The seamless integration of architecture into landscape has lately become a natural concern for builders, architects and designers all over the world. If you are interested in such ideas, too, it’s high time to look at the Forest House located in Durban, South Africa built by Bloc Architects, as this home is all about it.
The architects focused on raw materials and on a functional organization so they structured the house into three volumes with concrete frames, steel columns and timber screens. The volumes have large glass walls, sliding doors and timber screens for increased privacy. The service volumes contain spaces such as the laundry area, a workshop, a gym, a staff apartment and a garage for three cars. There’s also a social volume and a sleeping volume and the ground floor also has an indoor-outdoor swimming pool which literally brings the outdoors in. Its volumes form an L-shaped floor plan and are totally independent from each other
The sunken living room is large and open but at the same time very cozy and comfortable-looking, there’s an oversized L-shaped sofa. The bedroom suites have access to private balconies with clear glass railings and sliding doors. The bedrooms feature amazing views and there’s a timber screen that can be used for privacy. The indoor-outdoor swimming pool is the strongest link between the house and its immediate surroundings. A cozy and open outdoor sitting area is built around a large fire pit. Landscaping is perfectly styled, too, it’s very harmonious and chic.