WORDS Martin Jacobs PHOTOS Alex Lesage and Thom Fougere

Rising from the water as rugged stone formations crowned with windswept pines, Thirty Thousand Islands is the world’s largest freshwater archipelago. The islets, stretching along the eastern edge of Georgian Bay – part of Canada’s Great Lakes – are only accessible by canoe and kayak, rowing boat, motorboat and yacht. They spark childhood imaginings of adventure, the sort conjured by Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five or Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. While many are so small they host only migrating birds, others cradle summer homes that soak up seclusion and serenity. On Pine Island, one such home stands quietly among bottle-green foliage – a cottage intended to weather with grace while celebrating the great outdoors, and that reimagines our innate connection to nature through contemporary design.

Montreal-based architect Adam Robinson of Bureau Tempo and multidisciplinary designer Thom Fougere, founder of his eponymous studio, spent almost four years bringing their vision to life. The two first met many years earlier, at design school. “Our collaboration worked because it was more open than prescriptive,” says Adam. “The fluid nature of the brief allowed us to respond intuitively and give ideas time to mature. Often, a conversation or sketch would unlock a new direction, reinforcing the value of giving a project room to breathe and trusting the process.”

Their canvas was the footprint of a former derelict home, their process intentionally open-ended, and their brief an evolving conversation. Client time confirmed that all were intent on crafting a home that paid homage to the elements by emphasising material honesty, tactility and texture.

This dialogue with the land began, quite literally, barefoot. “When visiting the site early on with our client, we spent time walking alongside the mottled, stone-covered beach,” says Thom. “Translating that tactile experience into the interior in unexpected ways became a guiding goal. It often came down to finding the minimum touch with the maximum impact to achieve this.”

The Y-shaped design honours Pine Island’s topography. The home’s sleeping quarters are housed in two wings, two bedrooms in one, the primary suite in the other. These wings are uppermost on the slope, maximising privacy; they connect to the house via an elevated glass walkway that steps down to a compact, oak-lined entrance hall.

“The journey to the cottage serves up an abundance of stimuli, so the entrance was conceived as a moment of calm – a reprieve for the senses – before gradually reintroducing familiar tones and textures as the space opens and reconnects you to the landscape,” says Adam. As you step into the heart of the home, light pours in through oversized apertures, including a light well. The kitchen, dining and sunken living spaces (the latter with a double-sided fireplace that warms a porch) are interconnected, cascading down the slope.

“We spent time early on discussing the idea of patina and the beauty of materials that show signs of life and wear,” says Adam. “That dialogue built trust and allowed us to propose material selections and approaches designed to age gracefully over time.”

The cottage’s many tactile surfaces speak to this philosophy. Rough-to-the-touch local fieldstone, reminiscent of rugged picnic tables, forms a monolithic kitchen island. Burnished concrete floors in the living area fall almost level with outdoor stone formations that abut windows. Wood imbues the home with warmth, like walnut and white oak for kitchen cabinetry, and Douglas fir – which will patinate and mark with use – for the dining table. Eramosa, a Canadian stone with a marble-like appearance, was flamed for bathroom floors, its weathered feel suggestive of the island’s stone underfoot. In the primary suite, cupboard doors were replaced with hand-loomed rugs, suspended from forged iron frames that sway with use and provide acoustic dampening.

The creatives paid equal attention to other sensory and mood-enhancing details. “Lighting was often at the heart of our decision-making process,” explains Adam. “We did not want to disturb the serenity of the darkness on the island, and how finishes would feel when very dimly lit was paramount in selecting materials.”

To this end, walls and ceilings were finished in plaster, its hue tinted by shifts in exterior conditions. Diff use light, like that from an Akari pendant above the dining table and lantern-like lamps throughout the home, adds warmth to rooms. Task lighting was sourced from brands such as Artemide and Flos, and bespoke cast-iron sconces repeat the blacksmith-forged tactility of wrought-iron handrails.

The home’s many bespoke finishes and furnishings nod to a collaborative personalisation of the living experience. An integrated sofa, steps and storage, for example, will acquire character with use. Commissioned tables, cabinets, benches and rugs, all in hues hand-picked from the island, speak to a contemporary aesthetic with a rustic backstory. Much like the past, with time this cottage too will become weathered and worn and lived in, its patina as rugged as that of the windswept pines. bureautempo.ca | thomfougere.com

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COMPILED BY Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Vinay Panjwani, Hiroyuki Oki, Fernando Guerra, Trieu Chien, Samuel Hartnett, Hufton + Crow Photography, PHX INDIA, Dook (Kalahari Dunes), Elsa Young (Klaff Family Sports Centre), FLINK Studios (Mombo & Bisate), Carlo Antonelli (Ivory Coast Embassy), Elsa Young (The Gianni Ravazzotti Biodiversity Centre), Gordon Jubber (Volley Roper) RENDERS SAOTA

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has revealed its full 2026 shortlist of over 416 projects up for awards in the Completed Buildings, Interiors, Future Projects and Landscape categories.

This year’s top 10 shortlisted countries include the USA, China, India, UK and Australia. The finalists range from major global architecture firms – including Foster + Partners, Snøhetta, Herzog & de Meuron, Coldefy, Grimshaw, Sanjay Puri Architects, Perkins&Will and Woods Bagot – to work from an exciting new generation of emerging studios.

10 Outstanding International Projects

Below, in no particular order, are 10 outstanding international projects up for awards this year:

The Folia by ET Architects | WAF Completed Buildings: Mixed Use

Located in Anji County, Zhejiang Province, at the confluence of Huxi Stream and Lingfeng Lake, The Folia sits within the ‘Two Mountains’ Future Science and Technology City. With a gross floor area of 157,000 square metres, this super-tall mixed-use complex brings together a hotel, offices, retail and apartments in a single landmark development.

