Off-the-grid

With sustainability in their DNA, a Kommetjie couple brought a modern edge to passive design in their off-the-grid home.

Abright coral and green tallboy immediately catches the eye when Charrisse Johnston and Ian Macduff’s front door swings open. But, as it turns out, this is by far the boldest décor statement in an otherwise muted neutral palette.

The couple built their off-the-grid home last year on one of two neighbouring plots that Ian bought in 2007. The plots form an ‘L’ and their house is on the long leg, 40m from the beach. As Charrisse puts it, their vacant beachfront plot “serves as Winston’s personal dog park”.

For Ian, the move to Kommetjie has been a homecoming; he has been surfing the village’s waves since he was a teenager. As an architect, he worked around the world – Hong Kong, Sydney, London,

Bulgaria – before moving to Los Angeles where he and Charrisse met and got married while working for the same architectural firm. Charrisse, a former Wall Street executive who turned to interior design, is also a past chair of the American Society of Interior Designers.

Since settling in Cape Town, the pair continues to collaborate at their studioSALT practice. With two architects living under one roof, every design detail is a carefully considered, and often well-argued, decision.

“Well, in theory the scope was divided very cleanly,” Ian explains. “I design the structures and lay out the main interior spaces, while Charrisse designs all the interiors. In reality, of course, we are both opinionated and passionate – and used to being in charge!” >>

Close to nature

Any references to the collaboration between two designers under one roof leads to so much banter between the couple that it almost derails the interview. “Of course, there were disagreements,” says Charrisse with a chuckle. “Especially because I had to create the actual construction drawings in CAD using Ian’s hand-drawn sketches.”

A year later, they just laugh about the many miscommunications and last-minute decisions made on site by the builder and Ian. Now that the dust has settled, Ian enjoys surfing, playing the guitar and cooking. “A night out in Kommetjie isn’t quite the same as a night out in LA,” he admits. “But it’s great to be back and, of course, opening my eyes to a view of the ocean every morning is a dream come true.”

After confessing to missing her favourite dishwashing detergent, Amazon Prime and the vast range of cuisines on offer in LA, Charrisse adds:

“I never thought of myself as an outdoorsy nature girl, but there is something really primal and soulful about the wide-open vistas of the mountains, ocean and beaches. Life here feels more wholesome and down to earth.” >>

[ AESTHETICS WITH INTEGRITY]

When it comes to the relationship between building structure, interior finishes and décor, Ian has strong opinions. He firmly believes the integrity of the materials comprises their own unique aesthetics and, like the unpainted raw concrete on the stairs, these shouldn’t be camouflaged or altered.

“The aesthetics are not something predetermined, selected and imposed stylistically on the project. Rather, they’re derived through a combination of materials chosen for their unique performance in their most natural form, each doing its job in the most effective and, therefore, most sustainable way. Nothing is superfluous, wasteful or redundant,” he explains. “This approach naturally creates a very close and interdependent relationship between the building’s structure, interior finishes and décor.”

When it comes to the more decorative finishes, Charrisse prefers a wide variety of textures in subtle neutrals. “Ian is a lot more eclectic – he likes big bold shapes and colours. But that isn’t surprising as it’s in keeping with our personalities,” she says. >>

We like simple, unfussy shapes supplemented by more unusual pieces with backstories, whether from places in which we’ve lived or travelled or from our family histories. – Charrisse

[ PASSIVE DESIGN FOR YEAR-ROUND COMFORT]

Sustainable architecture is in Charrisse and Ian’s DNA. “It’s not a trend or gimmick,” Charrisse says. “We consider environmental impact and energy efficiency in every design decision.”

The couple relied heavily on passive design strategies, whereby available natural resources are used to create a home that is thermally comfortable year-round, using as little active cooling and heating as possible.

Orientation and passive shading play a big part. “The deep overhangs over the north-facing stoeps shade the interior in summer, while letting in sunlight in the winter,” says Ian. “This is supplemented by exterior shading devices which, unlike interior shades, block the heat before it enters the house.

“Admitting as much daylight as possible was achieved with floor-to-ceiling windows, many clerestory windows, and white walls to maximise light reflectivity, all of which reduce the need for electric lighting.”

Other sustainability elements include locally sourced materials: brick, local pine decking, latte and gum poles which are plentiful and fast-growing, as well as Table Mountain sandstone.

Electricity comes from a solar photovoltaic system with Eskom as a backup, and LED lighting is used throughout.

Five rainwater tanks with a total capacity of 5 500L provide the couple with water, and for hot water there are solar geysers. Indigenous drought-tolerant plants such as sour figs, succulents and aloes reduce the need for irrigation.

