THE CENTRAL GABLE

This gable is to be found at Meerlust farm inbetween Stellenbosch and Somerset West. The gable is of the baroque period, with no pillasters or pediment and with plaster copings on the edges. This is a relatively restrained example as most baroque gables were more embellished. The central gable is a key feature of all Cape Dutch buildings except some flat roof town architecture and the house at Uiterwyk.

The farmhouse at Morgenster is typical of the baroque style and is more elaborately decorated than the gable at Meerlust.







The Lanzerac Hotel: After the baroque period, came the neoclassical period which was more restrained in its decorative elements and plaster bands, while adding the elements of the pediment and supporting pillasters. The urns became a way to create emphasis and rhythm. Sometimes scrolls were used instead.





The Rustenberg Farmhouse: In parrallel to the Baroque style houses nearer to Cape Town were built in the Peninsula style including the main gable at Groot Constantia. This example is found further afield near Stellenbosch and is unusual for the area.

THE WHITE OR CREAM WALLS

Neethlingshof Farm: The avaiability of lime from sea shells made whitewashing the obvious choice for finish of the walls. Sometimes red bricks were left exposed on the bases of the stoeps or over archways. These bricks are called "klompies".







Nedergburg Farmhouse: Today some of the Cape Dutch houses have beemn painted cream such as the manor home on Vergelegen farm as well as this beautiful building at Neederburg farm just outside of Paarl.

Manor House at Vergelegen Farm: This delightful home is painte cream and is set in one of the most beautiful gardens in Cape Town that is surrounded by a hexagonal walled courtyard.

THE SLIDING-SASH WINDOW & SHUTTERS

Boschendal Farmhouse: Sliding-sash windows were used on most of the Cape Duth house facades and were evenly spaced. The window top-pane slides over the lower pane. Shutters were often added to only the bottom pane as shown here on the East elevation at Boschendal manor house.

Babylonstoren: Sometimes the shutters span the full length of the aperture, such as this example at Babylonstoren at the base of Simonsberg Mountain. These shutters are varnished, but mostly the shutters were painted dark green along with the main window and door frames.

THE THATCH ROOF

Blaauwklippen: Thatch is madeo of tightly compated reeds or grass, and this was the method employed on all the early Cape Dutch houses. During the Victorian period, some of theses thatch roofs were replaced with sheet-metal roofs as its was considered more stylish at the time, and also prevented the hazard of fire.





BabylonstorenThe end gable walls provide and opportunity to waterproof the thatch against. Here shown the thatch roof at Babylonstoren which has been replaced in modern times. The low werf wall and curved gateway is also visible in this photo - two other key characteristics of the Cape Dutch style.

SYMMETRICAL FACADES

BoschendalThe facades were typically laid out in a symmetrical fashion with the main entrance door in the middle flanked by two narrow windows. The wings of the house were in turn puncuated by either one, two or three windows.