David Balkind Design

The brief was to enlarge the kitchen and living room with a modern glass showpiece rear and side extension that would offset the Edwardian features of the existing house.

The solution was to apply for the side extension under planning and the rear extension under permitted development, as the house lies in a conservation area where side extensions require planning. This allowed greater flexibility in the design and size of the rear extension while the side extension was required to compliment the existing house.

The brief was to maximise the space allowed under planning by extending the roof and side/rear of the house.

The solution was to apply for the roof extension under permitted development allowing for more volume than planning would. The double storey side/rear extension had to be applied for under planning requiring the first floor of the rear extension to be only half the width of the original house. This allowed for a roof lantern to give deeper light penetration to the ground floor.

The brief was to deepen the plan of the house and give the exterior a Tudor look.

The solution was to create a new impressive central double volume entrance front extension. Consequently the existing study was relocated to further new front extension next to the central one. The master en suite was also relocated to this new front extension from the opposite side of the master bedroom where it blocked the garden view and sun. The upstairs family bathroom lost to the new entrance was replaced buy a new en suite where a small middle bedroom was. A new en suite bedroom, cinema, kitchenette and laundry room were accommodated in the huge existing loft. The family room was also extended which allowed for a larger eat-in kitchen.

The brief was to design a single storey two bedroom house with a double garage on a tight panhandle plot.

The solution was to locate the reception area of the house adjacent to the garage at the end of the panhandle to take advantage of the sun and sea views with the bedrooms behind on a split-level. A raised mono pitch roof over the reception area maximised mountain views and added volume.

The brief was to design a three bedroom modern house with a triple garage and one guest bedroom separate from the others on the ground floor.

The solution was to maximise the panoramic views and sunlight while maintaining privacy. The major spaces of the house were located on the view side of the house with the service spaces behind. The reception areas and master suite above were located in one wing to the sun side of the house with the two other suites in another wing on the road side. As the house had to open to both the view and sun sides, a wrap around balcony was devised to allow access from and shelter the sliding doors. The double volume entrance and stairs was located between the two wings with floor to ceiling glass in contrast to the punctured openings of the two wings. The flat roof was necessary to raise the floors as high as the height restriction allowed to maximise the views.

The brief was to renovate this cottage to let in more light and to take advantage of the exterior/loft space as well as creating off street parking.

The solution was to open up the enclosed porch which was not a usable inside space but which added to the front outside space and let more light into the front rooms. The rear outdoor toilet was demolished and the ground raised level with the inside by a suspended wooden deck. Patio doors were added to the front and back of the house to aid the flow between inside and out. A loft room was created which took advantage of the views and added internal space. The floors were painted white to bounce light into the house.

The brief was to design two semi-detached double storey three bedroom houses with two secure parking spaces each.

The solution was to orientate the houses in opposite directions to fit the parking spaces in the tight site. As the site was in a conservation area the external look was inspired by the local Victorian vernacular but with a contemporary twist such as the double-pitched clapboard clad gable roof, steel chimneystacks and timber sliding shutters.

The brief was to convert this dated large one bedroom flat into a modern two bedroom flat.

The solution was to combine the bathroom and part of the entrance hall to create the new second bedroom and to incorporate some space from the large master bedroom to accommodate the new bathroom. A new open plan kitchen with integrated appliances and a view-facing cooker was incorporated. New suspended ceilings with shadow cornicing and perimeter bulkheads allowed down lighters and a rope light for mood lighting.

This article features the Dirkie Uys Street property transformation and shows the before and after pictures.

The brief was to transform the look of this house form suburban Spanish to the area’s prevalent vernacular Cape Dutch, to open up the house to the outside spaces and to rationalise the existing bad layout.

The solution was to replace the main mono pitch roof with a double pitch and to replace the existing windows with large sash windows on the front and French doors to the back. The second small room was converted into and en suite for the master bedroom and the garage into the second bedroom. A patio with pergola and a pool was added to the back. Finishes were all period country inspired.

The brief was to add a new master suite / garage and to relocate the kitchen to the existing second bedroom to open up the reception area.

The solution was to add the new accommodation in a flat roofed side extension joining the existing house under the existing eaves. A covered patio was added along the back of the house to create sheltered out door living space with patio doors to open up the inside spaces. A pool with hard landscaping was also added to the back garden.

The brief was to maximise the site to incorporate houses, flats, shops and parking.

The solution was to locate the flats on the public square side of the building to create an urban edge and the lower houses on the back edge facing the narrow street. A communal courtyard space was located between the two to afford residents outdoor space sheltered from the summer heat and wind. The shops were located beneath the flats facing the public square with a public covered walkway and the parking in the basement beneath. The form of the houses was based on providing sheltered outdoor terraces and the flats on varied double volume space configurations. The form of the apartment blocks maximised sunlight behind them by lowering their heights towards the narrow side of the site. This allowed a continuous 45-degree pitch roof surface under which a gym, crèche and café were located.