Following the tutorial it was made clear to me that I would have to chose a fourth house to research. I developed an immediate attraction to the Berg Retreat House. This dwelling has sufficient detailed drawings and crucial information which will be useful for this project. It is such that I have chosen the Berg Retreat as my chosen exemplar.
3D PERSPECTIVE This drawing showcases;
- The three particular sections - public, provate and semi - private
- The spaciousness of the communal areas
- That the communal area has been designed in a particular way to satisfy the numerous activities involved within it
- How the entrance of light effects the spaces (shadows, etc.)
- Slanted roof exentuates the panoramic views
The Berg Retreat has been skillfully designed by reknowned South African Architect, Peter Rich. Sited on the plains of South Africa at the base of the Drakensberg Mountains, this architecture combines the vernacular with adaptations of the modern. The brief called for "a three bedroom house in balance with nature, responding to site, climate and materials." (Berg Retreat House, unknown) Rich has developed a home which satifies these requirements. He has designed a holistic home that sythesises all the components of culture, family and function into a quiet and blissful place of retirement, a retreat (Berg Retreat House, unknown). It must be noted that this house was not passed through to construction , so limited information is readily available.
SECTIONS
This drawing showcases;
- Slope of the terrain
- How the entrance of light effects the spaces (shadows, etc.)
- Slanted roof exentuates the panoramic views
- Materials utilised
SECTIONSThis drawing showcases;
- Slope of the terrain
- How the entrance of light effects the spaces (shadows, etc.)
- Slanted roof exentuates the panoramic views
- Materials utilised
1. House as an Environmental Filter:
- With the Berg Retreat positioned in one of the most known environments, the African savannah, it is pivotal that it develops a crucial relationship with the landscape and certainly becomes an 'environmental filter'.
- Fortunately, Peter Rich has spent the past 20 years studying these landscapes and has designed a dwelling which truly unites with the immediate surroundings (Berg Retreat House, unknown).
- Initially the body of the building smoothly flows and hence sits neatly into the sloping topography from the east to the west.
- As noticed in the other explored exemplars, large openings and windows help to generate optimum views by allowing the outside environment to be brought into the interior. This has been incorporated in the overall design, but Rich has also employed a slanted roof. This Ndebele (tribal group) inspired geometry heightens the drama of the views to the Drakensberg Mountains and allows a greater interaction between the outer and inner environments (Berg Retreat House, unknown).
- The positioning of the house in the a southern direction establishes this view.
- Following on from this, the house plan is dictated by the environmental conditions to maximise sunlight entrance, ventilation movement and views.
- Similar to the Tubac House, the Berg Retreat has a harsh exterior which does not allow for differentiation between it and the surroundings. The implication of a stone retaining wall at the base of the home marks the change of levels but provides a tectonic backbone to the design (Berg Retreat House, unknown). The use of a untreated steel roof and timber as the exterior material allows for complete unison with the savannah.
This drawing showcases;
- Reveals the slope of the terrain
- Materials utilised
- How the entrance of light effects the spaces (shadows, etc.)
- Slanted roof exentuates the panoramic views
- With the Berg Retreat positioned in one of the most known environments, the African savannah, it is pivotal that it develops a crucial relationship with the landscape and certainly becomes an 'environmental filter'.
- Fortunately, Peter Rich has spent the past 20 years studying these landscapes and has designed a dwelling which truly unites with the immediate surroundings (Berg Retreat House, unknown).
- Initially the body of the building smoothly flows and hence sits neatly into the sloping topography from the east to the west.
- As noticed in the other explored exemplars, large openings and windows help to generate optimum views by allowing the outside environment to be brought into the interior. This has been incorporated in the overall design, but Rich has also employed a slanted roof. This Ndebele (tribal group) inspired geometry heightens the drama of the views to the Drakensberg Mountains and allows a greater interaction between the outer and inner environments (Berg Retreat House, unknown).
- The positioning of the house in the a southern direction establishes this view.
- Following on from this, the house plan is dictated by the environmental conditions to maximise sunlight entrance, ventilation movement and views.
