A new penthouse addition to a 1950s block of flats designed by Louis Karol. The design maximizes views over Table Mountain and the city with a double-volume space and mezzanine level. A steel structure is clad with steel and glass that lights up like an urban lantern at night time.

From concept through construction.

Ha Long, Vietnam

The project was the design of three Freeway Rest Stops along the route between Mong Cai and Ha Long in the north of Vietnam. This rest stop, around 20 km outside of Ha Long, reflects the surrounding hilly landscape. Clusters of egg-shaped volumes, each with an oculus skylight, are arranged on both sides of the highway. The hill-eggs are sliced horizontally to create green roof planters, and to let in more light to the convenience store and restaurants below. The oval shapes are carried through in the parking layout. The design is a remarkable event - whether you stop or not - along this route.

The story goes that the man who built this house left with only a horse as payment. This first farm house on Opzoek dates from around the second half of the 1800s. Some of the mud and mud brick walls are almost a meter thick. The house would have likely had a thatch roof with an attic floor reached by an exterior stone staircase. The original poplar / eucalyptus roof structure remains, but the attic beams were cut and removed at some stage (presumably to sell), and the roof was covered in corrugated sheets.

The house was re-imagined to house the managers of the neighbouring cannabis growing facility. The intervention consisted of removing later bathroom additions on the east side; opening up two smaller rooms into a new larger kitchen; adding two second level rooms; fitting electricity; the original window openings were restored; and new skylights were added. All new internal structures were built from timber, to ease future removal. Depth is created with exposed and grooved timber walls that form shadows in the changing light.

Karoo Bioscience manager's accommodation
Construction: Mark Clifton Projects
Photos: Rene Slabbert

International school based on the Herforder (Lernhaus) model - clusters of classrooms, self-study centre, teachers' team room, toilet facilities around a forum.

with Inros Lackner Vietnam. Sketch design.

The roof was raised to create a new second level with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. A balcony and combination roof window-windows maximises the views over Muizenberg. Two stoeps were added - one to the front and one to the back.

With Andre Rademeyer Architect: concept, design, approval, tender & construction documentation
Photos: Marchell Ellis

Hans graduated from the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2013, under Karel Bakker and Arthur Barker, while doing his candidacy in Kalk Bay with Andre Rademeyer and Stuart Thomspon. In 2015 he registered as a Professional Architect with SACAP (South African Council for the Architectural Profession).

Revel Fox & Partners in Cape Town appointed Hans as architect from 2015 until 2017, when he received the Ax:son Johnson Foundation scholarship to study at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. He completed this masters in Urbanism Studies in 2018, supervised by Ryan Locke and Tigran Haas, while working with Torsten Illgen at Inros Lackner Vietnam, in Hanoi. Hans has since returned to South Africa where he continues his practice.

Reclaim the CIty and Ndifuna Ukwazi
launched a challenge to architects
to present proposals to develop a
derelict shool site in Seapoint for
affordable housing. This scheme
of 3000m2 housing and 1500m2
commercial space was presented.

concept design

Lady Anne Barnard’s historical Manor
House was adapted to a range of
conference facilities. The centuries
old oak roof structure were exposed,
and in the process the new services
and structure too.

Revel Fox & Partners: design development, construction
drawings & construction

2015
vineyard hotel - jack barnett wing
Claremont, Cape Town, SA

Refurbishment of 49 hotel suites in a
wing of the hotel, originally built by the
architect, Jack Barnett. New balconies
and an outdoor deck area were also
added. The interface between the
reception area and a courtyard were
also re-done in this phase.

Revel Fox & Partners: construction drawings & construction.

Complete internal refurbishment and addition of family room and main suite to this house amongst Milkwood
trees. A theme of opening corners ensured a good connection with the garden.

With Stuart Thompson Architect: tender documentation, construction detailing, site supervision assistance

New academic conference centre
in historical context, at the old
Breakwater Prison, which RF&P
adapted to the Graduate School of
Business in 1992.

Revel Fox & Partners. Sketch design & design development.

Refurbishment of Victorian semidetached
two bedroom house. Redesign
of kitchen and bathroom,
unified with a skylight above the wall
that separates these two rooms.