Concrete And Wood House Brings The Outdoors In Through The Swimming Pool

The seamless integration of architecture into landscape has lately become a natural concern for builders, architects and designers all over the world. The strategy is different in every single case so we’re never running out of examples to show you. One of the latest such projects is the Forest House located in Durban, South Africa. It was built in 2017 and offers 400 square meters of living space in total. The project was developed by Bloc Architects.

The Forest House is organized into three volumes, two on the ground floor and another one on top
The Forest House is organized into three volumes, two on the ground floor and another one on top
The indoor-outdoor swimming pool is the strongest link between the house and its immediate surroundings
The indoor-outdoor swimming pool is the strongest link between the house and its immediate surroundings
The swimming pool literally brings the outdoors in in tandem with cool reflections of the sky
The swimming pool literally brings the outdoors in in tandem with cool reflections of the sky

The house is part of an exclusive forest estate and the views and the landscape surrounding it played important roles in its orientation, structure and overall design. The architects focused on raw materials and on a functional organization so they structured the house into three volumes with concrete frames, steel columns and timber screens. The service volumes contains spaces such as the laundry area, a workshop, a gym, a staff apartment and a garage for three cars. There’s also a social volume and a sleeping volume and the ground floor also has an indoor-outdoor swimming pool which literally brings the outdoors in.

A cozy and open outdoor sitting area is built around a large fire pit
A cozy and open outdoor sitting area is built around a large fire pit
The volumes have large glass walls, sliding doors and timber screens for increased privacy
The volumes have large glass walls, sliding doors and timber screens for increased privacy
One of the volumes is dedicated to all the social areas, including a big open kitchen with a large island
One of the volumes is dedicated to all the social areas, including a big open kitchen with a large island
The sunken living room is large and open but at the same time very cozy and comfortable-looking
The sunken living room is large and open but at the same time very cozy and comfortable-looking
The bedroom suites have access to private balconies with clear glass railings and sliding doors
The bedroom suites have access to private balconies with clear glass railings and sliding doors
Slide the doors open and the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape rush inside
Slide the doors open and the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape rush inside
The facades and overall exterior design of the house are simple and focused on raw materials and finishes
The facades and overall exterior design of the house are simple and focused on raw materials and finishes
The ground floor volumes form an L-shaped floor plan and are totally independent from each other
The ground floor volumes form an L-shaped floor plan and are totally independent from each other