At this mid-century modernist home, excess is stripped away. Colours are subdued and earthythe present. Architect and designer of his own home, Alex Stewart, describes what might be the only nostalgic piece in the space: a dining table passed down from his grandmother to his father, and now, to him. Around this central piece, memories of Christmas lunches and family dinners linger. Alex’s father, a hobbyist carpenter, stripped back the once-painted-green tabletop to reveal a sturdy stinkwood and yellowwood surface.
For Alex, the table is functional first, nostalgic second. Cautious of confining the present to old memories, he argues that decorative pieces like a photograph on a wall ‘trap you in a place or moment in time,’ whereas, in reality, you are constantly evolving as a person. For the architect, it is essential to ‘be informed by the now.’ Loose furniture, paintings, and vases inherited over the years are minimal and blend with the hazel-olive tones.
“For the architect, it is essential to ‘be informed by the now.’”
Raumplan
When Alex bought the plot, restrictive site and planning laws limited his design possibilities. At 220 m², the tight layout, compounded with strict by-laws, imposed a form on the home. Alex explains that designing for himself presented non-physical challenges too: ‘It is probably the most difficult project because you are looking for a type of design perfection that is impossible to achieve.’ To navigate this, he turned to the work of Adolf Loos, an early 20th- century architect. Loos’ concept of the Raumplan — a vision of spaces as vertical, interconnected volumes — is a means to rethink traditional homemaking. Refusing a divided home, the Raumplan offers a more immersive way to move through a building.
From the outside, the seamless volumetric layout is structured vertically, one layer stacked on the other. An unassuming façade comprises cube-like structures that are carved away. The outside is simplified, intentionally hiding in plain sight. As one enters the front door, set into the overhanging cubes, the space compresses into a narrow, short hall – the anteroom – preparing you for the reveal.
The kitchen has its own unique articulation. Designed to be a more public space, it looks onto the balcony. Gatherers inside can easily communicate with those on the other end, bringing the hosts and guests closer together when entertaining. On the ground floor, no matter which living or dining space you find yourself in, you are enveloped in the canopy of trees. The surrounding greenery holds the space, framing the enclosure and creating a cosy environment. An array of succulents, planted tightly against the sliding window, was designed by horticulturist Ernst van Jaarsveld, known for his work on the Babylonstoren farm.
Floating over the city
To reach the next floor, one must pass through the narrow staircase. In embracing the tight frame of the home, Alex chose to hint at the staircase — revealing it momentarily — rather than exposing the structure. Upstairs, you are no longer shielded by the fortress of trees. Instead, the bedrooms open onto the wider view of the city stretching out to the sea on the horizon.
Reflecting on the entire process, Alex offers this advice: ‘Challenge your own insecurities and your ego, but also trust yourself and your intuition. Fall back on your experience and know that you are landing in the right place.’
