Although most of the cliff side sea-fronting blocks below Victoria Road in Bantry Bay have been completely renovated or replaced in the last three decades – giving way to some of the Atlantic Seaboard’s most impressive new developments – the 52-year-old block in Victoria Road has until recently remained in much the same condition and configuration as it was when it was built in the mid-1960s.
The apartment block comprised of six levels of which two is street level in Victoria Road. The building sits dramatically on the rocks and the sea front and has landscaped areas on either side.
With the development envelope already being taken up to capacity in terms of height and width, there was little scope for increasing the floor areas. Applying the building envelope restrictions led to a design where space was created below and behind the current apartment building. Most of the apartments were refurbished and some owners combined 2 apartments together to make one larger unit. The design also proposed creating 3 floors below the current building ranging from 100 to 250 m² for the respective floor, which added further value to the entire property.
Additional floor space was also created behind the apartment building for 3 of the owners and these spaces were suited to additional bedrooms, laundries, storage, wine cellars, etc. The additional space below and behind the building required extremely complicated geotechnical and structural engineering by means of propping the building bit by bit and creating space below by extending the current structure down – a very time consuming method.
The refurbished apartments was given a fresh appearance by opening up the living areas and utilizing sophisticated materials and finishes. Each apartment has a different owner with a specific brief and look and feel – therefore each apartment refurbishment became its own project within a project.
Facades were altered to create a uniform appearance, as over the years various individual additions had led to the facades to take on an ad-hoc appearance. The communal swimming pool was replaced with a lap pool, a timber decking and braai facility – this makes for a spectacular setting with unobscured views of the Atlantic Ocean and sunsets. Two other private pools were added for individual owners which further enhance their individual accommodation.
A new entrance foyer, resurfaced parking deck, new lift and stairs further enhanced the contemporary design of the building. Over all, Peerutin Architects has given this Grand Old Dame a new and sophisticated lease on life.