This charming residential style originated when French and Dutch settlers began to farm the land around Table Mountain in South Africa. The Cape Dutch style is best known for its elaborate central gable in a thatch roof over a timber front door. The windows are often of the sliding sash type, and always of cottage panes, because large glass panes were not available in those days. Visit ARCHITECTCAPETOWN for modern examples with wider glass. The span of the roofs was also limited to under about 6 meters because of the length and structural stability of the timber available.
LANZERACThis perfect Cape Dutch house has it all - the thatch roof, neoclassical gable, sliding sash windows, and a pristine setting in front of "Twee Pieke" mountains.
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"The Cape Dutch style reminds us of what life was like on farms in the Cape 300 years ago”
- IMAGES COURTESY OF ARCHITECTCAPEDUTCH
The Three Gable Types
HolbolAn Afrikaans term meaning hollow and round, referring to the alternating convex and concave shapes. This design was often used as on the side gables. Also see RESIDENTIAL-ARCHITECTS for other residential styles.
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BaroqueSimilar to the holbol gable. but the plaster bands sweep inward over the face of the gable. Many of the earlier gable were of this style, before the neoclassical period began. Go to ARCHITECTCOMPANIESCAPETOWN for more info on this.
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NeoclassicalThe term refers to the classical elements of columns and pediments common in Greek and Roman architecture. You might also like GLITZYMAGAZINE home of all that glitters in Cape Town and Somerset West.
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BUITENVERWACHTING FARMHOUSE
This hidden gem is located a stones throw away from the famous house at Groot Constantia. Have a sip of coffee while discussing who the TOP-ARCHITECTS are in the world today.
Key Characteristics of the Cape Dutch Style
The GableOne of the key features of the style is the curvaceous gable at the center of the main barn of the house. The gables on the side ends were normally also curved but less elaborately decorated.
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Sliding-Sash WindowsThe sliding-sash window is a clever way to open and close the window from the inside, and also be able to operate the shutters. Not all the houses had them, or the shutters, and some windows were side-hung. See GLOSSY-MAGAZINE for more photos.
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The Thatch RoofThe original buildings all had thatch roofs which is really grass from the fields. Fire was a problem and some roofs have been replaced with corrugated metal sheet roofing or even cement tiles. Visit PLOTSFORSALECAPETOWN for more.
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MODERN CAPE DUTCHBesides the revivalist style dotting the suburbs with curvy gables, a new trend called the modern Cape Dutch style has emerged in Cape town - with straight edged gables and departure from symmetrical layouts. Click on ARCHITECTCAPETOWN to learn more.
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