INTRODUCTION
The three cards for my design are Le Corbusier’s principles of design (viz the mass and surface), a leaf of creativity from the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and, the rhythm and order of Palladio.
The Elements of Composition are used normally, while the order of priority of the (Vitruvian) Elements of Architecture (especially delight and commodity) may be permuted to give the desired, resultant impact of the design.
However, in my community, the supplementing relief ornament of the element of delight is often restrained by the element of commodity, owing to the lack of funds.
One major problem with my community members is that they are often reluctant to disclose the budget for their intended building projects, preferring to make them DIY projects after the plans are approved. This often compromises the principles of the design, or the project is even not built at all.
Where funds permit it, the element of delight is given a complete free run, with due consideration of the element of commodity; and the element of firmness is entrusted with the competent persons (engineers). This is inevitably at additional cost. Full architectural service is permitted.
PRESENTATION OF THE SELECTED PROJECTS.
Prelude
The symbol between the letters D and S in my drawing title logo is meant to symbolise Le Corbusier’s principle of design.
Presentation
Own Conditions of Service.
This is an eleven page booklet. It was based on the treatises of the Architectural Journal “Architecture SA” and the SABS Code of Practice. Both this journal and the other, “Architect and Builder”, were recommended by my school of learning (ICS).
1988 – 1995 PROJECT PROFILE.
House Molaudzi in 1988 was my major debut plan drawing after I completed my course.
The client had instructed me to draw him a two-story house plan without having an idea of what like it should look. After he left, I was preoccupied with the element of delight and made about three freehand sketches of the façade, of which one I interpreted into the floor plan with due adjustments.
It was neither inversely ‘function out of form, nor form out of function.
A north facing house with good aspect of the bedrooms. The client insisted on the double garage to adjoin the master bedroom on the east. The design concept was not developed.
The prospect overrode the aspect of the bedrooms. The façade was asymmetrically treated by the inclusion of the garage on the other side. The plan was not built, as the owner relocated.
Liquor Premises Likwane
- Liqour Premises Likwane Bar Lounge
- Liqour Premises Likwane Beer Garden, and
- Liqour Premises Likwane Isometric Drawing of the premises.
The complex commands unity, character and exppression.The complex was not built.
Change of the roof design from flat to pitched roof and the ‘celebration of the chimney stack’ to a smaller scale. The design was reminiscent of the advent of brick houses in England.
The small contrast of facebrick to the plastered and painted walls was omitted in the construction..
Another house conceived from the abstract. Delight took the first order of priority. The plan was not built.
This design concept was developed to the municipal plan approval stage.
It has an interesting altered repetition and contrast of form and surface treatment about the symmetry of the façade. Fenestration, including the garage doors, is also varied. There is a set back of room walls on the right-hand half of the building. The element of scale is rarely used in my design of residential buildings. The house is also not built.
A dignified house with the symmetrical plain, twin chimney stacks. The aspect is also good. Only the house is built, and the garage is not.
Ornamentation of the new lounge with ordered repetition of windows and pilasters, and contrast of facebrick to the dominantly plastered and painted wall. The concept was not developed.
A house of good aspect of the bedrooms. The façade surface is set back about the symmetry, and contrasted with a bevelled bay window to a rectangular portico, and fenestration.
Own house plan
This was sufficiently documented. However, it was not built as we abandoned it for a built house with the same accommodation list, all on ground floor; but on a site twice the size of the one this plan was to be built on.
- Own House Floor Plan Sections and Elevations
- Own House Foundation Underpinning
- Own House Out-B Foundation Plan & Section
- Own House Roof Carpentry & Conc-Stair
- Own House Built-in Cupboards
The Plan Index Drawing (sheet) is not available.