You won’t find many “cookie cutter” homes in Westville or Cowies Hill. These conjoined suburbs are the dwelling place for some of the most eclectically designed mid-century houses I have found in Durban over a long period of photographing property for real estate. Sure, there are always exceptions and some developers have brought their 21st century designs to the area in recent times, but generally the area resists the sort of glitzy kitsch you will find further north in the city.
The homes in Westville & Cowie’s Hill are not overtly ostentatious (again with some exceptions) but just generally very interesting. In this part of the world you’ll encounter lots of sunken lounges, slatted wood ceilings, strange window designs and unusual architectural lines. It seems to have been the preferred suburbs for architects to express themselves back in those days.
The subject of this house tour is a good example of what modernism can look like when it is wrapped in one of those mid-century frames. The owners basically gut renovated it after purchase. They tore out the kitchen, knocked out some walls and set about creating a wonderfully open, but still segmented space that has 4 bedrooms, with the master suite having an open bathroom. I must confess, I do not understand this open bathroom / master bedroom concept much at all. For me it isn’t a very good idea, but a lot of homes seem to be sporting them these days. My concern is that the moisture created by the bathroom is now spreading into the sleeping space where it can blossom into mould, especially in your cupboards. But what do I know?
There are many layers in this space. You enter the home and can either stay on the same level to find two of the smaller bedrooms, or you can ascend a few stairs in the opposite direction to where the garage and master suite are located. Descending the stairs you’ll encounter the original lounge with a large fireplace, now tastefully clad in sandstone. The kitchen and dining area are around the corner, but there is a very large opening between these two spaces that must have been one of the walls that the owners removed during the renovation. Good idea.
Down a few more steps you will find the new lounge / home office space in a wonderfully open and tastefully minimalist setting. This area has a section with very high ceilings which really caught my attention (because you know I am always looking for potential photography studio spaces). There is another bedroom on this level that has its own little outdoor area too. If you were running a photography studio from here this could actually be the office, or a changing room for the models you will be coaxing into Zoolander poses out in the big open area. OK, I will stop now.
The patio and pool area are still not renovated, but I am certain that whoever continues the evolution of this unique home will be able to continue the modern feel of those areas too.
Check out the full listing here.
Client: Shelley Residential
Product: The Works
