GETTING IT DONE
THE HOUSE BUILT
Gareth Griffiths
Gabriela van Rooyen and Grant Kelbrick
Senior Architectural Technologist Gabriela van Rooyen discusses a challenging project she undertook privately. She conceived the home as a‘ floating barn’.
High above the cliffs of Constantia Kloof off Panorama Drive in Roodepoort, a remarkable house rises, where extreme site challenges were overcome through exceptional design and engineering.
The house was designed to highlight the breathtaking view.“ Someone had a dream, and I helped make it happen as the project architect. I was also backed by an experienced and efficient team on site,” Gabriela says.
The brownfields site included an old greenhouse and a double garage, with a north-facing view, a 20m fall, unobstructed scenery, and rocks.
“ My design response was to join the garage to the house via an interior entry into the house and extend the roof of the new house over the existing garage roof to form an attic storeroom for my boats,” adds Gabriela.
72 summer 2025-26 | www. tobuild. co. za