Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		House Crocodile Magaliesburg, Gauteng MICHAEL SCHOLES and ASSOCIATE ARCHITECTS : Architect

Date: 2004 Type: Homestead Status: Proposed

Never Built House Crocodile is a design for a house on the Crocodile River on a farm in Pelindaba about midway between Johannesburg and Hartbeespoort dam. The house is designed as a weekend getaway for a family. It is situated on a beautiful site with steep embankments lined with fairly dense bush and trees. The river which is to the west of the site and is aligned North-South, cascades over a series of rapids enhancing the sound of running water. The house is aligned East-West to take full advantage of the North orientation. It was designed as a cantilevered bridge, projecting over the embankment, floating through the trees, extending over a portion of the river to take full advantage of the views. Two monolithic stone piers, tapered to allow flow of flood waters support the cantilever. A portion of the embankment was reclaimed with a retaining wall and sets the datum of the house above the 100 year flood line. The house was designed as a high-tech 'light-weight' box of steel, glass and timber, juxtaposed and anchored with heavier and more solid elements of natural stone, which both blend and contrast with the natural environment. The service modules which pop out of the framework of the house are accentuated in bright primary colours.