a Winelands’ manor undergoes a respectful revamp
Equal parts haute and heritage in a Cape manor house
there is no town that embraces the feeling of rebirth quite like Franschhoek. Much has changed since its humble huguenotémigré beginnings and, today, it’s hard to find a restaurant on its once sleepy streets that isn’t a Michelin-starred boulangerie or nichevarietal tasting room. and, much like its wine-and-dine scene, it’s also become synonymous with a unique kind of old master meets young punk architecture, which you can see here executed brilliantly by architects Julia abell and her husband Jed Kritzinger in their renovation of Manor house.
Their respective swiss south african heritages, along with a decade-long stint working with sir norman Foster in London, gave them the perfect ability to balance the sense of grandeur and heritage with natural materials and local craftsmanship.
Follow the ribbon of asphalt that winds its way out of the town, through vineyards and mountain foothills and eventually to Mont rochelle, the grounds of sir richard Branson’s luxury hotel, and you’ll be on the doorstep of the private Manor house residence. surrounded by agapanthus, palm trees and centuries’ old oak minders, it presents itself at the bottom of the country lane with just the right amount of flair and glamour, like a dutch-gabled debutante.
‘The historic Manor house dates back to the mid-1800s although, after being sold in the 1970s, it underwent quite an extensive alteration and expansion,’ explains Julia. ‘The original triangulartopped gable was replaced with the cape revival-style one you see today though, along with its front stoep and Pierneef-
esque positioning against the mountain slope, it still very much follows the vernacular of the cape homestead.’
When Julia and Jed approached the Manor house for its much-needed refresher it comprised of a main ‘core building’ made up of the entrance hall and two adjacent side rooms. ‘It was originally used as a storage barn that was, over time, converted into a dwelling for the owners,’ Julia explains.
‘We demolished the façade to open up the interiors,’ she continues. ‘The large picture windows accentuate the impression of living without limits between interior and exterior.’ The open plan living area has a kitchen, dining area and two adjoining lounges with direct access to the terrace and the small children’s pool. Five en-suite bedrooms welcome guests and, as part of the renovation, the upper section of the home has been transformed into a loft.
The interior, with its huge mirrors, chandeliers and sofas and armchairs upholstered in floral chintz, is the work of hotcocoa Interiors & design. The aim here was to create a harmony between past and present by mixing blond woods and subtle hues with contemporary furniture and refined volumes.
What Julia and Jed have achieved with Manor house is a frank, contemporary renovation executed with the utmost respect to the structure’s heritage.
There certainly couldn’t be a more Franschhoek-appropriate approach out there. Kritzinger Architects n 8 kritzingerarchitects.com;
Hotcocoa Interiors & Design 8 hotcocoa.co.za
Manor House, a division of Mont Rochelle, is managed by Virgin Limited Edition and accommodates 8 to 12 guests. 8 virginlimitededition.com