In the Embrace of Stellenbosch’s Protea Fields, 48 Devonvale Unfolds as a Meeting Point Between Architecture and Landscape.
A once vacant 4.5-hectare protea plantation east of Stellenbosch sets the scene for 48 Devonvale, a home designed by Metropolis that evokes a sense of wonder and introspection, distorting the boundaries between the constructed and the natural. The architectural narrative of this single-storey home is one of abstraction and integration, showcasing a well-crafted relationship with the surrounding hills and farmland.
From the outset, the design intent was clear: to create an immersive experience that reflects the complexities of human existence. Metropolis envisioned a structure that embodies both containment and openness, echoing the gentle undulations of the land while providing a sanctuary for its inhabitants.
Investigating spatial dynamics
Unlike the vernacular-inspired architecture that pervades the region, the house specifically references the character of the landscape. Its form emerges from a deceptively simple gesture: stacked, overlapping cubes arranged to create a detailed architectural narrative. The structure, partially embedded into the slope, presents a non-disruptive silhouette while creating wind-protected courtyards with varying characters. This careful positioning, combined with strategically placed berms formed from excavated soil, ensures both privacy and a sense of rootedness.
Using locally sourced flush-jointed paving bricks and off-shutter concrete, the team achieved a minimalist aesthetic. The colour palette, dominated by soft greys, natural timber, and crisp white finishes, exudes tranquillity, allowing the house to serve as a backdrop to the ever-changing moods of the land it occupies. Strategic skylights and overhead beams ensure that light floods the interior, creating a dynamic interplay that shifts throughout the day and seasons, enriching the lived experience of the home.
Dissolving boundaries
The home’s design is a product of collaboration between architect and client. The client, an architect from Sweden, was deeply involved in the process, resulting in a residence that reflects not only a commitment to sustainable design but also a personal desire for a life lived outdoors, or as close to the outdoors as possible, while enjoying the refuge of a beautifully crafted space. The comfortable and minimalist interior features ample space for family gatherings, a home office, and multiple areas that encourage contemplation and rest.
The success of 48 Devonvale lies in its resolution of apparent contradictions: it offers both endlessness and containment, human comfort and natural integration, simplicity and complexity. In doing so, it transcends mere domestic architecture to become a meditation on our relationship with the land that we share.
This article is an extract from our 2024/25 Coffee Table Edition. Click here to read the full issue.
