Green House in Shona Langa eco estate, Limpopo Province Residence, Mabula home photos
Green House in Shona Langa eco estate, Limpopo
28 December 2022
Design: A4AC Architects | Architecture for a change (pty)Ltd
Location: Shona Langa eco estate, Mabula district, Limpopo Province, South Africa
New bush house in the Shona Langa eco estate
Photos by Ernst van Biljon
Green House in Shona Langa eco estate, Limpopo, South Africa
No project can be completed without a team: Client, Architect and Builder. The project was built during the pandemic. This was a difficult time for the team (client, architect, and builder), but through teamwork a loving bush home was completed.
The project brief called for a small, cost-effective bush house in the Shona Langa eco estate. The challenge was to create a unique building that merge with the undisturbed landscape and resembles contemporary architecture. It was key to merge the interior and exterior through transparency.
The house was designed on minimal – yet functional; – dimensions. Due to a tight budget each square meter that could be saved mattered. The 3d bed, 2-bathroom dwelling is only 70sqm floor area. The external patio is 50 sqm, ideal for the African climate.
The house has a double roof system. The 1st layer is the signature floating roof. This element provides the building with a unique form. It also functions as a ventilated void. Harsh African heat is reflected away from the main roof. The rounded eaves end the elevations in a soft manner. This helps to blend the building mass with it natural context.
The building structure was prefabricated as light weight steel panels. The framing was clad with a steel mesh and light weight concrete pumped into the cavities. The mesh received a plaster.
The glazing is a mix of single and double glazing. This achieved a balance between cost and thermal performance.
The walls sit on a concrete raft foundation which absorbs solar radiation during the day and emits heat during the cool nights. The main roof that sits behind a parapet is an insulated IBR sheeted roof. The floating roof is an opaque polycarbonate sheet.
The dwelling is electrified by PV panels. Water heating is done through bottled gas. Plumbing is done through a septic tank and French drain. The only grid service used is potable water.
This makes the house very low-key to run in the remote location.
Green House in Shona Langa eco estate, Limpopo Province – Building Information
Project Name: Green House
Office Name: A4AC Architects
Office Website: https://www.a4ac.co.za/
Social Media Accounts:
https://www.facebook.com/ArchitectureForAChange
https://www.instagram.com/a4ac_architects_/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxCiOBmoDwS8gp51nicShWQ
Contact email: [email protected]
Firm Location: 22 Davy Rd, Industria North, Johannesburg, 1719
Completion Year: 2022
Gross Built Area (m2/ ft2): 105 m2
Project Location: Shona Lange nature estate, Thabazimbi, South-Africa
Program / Use / Building Function: Dwelling
Lead Architects: Dirk Coetser
Lead Architects e-mail: [email protected]
Photographer
Photo Credits: Ernst van Biljon
Green House in Shona Langa eco estate, Limpopo Province images / information received 281222 from A4AC Architects
Location: Shona Langa eco estate, Limpopo Province, South Africa
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