SAOTA's layered melkbos house frames the south african coast

SAOTA ‘melkbos’ house in melkbosstrand, south africa
all images courtesy of SAOTA

south african architecture firm, SAOTA have designed a home on the fringe of the south african beach melkbosstrand. appropriately dubbed the melkbos house, the residence is a composition of offset planes, a tectonic strategy that enables the prevalence of gently diffused light through the spaces. while a doubleheigh corridor organises the house, two main volumes are separates by the likes of layered linear masses. the orthogonality of the home is underscored by the intersection of cantilevers and ribbons of glazing. apertures in form of entrances and balconies are framed by architectural protrusions while a sequence of interior partitions and structural frames allow clear lines of the sight to the coastal landscape. indirect sun afforded by choice slivers in the built space adds warm highlights to the pristine space. this is an architecture that revels in the accretion of linear mass and uses the tectonic elements of landscape to create a framing device for the site.

an orthogonal grid is extruded and cut away, creating layered spaces that frame views of the south african coast

running parallel to the seashore, the prominent spine wall defines the edge of second story spaces and outdoor relaxation areas

the entrance’s edge extends as a narrow slot in the spine wall

(left): slivers of sky light the central corridor
(right): sunken floors and extended balconies penetrate the void of the corridor

the spine wall is cut away to connect layered living spaces

phenomenal transcparencies can be read in the alignment of wall edges

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