Prestige University by Sanjay Puri Architects | WAF Completed Buildings: Higher Education and Research

Set within a 32-acre university campus, this five-level building houses the main administration offices, auditorium, seminar halls, library and cafeteria. Its terraces step up diagonally from the northern end and are fully accessible to students and faculty – effectively transforming the building into an open-air auditorium set within a landscaped environment.

Lotus Clubhouse by MIA Design Studio | WAF Landscape

In tropical cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, openness, shade, vegetation, airflow and water are not aesthetic luxuries but essential infrastructure for human comfort. Conceived as a living organism rather than an isolated architectural object, the Lotus Clubhouse breathes in harmony with its terrain, preserving ecological continuity and biodiversity within a new urban development. Architecture dissolves into landscape, allowing nature to remain the project’s primary spatial identity.

Copper Villa by Jacobsen Studio | WAF Completed Buildings: House and Villa (Urban)

Situated on Jumeirah Bay Island in the Arabian Gulf, Copper Villa occupies a privileged position between the intensity of Dubai and the quieter atmosphere of a seaside retreat. Defined by materiality and spatial clarity over historicist language, the project reinterprets principles drawn from Brazilian residential architecture – openness, continuity and the tactile presence of materials – in dialogue with local traditions of shade, enclosure and filtered light.

Saha Casa Boutique Hotel by Ho Khue Architects | WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure

Set in Da Nang’s tourist district – an area dominated by bland concrete and glass – the Saha Casa Boutique Hotel offers a considered alternative to its surroundings. Designed to shelter guests from the city’s noise and activity, the project creates a calm, restorative environment that optimises functional density without compromising on tranquillity or lasting architectural significance.

Terra House by Atelier Design N Domain LLP | WAF Completed Buildings: House and Villa – (Rural/Coastal)

Rooted in the landscape of Mallapuram, Terra House takes its cue from the horizon – where earth and sky exist in constant dialogue. Wind, light and monsoon air move freely through the structure, which listens to rather than imposes upon its setting. Spaces flow into one another through courts, thresholds and bridges, allowing joy, solitude and openness to coexist.

Techo International Airport by Foster + Partners | WAF Completed Buildings: Transport

Located 20 kilometres south of Phnom Penh’s city centre, Techo International Airport offers a new vision for Cambodia’s capital. The design draws on one of the world’s oldest civilisations, responding to vernacular forms and tropical climate, while a broader masterplan envisages a new airport city centred on a state-of-the-art terminal that sets new benchmarks for passenger experience and sustainability.

Zayed National Museum by Foster + Partners | WAF Completed Buildings: Culture

Located at the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum traces the history of the UAE from its earliest human settlements to the civilisations that shaped its culture and identity. Rooted in the values of the nation’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the building’s form draws on the challenge of sustaining life in a desert environment while honouring the UAE’s rich cultural traditions.

Two Sheds by RTA Studio | WAF Completed Buildings: House and Villa – (Rural/Coastal)

Situated just below the crest of a hill with commanding views of the Remarkables, Kingston and Coronet Peak, this rural home draws on the vernacular sheep-shed architecture of the region. The programme is divided between two sheds – one housing the living spaces and primary bedroom, the other containing guest bedrooms, a family living area and garaging – with entry positioned between the two.

New Government Quarter by Nordic Office of Architecture with Haptic Architects | WAF Completed Buildings: Civic and community

The New Government Quarter consolidates ministries, public institutions and everyday city life within an open yet secure civic landscape, giving physical form to the ambition of ‘more democracy, more openness, more humanity’. Five new buildings and two sensitively restored structures are arranged as a ring around a sequence of interconnected public spaces, stitching the quarter back into Oslo’s historic centre and transforming what was once a barrier-laden area into a walkable, human-scaled campus.

South African Firms on the 2026 Shortlist

Nine projects by South African practices have been shortlisted this year:

Klaff Family Sports Centre by Hubo Studio

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Sport

The Klaff Family Sports Centre at King David Linksfield reimagines the school sports facility as a complete educational complex: a place where performance, recovery, analysis, belonging and joy are designed as one continuous experience. The project’s power lies in its kindness. School sport can be intimidating, exclusionary and overly performance-driven. Here, the architecture deliberately softens that culture without diluting ambition. Colour, acoustics, material warmth and spatial openness are used to create an environment where students of all abilities feel invited to participate. | hubostudio.com

Kalahari Dunes Private Game Reserve by ARRCC

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure & WAF Interiors: Hotel

Conceptually, this primal and raw building starts with a simple rectangle. The main lodge incision creates the focal point for the entrance and overall connecting space. This also creates a separation between the private owner’s wing and the public accommodation to the north and west. The Main Lodge’s public functions sit over four bedrooms and support functions. Guest villas, grouped in three pairs of cottages, are arranged along the sand dune ‘chain’.

The interiors are defined by a restrained material and colour palette that draws directly from the Kalahari. Rust and honeyed tones reference the desert sands, complemented by copper, brass and weathering steels that deepen over time. Materials are selected as much for performance as for expression, with surfaces allowed to retain a degree of grit and patina rather than being overly refined or polished. | arrcc.com

The Sanctuary at Wilderness Mombo by Black Sable Designs and Artichoke Interior Design

Location: Botswana 

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure

Situated in a remote location in the Okavango Delta – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – with seasonal flooding, submerged access routes and bridges, sits Mombo’s spa – conceptualised as The Sanctuary. Employing local skills and labour, and responding to the strict laws governing construction in this extremely sensitive location, the buildings were unable to incorporate any form of permanent construction, such as concrete. Instead, the buildings use temporary construction methods, such as ground screws and roped timber foundations, so that they can be fully removed and the site restored if required.

