A tranquil abode built to blend in with its natural surroundings
A home built to blend into its majestic natural surroundings is the ideal spot for creative contemplation.
BBecause of her husband’s many different jobs over the years, homemaker and mom-of-four Diana Steward has had homes in a variety of locations around the world – from England and New York to Malawi and Johannesburg. After spending years in the British Army and then becoming vice president of a large corporation, with a few different titles in-between, Simon Steward decided it was time to try his hand at farming; subsequently, he bought Towers livestock farm in Darling and the family relocated. They lived there for 20 years.
In 2012, after the couple divorced, Diana decided to move to an “empty nest” with an ocean view – a 2 684m² plot the Stewards bought in Yzerfontein years ago.
“Staying in so many different homes over the years, I accumulated something of a wish list of what I’d like all under one roof,” Diana explains. At the top of her list was a home that blends into its natural surroundings. “I love organic architecture and I wanted a home that wouldn’t dominate the landscape.”
Diana considered several ecofriendly building methods, such as rammed earth and straw bales, but realised these materials are costly if they aren’t already on site, so she opted for raw brick for the home’s external and some internal walls. She also had rooftop gardens created to complete the natural aesthetic.
As meditation is an important practice in her life, the domed meditation room (above left) was the first space Diana conceptualised for her home. The structure, separate to the house, was inspired by corbelled homes found in Carnarvon in the Northern Cape. “There’s something about the shape that makes for a very peaceful atmosphere,” she says. Diana enjoys bricolage (creating artworks from a diverse range of items) in her art studio (above right). A blue-rimmed dome in the ceiling was created to represent “a circle in a square” – the Chinese symbol of earth and sky.
Designed for life
Armed with a rough sketch of her home’s layout and a comprehensive wish list, Diana enlisted the help of architect Vernon Collis of Collis & Associates. Inspired by Mediterranean and South African West Coast architecture, they spent two years configuring the space and creating a “village of buildings knitted together with protected courtyards and a walkway”.
To the left of the covered walkway is the living area, Diana’s art studio, a pool and a terrace. On the right are the bedrooms and bathrooms. Each space has a rooftop garden and a courtyard at its centre, allowing all of the rooms to open up onto an outdoor area.
The rooftop gardens are accessible via the pool terrace; a shaded reed structure and seating creates a nook on the roof garden directly above the terrace where the views can be enjoyed to the fullest.
The layout allows for the cool ocean breeze to work its way through the structure in summer; but in the colder months, the house is protected from the icy northwesterly winds typical of West Coast winters.
Diana has created a cosy haven for herself and for friends and family who visit regularly. Her greatest joy is spending time by the pool, in the outdoor meditation dome, in the rooftop gardens or at the beach which is just a 500m stroll away. >>