SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
A collaborative approach
Since 2013, a number of projects have been undertaken, including Duikersfontein cottage. A milestone was the reimagining of tourist accommodation cottages down the river at Sanddrif resort, part of Dwarsrivier Farm. This is anchored by the adaptive reuse of the beloved Ons Huisie cottage, which in the mid-1800s was home to the parents of famed South African poet, C Louis Leipoldt, from which they operated the Cederberg post office.
Through it all, this is a collaborative project.“ The role of the builder has been critical. Importantly, all the work has been undertaken by local workers living on the farm. Their knowledge of the place, materials, and rhythms of farm life has been integral to the success of the projects. The process has been deeply collaborative, with the local community forming a genuine partnership in bringing the farm into its next era. This partnership has added depth, continuity, and resilience to the work,” says Dobrovolsky.
One Huisie
Bedroom with its repurposed shopfront window.
Does it work?
The success of any programme lies in the results. In my view, the implementation of this dual-purpose architectural approach has been critical to the huge success of Cederberg Wines in the national and international market. Among other awards, Cederberg Winery was awarded the South African Wine Producer Trophy at the International Wine and Spirit Competition( 2024). The estate is noted for its sustainable farming approach and its fair dealings with employees and their families. The farm is an ongoing recipient of a healthy relationship with the Waitrose Foundation – the only such cellar in Africa.
Everything is done with purpose
The shopfront window positioned within the main bedroom at Duikerfontein was conceived as both a spatial and emotional device, framing the landscape as a living tableau while referencing a domestic scale rooted in reuse and memory. The window was salvaged from an old commercial building and repurposed as a way of bringing material history into the dialogue of the present. – Caroline Sohie
Leszek Dobrovolsky and Caroline Sohie
Dwarsrivier
Dwarsrivier( www. cederbergwine. com) lies off the N7 Cape-Namibia route, reached by 47km of highimpact gravel road interspersed with some hard surface. It has a colourful history of pioneering development, surviving in a tough climate, and showing steady improvement while“ making do” for over 130 years. As the farmer and chief winemaker, David Nieuwoudt puts it,“‘ n Boer maak‘ n plan!”
www. tobuild. co. za | autumn 2026 55