The building is conceptualised as a series of deliberate thresholds that slowly prepare you for your spa treatment. From the outside, a dry, grassy and hot natural environment leads to a protected oasis and through to a central sanctuary. This sanctuary is low, slatted and surrounded by a series of intricate, organic, curved walls with water features at floor level and muted, dappled skylights overhead. blacksable.co.za | artichokeinteriordesign.com

The Sanctuary at Wilderness Bisate by Black Sable Designs and Artichoke Interior Design

Location: Rwanda 

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure

In the remote forests of Eastern Rwanda sits Wilderness Bisate Sanctuary, a place where guests can relax and connect with themselves and others between the arduous treks to see the endangered mountain gorillas.

By utilising various types and lengths of thresholds between spaces, the preceding and succeeding spaces are given a place to exist independently, allowing guests the time to transition between them. The thresholds also serve as a counterpoint, being in direct opposition to what comes before and after, deeply emphasising each space. blacksable.co.za | artichokeinteriordesign.com

9Miles Learning Centre by SAOTA

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Future Project: Education

9Miles Learning Centre is conceived as a permanent community infrastructure for Strandfontein, a marginalised coastal settlement on Cape Town’s Cape Flats. Designed pro bono for 9Miles, an organisation committed to improving its crime- and drug-scourged community, the project establishes a safe, robust and resilient environment for youth development. It brings together education, mentorship and community engagement within a single architectural intervention, set against a context shaped by environmental fragility and historic exclusion.

A sheltered roof garden introduces a proactive space that enables hands-on learning while responding to wind exposure through built form. At ground level, an amphitheatre extends the building into the public realm, supporting events, dialogue and collective use. The space incorporates an illustration by Russell Abrahams, known as Yay Abe, a local multidisciplinary artist whose work captures the character of the community. | saota.com

Yardcom Office by SAOTA

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Future Project: Office

The project transcends traditional preservation by treating heritage as an active urban gene. Rather than a superficial makeover, the design uncovers the building’s historical stratification, allowing construction traces from different eras to coexist in a continuous, multi-layered dialogue.

A biophilic design approach maximises natural light, integrates natural elements and fosters a healthier and more connected spatial experience. Although the light well is relatively compact, it effectively enhances daylight penetration and contributes to a more comfortable, healthier and more supportive working environment throughout the office. | saota.com

Ivory Coast Embassy by GLH & Associates Architects 

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Civic and community  

Set among Pretoria’s mature jacaranda trees, the Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire is a contemporary diplomatic landmark that expresses unity, identity and openness, rooted in West African cultural traditions. Its elliptical spiral form – a ribbon-like volume suggesting upward movement and continuity – lends the building a distinct civic and ceremonial presence. The fully glazed facade is wrapped in a sun-shading screen of laser-cut stainless steel panels, their diagonal bands and diamond-shaped openings inspired by traditional Ivorian fabrics and basketry, and carefully calibrated to solar orientation for generous daylight, long views and energy efficiency. | glh.co.za

The Gianni Ravazzotti Biodiversity Centre by Office 24-7 Architecture

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Interiors: Temporary/Meanwhile Uses  

Designed as an immersive journey through the region’s rich ecology, the Centre offers hands-on educational environments that promote active learning and foster a deeper connection between people, communities, and the natural world.

The exhibition features five themed spaces and nineteen subthemes, engaging learners from Grade 4 and aligning with South Africa’s Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, and Geography curriculum. Through tactile, multisensory exhibits and the integration of local vernacular, the Centre prioritizes inclusive participation and accessibility for both rural and private school groups.

Innovative design elements – including a life-size termite mound crafted from over 1,600 CNC-cut plywood components – highlight a unique approach that limits digital technology in favour of analogue activities, creating a vibrant, sensory learning experience.

Sustainability is at the heart of the Centre, with exhibition structures made from responsibly sourced birch and pine, minimizing environmental impact and supporting long-term resilience. | office24-7.co.za

Volley Roper by TANN Architecture

Location: South Africa

Category: WAF Completed Buildings: Housing 

The Volley Roper student housing project creates a new aesthetic language to one of the main academic arteries in Pretoria – Volley Roper is home 155 students – framing the Brooklyn suburb in Pretoria en-route to the University of Pretoria main campus. The main waved facade interprets the spatial and material character of Brooklyn’s modernist architectural heritage within a contemporary student living scheme.

In the suburb, the 1960’s residential work of deceased architect John Claassens helped shape a distinctly local modernism – One of his houses flank Volley Roper to the south on the same site and the Claassens House was refurbished as social and study spaces to the student housing – a house which informed the nature of the new building’s facade.

The dynamic breeze-block screen wraps the building, giving it a distinct identity and creating a layered architectural expression responsive to light, privacy, and climate, with the main facade being west facing. Rooted in community, the Volley Roper building fosters a thriving student living environment that encourages connection, interaction, and a strong sense of belonging. | tannarchitecture.com

World Architecture Festival and Inside World Festival of Interiors will take place at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 18 – 20 November 2026. | worldarchitecturefestival.com

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Cape Town’s city centre is entering a new era, as the city’s most discerning residents seek convenience, comfort and architectural presence within a connected urban setting. At the heart of that shift sits Bree Street, and at 142 Bree Street, The Madison arrives as a new sculptural landmark by Tricolt Group.

