location: Blue Valley Golf Estate, Midrand, Gauteng | architect: Etienne Stols – SCS Architects | interior Design: Liezel Viljoen – Larger than Design | images: Grant Pitcher Photography
Within a residential development on a Midrand golf estate, architect Etienne Stols faced certain prerequisites on a vacant stand. His client wanted a modern home, which would be in synergy with the estate’s guidelines, while incorporating appealing contemporary features.
-
- Angular contemporary signatures characterise this architecture. Natural materials include rock and timber for wall cladding and sun control respectively.
Key to its success was to provide interactive family lifestyle and facilities for entertaining. The result is a double-storeyed built area of 750 square metres on a stand of 975 square metres.
Recalls Etienne Stols: ‘The greenbelt in front of the house complemented the north-facing stand and this facilitated the placing of the living areas and bedrooms on this elevation to capitalise on northern sun.
-
- The lighting plan here is well considered and succeeds in evoking warmth and comfort. Textures, tones and materials assist in this regard. Tiles by San Marco Tile Centre.
‘After considering various aspects of the site, a tone for the entire house evolved. The entrance draws the outside inside because I treated it as if it were an actual interior. The overall philosophy throughout was to use interesting textures on the floors – tiles and areas of water – plus stone cladding, timber and glass on vertical surfaces. I also included creative elements, such as off-shutter concrete podiums and a roof slab with solid panels and openings.’
The client’s brief of including a contemporary signature in this new home faced certain challenges insofar as the established estate prescribed guidelines, which were based on traditional European styles of architecture. However, the architect arrived at an acceptable solution incorporating the imperative of family living into the overall design, creating the required space for interaction, but also allowing family members to enjoy their own individual space.
-
- Most bedrooms have pendant bedside lights with wireless remote controlled switches; the main bedroom has a TV lift at the bed end.
Interior designer Liezel Viljoen adds: ‘My clients wanted an interior palette that would be warm, and comfortable yet that would be contemporary and composed largely of neutral tones. To execute this brief adequately I was involved from outset to conclusion, interacting with the architect. This ongoing procedure proved to be problem-free due to the client elaborating on the brief clearly; he wanted a timeless, modern signature through every aspect of the interior.
For the full article see Habitat #266 July / August 2018
Newsletter Sign Up
