29 Queens - Secure residential estate in Sea Point, Western Cape.
29 Queens Road
No 29 Queens Road is a compact block of 16 micro apartments, with only 3 units left!
The site was formerly a suburban single residential site, some 345sqm in extent. The site faces onto Queens road, in a generally South West orientation.
The design proposes lifting the structure off the base level to allow for onsite parking, and stacking the micro units above, at 4 units per floor, arranged around a central lift and access stair way. 8 of the unit’s face North, looking toward Sea Point and Signal Hill. 8 of the unit’s look out over Bantry Bay, with side views of Lions Head and the Atlantic Ocean.
The first 3 levels consist of 36sqm studio units which include 4sqm balconies, all accessed off a central landing. Each unit has an outdoor balcony (with ample space to place a table and chair), a fitted kitchen, bed space above, and separate bathroom. The top 2 levels consist of 4 double volume duplex units, with two remaining units that are 57sqm each and includes a 12sqm balcony. The bedrooms and bathrooms are upstairs, with the entry, living, dining and balcony downstairs.
The street elevation serves as a screen to the necessarily maximised inner footprint which underpins the market viability of the proposal. As such, the screen is continuous, covering the circulation access, units and balconies. The screens are both fixed and sliding. The screens are made of translucent sheeting attached to steel framing and provide flexible privacy from the street, while allowing South light into the apartments when closed. The north elevation rakes back in line with Town Planning setbacks. The openings are protected with projecting horizontal sun screens.
The street boundary wall consists of open breeze blocks, with adjacent planting. The breeze block wall and translucent screens propose a lighter materiality to the given ‘block shaped permissible envelope’ determined by the Town Planning regulations which place restrictions on form and design sensibility.
