House Mitchell, Newlands, Cape Town

Abstract

House Mitchell (2005), Newlands, Cape Town. Fagan's knowledge of boat building and the compromises that need to be reached between weight and durability versus speed has played a significant role in his material choices. He often employs the flitch beam where larger spans would make the size of timber uneconomical and bulky, as at House Mitchell (2005). Here he combines timber with plate steel to form rafters. He also employs cross beams to limit the size of rafters. The positions of these cross beams also help to define and demarcate spaces. 'Machine' type technologies, allied with those of yacht building, can be seen in the detailing of column junctions. Fagan exploits the possibilities of large glass planes to form bigger openings that were not possible in the past.