Lighting in Design Q2 2021

herders as they migrated seasonally with their cattle during pre-colonial and early colonial times. The KapHuis was a series of A-frame trusses covered with thatch, with the interior lowered to allow for more headroom. Both structures were part of this historic landscape and blended subtly with their surroundings. The mounds of the new structures have an uncanny resemblance to the nearby surrounding hills. Intricately curved oak trellis structures, a subtle homage to the San huts, serve as a visual focus that guides visitors inwards and then twists to create the enclosures of the café/restaurant and gift shop, which are ‘carpeted’ over with the new gardens. Over time, these extensive trellises will be further integrated into the garden; overgrown with more than a dozen species of climbing plants. The expressed conical front-of-house spaces are partly sunken to reduce their scale impact, with the functional back-of-house spaces completely underground. In order to allow the trellis pattern to appear continuously weaved between the interior and exterior, the glazing imitates its pattern, resulting in a zig-zag arrangement that assists the tall vertical structural span of the glass. The material pallet was kept simple. The underground building elements fronting the mountain backdrop were f inished in raw cementitious finishes. The thin concrete shell vaulted structures are painted white, referencing the way traditional whitewashed Cape Dutch homesteads dot the landscape, as well as the nearby chapel, with the floor and walkways finished with grey terrazzo. After extensive research conducted by Arup, oak was considered to be the best timber for the trellis in terms of its durability and bendability. Mooney believes that the lighting used in the project adds to the design. “I think what was successful about the design was that it blends in with its surroundings so well – it offers real functional value but is also slick and streamlined in a very busy room. The lighting played a pivotal role in this.” PROJECTTEAM Project title: Garden Café Design architecture: Steyn Studio Location: Bosjes Estate, Breedekloof Valley, Western Cape, South Africa Project architect: Meyer & Associates Landscape architect: Square One Landscape Architects Interior design: Liam Mooney Studio Main contractor: Gvk-Siya Zama Construction Electrical engineer: Bührmann Consulting Engineers Mechanical engineer: Ekcon Consulting Engineers Photography : Dook (drone photography), David Southwood

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LiD Q2 - 2021