The House That Photographs Well… But Annoys You Daily | An Architect's Feasibility Study for a home purchase
- Wilko Le Roux
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
One of our clients recently considered purchasing a property in Rondebosch — beautifully positioned, surrounded by lush garden vegetation, with framed views toward Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak.
On paper, it was impressive.
But they asked a sharper question:
“Can this house actually work for how we want to live?”
The existing residence was compartmentalised — a formal living room that felt stiff and disconnected, a patio added as an afterthought, and a kitchen separated from family life. Upstairs, the spatial arrangement belonged to another era.
The risk wasn’t cosmetic.
The risk was spending a significant sum and inheriting daily friction.
So we didn’t begin with finishes.
We began with flow.
Could a clear circulation spine reconnect the home?
Could the kitchen and family spaces become the gravitational core of daily life?
Could the garden become somewhere you step into, rather than something you simply look at?
We reimagined the central mass of the house — allowing movement, light and sightlines to connect previously isolated rooms. The patio was reconsidered not as an add-on, but as part of a layered indoor–outdoor sequence tied to everyday living.
Upstairs, we evaluated how the structure could support a more contemporary rhythm of life: private retreats for children as they grow, calmer and more generous main-suite proportions, and flexible shared spaces that evolve with the family over time.
The exercise wasn’t about designing something flashy.
It was about answering a quieter question:
Would this house support the life they envisioned — or quietly resist it?
In the end, clarity was the real deliverable.
Because in high-value property decisions, the most important outcome isn’t a beautiful rendering — it’s the confidence to move forward… or to walk away.
Architecture is not only about creating something that photographs well.
It’s about how your mornings begin, how your family gathers without effort, and whether your home supports your life — every single day.
Disclaimer:
Kindly note that content shared on our website and social media is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Decisions with financial or design implications should be made in direct consultation with a registered professional, to ensure your project's specific requirements are properly considered.
This post about The House That Photographs Well… But Annoys You Daily | An Architect's Feasibility Study for a home purchase was created by Wilko le Roux for Rossouw Le Roux Architects, all rights reserved. Rossouw Le Roux Architects are Registered Professional Architects in Cape Town, South Africa.
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