Marienne Uys. South African Garden & Home, May 1981

When Ruben Stander set out to build a house on the coast at Hangklip, it was the culmination of a personal dream. In his dream house he wanted to capture childhood memories of vast expanses of white sand, azure sea and the timelessness of steadfast rock. The outcome is a most unusual, unique house loftily poised on an outcrop of huge boulders, as if grown from the rocks and wedded to sea and sky.

Ruben Stander adopted the role of architect, builder and clerk of works. "The design theme," he explains, "was to create a structure that was to be as close as possible in harmony with the wild setting of sandstone rock, the sea and deep sand filled gullies. Excavation exposed sharply delineated rock faces which dictated the layout and levels of the various rooms."

An all concrete structure was avoided by using the wide selection of natural stone available close to the site. The careful selection of stones incorporated in the design bears testimony to Ruben's imaginativeness.

"A stone is not just a stone," Ruben tells visitors. "It may be rounded or smooth from a recent grinding process on the everchanging shoreline. It may have been deposited on an earlier shoreline thousands of years ago. It may be streaked by wind erosion or covered by lichen. The texture depends on the facing of the slope where it was picked up and on the amount of vegetation by which it had been overgrown. In this area there are up to twenty varieties of local lichen that splash vivid shades of ochre and yellow on the rocks."

With this in mind, each stone was carefully selected and each stone earned its position in this magnificent sculpture according to its own character. Natural rock masses and crevices became part of the design. Huge rocks had to be incorporated into the house, as all the building was done by Ruben and four workers without the aid of heavy machinery. Hardly any rock was excavated and stubborn outcrops were removed by hammer and wedge, rolled a few metres to a more suitable place and promptly built into the design. A low rock which refused to fall into any other pattern thus set the idea for the floor of the shower which was elevated into steps ending in a seat, making it a sit down shower.

Another large rock provides support for the small staircase winding to the roof deck and generously offers a niche for a seat from where one can watch the sun setting over the sea. Just round the corner it sets the theme for a small tabletop exhibiting some natural sculptures from the neighbourhood.

Building materials were restricted to a bare minimum. Windows were set directly into concrete members precast on the site. All windows are kept stark in their simplicity to frame breathtaking views.

The severity of stone and concrete is toned down by the warmth of rugged woodwork in Oregon pine, Yarra and South African oak. All woodwork was made on site and selected according to boldness of grain and subtlety and warmth of texture. Interior walls and ceilings are painted white. Colour is suggested by subtle tones of grey. Off white and beige shading into soft hues of browns, mushroom, taupe, yellow and dramatic ochre are caught in the stones embedded in the interior walls.

Complementing these are the floors made of dune sand set in a resin to simulate sandy beaches. Mellowing the harshness of white concrete ceilings is shuttering of the roof slabs made of tongued and grooved boarding. This was suggested by Ruben's artistic wife, Nelie, who was always readyto assist wherever she was needed.

Following the contours of the natural sculpture of rocks, the ultimate design comprises seven levels. The result is an informal, very livable house. All rooms give on to the sea, which ensures perpetual movement on three sides of the house.

Climbing the flight of steps rising from sea level, one enters through a cave like entrance arched over by uneven stones set in mortar. The passage descending to the bedroom area is a winding path flanked by natural rock and a solid wall formed by a huge sloping rock shelf which could not be removed by any means.

The guest room is virtually built among rocks and the debris from the sea at high tide sometimes washes up on to the windowsills. During the night, when the tide comes in, breakers bash the rocks comprising the foundation of the house.

A bathroom complementing the overall structural design leads off three bedrooms at the lower level. The wine cellar is a deep gully in the rock. It widens towards the far end which is covered by a dome of large stones set in mortar. Following the meandering passage towards the staircase which leads to another level acting as drawing room/kitchen, one passes a shelter used by Strandlopers centuries ago. The level devoted to the living area features a fireplace with wide open hearth. It also forms the main support for the roof and the above roof level supporting a water tank. The fireplace is lined with large fire bricks and aluminium sheet to control thetemper~ture.

Floor decks lend themselves to sunbathing and open air entertainment. Above these yet another level features a wind charger to charge the batteries which supply electricity indoors. A stairwell leads to a parapet which offers vistas of unrivalled beauty.

The construction took place over a period of four years. Every weekend Ruben and Nelie went to fetch four unskilled labourers in the Stellenbosch district and working hours extended from sunrise to sunset.

Profound technical knowledge, perseverance, receptive sensitivity towards nature's bountiful gifts went into the construction of this unique home. It is more than a seaside house, it is an outcry from the heart.