In June last year, Shospec was invited to attend the 10th Saint-Gobain Gypsum International Trophy ceremony in Prague. Our entry, House Declercq, was the only South African entry amongst 89 other internationally nominated projects from 35 participating countries. Although not placed, we did receive a trophy for being one of the finalists and are immensely proud to be the ones holding the baton for South Africa!
Set on the breathtaking country estate, Mount Verde, in the KZN Midlands, House Declercq is a 900m2 example of what lightweight building methods are designed for. The modern design of this home features raked walls and ceilings with wall heights that range from 2.8m to 6m high, all built using Light Steel Frame (LSF). Sharp clean lines and large glazed openings capture stunning views. The brief, to connect the home owners with nature, is represented throughout the property with an indoor/outdoor Koi pond separated by a partially submerged glass divider, a skylight allowing natural light to flood the living area and, in the garden, indigenous plants and rock walls, sourced from the building rubble.
The mixture of LSF and structural steels lends to an industrial bulky look which would not have been possible using concrete and bricks.
Taking just eight months to complete the main house, from the initial laying of concrete slabs to occupation, the benefits of using LSF are not only clear in the beauty of the design, but also in how time-efficient the method is.
Check more pictures of this stunning project from the construction phase right up until completion, here.
