Malan Vorster Redefines Design Individuality at the Paarman Estate in a Striking Collaboration with Watson Pellacini
Extending across 8135 m² of land on the edge of Old Constantia, this site tells a story of the architectural evolution undertaken by Ina and Graham Paarman over the past two decades. The family have ventured on various enhancements to their estate, including Graham’s celebrated ‘tree house’ and a modern gym pavilion. Most recently, the Paarmans acquired a neighbouring pocket of land which presented itself as a canvas for a striking new structure — and a special new adventure for Malan Vorster Architecture Interior Design alongside Watson Pellacini Garden Design Studio.
Embedded in the land
The Paarmans envisioned a structure that would gently integrate comfortably into its surroundings, serving as both a sanctuary and an entertainment venue, while maintaining a profound connection to nature. Their desire was for a design that would be partially embedded in the site, featuring planted roofs that engage with the landscape, creating the illusion of being gently dug into the hillside. The fortuitous existence of a historic poplar-lined wagon road enriched the site’s narrative further, influencing the layout and integration of the new design with the original estate.
Although striking and strong, the resulting design by the team at Malan Vorster is a low-slung structure that rises organically from the terrain, blending seamlessly with its environment. The use of rough, sandblasted concrete evokes natural boulders, allowing the building to visually recede into the landscape and enhancing its tactile experience. This approach grounds the architecture, celebrating the site’s unique topography.
Echoes of the architecture and landscape
The material palette — comprising raw stone, sandblasted concrete, and lush plant life — reinforces the relationship with the landscape. By embedding the building into the hillside and embracing its contours, the design solidifies its connection to the environment, creating a unique space where the boundary between interior and exterior disappears.
Integrating integrity
Constructing a building on steep terrain presented significant logistical challenges for both the architecture and landscaping components of the project, particularly regarding access for construction vehicles. The absence of a dedicated driveway impeded the transport of materials to the upper sections of the site, especially during the concrete pouring for the cantilevered portions of the planted roof. To overcome this, concrete trucks were stationed at the base, employing a pumping system to convey the concrete through a long pipeline directly into the formwork at the top, ensuring structural integrity while minimising disruption to the landscape.
Integrating a cantilevered triangular reflection pond posed another challenge, necessitating precise engineering to maintain stability while extending outward. This feature enhances the aesthetic appeal and functions as a bio pond, requiring a natural filtration system that supports aquatic plant life and improves water quality. The design team calibrated water levels and flow rates to facilitate the growth of native vegetation, fostering biodiversity and ecological health on-site. The planted roof also demanded careful engineering to support both structural integrity and vegetation. Despite the complexities involved, the roof emerged as a triumph, softening the concrete’s starkness.
A plant-rich design approach
The architects designed the building to harmonise with the landscape through integrated planting, incorporating greened and softened elements like planted roofs that rise naturally from the ground. This thoughtful approach avoids any suburban sensibility, opting instead for a plant-rich landscape that complements the strong architectural lines. Given the architecture’s bold presence, Watson Pellacini envisioned a garden that would embrace and soften the structure, blending it seamlessly into the landscape while delivering a dynamic and engaging planting scheme.
The two teams collaborated closely to ensure the garden’s design aligned with the building’s function and concept, especially in relation to the ponds. The water features are arranged on two levels: a triangular reflection pond that enhances the experience within The Pavilion itself, and a more natural pond at garden level, which serves as a reservoir to receive the reflection pond’s cascading water curtain. This water element introduces both movement and sound, extending into the garden, where extensive grass plantings sway with the wind.
The Pavilion stands as a sophisticated synthesis of architecture and landscape, with each design element — from the embedded pavilion to the carefully curated garden — demonstrating a profound respect for the land. Malan Vorster Architecture Interior Design and Watson Pellacini Garden Design Studio have crafted a space that is both timeless and forward-thinking, honouring the Paarmans’ vision while celebrating the site’s natural and historical beauty.
This article is an extract from our 2024/25 Coffee Table Edition. Click here to read the full issue.
