Sick and tired of burglar bars and other security equipment?
Pluto’s Castle
“Pluto’s Castle” is a concept based on the ancient way of living and building, in particular in the Mediterranean area, where the climate is similar to South Africa and indoor-and-outdoor living flow freely into each other.
As security has always been of importance all those houses were introvert, meaning the rooms are arranged around one or more inner courtyards, the outer appearance always quite plain. The interiors of those houses were pretty, comfortable and in many cases extremely luxurious. The concept has been used to create “Pluto’s Castle”, a virtually impenetrable building. From outside, it looks like any other house, just without the usual windows, but slits in the outside walls for ventilation.
All rooms are arranged around an inner courtyard and offer all the modern amenities we are used to, i.e. open-plan entertainment areas, bedrooms ensuite, kitchen and scullery and any other room required by the owner, be it a gym, a library, a study, playroom, home cinema or others.
Living in a house like this is secure, private and comfortable.
All windows and doors are facing the inner courtyard or smaller courtyards between the rooms and can be left open anytime. The main courtyard serves as another living and entertainment area, it can be tiled, have a wooden deck or turned into a garden. Over and above it is safe for children to play because they can be watched from all rooms of the house.
SECURITY – COMFORT – PRIVACY
The building can be any size, single-or double (even triple) storey and any building style, be it modern, Mediterranean or Georgian to name a few, depending on the client’s demands.
The costs are the same as the traditional building, always depending on the building material used and the client’s choice of finishes and fixtures. The architect himself and his family have been living in such a “Castle” now for more than 20 years and they enjoy the safety and privacy of their home. All aspects of saving energy have been observed, and the possibility of a roof garden has already been considered.
