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A formally dark and dingy three bedroom suburban house across the vlei from Muizenberg Mountain was completely transformed into a cozy cottage that takes full advantage of its ideal orientation and position on site.
INTERIOR FITOUT
Putter Kitchen
A split level home with unchallenged views over False Bay above Froggy Pond had been enlarged and expanded over the years resulting in a big house with no space. Some considered reconfiguration, addition of extensive deck...
ALTERATION TO EXISTING DWELLING
House Jewinson
The move out to the southern peninsula afforded, SPACE + FIELD principal, Donné Atkinson to, at last, begin to apply into practice the theory around building soil, improving biodiversity and creating conditions conducive to life...
HOME GARDEN
Seaforth Cottage Garden
Before Renovation











Sunbird Cottage
Bruce and Rebecca Meissner

"When we set out to almost completely rebuild our home, we knew that our most important investment would be in the services of a skilled, creative and perceptive architect. Working with Donné over the last few years has been such a stress-free and rewarding experience. She completely understood what we were wanting to achieve and collaborated with us to make it happen in a way that suited our priorities and our budget. Thanks to Donné, we now have a home space that brings us deep joy on a daily basis. We sing her praises to anyone who remarks on our beautiful home!"
BRUCE & REBCCA
About
A formally dark and dingy three bedroom suburban house across the vlei from Muizenberg Mountain was completely transformed into a cozy cottage that takes full advantage of its ideal orientation and position on site.
PROJECT TYPE:
Alteration to existing dwelling
CLIENT
Bruce and Rebecca Meissner
LOCATION
Muizenberg, Cape Town
Photographers, Rebecca and Bruce Meissner of Love Made Visible purchased a small, less than desirable home ideally positioned diagonally across the road from Rebecca’s parents in mid-2016 with aspirations to convert it into a small but comfortable “cabin-like” cottage of their dreams. Together, we worked out a brief for what they were after in the longer term and then pared it back into a Phase 1 that was achievable with available budget and a Phase 2 which would follow later.
The original house was ideally orientated towards the North and set back onto the South boundary. There was potential for views up towards Muizenberg Mountain to the West. The house had no connection to the outside and a garage positioned at the back of the property meant that much of the available garden space was paved driveway.

Working within the existing footprint of the house and retaining existing plumbing for bathroom and kitchen to save on costs, the roof was removed and exterior walls elevated slightly to allow for the addition of a main bedroom ensuite in the loft space, big airy volume over the living area and views up the mountain.
Bruce and Rebecca worked very closely with contractors with Bruce doing much of the detail work himself including tiling and beautiful reclaimed timber kitchen counters. Several windows were reclaimed and purchased second hand; fireplace and gorgeous spiral staircase bought for a song on Gumtree.
Precast garage was repositioned to the street allowing garden space to be made with edibles and indigenous fynbos dominating the front of the house. The addition of sunny dining area and extensive deck will bring the project to completion in 2020.
The project as been featured in several local design blogs as well as French Interior design mag, Home Cuisines and Bains: Best of 2019 Issue.

"When we set out to almost completely rebuild our home, we knew that our most important investment would be in the services of a skilled, creative and perceptive architect. Working with Donné over the last few years has been such a stress-free and rewarding experience. She completely understood what we were wanting to achieve and collaborated with us to make it happen in a way that suited our priorities and our budget. Thanks to Donné, we now have a home space that brings us deep joy on a daily basis. We sing her praises to anyone who remarks on our beautiful home!"
BRUCE & REBCCA
Photographers, Rebecca and Bruce Meissner of Love Made Visible purchased a small, less than desirable home ideally positioned diagonally across the road from Rebecca’s parents in mid-2016 with aspirations to convert it into a small but comfortable “cabin-like” cottage of their dreams. Together, we worked out a brief for what they were after in the longer term and then pared it back into a Phase 1 that was achievable with available budget and a Phase 2 which would follow later.
The original house was ideally orientated towards the North and set back onto the South boundary. There was potential for views up towards Muizenberg Mountain to the West. The house had no connection to the outside and a garage positioned at the back of the property meant that much of the available garden space was paved driveway.
Working within the existing footprint of the house and retaining existing plumbing for bathroom and kitchen to save on costs, the roof was removed and exterior walls elevated slightly to allow for the addition of a main bedroom ensuite in the loft space, big airy volume over the living area and views up the mountain.
Bruce and Rebecca worked very closely with contractors with Bruce doing much of the detail work himself including tiling and beautiful reclaimed timber kitchen counters. Several windows were reclaimed and purchased second hand; fireplace and gorgeous spiral staircase bought for a song on Gumtree.
Precast garage was repositioned to the street allowing garden space to be made with edibles and indigenous fynbos dominating the front of the house. The addition of sunny dining area and extensive deck will bring the project to completion in 2020.
The project as been featured in several local design blogs as well as French Interior design mag, Home Cuisines and Bains: Best of 2019 Issue.
