Diani Project

Challenge

• Three-bedroom Swahili cottage on the south coast, every bedroom ensuite
• Internal garden, covered terrace, open stair to a roof jacuzzi, detached one-bedroom DSQ
• Coastal conditions: salt attacks reinforcement, and humidity rather than glare is what makes a room unusable
• Detailing with no margin for error: arched openings, coral rag-stone walls, a full-height perforated breeze block wall

Approach

• Built from substructure through to the finishing stages
• Arches formed in situ; the breeze block wall set out to run true at full height
• Structure, render and stonework complete; floors, glazing, joinery and services still to come

Materials

• Lime-white render over blockwork
• Coral rag stone to the entrance and internal thresholds
• Perforated breeze blocks to the stair wall
• In-situ concrete kitchen island with arched niches

Outcome

• The breeze block wall ventilates, shades and decorates in one element
• Getting a full-height perforated wall to run true is a bricklaying problem before it is a design one