Sculpted Into the Skyline

Rising 23 storeys above one of Cape Town’s most culturally alive precincts, The Madison is a confident addition to the skyline, framed by uninterrupted views stretching from Table Mountain to Table Bay.

Its form is sculptural yet restrained, defined by flowing lines and a facade that responds to light, movement and perspective. Every detail has been selected with intention, creating a timeless design that doesn’t shout but speaks with precision.

The Madison comprises 391 residences designed for a lifestyle shaped by balance, clarity and understated sophistication. Floor-to-ceiling glazing dissolves the boundary between interior and city, drawing natural light and sweeping views into every home.

A Residence for Every Rhythm

Executive Suites – Priced from R2 650 000 | USD $182 000 | €158 000
Ideal for secure, lock-up-and-go city living with seamless access to premium amenities. Designed for efficiency without compromise.

Executive One-Bed Apartments – Priced from R3 150 000 | USD $191 000 | €168 000
Perfect for professionals seeking privacy, generous proportions and elevated everyday comfort in the heart of the city.

One-Bed Apartments – Priced from R3 550 000 | USD $212 000 | €183 000
Well-balanced layouts designed for singles or couples who value flexibility, convenience and uninterrupted city views.

Two-Bed Apartments – Priced from R6 815 000 | USD $406 000 | €352 000
Thoughtfully crafted for couples or small families, offering space, flow and long-term liveability in a connected urban setting. 

Penthouse Collection – Priced from R12 440 000 | USD $753 000 | €652 000
Live above the city in a limited selection of penthouse residences that crown The Madison and offer an elevated expression of urban luxury.

The Beat of Bree Street

A welcome addition to the precinct, The Madison is shaped by a carefully curated collection of lifestyle amenities that mirror the vibrancy of Bree Street.

Known for its restaurants, galleries, hotels and café culture, Bree Street is where Cape Town comes alive – its creative energy and pedestrian-friendly rhythm turning everyday city living into something closer to ritual. As the recognised epicentre of First Thursdays and Open Streets, it is a precinct that continues to draw both residents and visitors with an effortless pull.

Exceptional Amenities and Services

• Concierge and reception services
• Sixth-floor podium clubhouse with swimming pool
• Landscaped outdoor leisure areas
• Cape Town’s first Gold’s Gym
• Sauna and steam rooms
• Flexible co-working spaces
• Retail, café, bar and hospitality offerings
• Secure parking and controlled access
• 24-hour CCTV and security control room

Positioned for Long-Term Value

For investors, The Madison presents a compelling case. Driven by strong tourism, soaring short-term rental demand and ongoing urban revitalisation, Bree Street continues to outperform as a consistently in-demand urban location.

The Madison offers early buyers the chance to secure an investment in one of Cape Town’s most tightly held and high-performing precincts, where capital growth is estimated at 10 per cent per annum. Registered buyers receive a R100 000 early investor benefit. The purchase price is VAT-inclusive and free of transfer duty.

For buyers interested in short-term rental returns, The Madison offers professional rental management, creating a seamless, hassle-free ownership experience from guest bookings to day-to-day operations.

The online sales launch takes place on 29 July 2026, with a R100 000 discount available to those who reserve on the day. Visit themadison.co.za to register and find out more.

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WORDS Annette Klinger PRODUCTION & PHOTOS Paris Brummer

To paraphrase from Stewart Brand’s seminal How Buildings Learn, the architectural ideal of permanence is diametrically opposed to the reality of change. Architecture is perpetually at the whim of forces that can be as mundane as residents wanting to knock out a couple of walls, or as profound as the passage of time.

It’s this pragmatic view that has seen next-generation architects like Carl Jacobsz of C76 Architecture embrace a more ephemeral approach to structural design, framing impermanence as a feature, not a bug. “Nature is adaptive and flexible, and it informs my search for an architectural language that’s relevant in today’s changing times,” he says while discussing one of his latest projects – a prefabricated cabin that, should its owners wish, could be disassembled, loaded onto a two-axle truck, and rebuilt on another site.

Not that the owners would want to move. Situated 200 metres from the ocean on a farm near Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape, the steel cabin is designed to make the owners feel enveloped by their rural surroundings. It’s a place where Ankole cows saunter past, scorpions and snakes go about their business, and fishing boats haul out chokka in the distance. “A main focus of this cabin was to provide a basic shelter where you can enjoy nature,” Carl says. “The architectural aesthetic wasn’t the primary concern; the focus was on experiences, like lying in your bed and looking at the expanse of the ocean while listening to birds chirping.”

The cabin’s design merges Carl’s love for reusable materials and adaptable modular structures with the remoteness of the site, which didn’t have the infrastructure to transport lorry-loads of building materials. “We designed it almost as a kit of parts: the components were made by architectural steel manufacturers Estee Automation in Joburg and transported to the site, where Zenios Construction assembled it,” he says.

From an ecological standpoint, the cabin’s modular design also meant lower impact on-site during construction, needing 80-90% less water than a building of equal size would require if it used concrete and bricks. “This is a water-scarce area, therefore a dry construction approach was more considerate,” says Carl. “The only part of the build that needed water was the substructure.”

The minimalist form of the cabin is a function of its design. “The shape is a consequence of what we wanted to achieve,” explains Carl. “We wanted it to be as simple as possible, because the more complicated it gets, the more expensive and diffi cult it becomes to assemble. When you design something that’s flexible and movable, every joint needs to be considered, down to the bolts and holes.”

