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House Meyer
Camps Bay, Western Cape
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| Situated on the edge of the Glen, Camps Bay, Cape Town, the house has short vistas on the Glen and long views on Lion's Head (north), Table Mountain (east), the "Twelve Apostles" further south and glimpses of the sea in the west. The site, which faces due north, is comparatively flat, rocky, and sheltered from the prevailing winds. A big rock in the middle of the site, which puzzled several previous owners, was the main obstacle to contend with in the design, and allowed the opportunity of building around an internal courtyard, sheltered for private indoor-outdoor living. The sea aspect, with the afternoon glare, has been carefully avoided and the important north aspect, with its unobstructed views on the Glen and Lion's Head, chosen for the most important rooms. The basic approach was to experiment with certain building methods which in normal practice are not always possible. Firstly, an attempt was made, within the limited scope of rigid local building regulations, to evolve a unit system whereby a maximum part of the structure was premanufactured in units and fitted together on the site, without creating the monotony which is normally associated with prefabrication. Secondly, to use wood as a basic building material and to face the problem of preserving the natural colour of the wood. Thirdly to use structural aluminium as supporting structure and aluminium throughout, in place of steel. The design is based on a 5 foot [1,5 m] module in both directions. The floating roof and beams are supported on a total of 110 extruded black anodised aluminium I-sections spaced at 5 feet and multiples of 5 feet centres, where modules intersect. All premanufactured units, such as floor to ceiling window and door units which fit between these, are secured to the aluminium columns. Fairface brickwork, which is used as solid outside walls to conform to regulations, is throughout interrupted by aluminium columns at consistent intervals to serve merely as stiffeners of the system. If regulations had permitted, other durable dry materials (other than brickwork) could have been used as infill panels externally to complete the unit system in a consistent logical manner. The window and door units consist of 2 overall sizes, i.e., 5 ft. by 7 ft. 9 in. [2,4 m] when fitted under laminated beams and 5 ft. by 8 ft. 6 in. [2,5 m] when fitted between laminated beams. The wood section used has been designed to give maximum flexibility. A standard section is used horizontally and vertically. The rebates formed allowed for the fixing of the units to the aluminium I-sections in both directions. Within the units the rebates accommodate doors, window openings, glazing, as well as slats when used as external screens. This standardisation simplified manufacturing and erection and resulted in time saving and an economical solution. The roof construction, which is in itself a horizontal truss, serves to bind the structure as a whole together so as to resist wind pressure. In concept the roof is seen as a pergola covering a rectangular portion of the site extending from side boundary to side boundary, of which sections are. roofed over and sections left open over patios. The pergola consists of 13 9 in. [228 mm] by 22 in. [558 mm] laminated Meranti beams at 3 feet [0,9 m] centres in one direction, each 93 feet [28,3] long, fixed to extruded I-sections where walls and screens occur. The pergola beams are held together with double laminated Meranti beams 6 inches [152 mm] apart at 10 feet [3 m] eentres running in the opposite direction, which become H-sections where box-gutters occur and to which the roof units are bolted. The roof units consist of 1/2 in. [12 mm] selected S.A. Pine ceiling boarding 7/8 in. [22 mm] Pine roof boarding and 6 in. by 1 1/2 in. [38 mm] shaped Pine joists at 2 ft. 6 in. [762 mm] centres. The space between ceiling and roof boarding is filled with 2 in. [51 mm] thick "Fomolite" insulation boards. The roof is covered with 2 layers 5-ply "Marley-ply" roofing felt. The box-gutters above H-beams are drained at both ends into rainwater heads and discharged into 2 in. diameter anodised aluminium downpipes. All internal walls sub-dividing bedrooms and bathrooms are 2 in. Gypcor walls which arrived in sections on the site, fitted under laminated beams and skim-plastered both sides. All bathroom walls are covered with vinyl material which is warm and easy to clean. Window openings are "Forwin" anodised aluminium horizontal sliding or "Kelco" adjustable glass louvres, fitted to openings in timber window units. Painting is kept to a minimum. Fairface brickwork and Gypcor walls have been painted white. All woodwork such as laminated beams, window and door units, fascias, etc., are in Meranti, suitably sealed and clear varnished and are to be tested over a period. Built-in cupboards in Walnut and Sapele have also been designed and manufactured in units to suit the system. Some are fixed between columns, some are hung between laminated beams. The slate floor in the entrance hall, lounge, dining room and servery complex has been laid in typical 5 feet square panels. Each panel is identical in pattern of purposely square cut slates of varying sizes, but by changing the direction of each panel the overall effect becomes random. The bathroom complex was also an experiment in minimum planning providing several combinations of fittings in small cubicles to achieve maximum efficiency for the whole family. Perhaps the most important room in the house is the family room, which serves every member of the family of five, as the real "Living Room". It acts as a playroom, workroom, study and all-purpose room. Although planned close to the children's bedrooms, it also gives access to the entrance hall, bathrooms, main bedroom and internal courtyard. The lounge is used as a sitting room for guests and entertainment. (Wale 1962:73-74, 77-78) Books that reference House Meyer
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