A low carbon footprint with a simple double-storey wooden home

On a mission to further reduce his carbon footprint, this homeowner used a renewable resource to build a guesthouse.

The cottage is north-facing; I wanted the early-morning sun to stream in upstairs and downstairs. The large front windows and smaller ones on the side of the building also allow you to stargaze from almost anywhere in the house. – Jaco

Back then, he explained the inspiration behind his ecofriendly venture: “I grew up on a farm near Leonardville in Namibia; we always had a veggie garden and my interest in food was inspired by my mother. Now I have my own vegetable garden! What could be better than harvesting fresh produce from the soil and using it in your own kitchen?”

The garden is located at PicardiPlace, Jaco’s home and a popular guesthouse situated on a wine farm in the Boland. In October 2016, he decided to add to the accommodation offering on his one-hectare plot and it was a natural choice for the eco-conscious enthusiast to opt for a freestanding timber structure. “Eating fresh produce from my garden and being able to share this way of life with guests got me thinking about lowering my carbon footprint even further,” Jaco says.

The self-catering Camomile Cottage took about a year’s worth of weekends to build. “I love that it fits in perfectly with the environment on the wine farm and that it could be created with minimal disruption to our natural resources,” he explains.

A major drawcard for staying at PicardiPlace is Jaco’s cooking classes in which participants use fresh produce from his garden. In fact, the new timber cottage doesn’t even have a kitchen yet – cooking together and sharing meals is part of the experience!

In our September 2016 issue, we featured Jaco Brand’s permaculture veggie garden in Rawsonville.

Two sets of stairs, on opposite sides of the open-plan area downstairs, lead to the loft bedroom. Simple stainlesssteel wire and pine were used to create the balustrade. The raw concrete floor was painted with Dekro Unymarine for a durable, glossy finish. Hanging lights from MRP Home

The blue dining table and chairs (below), as well as many other pieces used to furnish the cottage, are from furniture store Tuka, which Jaco opened with his sister Theresa Brand in Rawsonville (it has since moved to Bellville). “I love the upcycled look and wanted to use the pieces I owned to create a cosy and chic country style with a modern twist,” Jaco says.