- Similar to the Tubac House, the Berg Retreat has a harsh exterior which does not allow for differentiation between it and the surroundings. The implication of a stone retaining wall at the base of the home marks the change of levels but provides a tectonic backbone to the design (Berg Retreat House, unknown). The use of a untreated steel roof and timber as the exterior material allows for complete unison with the savannah.
ELEVATION
This drawing showcases;
- Reveals the slope of the terrain
- Materials utilised
- How the entrance of light effects the spaces (shadows, etc.)
- Slanted roof exentuates the panoramic views
2. House is a container of Human Activities:
- "The function of the house is dicated by its particular forms, with each relating to a different component function."
- Orthagonal spaces which are prevalent in Ndebele Architecture are open and spacious, yet simple in form. These spaces define the the communal activities and are for living and eating, two of the most important parts of the human lifestyle (Berg Retreat House, unknown).
- Freestanding spaces on both sides of the home are used for contemplation and meditation as they are areas which exentuate relaxed emotions.
- Furthermore, the engaged round spaces are for cleansing and the curved wall spaces, which offer safeness and cosiness define sleeping areas.
- Each space is defined by a floor plane and is interconnected by the diagonal flow of space, which enables the occupants efficient movement throughout the home.
- "The function of the house is dicated by its particular forms, with each relating to a different component function."
- Orthagonal spaces which are prevalent in Ndebele Architecture are open and spacious, yet simple in form. These spaces define the the communal activities and are for living and eating, two of the most important parts of the human lifestyle (Berg Retreat House, unknown).
- Freestanding spaces on both sides of the home are used for contemplation and meditation as they are areas which exentuate relaxed emotions.
- Furthermore, the engaged round spaces are for cleansing and the curved wall spaces, which offer safeness and cosiness define sleeping areas.
- Each space is defined by a floor plane and is interconnected by the diagonal flow of space, which enables the occupants efficient movement throughout the home.
- Another design element Rich has included is by dividing the site into three equal sections. This enhances the privacy hierachy with the bedrooms on the both wings of the dwelling, away from the communal spaces. Necessary walls are used to develop this sectioning and provides the occupant with the optimum privacy (Berg Retreat House, unknown).
FLOOR PLAN
This drawing showcases;
- Reveals the three particular sections - public, provate and semi - private
- Materials utilised
- Defines the spaces within the house
- Demonstrates how the spaces interact - diagonal spatial flow
FLOOR PLAN This drawing showcases;
- Reveals the three particular sections - public, provate and semi - private
- Materials utilised
- Defines the spaces within the house
- Demonstrates how the spaces interact - diagonal spatial flow
3. House is a Delight:
- The Berg Retreat is a delightful experience. One only needs to look at the name of the house to identify that this is a place which would explore delightful features to the maximum.
- Although the dwelling is positioned in the harsh savannah the inclusion of the retreat heightens your journey as you immediately feel comfortable and established in an otherwise barron and vulnerable environment.
- The utilisation of large open spaces within the interior defines the mood, which is relaxed and free flowing.
- Combining this with the spectacular views framed by the large openings and windows and the simple form of defined lines and earthy natural materials, the occupants senses reach their extreme through visualisation.
References:
Berg Retreat House.
URL: http://www.umemagazine.com/issues.aspx (Accessed on 10th March 2010)
- The Berg Retreat is a delightful experience. One only needs to look at the name of the house to identify that this is a place which would explore delightful features to the maximum.
- Although the dwelling is positioned in the harsh savannah the inclusion of the retreat heightens your journey as you immediately feel comfortable and established in an otherwise barron and vulnerable environment.
- The utilisation of large open spaces within the interior defines the mood, which is relaxed and free flowing.
- Combining this with the spectacular views framed by the large openings and windows and the simple form of defined lines and earthy natural materials, the occupants senses reach their extreme through visualisation.
Overall, this house satisfies the three main qualities - environmental filter, container of human activities and delight in an effective manner. Its unique architecture and remote location work well together to create a sustainable and desirable home.
References:
Berg Retreat House.
URL: http://www.umemagazine.com/issues.aspx (Accessed on 10th March 2010)
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