With a footprint of 70m2 – 20m2 of which is the patio – liveability was another driver of design. “Many of which is the patio – liveability was another driver of design. “Many of us have stayed in those wedding venue cabins where you feel as though you’re dying from heat exhaustion, so in this cabin we emphasised comfort: it has high volumes with high, openable windows to let hot air escape; the walls are over-insulated and covered with aluminium slats that add an extra layer of shading; and all the windows and doors slide open, and are positioned to maximise cross-ventilation.”

Inside, a moody palette of charcoal joinery, polished concrete fl ooring and black steel, off set by light timber ceilings and accents, encourages cocooning. The layout is spartan, with an open-plan kitchen and lounge extending onto an ocean-front patio; there’s also a small bathroom, storage facilities, and a loft bedroom with its own balcony.

More of a couple’s retreat than a permanent residence, the cabin’s windows and doors have sliding hinged screens that double as security shutters, enabling the entire structure to close up like an abstract sculpture until the next visit. “It’s a certain type of person that likes this kind of place,” says Carl. “It forces its residents to touch it and interact with it, to open hatches and slide screens. It’s a bit like rotating the sails of a yacht to catch the wind. You have to use your hands to experience the cabin’s full potential.” | c76.co.za

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WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Courtesy of Alejandro Cateto

Translating culturally specific references into an interior language that feels contemporary rather than purely decorative is no easy task. Casa Capirote, however, does so with considerable finesse, thanks to a light-filled interior that is a reflection of local history as much as it is an expression of modernity and sophistication.

Inspired by the essence of Seville, particularly Triana pottery, interior designer Alejandro Cateto wanted the apartment to feel connected to the city without becoming a recreation of a traditional Sevillian interior. “I was not interested in literally reproducing Triana pottery or using it solely as a decorative device,” he says. “Instead, I tried to understand the language behind it: its use of colour, rhythm, repetition, geometry and craftsmanship.”

These traditional ideas find expression in the composition of the space, the colour palette and the relationship between the different materials. “The references are recognisable, but they have been simplified and reinterpreted. For me, contemporary design does not require us to abandon tradition, but rather to learn how to view it from a new perspective,” says Alejandro.

Instead of conventional partitions, which would have made the compact apartment feel fragmented and boxed in, he uses strategically placed curtains to create a flexible divide between social and private areas. “Depending on how they are arranged, they can completely transform the apartment,” explains Alejandro. The diaphanous fabric hangs from rails set into the ceiling and shifts with the air moving through the apartment, catching the light differently throughout the day. “During the day, the spaces can remain open and visually connected, while they can be enclosed whenever greater intimacy is required,” he continues. “They also introduce softness, movement and a certain theatrical quality, which contrasts with the more solid architectural elements.”

Beyond their role in dividing the space, the curtains’ semi-sheer fabric helps diffuse natural light throughout the apartment, enhancing its colour scheme of earthy and green hues. “Seville has a particularly intense quality of light, and colour changes enormously depending on the time of day. I wanted the palette to respond to that light rather than remain visually static,” says Alejandro. “The greens, earthy tones and warmer accents become brighter and more energetic in direct daylight,” he continues, “while in the afternoon and evening they acquire greater depth and create a more enveloping atmosphere.”

The lime mortar surfaces throughout the apartment also contribute to the shifting daylight, absorbing and reflecting light in a softer and less uniform way than a conventionally painted wall.

Alejandro was drawn to using lime mortar not only because of its close relationship with Andalusian architecture, but also because of its honesty and sensory quality. “Rather than treating it as a historicist gesture, we used it as a quiet architectural backdrop. Its texture creates a dialogue with the smoother finishes, clean lines and more sculptural contemporary pieces in the apartment,“ he says. “The contrast between the irregularity of the lime mortar and the precision of the furniture allows both languages to become more visible.”

In Casa Capirote, local craftsmanship forms part of the architecture and the narrative of the project, while the more refined pieces introduce clarity and allow those details to breathe. It is a process of addition, but also of restraint. “The handcrafted elements should not appear as isolated decorative objects, while the contemporary pieces should not erase the identity or irregularity of the materials surrounding them,” says Alejandro. “A space reaches the right equilibrium when the different elements stop competing with one another and begin to feel as though they belong to the same world, even when they come from different periods or traditions.” catetocateto.com | @wearecatetocateto

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The launch of THIRTEENONUP marks another milestone for Blok, returning to Green Point for the first time in a decade and further expanding their portfolio across Green Point, Sea Point and the City Bowl.

Here life settles into a gentle rhythm between the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain National Park. Each day unfolds in layers of calm, connection and simplicity.

Located at 13 Upper Portswood Road, Blok’s new five-storey building comprises 52 homes:

• 11 Studio apartments.
• 20 One-bedroom apartments.
• 2 One-bedroom Garden apartments.
• 10 Two-bedroom apartments.
• 3 Two-bedroom Garden apartments.
• 2 Three-bedroom apartments.
• 2 Three-bedroom Garden Villa apartments.
• 2 Penthouses.

THIRTEENONUP is a short walk from Green Point Park, Cape Town Stadium, the Sea Point Promenade and the V&A Waterfront – a location that reflects Blok’s focus on walkable, well-connected neighbourhoods.

Beyond the investment proof point, Green Point has matured into one of the Atlantic Seaboard’s more family-friendly addresses. Tree-lined streets, the green expanse of Green Point Park, a weekly parkrun, the urban park and biodiversity garden, and a genuinely walkable high street put schools, grocers, cafés and the coastline within easy reach – the kind of day-to-day convenience that increasingly draws permanent residents, not only holiday-home buyers and investors.

