TRIBUTE - DURBAN HOUSE

WITH PURITY OF FORM, NUDE CONCRETE AND BALD BRICKWORK, THIS HANS HALLEN MASTERPIECE TEMPERS THE CLIMATE, REQUIRES MINIMAL MAINTENANCE, AND HAS GIFTED ITS OWNERS WITH FUEL FOR INVENTIVENESS.

- JESS NICHOLSON

Round Studios' Slab chandelier, inspired by the colour theories of Josef Albers, hangs next to tube light prototypes for the Wygers' next collection. The late Paul Wygers was inspired by many design icons - including the couple's 1958 BMW R50 motorbike, which has remained fundamentally the same since its conception in 1920 by Martin Stolle.

ON FIRST ENCOUNTER, House Shaw is brutally simple: a series of three-dimensional boxes, positioned beside and on top of one another on a long, triangular site cut into one of the steep slopes that characterise Durban's forested university suburb. It is made of face brick, concrete, louvre windows, shutters and a bit of aluminium; no need for paint, wallpaper, air conditioning - not even curtains.

The simplicity of the singular painted-steel balustrade - an element designed to be read in its purest form beside the honesty of the main building materials - is fixed only when absolutely necessary, and accentuates vertical movement. Many of architect Hans Hallen's buildings include commissioned artworks. Similar, but larger, pieces of stained glass can be found at St Olav's Church in Musgrave, designed by Hallen at the same time as the house.

The house belongs to Colleen Wygers, who lived here with her late husband, fellow architect Paul Wygers. Sadly, Paul passed away shortly after we photographed the house; with Colleen's permission, we've included his observations from that interview.

In the courtyard, cast in situ concrete beams balance on brickwork screen walls with a lightness that defies their mass. Exterior floor finishes mimic the interior spaces.