Situated in the leafy suburb of Woodlands, Port Elizabeth, the Vermaak family’s brief was to give their recently acquired 70's Spanish influence home a new lease of life but to avoid converting it into a "featureless modernist box". Their active lifestyle and two young children also emphasized the need for shaded outdoor spaces and a pool area. By employing modern planning principles, the two dark and isolated living rooms were freed up, creating a bright and airy open plan living area with ample room for a family sized kitchen, foyer and entertainment zone. The inside-outside connection is strengthened by the use of large, uninterrupted openings with stack-away doors, while the new covered patio and pool terrace allow for easy poolside dining in the garden. Untreated raw materials like slatted timber and facebrick tie the building to the natural surroundings and generate a sense of warmth and homeliness.