“Green Point is one of those neighbourhoods that works on every level, it’s a strong investment node, but it’s also somewhere people genuinely want to live and raise a family,” says CEO of Blok, Jacques van Embden. “THIRTEENONUP is our 22^nd development, and it reflects our years of building for that balance between everyday convenience and long-term value.”

Apartment living isn’t flat living.

Beyond an apartment’s four walls, THIRTEENONUP features an atrium and vertical garden that welcomes you as you enter the building, along with suspended walkways, sculpted stairs and shared garden spaces throughout. A decadent pool deck and engaging children’s play area add substance to the amenities.

Materiality and light shape the living experience. Warm wood, stone, textured walls, black metal and terracotta details, along with soft, integrated lighting, enhance atmosphere and flow. Homes are thoughtfully designed with functional joinery. Larger apartments feature gardens, and the living spaces are simple yet layered.

Other key features include:

• Air-conditioning included in all apartments.
• A parking bay is included in One-bedroom and Two-bedroom apartments, and two parking bays included with Three-bedroom apartments and the Penthouses.
• Elevated lifestyle pool deck and children’s play area.
• Pet-friendly apartments.
• Concierge, building manager and 24-hour on-site security.
• A walkable location with cafés, restaurants and convenience right on the doorstep.

Location. Life. Live. 

Here, morning light and the fresh Atlantic Ocean breeze filter through your window. Spaces are designed to feel calm, offering a sense of retreat while still living near day-to-day convenience.

Surrounded by parks, cafés, grocery stores and the coastline, everything is within walking distance – from morning coffee dates to evening strolls – and nothing feels rushed. It’s considered. Everything you need is just a few steps away.

With apartments starting from R2 895 000, THIRTEENONUP reflects a quieter evolution of urban living – ideal for those seeking a family-friendly lifestyle and those looking for permanence in the city.

More layers will be revealed on Wednesday, 8 July. For more information, visit thirteenonup.co.za.

If you would like to invest in a THIRTEENONUP apartment, get in touch – contact Blok via email at sales@blok.co.za or call +27 66 186 1658

About Blok

Blok is a Cape Town residential property developer, building award-winning and industry-leading, intuitively designed urban apartments along the Atlantic Seaboard and in Cape Town’s city centre.

With over a decade of experience and 21 successful developments to their name, Blok has built a reputation for design-led apartments and thoughtfully integrated spaces intended to enhance city life, creating not just a home, but a place to belong, connect and thrive.

Blok delivers urban living in a contemporary and innovative way – a chance to rediscover the neighbourhood, and yourself.

The post Welcome to Layered Living appeared first on Visi.

COMPILED BY Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Jamie Navarro and Fabian Martínez, Adam Letch, Mads Morgensen, Paris Brummer, Jaime Navarro

Touching on the leafy theme in VISI issue #144 and our trends guru Chris Reid’s deep-dive into Eco-Brutalism on page 76, these spaces from the VISI archives all marry rampant greenery with raw concrete. The hard edges of these homes and hotels aren’t softened with paint or embellishments, but with plants.

Puerto Escondido Hotel

“Hotel Terrestre is embedded in the landscape, as if it has been there for hundreds of years,” says architect Alberto Kalach of his otherworldly masterpiece, 25 kilometres northwest of resort town Puerto Escondido in the state of Oaxaca. Alberto knows a thing or two about this area. It may be a half-day’s drive from his Mexico City studio, Taller de Arquitectura X, but the pristine coastline famed for its surf is already home to a handful of his projects. So when approached by Carlos Couturier, co-founder of Mexican boutique hotel group Grupo Habita, to design a multi-sensorial property that redefines sustainable tourism, he jumped at the opportunity.

His environmentally sensitive approach to architecture has shaped several structures in the area, including Hotel Escondido and the award-winning restaurant Kakurega Omakase. These buildings hold their own in a landscape populated by hotspots like Casa Wabi, a retreat by starchitect Tadao Ando, and a permanent outdoor installation by artist Bosco Sodi.

Read the full feature on this Puerto Escondido Hotel.

Lanseria Eco-estate Home

“The site, sun and climate were integral to the design process and we drew inspiration from these elements,” says Enrico Daffonchio, who together with Leigh Maurtin designed the home with extensive input from the owners Lukas and Wendy van Niekerk.

The team were very familiar with the ecological guidelines of the estate as Daffonchio Architects had helped draft them. All of the properties are single storey, cut into the ground to minimise the impact on the horizon: The house is sunk to account for the natural ground level and slope of the estate, so each property has a view over the one in front of them.

This home, which is designed as a set of pavilions with deep overhangs, separated by a series of courtyards and green fingers that act as sheltered outdoor living spaces, is further camouflaged from its neighbours thanks to its roof gardens. The entire footprint is covered in native vegetation so that the boundary between the house and surrounding grasslands is almost indiscernible from above.

Read the full feature on this Lanseria Eco-estate Home.

Chilean House

It’s a house, but only in the broadest definition of the term, says co-owner Sofia von Ellrichshausen of this structure in the foothills of the Andes mountains in central Chile. She and fellow architect and artist Mauricio Pezo have been sharing their academic and artistic lives for the past two decades, and together head up the internationally renowned art and architecture studio Pezo von Ellrichshausen.

The couple built their new home in a secluded area surrounded by forest and freshwater channelled through small streams that come down from the mountains. Impressively big, it manages not to impose on its surroundings. “We call it a house, and it is our private home – but we also consider it a cultural centre, as it is meant for more than domestic use. It is a place for our creative expression, and ideally, it will live on beyond our lifetime to become a creative space for other humanist and creative people,” says Sofia.

