La Grange Cottage, Franschhoek 

 

The four-bedroom getaway cottage is located on a fruit farm in the picturesque Franschhoek Valley, nestled between a river and orchard. The brief called for a contemporary interpretation of the Settler farmhouse typically found in the Cape Winelands area. The ground floor living and dining areas are designed to open up to the elements, offering views through the house towards a river on one side and orchards on the other. A large open-plan loft space with glazed gable windows has been designed as an art studio, offering natural light and uninterrupted views across the Franschhoek Valley. A pallet of warm materials such as local river stone, reeds, wood, and cement screed have been used as internal finishes. A combination of rough plastered walls, black corrugated iron and steel have been used externally. Photographs by Kritzinger Architects and Perfect Hideaways.