SEA-FACING Sanctuary…

A magnificent family home that offers the freedom of modern, open-plan living, while at the same time being a private retreat for its owners. We caught up with Ballito architect Michael le Court de Billot.

The striking, full-length infinity pool with integrated jacuzzi is the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy the glorious views that this magnificent, contemporary family home has to offer.
Tucked away amidst lush greenery inside the forest of Elaleni Coastal Estate, this four-bedroom sea-facing sanctuary has a distinct ‘linear narrative’ that stretches the width of the site.

“We wanted to ensure that each room in the house was sea-facing,” says architect Michael, who owns Moda Studio Architects. There are also sweeping views over the rolling hills of Zululami Estate below. “Our brief from the client was to create a coastal family home that would maximise the potential of its location in terms of views and surrounding context. The home needed to cater for a growing family, with a comfortable separation between the guest and private spaces. They also wanted to prioritise the connection to the outdoors,” says Michael.

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Designed with this growing family in mind, the 573m² home is built on two levels. It features a stunning, open-plan living area and sizeable, covered entertainment space, along with a triple garage, pyjama lounge and two en-suite guest rooms on the ground floor.


Situated on the first floor is the master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe, large en-suite and balcony, as well as the study and second bedroom with full bathroom. “Creating spaces for all members of the family to interact, as well as retreat, remained at the forefront of our minds when it came to the design process of this stunning home,” said Michael.

The outside of the home is as remarkable as the interior, with a thoughtful and carefully planned landscaping design envisioned and executed by David Griesel of River Projects. “The sunlight-filled, wind-protected courtyard, which is ideal for both children and adults to enjoy, became an integral design element of the home,” says Michael.

The architecture is non-intrusive with as many natural materials used as possible, including locally-sourced stone, concrete, glass, timber and steel.
Other notable features include a fully-integrated 20 000-litre water storage tank below the deck and sustainable 5000kw/h generation by means of solar panels, inverter and back-up battery power, allowing the family to be as self-sustainable as possible.
ABOUT THE ARCHITECT
Moda Studio Architects founder Michael le Court de Billot lived in Ballito for 16 years before travelling to the UK in 2009 to enrol at the University of Brighton. He completed a BA (Hons) in architecture and then returned to South Africa to hone his craft with both local and international design experience. Michael started Moda Studio Architects in 2019. He and his team aim to achieve design excellence and offer bespoke services to exceed client expectations and deliver elegant architectural solutions for every project they take on. They are currently working on residential and commercial projects around South Africa, Italy and the UK.

Details: Architect: Moda Studio Architects, Michael le Court de Billot, 072 455 3740, www.modastudio.archi; Main contractor: Wekula Construction, Wade Rasmussen; Structural engineer: Monoblock, Rowan Shuttleworth; Landscaper: River Projects, David Griesel; Environmental control officer: CKzn Projects, Craig Kember.

Photographs: Chris Allan Photo

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