Cranberry Pavilion in Camps Bay, Cape To|Houses

The Cape Town-based architectural practice Wright Architects recently completed a pavilion structure in Camps Bay, Cape Town.

Architect's statement: The client, whom we have been fortunate to have worked with on many architectural ventures, has always had a keen eye for design and a passion for pursuing architectural projects that push the design envelope resulting in projects that are both award winning and find their way into an array of magazines and online publications.

image © Christian Cooke

The Pavilion is no exception, and is another chapter in a legacy of architectural endeavours .
The addition of the Pavilion onto the client existing property with the main house that was recently completed by Greg Wright Architects, is in itself a striking building.

image © Christian Cooke

The idea of a pavilion typology informed this boutique project where the structure is kept to the minimum, materiality is celebrated and spatial boundaries are blurred, characterising this recent addition to the Cranberry family of buildings.

Striking in its dark colour and angled composition the pavilion-like structure is situated above the original main house.

image © Christian Cooke

The morphology of the cottage is characterised by two, thin floating planes stacked on top of each other, jutting out into the surrounding lush garden.

The illusion of these floating planes is accentuated by levitating them from the perimeter stone walls by means of discreet steel columns, achieving the light and open structure characteristics of a pavilion structure.

image © Christian Cooke

The topography of the area is taken into account with focused and considered views ranging from the west facing facade which opens up to the Atlantic Ocean, to the first floor terrace that gazes upon the iconic Lions Head and the framed views through the clerestory windows of the 12 Apostle mountain range.

The choice of a dark palette in colour and materials is a reference to the main house with the earthy greys, black and bronze of the stone wall getting picked up throughout the building.

image © Christian Cooke

The floor tiles subtly reinforce the geometries of the primary structural elements , whilst fragmenting the tiling pattern with the introduction of brass in-lays that extend vertically into the ensuite bathrooms that are accentuated by the late afternoon golden light.

image © Christian Cooke

In keeping with the idea of a Pavilion, the threshold between interior and exterior gets blurred by means of large sliding aluminium doors that, when opened up, provide the sense of expanse into the external landscaped areas.

Interior furnishings, form and selection of materials and colour are carefully orchestrated to work harmoniously together with the architecture complimenting the experience.