When Gail and James Tinsley built their home on a steep sloping plot in Fish Hoek four years ago, James spotted an opportunity to make a childhood dream come true.

Having taken over Fish Hoek Refrigeration from his dad, James had always dreamt of building a cottage from refrigeration panels – and there was just the right amount of land available for a compact open-plan cottage with one bedroom.

Sounds crazy? Think again. Cool rooms are perfectly insulated with excellent thermal properties year-round. They’re also water- and soundproof, and the building method is quick, clean and cost efficient at about R4 000/m2.

When asked about the disadvantages, James looks surprised: “That’s a good question. I’m trying to think…”

Having practically grown up in the refrigeration business, he has constructed numerous cool rooms for the restaurant industry and he’s always thought that the materials they use could be put to good use in other ways. “I thoroughly enjoyed applying my skills to a residential property; it was a great challenge.”

In January 2015, James started construction on the “fridge cottage” which was pre-approved by structural engineer Paul Giloi, who also kept a close eye on the structural aspects of the process.

Although it could have gone up quicker, it took three months to build because James did most of the work himself when his schedule allowed.

“We initially built a single-storey cottage because we didn’t want to spoil the sea views from our own home,” James explains. “I’d say you can safely build up to three levels, as long as you work with a structural engineer.” >>

I just love the cosiness of the cottage. It’s so well insulated that one could easily become a recluse here, especially in the colder months! – Gail