This weekend getaway on the banks of the Crocodile River in Muldersdrift was designed to incorporate the river-stone walls of an existing derelict farm cottage. The cottage was dramatically reinvented as a central living and entertainment space with expansive views, while the rest of the design is made up of a series of fragmented, interlinked pods connected with elevated boardwalks. This arrangement preserves several beautiful trees and forms habitable courtyards. It is possible to open or shut down individual sections of the house as necessary. The main bedroom unit includes a kitchenette, which makes it self-sufficient. The interior finishes juxtapose raw and refined materials. Details such as the metalwork bracing on the roofbeams represent a refined take on dairy-barn vernacular. Much of the other steelwork is also custom designed by jvr. The interior decoration, also by jvr, incorporates a selection of local contemporary furniture and lighting designs complementing the elevated vernacular architectural approach. Landscaping by Gregory Mark Landscapes.
River Cottage, 2018
PIA Award for Architecture, 2019