Life and architecture are what you make of it – In a presentation about the Kloof Road House project in Betty’s Bay, lead architect David Talbot of Platform showcases how true this statement is. 

This iconic project is located near the lower of two converging valleys, with a dry stream bed traversing the site. When contemplating the site, it was clear that it needed to be grand enough to respect its position but should also have a light touch on the environment. 

The result is truly spectacular, but this project was not without its challenges, including a fire that tore through the site and the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Kloof Road House, Betty’s Bay.

Embracing the site 

Talbot spent a great deal of time on the site, working out a design that would include the existing trees and accommodate a local park run. The design was informed by taking everything into consideration – from the topography to the traffic and access, the views and the tree canopy, and the rising and setting of the sun. 

The impressive mountains to the north form the primary view, taking advantage of the way the light transforms throughout the day. The secondary views are the southern sea views. 

The southern side is curving, while the northern side is rectilinear, with views to the mountains.

In his notebook, Talbot noted: “Fragmented enough to form part of the landscape, site and forest of trees. Sympathetic to the neighbours, the context and natural beauty of the site, and its climatic and environment conditions. Writing that goal down, made it very intentional.” 

Respecting the site, the house is largely hidden, slowly emerging through the trees on approach.

Project timeline 

The first client meeting was in April 2018, with the concepts produced by mid-year and the design development by early 2019. In March 2019, the council submission was done. 

Then disaster struck, as the Betty’s Bay fires destroyed the site in January 2020. All the trees, so carefully integrated into the design, were gone. A decision was made to keep the building form that had been designed to move between the trees, to replant and regrow that element. 

The revised brief was a for a modern treehouse, nestled in its context.

But fate intervened once again as the global pandemic struck. The project was changed from one with no masonry to just a timber “treehouse”. The concept design changes were done in June 2020, the council submissions in July 2020 and the technical documentation completed in September/October 2020. Construction finally began in June 2021. 

A reimagining 

In the first concept, Talbot had pegged out the house on the site, including the height to see how it would work and to eliminate having a step between the two sections of the house. Staying with the original form derived from the location of the trees, the replanned spaces added a timber bridge with slatted timber balustrade to reinforce the treehouse feel and aesthetic. 

The replanned spaces added a timber bridge with slatted timber balustrade to reinforce the treehouse feel and aesthetic.

The result is a house that is largely hidden, slowly emerging through the trees. The southern side is curving, while the northern side is rectilinear, with views to the mountains. 

Rethinking foundations 

A remarkable element of the structure is that it has no concrete foundation. Instead steel piles, with a pile cap, sustain the weight of the superstructure, transferring the load to the piles below. 

The steel structure is covered by a cross-laminated timber (CLT) box, in keeping with a treehouse. Making full use of the capabilities of the material, a CLT beam was used as a structural element instead of concrete – thus achieving the distinctive curved lines of the building. 

With no concrete foundation, the house was built on steel piles, with a pile cap sustaining the weight of the superstructure.

Rediscovering materiality 

The team chose Lunawood, a sustainable thermally treated timber product, for its easy maintenance, thermal insulation and resistance to rot. 

Timber fins provide baboon-proofing to the glazing of the lounge, library and bedrooms so that the windows can be opened for ventilation. 

Set in natural stone, a biological pool is situated below the overhanging structure. Filled with water from a stream, it overflows into the dry river stream, regreening the site. 

Timber fins provide baboon-proofing to the glazing of the lounge, library and bedrooms.

Living light 

When considering their new home, the owners were touched by how many hands had been involved in bringing this dream into reality. Driven by this awareness, they made sure to source materials locally, so that they know who crafted all the furniture and finishes. 

The interior matches the materiality of the structure seamlessly.

It’s a very personal touch to a project that rose above the challenges of its creation, and quite literally above its context.  

Project details 

Project name: Kloof Road House. 

Location: Betty’s Bay, Western Cape. 

Architect: Platform. 

Lead architect: David Talbot. 

Photography: Vignette Agency. 

For more information, contact Platform: 

Tel: +27 83 305 3921 

Email: david@pltform.co.za 

Website: https://www.pltform.co.za/