By Jaye-Dee Jansen

Architecture tells u much about the history of a place and Cape Town and surrounding areas are a good example.

The Dutch settlers of the 1600s had a strong influence on how homes were built and many of these fixtures and fittings are still visible today.

The style of these buildings has become known as Cape Dutch architecture and evolved steadily from the 17th to the 19th Century. It is most prominent in the Western Cape, deriving its name from the fact that the early settlers to the region were primarily Dutch.

The style has roots dating back to medieval Netherlands, Germany, France and Indonesia. The first building erected by the Dutch was the Castle of the Cape of Good Hope which was built as a five-rampart stone castle.

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The Architectural Features

Early Cape Dutch buildings were thatched-roof, whitewashed farmhouses, simple structures compared to those that evolved later. They were generally rectangular, with a wooden frame, wattle, clay walls, and shuttered windows symmetrically placed either side of the central front door. The floors were made of mud or dung inset with peach pits and polished to a shine.

Some of the buildings still have these features, with a few modern touches added to them.

Here is look at some of the common features of these attractive Cape Dutch buildings.

These houses are usually H-shaped, with the front section of the house usually being flanked by two wings running perpendicular to it.

One of the Cape Dutch architecture characteristics is that the buildings are long and horizontal structures. Buildings are single or double-storey and often have dormer windows.

The extensive use of gables is a major feature of colonial architecture that has attracted a lot of attention.

Initially, Cape Dutch architecture featured one large gable above the front door, which allowed space for the coast of arms of the family, date of construction, or other meaningful embellishments. South African gables have many features in common with the gables seen along the river Zaan, despite the different materials used.

Behind the building

During the time of Jan van Riebeeck, the settlers did not seek to build unique and exclusive homes. Their main aim was to set up farms to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to the Dutch East India Company’s ships as they passed en route to the East on the Spice Route.

Because local materials for building were scarce, they had to be creative. Locally-sourced wood was first choice for the frames and the beams of the house. The clay walls did not last long and were later overlaid with plaster and lime made out of seashells, mixed with water, fat and salt.

Walls were created to be thick, using two bricks and offering protection from both heat and damp. The blueprint was fairly standard, six metres wide with a roof pitch of 45 degrees — similar to European style buildings.

Towards the middle of the 19th Century, the style became less popular and many buildings were left to decay.

Where are they now?

Hundreds of years later, these buildings that were once just places of rest and farms for the Dutch settlers, have become historical monuments.

Those buildings that remain are beautiful. Some architectural historians have even suggested that Cape Dutch architecture is the most important contribution our settlers made to world culture.

Here is a look at where you can find these buildings:

Boschendal, Franschhoek

In this beautiful part of the Western Cape stands a H-shaped manor house, dating back to 1812. This national monument is fully restored and furnished with yellowwood ceilings, doors in teak frames and evidence of painted friezes on the walls.

Spier

Spier boasts 21 Cape Dutch gables from various periods, the most of any historic farm surviving in the Cape. The Spier complex includes a row of gabled buildings: the Jonkershuis, the workshops and the homestead and stables.

Stellenbosch

Dorp Street in the area boasts a plethora of Dutch style architecture. The centre of the town is typical of the period; and even new building contracts feature the old Cape Dutch style.

Swellendam

One of the oldest towns in South Africa, and one of the most beautiful, is filled with white-washed Cape Dutch style homes, particularly in the centre of the town.

Tulbagh

Settled in 1700, Tulbagh has many beautiful examples of Cape Dutch architecture. Head to Church Street where one house after the other is an example of the period. Much of this street was restored after an earthquake in 1969.

You’ll find Cape Dutch architecture in more parts of the Western Cape in South Africa. With its simple elegance, it remains a unique feature of the region.

Whether you are looking at investing in property that is a replica of yesteryear or are looking for something more modern, PropertyFox will be more than happy to help you throughout the journey. Call or email us today and we will take it from there.

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PropertyFox, which charges only 1.5% in commission or a minimum of R35,000 (whichever is higher) – has saved customers up to 80% in fees.