Cape Dutch in America

When I was doing some research on a previous post on Cape Dutch houses, I stumbled across this beautiful example and then to my amazement realized that it was not situated in South Africa, but in California, USA. I was intrigued as to how this style of architecture fairly unique to the Western Cape area of South Africa had made it's way across the Atlantic

This magnificent home, called Constantia, was built in the 1930's. Named after the wine region of Cape Town, South Africa, Constantia arose from the visionary genius of architect, Ambrose Cramer, who designed the pristine estate for his father-in-law, Arthur Meeker, Executive Vice President of Chicago’s Armour meat packing company. Cramer drew inspiration from the Cape Dutch homes that populated the southernmost tip of the African continent. The Meekers believed Santa Barbara and South Africa's Cape held appealing similarities in climate, vegetation, and scenery and commissioned Cramer to recreate the same plantation style amid the beautiful terrain of Montecito. 

The current owner purchased the property in 2006 and began the restoration that resulted in the masterpiece it is today. These small-paned sash windows are usually painted white and the half-shutters are very typical of most Cape Dutch homes.

This home has been impeccably restored and is surrounded by meticulous gardens, broad lawns, and majestic palms. Spectacular views of Montecito Peak rise over the prominent reflecting pond and the shimmering waters of the Pacific Ocean appear beyond the verdant landscape. 

Massive iron gates frame the entrance to the olive-lined drive that fronts the estate, while a swimmer’s pool and spa, a dramatic reflecting pond, and a sunken garden bordered by roses complement the natural beauty that surrounds the home.

The home spans approximately 10,000 square feet of living space and has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms! 

This is the living room as it is today...

and before the restoration with it's more traditional furnishings.

The Cape Dutch style houses very often have wide front and back doors that are directly in line with each other so that one can have a view right through the house to the gardens beyond.

This is the floor plan of the original home before extensions.

The heavy beams are very typical of these homes.

Magnificent dining room.

Beautiful bedroom and what a view!

So, my wonderful American readers, did you know that there was a little bit of my country in yours?

Till next time

Sharon x

Sources : here and here

Simple and Stylish - Sweden meets Africa

What do you get when you mix the Scandinavian style with more earthy African touches?

This beautiful home.

 A Swedish couple settled in Somerset West near Cape Town, built this Cape Dutch style home and furnished and decorated it in such a simple, yet stylish way

The dining room is sparsely furnished, yet warm and inviting.

The African sun streams into the entrance hall.

The kitchen - light and bright.

Love the old kist at the foot of the bed and the wine barrel used as a side table.

Beautiful basins.

The front facade with it's Cape Dutch gable.

See more on Cape Dutch architecture in a previous post here.

Till next time

Sharon x

Image source: here

CAPE DUTCH BEAUTY

I don't like to boast, but I really do live in a beautiful part of the world! I am especially reminded of this every Thursday when I drive to the studio where I have an oil painting class. I drive through one of the most beautiful valleys in the Cape, the Constantia Valley, where there is an abundant array of forests, hills, stately historical homes and vineyards, and all of this is found just 5 minutes from my home and about 20 minutes from the city centre.

The house in the first picture is on one of the beautiful wine farms that I see on my drive. It is called "Buitenverwachting" which loosely translated means "beyond expectations". The magnificent homestead prompted me to do some research on this style of architecture. In the 17th and 18th century, the houses in the Cape Town area were built in the Cape Dutch architectural style, unique to this small area of the world and unquestionably beautiful. This style has sources as widely different as medieval Holland and Germany, the French Huguenots and the islands of Indonesia.

The “Cape Dutch” style is characterised by a thatched sloping roof, decorative gable, white plastered walls and symmetrical front windows with small panes that were often protected by shutters. These houses were often built by Malay artisans without a single blueprint or plan!

The first houses in this “Cape Dutch” style just consisted of 3 rooms in a rectangular shape. This later evolved to a T-plan and even later, another wing was added at right angles to the T and parallel to the original building. And so the H-plan evolved. This plan became the ultimate design in country houses and on which some of the Western Cape's most elegant farmsteads were designed.

Still later, outbuildings began to appear. These included a house, called a "jonkershuis" for the eldest son, stables and coach-house, servants quarters and a wine cellar. Usually a wall encircled the whole farmyard. With the backdrop of blue mountains, this presented an image of settled stability.

In the towns, the houses were built closer together and had open hearths were in every kitchen. The thatch roofs were a fire hazard when the notorious southeast wind blew. These houses were prey to fires wiping out entire streets at a time. Sadly, by the end of the 18th century many of Cape Town's thatched and gabled dwellings had vanished. There are only about 400 original Cape Dutch homes left today.

One of the most distinguishing features of the houses is, of course, the gable.

These could vary from being extremely decorative to quite plain.

Earlier versions have more baroque, curved and rounded forms...

...while later versions have sharper and more linear shapes that are Neoclassical in style.

The elaborate example above is at Groot Constantia, built in 1685, by the Dutch governor, Simon Van der Stel,  who was the first Governor of the Cape of Good Hope.

This gable on the Groot Constantia wine cellar, which was built much later, is more elaborate than most and has a very Romanesque feel.

This Jonkershuis (the home built for the eldest son) has been turned into a lovely restaurant where we often go with our children.

The walls surrounding the properties were thick and solid with a coping along the top and pillars at the ends.

Many beautiful examples of Cape Dutch homes can be found in the wine farming areas around Cape Town such as Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek.

You might be wondering about the interiors of these beautiful homes so that will be the subject of another post.

 

A vine covered "stoep" is also a common feature of these homes.

Many of the homes were built against the mountains which form such a magnificent backdrop. 

This home was built by a Frenchman in 1791 and was named after his hometown of Bourgogne (Burgundy) in France. You can detect the French influence in the design of this homestead. I love the beautiful decorative detail on the gable.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into a little South African history.

Till next time

Sharon x