LuxuRious

March 15 get It Pretoria 39

The epitome of glamour and luxury, this Pretoria East home is a marvel of architectural brilliance inspired by it’s surroundings. We take a peek inside...

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oss.Striking, angular forms rise up over

the hilltop, cutting an impressive figure in the landscape. Even from a distance, the structural

ingenuity of this upmarket home in the east is apparent. Situated in a secluded nature estate, House Boz, as it’s called, plays off its surrounds, and incorporates many elements from the landscape in both concept and physical structure.

Designer Werner van der Meulen, from Nico van der Meulen Architects, explains that the use of raw materials was an important part of the design. Stone cladding, created from quartzite rock hand-cut from the site, features throughout the home, while natural wood suffuses a sense of warmth, connecting the house with its place in nature.

There is a continual dialogue between the natural and the luxurious; a balance of hard and soft. Phia van der Meulen, Werner’s sister-in-law and interior architect at M Square Lifestyle Design, explains this dynamic: “High-end furnishings from Italy add luxury to

the space, marrying the rugged textures of the site with very luxurious, plush furnishings.”

The colour palette of the décor mimics the natural colours of the home’s structural elements. “We derived the colours from the colour of the stone used throughout the house, as well as the rust colours, orange being an accent of rust. You can feel the context of the South African landscape in the materials,” says Thia.

Despite clearly defined spaces within the home, there is a feeling of openness and a flow between these spaces. This is partly achieved by using the same materials for both the inside and outside of the home, creating a sense of continuity. For example, concrete, which plays a big role in the outdoor designs as seen in the concrete podiums of the atrium, is brought into the home. Statues sit atop them and the staircase itself is a collection of concrete podiums. The home is expansive – it covers a good 770 square metres – and the upper level consists of two wings. In

the west wing there are three bedrooms for the children, each with its own balcony and en-suite bathroom.

A suspended walkway, with a view over the atrium, leads to the main bedroom for the parents – an enclave of tranquillity. But it’s the main entertainment area that Werner favours most for the way the boundaries between inside and outside are seamlessly blurred. “The kitchen area, dining area, bar area and outside seating area all combine into one big open space, which is fantastic.” It also offers breath-taking views of the jacaranda city, which can be enjoyed in summer from the infinity pool or in winter from the Jacuzzi. Below, a chipping green for the homeowner, an avid golfer, is embedded in a network of elevated pathways, and a lake was created to capture the rainwater. With so much to offer, this Pretoria East home is a truly magnificent structure that works with the natural environment to create a uniquely local expression of elegance and glamour.

living

Take a virtual tour of

stunning home on

pretoria.

getitonline.co.za

LuxuRious

March 15 get It Pretoria 39

The epitome of glamour and luxury, this Pretoria East home is a marvel of architectural brilliance inspired by it’s surroundings. We take a peek inside...

Text

: Dom

iniq

ue d

u Pl

essi

s. Ph

otog

raph

ers:

Bar

end

Robe

rts

and

Dav

id R

oss.Striking, angular forms rise up over

the hilltop, cutting an impressive figure in the landscape. Even from a distance, the structural

ingenuity of this upmarket home in the east is apparent. Situated in a secluded nature estate, House Boz, as it’s called, plays off its surrounds, and incorporates many elements from the landscape in both concept and physical structure.

Designer Werner van der Meulen, from Nico van der Meulen Architects, explains that the use of raw materials was an important part of the design. Stone cladding, created from quartzite rock hand-cut from the site, features throughout the home, while natural wood suffuses a sense of warmth, connecting the house with its place in nature.

There is a continual dialogue between the natural and the luxurious; a balance of hard and soft. Phia van der Meulen, Werner’s sister-in-law and interior architect at M Square Lifestyle Design, explains this dynamic: “High-end furnishings from Italy add luxury to

the space, marrying the rugged textures of the site with very luxurious, plush furnishings.”

The colour palette of the décor mimics the natural colours of the home’s structural elements. “We derived the colours from the colour of the stone used throughout the house, as well as the rust colours, orange being an accent of rust. You can feel the context of the South African landscape in the materials,” says Thia.

Despite clearly defined spaces within the home, there is a feeling of openness and a flow between these spaces. This is partly achieved by using the same materials for both the inside and outside of the home, creating a sense of continuity. For example, concrete, which plays a big role in the outdoor designs as seen in the concrete podiums of the atrium, is brought into the home. Statues sit atop them and the staircase itself is a collection of concrete podiums. The home is expansive – it covers a good 770 square metres – and the upper level consists of two wings. In

the west wing there are three bedrooms for the children, each with its own balcony and en-suite bathroom.

A suspended walkway, with a view over the atrium, leads to the main bedroom for the parents – an enclave of tranquillity. But it’s the main entertainment area that Werner favours most for the way the boundaries between inside and outside are seamlessly blurred. “The kitchen area, dining area, bar area and outside seating area all combine into one big open space, which is fantastic.” It also offers breath-taking views of the jacaranda city, which can be enjoyed in summer from the infinity pool or in winter from the Jacuzzi. Below, a chipping green for the homeowner, an avid golfer, is embedded in a network of elevated pathways, and a lake was created to capture the rainwater. With so much to offer, this Pretoria East home is a truly magnificent structure that works with the natural environment to create a uniquely local expression of elegance and glamour.

living

Take a virtual tour of

stunning home on

pretoria.

getitonline.co.za