The aristocratic dwelling was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The original features include a grand timber staircase, numerous ornate fireplaces, built-in classical joinery, and a grand room with exposed detailed trusses. The design approach was to peel back the layers of add-ons and identify, preserve, and restore precious heritage fabric, such as fireplaces, brass ironmongery, picture rails, doors, louvers, joinery, and timber floors. The new addition’s aesthetic is distinctively modern, showcasing the juxtaposition between the new and the old.
The main objective was to modernize the entire building from an energy-efficiency and building-services perspective, introducing and upgrading artificial lighting, mechanical ventilation, and IT infrastructure. A custom timber tree pergola was added to the existing main courtyard, allowing for additional public space that can be used year-round. We closely collaborated with the clients, incorporating symbolic Thai patterns onto the hanging panels to create a sense of ownership for the building’s current inhabitants. The project’s end result is a sensitive fusion of opposites: a marriage between old and new, between an old home and a contemporary office, becoming a flagship representation of what a 21st-century embassy in South Africa should embody.
