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Project information
• Company entering: Strey Architects
• Client: Friedrich and Wilna Strey
• Start date: 2006
• End date: 2015
• Main contractor Friedrich Strey
• Architect: Friedrich Strey
• Consulting engineer: Hull Consulting Engineers
• Subcontractor: Clotan Steel
• Subcontractor: Mega Construction
Various site layouts and concepts were considered. It was decided
to design a contemporary farmstead, utilising different ‘sheds,
barns and a silo’ on the 1 239 m² stand. A long timber cladded
‘barn’ had to accommodate the living area and parent-in-law
apartment on the ground floor, and the bedrooms on the first floor
in the roof or loft space, and the services, storeroom, wine cellar
and business office in the basement.
The southern ‘shed’ had to serve as double garage or double
as a steel workshop at ground level, a rentable apartment in the
attic space and domestic quarters in the basement. A brick ‘silo’
serve as stair shaft and serves as a division between the ‘public’
architect’s office space, and the ‘private’ home and living space, as
well as to accommodate a guest bathroom in the basement, and a
look-out in the top of the tower.
One of the most important factors in design is the orient-
ation of the building. The most common factor is for the long
face of the building to face the sun, but that is not always possible
or desirable.
The different structures are placed is such a way that the building
‘turns its back’ on the cold winter winds from the south-east,
while channelling the cool breeze over the pool and through the
opposing glass doors of the ‘barn’ during summer.
As South Africans are blessed with an average of more than
300 days of sunshine per year, it only makes sense to install a solar
water heating system to help with the hot water needs, as well
as produce electricity with the use of the sun, through the use of
photovoltaic panels.
The estate is reticulated with piped natural gas to each stand,
so solar heated water could also be supplemented by utilising
natural gas to bring the hot water up to the required temperature
when needed.
The house is properly insulated, through the use of insulation
board in all the roofs, walls and floors.
Clay bricks utilises a lot of energy to be fired, as well as leaving
a scar to the earth where the materials are excavated, so recycled
clay bricks from sites where buildings were being demolished, were
used where bricks were needed.
No artificial heating or cooling was needed as the structure is
well insulated all round, passive evaporative cooling mechanisms
(the swimming pool) is in place, single deep spaces utilised, well-
considered cross ventilation used, etc.
Operable, triangular gable-end windows, right at the top of the
ridge of every structure
BARN HOUSE
It is always the hardest thing for an architect to
design for himself. Mostly because the temptation
presents itself to try all the ideas usually not
allowed by clients; and to experiment.