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In a tongue-in-cheek reference to Wimbledon, the tennis court becomes Centre Court, complete with a terraced grass embankment and a VIP viewing box for the fans. The landscaped garden effortlessly connects the main house with the clubhouse. -
After careful consideration of the impact of the lighting on the neighbours and potential light pollution, the tennis court was recessed into the landscape to reduce the height of the floodlights. -
Buddy admires his reflection in the mirrored wall of the games room. The full-length mirror not only complements the ballet bar but also creates an illusion of infinite space as it reflects the garden. -
The graffiti artwork in the games room was done by Christopher MacClements and the locker ensemble is from Raw Studios. -
Designed by the architects, the kitchen island consists of a single sheet of steel, folded into shape. The black powder-coated finish forms a striking contrast to the white oak wooden slab countertop. The oak bench is from Weylandts. -
The unusual black finishes in the kitchen enhance the industrial look and feel of the space. A couch upcycled by Adéle van der Merwe Interiors adds a splash of yellow. The floor tiles, aptly called Eco Grey, are made from recycled old tiles, crushed and remade into composite tiles. -
A steel sliding panel turns the interchangeable television and wine rack display into a hide-and-reveal system. The clay vases are from Wiid Design. -
Architects Johan Wentzel and Grete van As from W Design Architecture Studio say they had loads of fun during the design process.
PHOTOS Dook PRODUCTION Annemarie Meintjes WORDS Adele de Lange
A vacant stand alongside this family’s home was transformed into a recreation hub with a lap pool, a tennis court and even a clubhouse that everyone in the community gets to enjoy.
Throughout the year we dream about the perfect summer holiday spot, a place where you can escape from your daily chores, unwind and have fun with the kids all day long… But why play once a year when you can do so all year round?
This was the question that came up over dinner one evening when the vacant stand next to a sporty family’s home in Southdowns came onto the market. Dreams of expanding their garden with a tennis court and lap pool immediately came to mind, but the project soon evolved in response to the estate’s architectural guidelines to include plans for a clubhouse.
To turn their vision into reality, the family looked to architects Johan Wentzel and Grete van As of W Design Architecture Studio (WDAS) for guidance. The family are long-time admirers of their work: “We love how they’re always bringing something fresh and funky to their designs, and with this project we wanted to push the boundaries of convention.”
From the outset, this is what the architects did. “We decided to turn the design process on its head by making the building an extension of the outside instead of the other way round,” says Johan. An unobtrusive concrete-and-steel structure makes way for full-height glazing – windows that stack away completely, allowing inside and outside to interconnect seamlessly.
Taking their cue from the family’s original concept, the architects wanted to make sure the design chimed in with the fun-and-games theme. An unmistakable element of playfulness underlies the meticulous detailing of the design. “It was such a wonderful opportunity to experiment with different materials, textures and colours in unexpected combinations,” says Johan.
The unusual choice of black steel for the built-in kitchen table and bathroom vanity top are particularly eye-catching. It reinforces the industrial barn-style architecture, and a graffiti wall pays tongue-in-cheek homage to the tagging found at public play areas. Johan says they had the graffiti artist jump over the wall at night to do the artwork.
The family attributes the success of the project to the excellent team that made it all happen, including contractor Erik Pronk of CPM Projects and landscaper Mia Marsay, owner of Over the Garden Wall. “We had so much fun together that we were almost sad to see the end of it,” they say.
All bantering aside, the architects are serious about future-proofing any building they design. Says Johan, “We strongly believe our designs should be able to adapt and grow along with the changing needs of our clients.”
The family enjoys having a separate space to entertain family and friends, and members of the local community are reaping the benefits too. Various activities, including drama classes and pop-up craft shops, are hosted in the downstairs studio.
“The building can easily be converted into a small home,” says Johan. It would make the perfect stepping stone for the kids when they are ready to move out of the nest but still want to be close enough to enjoy Mom’s cooking.
