Architectural Design

One of the fundamental principles in creating a comfortable, eco-sensitive home is solar and climatic orientation. Great care was taken in the design of the Rozelle Village homes to comply with the demands of both Wellington’s climatic conditions and its architectural heritage.

The houses are positioned to ensure the utilisation of cool breezes and flow-through ventilation in summer, and optimising the hours of sunshine in winter.

The roof design, being the main response to the weather conditions, forms an important element in determining the internal climate of the building. It also speaks the architectural language of Wellington’s historical past.

Deep, low roof overhangs provide deep shadows on the walls and windows. The extent and height of the overhangs are such that it protects the windows on the north façade of the houses from mid-summer sun, while allowing mid-winter sun to penetrate the rooms. It also protects the walls and windows from winter rain, which almost exclusively falls from the northwest.

The roof overhang on the south of the house is both lesser and higher, allowing maximum light into the rooms. It also proposes that the external living area (patio) be located on the south side of the house, as this is the cooler side in summer, the most popular time of year in South Africa for outdoor living. This orientation also has the best views towards the magnificent Hawekwa Mountains.

With roof overhangs on all sides of the building, there are no gable walls exposed to eastern, and especially western, summer sun. The roof itself will be provided with a double layer of insulation, i.e. on top of the ceiling and under the roof sheets as well as.