Double-glazing and ample IsoBoard insulation under floors, within walls and below the roof keep the house naturally cool and warm as needed in the respective seasons.

WHO LIVES HERE? Charrisse Johnston and Ian Macduff, Oscar the British Shorthair cat, and Winston the Chow Chow WHERE Kommetjie, Western Cape SIZE 195m2

“We wanted to be able to open up to the outdoors as much as possible. So, the entire corner of the lounge opens onto the garden with stacking sliding glass doors,” says Charrisse. “Unfortunately, Winston decided that we’d planted too many sour figs and that his guard dog duties required a path to the fence.” Scatter cushions by Inyoni Art; ceiling fan by Solent

With its 360º view of the ocean and mountains, the roof deck is Ian’s favourite spot. Clickloc polycarbonate panels allow for natural light on the staircase inside. Chairs from Ikea The décor tells the story of Ian and Charrisse’s lives from before they met to their time spent together in Los Angeles, and their move to Kommetjie. The colourful tallboy was bought in Macau on China’s southern coast and the dining chairs and oak table are from the couple’s LA home. The limited print of American activist Kathleen Cleaver is by Tyrone Drake. Jacaranda seed pod chandelier by African Queen Studio

The pivot front door was made from a massive century-old yellowwood structural beam charred in a fire. On the top shelf is the fin from Ian’s first surfboard, a gift from his uncle Henry Enzlin. Floor finished with Cemcrete Colour Hardener in House Blend; porcupine quill pendant by Lidi Ada Naturals; front door and shoe rack custom made by Christo’s Southern Creations; towels from Summah

The holes in the exposed concrete are from the steel ties that held the formwork together, and are also seen on the exterior. They were left unfilled as Ian believes that concrete is a self-finishing material and he likes to display the construction details. The raised bookshelf creates more floor space in the narrow TV room. Beanbag and armchair cushion fabric from Ashanti Design; fireplace from Infiniti Fires; bookshelf by Christo’s Southern Creations

Silestone countertops in the colour Cemento Spa from Cosentino; island clad in Melawood SupaTexture in the colour Napoca from PG Bison; cabinetry by Cupboard Connection; blackwood stools by Ilovani Functionality in a kitchen is extremely important. “Whenever Ian cooks dinner, which is most nights, he marvels at the fact that he barely has to move a metre in any direction in order to reach what he needs,” says Charrisse. The polycarbonate Clickloc panels in the roof allow for natural light and good insulation. The oil painting dates back to the 1800s and depicts Ian’s great-great-greatgreat-grandmother and her son.

The deck (left) serves as a ceiling for this courtyard between the cottage and TV room. Water tanks from RainQueen; table and benches by Tawanda Matare; wall-mounted planters from Rialheim

Bright and serene with sea views, the main bedroom (left) isa dream come true for Ian, who loves that he can do a surf check without getting out of bed. An open shelf divider made from lightly whitewashed reclaimed Oregon pine delineates the sleeping and reading area without blocking light. Shelf divider by Christo’s Southern Creations; cabinetry by Cupboard Connection; Melawood cupboard doors in the design Arden from PG Bison

The main bedroom opens up onto a sheltered pine deck. Ian brought the teak panel back from his travels in Southeast Asia. Bean bag from Happy Sak

In the main en-suite shower, a clear window provides a view of the mountains while the frosted pane allows for natural light, without compromising privacy. Bathroom floor and shower wall clad in MidAmerica terrazzo tiles from Continua; cabinetry by Cupboard Connection; Silestone vanity top in the colour Lagoon from Cosentino; basin and taps from Livecopper

The big cantilever over the driveway maximises the available floor area on the first floor, where three guest bedrooms are located. The couple salvaged the Table Mountain sandstone cladding from a nearby construction site. Architecture and interior design by studioSALT; construction by Darren Breed of Rezone Projects For Ian, the stairway to the roof deck is the best example of his design ethos of ‘aesthetics with integrity’. “The reclaimed Oregon treads feel good underfoot; the smooth white plaster walls reflect daylight and reduce the need for lighting; and the metal railings are unobtrusive but strong. The materials all contrast with each other visually and tactilely, each serving its own purpose.” A green roof, planted with indigenous waterwise plants, provides further insulation above the main bedroom. “This extends the life of roofing materials as it lowers the surface temperature and protects against UV radiation. It mitigates storm water runoff and gives bees a little pollinating habitat,” says Charrisse. Green roof planted by SoulGardens

Ian describes the angled brick piers on the roof and parapets as “pure architectural whimsy”. “They were created for fun, simply because bricks can be stacked, or ‘corbelled’, at an angle.”