Cape Dutch – Herman van Bon Photography

Cape Dutch in Swellendam

Typical old South African gables influenced by the Dutch colonists hence the name Cape Dutch.

One of the few left original Cape Dutch farm homesteads in the Breede River Valley. Pity that the owning family (6 or 7 generations) has replaced the tatched roof with one of cheap maintenance free corrugated steel. ‘Weltevreden’ is Dutch/Afrikaans for ‘Content’.

‘Weltevreden’ homestead

A traditional Stanfordian Gable

Cape Dutch Architecture is a collective noun for the early settlers architecture in the Western Cape, South Africa. Less known is that individual towns and villages characterized/personalized the gables. A kind of branding one could say. The gable in this picture is the traditional Stanford one. I photographed it early this morning.

Architecture; The original Cape Dutch

Cape Dutch architecture is very much identified with the rounded gables as one sees on pictures of wine estates in the Western Cape. But the original Cape Dutch homesteads in this part of South Africa did not have these gables but they had nicely rounded roofs. Local architect Maureen Wolters designed an original for friends of us but with all modern comfort. This new farm house is in its finishing building stages and is not only locally build but also the building materials were, as much as possible, locally sourced.

Cape Dutch Gable

Just after I shot the ducks yesterday afternoon (see previous posting) I focussed on a new house in our street that has a traditional Cape Dutch gable. Used the Sigma 70-300mm and adjusted the Sony A77 camera to twilight to bring some evening sphere in it. No photoshopping needed; just as is. Stanford is our home and if you look to our pictures than you also know why it was awarded with the prestigious “Best Village Destination of South Africa”.

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Tag: Cape Dutch