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house of the crazy ol' bat

USING A REMARKABLE ROCK TO CURATE A COURTYARD

house of the crazy ol’ bat sits on a steeply-sloping site in a natural forest
between stately marulas, soaring saringas and curious euphorbias

THE BRIEF
a small home that sits below the tree canopy
that engages with the rocks and topography
that allows for gardening to integrate with the natural landscape
that offers opportunities to live outside
THE IDEA
the starting idea was to use an existing rock on site as a natural wall
this allowed for two other buildings to work off this natural wall
to create a north-facing courtyard
the building is organised as four separate elements which work together to create the central court
these four elements include:
the existing rock, the bedroom and bathroom, the shower and the planter
the shapes and positions of the built elements are shaped and positioned by the existing trees on site

THE MATERIALS

the building is constructed primarily out of the same rough stock brick
which was selected to mimic the colour and texture of the existing on-site rock
the windows are all aluminium-framed and painted a charcoal grey to match the shadows cast by the forest
THE PROGRAMME
the building consists of one single living courtyard,
surrounded by a planter, a shower-room, and a bedroom and bathroom
the courtyard acts as a hard-scaped garden and outside lounge
the starting idea was to use an existing rock on site as a natural wall
this allowed for two other buildings to work off this natural wall to create a north-facing courtyard
the building is organised as four separate elements which work together to create the central court
these four elements include: the existing rock, the bedroom and bathroom, the shower and the planter
the shapes and positions of the built elements are shaped and positioned by the existing trees on site

CLOSING THOUGHT

a garden must always combine the poetic and the mysterious
and must provide us a feeling of serenity and joy

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