Read the full feature on this Chilean House.

Waterkloof Ridge House

“A friend once said to us, ‘You don’t ever choose the easy way, do you?’” say Ryk and Irma Coetzee, the owners of this hillside home in Waterkloof Ridge in Pretoria. But then, as the saying goes, nothing good comes easy.

Ryk and Irma bought their house – built in the late 1970s and empty for some time, “with no kitchen, horrific plumbing and uncertain electrical wiring” – with the intention to renovate it. What captured their imagination was the spectacular view, say their architects, Grete Van As and Johan Wentzel of W Design Architecture Studio. The house is perched on the steep, rocky slopes of a ridge, with the ground dropping away dramatically below it; and despite its suburban setting, it felt wild and untouched.

“We semi-renovated it just enough to make it liveable,” say Ryk and Irma. Then, they lived there for five years before deciding on a more substantial renovation that would ultimately transform the entire hillside site. They wanted to make the most of the view while preserving the original flow of the house. They were anxious that it should “retain the magic”, but they were also drawn to the notion of a suburban farmhouse. They were already halfway there, having arrived with a menagerie of cats, dogs, rabbits and geese. Their wish list included vegetable gardens, an olive grove and a greenhouse.

Read the full feature on this Waterkloof Ridge house.

Casa TO in Mexico

The port of Puerto Escondido is an escape. Travellers from all over the world retreat to its golden beaches and waves, to walk, meditate and help release turtles in local sanctuaries.

On the southern tip of town, Casa TO has added an element of thoughtful luxury to this tiny utopia. Completed in August 2022, the hotel was designed by renowned architect Ludwig Godefroy. Working to a very succinct brief of “nine rooms, and lots of freedom”, he and his team have married tradition and the avant-garde in a unique structure, surrounded by a tranquil natural setting.

Made largely of concrete, the materiality of the build was of the utmost importance to Ludwig. “My search for simplicity has led me to create clean and abstract architecture, composed exclusively of mass materials such as concrete, wood and stone. All these materials look better under the action of time,” he says.

Casa TO takes inspiration from myriad sources, including Oaxacan temples, where enclosed spaces create a sensory experience. There’s also a nod to the reticulated pattern of two historical hydraulic works: the 6th-century Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, and the Hornsey Wood Reservoir in Finsbury Park, London, built in the late 1800s. In relation to these references, Ludwig says that his “architecture is willing to get rid of the unnecessary, to concentrate on the very essence of the structure of the building, offering a contemporary reinterpretation”.

Read the full feature on Casa TO.

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The post 5 Eco-Brutalist Spaces Where Raw Concrete Meets Nature appeared first on Visi.

WORDS Graham Wood PRODUCTION Klara van Wyngaard PHOTOS Sarah de Pina

This weekend getaway, a short drive from Dullstroom in Mpumalanga’s eastern highlands, is an exercise in the alchemy of subtraction. If you get it right, you reach a magical point at which taking away unnecessary design elements results in something greater than the sum of its parts. Less becomes more.

In Walkersons Estate, Chris and Cáreli Leach’s cottage overlooks one of the trout dams, peeping through a row of oak trees as the grassland slopes gently to the water’s edge. Houses in the estate are tightly clustered into small “villages”, each with a distinct architectural theme. This one follows a local vernacular veranda-style design, which specifies a combination of stone, pitched corrugated iron roofing, face brick and plaster.

The Leaches called on Johan Wentzel and Grete van As of W Design Architecture Studio (WDAS), who had renovated a previous home of theirs, and had designed another house on the estate. “They already know us, and what we like,” says Cáreli.

The historical references in the architectural guidelines were not unwelcome to Johan and Grete. In their work, they often aim to harness a quality they refer to as “the familiarity of the new” – where they reach back and reprise often- forgotten but successful aspects of traditional architecture even in their forward-looking designs. The result is a comforting and reassuring quality, and a sense that the designs belong – in the lives of their inhabitants, and in their architectural context.

For Mpumalanga, Johan notes, simple industrial materials like corrugated iron and whatever came to hand – such as the local stone from the rocky hills around Dullstroom – work as well now as they did during the gold rush 150 years ago. In this case, they’re put into the service of an escape from the everyday; something refreshing and restorative.

Given the countryside setting, Grete and Johan’s inspiration came from a traditional farmstead or werf, where buildings are clustered around yards, creating outdoor areas that are almost like rooms themselves. If there are walls, they are low. The werf dissolves into the landscape around it. “Remember those art-class exercises where you had to draw the negative spaces? This design is all about the negative spaces, the in-betweens,” says Grete.

Rather than a house surrounded by an apron of land, Johan and Grete’s design “takes the buildings to the edge” and creates an open central space, where the Leaches have an outdoor dining table. The main section facing the dam – housing the kitchen, dining and living areas, plus two bedrooms and a loft – is a light, linear design. Glass doors on either side make it possible to see from the courtyard right through the living areas to a framed view of the oak trees and dam beyond.

Separate, symmetrically placed solid-stone guest rooms and a barn-style corrugated-iron-clad garage hug the central courtyard, making it feel secure and well-defined, but not contained. “It doesn’t really feel like it has neighbours,” says Cáreli. “Yet it has its own special, uninterrupted views.”

Usually, explains Grete, the kitchen is considered “the heart” of the home. “In this case, the courtyard with the table is the heart,” she says. With the house in effect becoming the stoep or veranda, the Leaches even placed the braai in the kitchen (which is smart, given the rainy spells in Mpumalanga). “When I’m in the kitchen and Chris is next to me at the braai, we can actually have a conversation!” says Cáreli.

