Holiday Apartment Simon’s Town
Located on Simonstown’s historic Main Road, overlooking the Naval dockyard, the British Hotel dates back to 1871.
The owners of the property faced a dilemma when the steep land behind the property began to slide, affecting the walls and foundations of the building at the rear of the site.
When structural and geotechnical engineers were called in to advise, the client realised that the remedial works to save the old building would involve extensive repairs and costs, including the building of a hefty retaining wall with major ground anchors.
We saw the opportunity to set the retaining wall deeper into the embankment, carving out enough space for the creation of two new holiday apartments. New open plan kitchens, dining and living spaces are located on the upper level, while new bedrooms and bathrooms are reconfigured from the maze of small rooms below, which once housed the hotel staff.
Built up against the new retaining wall, the apartments now bring vibrancy and purpose to the courtyard of the original building.
‘We saw the opportunity to set the retaining wall deeper into the embankment, carving out enough space for the creation of two new holiday apartments’
Old timber-framed doors and windows, timber shutters, staircases and balustrades facing the courtyard were carefully repaired and restored as part of the renovation.
Original beams from the old structure were raised up to create a new carriage-like structure on the upper level, with openable windows on both sides providing cross ventilation, naturally cooling the space without air-conditioning, even on the hottest summer days.
Unfinished salvaged Oregon pine which was recycled to make new kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, and historic stone walls stripped of plaster, contrast with the new timber structure and panelling which are all painted white to reflect the nautical spirit of this seaside getaway.
Holiday Apartment Simon’s Town
Located on Simonstown’s historic Main Road, overlooking the Naval dockyard, the British Hotel dates back to 1871.
The owners of the property faced a dilemma when the steep land behind the property began to slide, affecting the walls and foundations of the building at the rear of the site.
When structural and geotechnical engineers were called in to advise, the client realised that the remedial works to save the old building would involve extensive repairs and costs, including the building of a hefty retaining wall with major ground anchors.
We saw the opportunity to set the retaining wall deeper into the embankment, carving out enough space for the creation of two new holiday apartments. New open plan kitchens, dining and living spaces are located on the upper level, while new bedrooms and bathrooms are reconfigured from the maze of small rooms below, which once housed the hotel staff.
Built up against the new retaining wall, the apartments now bring vibrancy and purpose to the courtyard of the original building.
‘We saw the opportunity to set the retaining wall deeper into the embankment, carving out enough space for the creation of two new holiday apartments’
Old timber-framed doors and windows, timber shutters, staircases and balustrades facing the courtyard were carefully repaired and restored as part of the renovation.
Original beams from the old structure were raised up to create a new carriage-like structure on the upper level, with openable windows on both sides providing cross ventilation, naturally cooling the space without air-conditioning, even on the hottest summer days.
Unfinished salvaged Oregon pine which was recycled to make new kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, and historic stone walls stripped of plaster, contrast with the new timber structure and panelling which are all painted white to reflect the nautical spirit of this seaside getaway.
