Thinking inside the box 5: 26’10 South Architects

VISI’s deputy editor Annemarie Meintjes invited 10 architects to explore the concept of container architecture in a South African context. We’re publishing the results in our Thinking Inside the Box feature. 

26’10 South Architects created a DIY-home kit that can be built wherever a road or helicopter can take you – the inspiring Karoo landscape, for instance.  

Container concept

In order to create a four-bedroom, three-bathroom family home, two standard containers have been
combined with an additional roof and verandah. The inclusion of the roof and verandah in the plan, results in the creation of a loft on the second storey, and the open-plan verandah can be utilised in such a way that there is enough space for two lounge areas. The roof consists of a pre-cut and drilled timber and steel structure, with composite roof sheeting, and the walls are made from polycarbonate sheeting. For a green alternative: face the verandah north to admit winter sun and block summer sun, use solar collectors to heat water on the roof, use grey water from the shower to flush the toilet, and use ventilation fans in the verandah and two
wind-powered rotating vents on the roof instead of air-conditioning.

Company profile

26’10 South Architects was started by Thorsten Deckler and Anne Graupner in 2004. This award-winning practice, recently awarded the Daimler Chrysler Award for young South African Architects, specialises in all spheres of the South African environment. Their portfolio boasts a variety of residential, commercial, community and urban design projects. While both partners have worked and lectured internationally, they feel that the most appropriate solutions can be developed through observation of what can be found on their own doorstep. The team that worked on this project comprised: Thorsten Deckler, Anne Graupner, Eugene Cloete, Sue Groenewald and Carl Jacobz.

26’10 South Architects, 011 830 0220, thorsten@2610south.co.za, anne@2610south.co.za, 2610south.co.za

See more VISI articles about container architecture here.