Chris and the boys have taken to tying fl ies, which they do here, too, creating another communal space – just as a stoep should. It’s the kind of space where “You put your feet up, and watch TV or the fire or the rain outside,” says Cáreli. A little boma area in front has become one of her favourite spots, from which she can watch the others fishing down at the dam.

While Chris managed the project with precision and attention to detail, Cáreli was responsible for the interiors, bringing the outdoors in just as the architecture takes the indoors out. “We wanted to do something warm,” she says. Textured terracotta-concrete tiles add a sense of the handcrafted and imperfect. “But they bring warmth to the space,” she adds. “We just wanted furnishings that are comfortable and easy; a space that’s easy to be around.”

The couple mention the word “freedom” often. The simplicity, openness and ease of the space is a release and an “escape” (another word that comes up often). “That’s what you expect when you take a break,” says Johan. | wdas.co.za

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The post Dullstroom House appeared first on Visi.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS BoysPlayNice

More than a conventional renovation, the eight-year restoration of Oblouková 171 became a deeply personal project for architects Jan and Barbora Hora, whose family history is tied to the house across several generations.

The architects knew from the outset that transforming the building would be a challenge. “The house came to us in a surprise inheritance. It was in a state of ruin: the roof was leaky, some ceilings were caving in, and entire sections of the roof truss were missing. Dry rot had spread aggressively,” say the couple.

Jan and Barbora’s starting point was figuring out how to renovate economically while maintaining deep respect for the building’s historical value. “We had no money and no clear idea of what to do next. But who else but architects would know how to handle an old ramshackle house?”

First, the house needed to be stabilised. The entire structure was braced with steel tie rods; the collapsed vault was rebuilt by an experienced master mason; and the collapsed ceiling, where water had been pouring in and rot had taken hold, was replaced with a concrete slab. The most demanding element, however, was the roof structure – a three-tiered hop-drying attic, which is a typical feature of buildings in Žatec.

Local companies were afraid to take on the task. “At that point, we were already giving up all hope and considering getting rid of this millstone around our neck in the form of an old ruin. So we reached out to true masters of their craft, who restored the structural integrity of the roof truss and revived its grandeur,” recall the couple.

The project was shaped by Jan and Barbora’s desire to reuse materials wherever possible, to keep costs down and to preserve traditional elements of the building.

The ceiling was replaced with old, hand-hewn beams from a demolished house in Vrbovec, while the tiling was sourced from demolition projects or traded. “We hauled the red marble stone tiles out of a demolition container and transported them in small batches, 400 km by car. We traded the tiles for a crate of Pilsner lagers. In the passageway, there are cleaned tiles from a South Bohemian farmstead, which are almost identical to the tiles that were originally there. See if you can tell which is which. The entire courtyard is paved with timeless Šatov tiles, which must have been stored in a barn for a hundred years before finally being used,” say Jan and Barbora.

As a result, it’s hard to tell what in the house is original and what is new. “We’ve preserved as much as possible. Sometimes it’s better not to mess with what works.”

Upstairs, the old floors are a major focal point. Solid planks, some of which are still fastened with wrought-iron nails, have been worn down over time and are uneven and dramatically bumpy. “The greatest experience is walking across them barefoot and letting the ancient material work its magic on your feet. We sanded the floors ourselves by hand, but we also wanted to apply a layer that could be worn down. For each floor, we designed and painted a new ‘carpet’ using linseed oil paints – an admittedly new intervention that will gradually fade away,” explain the couple.

While preserving the interior was a challenge, the street-facing facade presented the greatest dilemma. “In the 1990s, it was stripped of all detailing. As a result, the facade appeared disfigured and architecturally incomplete. We couldn’t figure out why. Understanding it was made difficult by the fact that we couldn’t find its original form.”

They discovered that there had once been prominent suprafenestras above the windows on the upper floor, and that the house had a distinctive cornice. “Although we eventually uncovered the original design, we did not simply want to restore it. We reintroduced the individual elements but treated them in a new, more simplified way,” say the couple.

Coming up with a sustainable programme for the house was just as much of a challenge as the renovation itself. Jan and Barbora wanted to open the building to the public and share its history with the town. “That’s why we approached the master brewer of the FALKON Flying Brewery and got him excited about the new bar. The bar and its interior are an integral part of the house. The quality of the craft beer and the way it’s served match the atmosphere the house exudes,” they say. “The house also offers accommodation for travellers and visitors in several apartments, while we use it ourselves as a holiday home. After all, what more does a person need than beer and a blanket?” | o-r-a.cz

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The post Czech Townhouse appeared first on Visi.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Elsa Young, Supplied

Celebrating the world’s best architecture and recognising excellence across categories from individual buildings to global design practices, the annual Architizer A+Awards make Hubo Studio’s wins an extraordinary achievement for South African architecture on the global stage.

Hubo Studio’s Redhill Early Learning Centre was named the Jury Winner in the Best Kindergarten category, placing the project at the forefront of early learning design worldwide. The project was also named the Popular Choice Winner in the Educational Interiors category, a result made possible through the overwhelming support of the wider community.

The Redhill Early Learning Centre, located in Johannesburg, is widely recognised as a pioneering educational environment. Designed around principles of child-centred learning, the project reimagines the school as a “mini city”: a network of interconnected spaces that promote curiosity, independence and collaboration. Its central piazza, vertical ateliers and seamless integration of indoor and outdoor environments create a dynamic landscape for early childhood development. hubostudio.com | awards.architizer.com

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