a well-balanced mix of functionality and practicality , as well as a special mystery that almost feels magical . This applies as much to multi-residential design as it does to single . There is much value created in good design .” In the residential property market , Laurie Wener , senior executive , developments for Pam Golding Properties in the Cape Town Metro says : “ The look and feel of homes is changing and , while it depends on the area and is over and above an ongoing demand for large , luxurious homes at the top end of the market , generally we are seeing a trend towards flexible , openplan designs with all bedrooms en-suite , usually smaller in size for easier maintenance .
“ We are also seeing the use of strong , lightweight structures for some types of construction , as well as insulated or prefabricated walls that reduce weight and labour costs , coupled with alternative power supply and climate control features and fast , effective domestic bandwidth as a requirement .” Carol Reynolds , Pam Golding Properties area principal for Durban Coastal endorses this view : “ The general appearance and feel of homes is becoming less ostentatious and more ecological , with the use of raw natural materials . The look is one of simple , understated elegance that complements the environment . We see a shift from the notion of a large mansion standing proud on its erf to a smaller stylish home that is secondary to the natural beauty that envelops it .” “ Today , it is more about the natural landscape and its inherent beauty than the home that happens to rest upon it . This trend is particularly evident in beautiful areas like the KZN coastal belt , where living outdoors is part of the lifestyle offering . Here the surrounds speak for themselves and homes tend to blend into their surroundings as an integral rather than separate component . He adds : “ We note a shift way from big doublestorey blocks to modular homes with different levels , cantilevered platforms and the use of wood , glass and steel . With clever design and no wasted space , it is very easy to fit four bedrooms into 200sqm . For example , one large open plan living area that extends onto an undercover veranda creates a sense of space . Passageways and corridors are a thing of the past – instead , it is modern and tasteful to create homes that are essentially open plan barns with indoor / outdoor flow , no wasted space and larger open areas with better proportions . High ceilings and exposed beams can create volume , which in itself gives the impression of space , even when the actual footprint of the home is small . In regard to renovations of existing residences , we are seeing lighter , brighter homes with more openplan living spaces and modernising of kitchens and bathrooms . “ Ultimately homes become an extension of the people who live in them , so building a dream home is a wonderful outlet for creative expression .” In catering for the rapidly evolving needs of the home owner of today and tomorrow , SAOTA utilises virtual reality ( VR ) to assist its architects and clients interact with design through an immersive interactive 3D walkthrough of the project at design stage . This means that people get to ‘ move in ’ their homes before they are even built !
Says SAOTA architect and specialist in 3D technology , Gerard Slee : “ SAOTA VR experiences come in a variety of forms and can be experienced in an Oculus Rift / Samsung Gear head-mounted display , on a website , or via the SAOTA custom app with or without Google Cardboard .” “ Our app works on any Android or Apple smart phone . Without a headset , it provides an experience of the design that is similar to Google Street View , except that the phone allows you to ‘ move ’ through the project . If you have access to a headset , the app splits down the middle and provides different views ( i . e . half the screen ) to each eye , with the Head Mounted Display ( HMD ) displaying different digital cameras to each eye . These digital cameras recreate depth at a human perspective , so combined with accurate head tracking we can place a user in a 3D environment so they can move through their home while it is still at concept stage . ( To view visit www . saota . com / vr < http :// www . saota . com / vr > )
“ The future of VR lies in how we learn to interact with digital space . In VR you cannot see what is happening around you outside the VR goggles , so one tends to reach out , point and touch things . For architects or designers , you can ’ t see the mouse or keyboard , so the next obvious step is immersive input ( with your hands ) and even voice control becoming the norm . This is exciting as it means that the tools that we use in digital space will change and allow for a much more natural way of manipulating light and space to produce even better architecture .”
RESOURCES
Pam Golding Properties
www . reimag . co . za FEBRUARY 2017 SA Real Estate Investor 21