Deben

This residence was designed for a remote stand in Deben, Kalahari, as an exploration of how contemporary architecture could respond to extreme desert conditions through orientation, material restraint, and passive systems. The design employed a palette of steel, timber, glass, and fiber cement cladding, chosen for their lightweight assembly, construction efficiency, and clean aesthetic.

All walls, floors, and roof assemblies were specified to be heavily insulated, ensuring thermal stability during both the intense summer heat and the cold winter nights. Orientation was carefully planned for passive climate control, with generous glazing to the south for soft natural light, and north-facing openings protected by deep overhangs and shading devices. Double glazing was included to enhance comfort, reducing heat gain in summer while retaining warmth in winter.

At the heart of the house, a courtyard sheltered from prevailing winds was intended to act as a cooling core. Water features within the courtyard were connected to a dam on the property, creating a sustainable system that could be drained in winter for seasonal adaptability. In summer, the water would have tempered the courtyard climate and introduced cool air into the interior through low-level windows positioned above the water surface, ensuring comfort without mechanical intervention.

Although the project was never realized, it remains an exploration of climate-conscious design, demonstrating how careful orientation, insulation, and passive systems were envisioned to balance spatial openness with environmental restraint, performing effectively in both the heat of summer and the cold of winter