In South Africa, a Moody Shipping Container Cabin Springs Up in Four Months Flat
In the midst of the pandemic, a family leverages industry connections and modular construction to quickly rebuild a cliffside getaway on a fire-ravaged site in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve.
In the midst of the pandemic, a family leverages industry connections and modular construction to quickly rebuild a cliffside getaway on a fire-ravaged site in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve.
Wedged between the cliffs of Cape Peninsula and the Hottentots Holland Mountains, False Bay marks the southwesternmost tip of South Africa. It’s a secluded paradise on the outskirts of Cape Town, famed for its deep blue waters and endless horizon. The views from the shore are hard to beat—but a new cliffside cabin has upped the ante.
The cabin sits amongst the Horne family’s 20-hectare farm in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve.
Photo by Greg Cox / Bureaux
The remote location made construction a challenge. Horne ended up widening the road to the cabin in order to move the shipping containers up the cliff.
Photo by Greg Cox / Bureaux
For Eddie Horne, the Klein-Hangklip cabin was always a family affair. When his father purchased a 20-hectare farm in the town of Rooiels in 1997, the land came with a small wooden cabin with breathtaking views across False Bay. But in 2005, a massive fire swept through the mountains, burning down a few houses including the Horne family cabin.
The family later tried to sell the land, but its status as part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve made things challenging: Building on the land would require an environmental impact statement, which turned most prospective buyers off.
From the living space, you can catch a clear, unobstructed view across the bay.
Photo by Greg Cox / Bureaux
See the full story on Dwell.com: In South Africa, a Moody Shipping Container Cabin Springs Up in Four Months Flat
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