House Blair Atholl, South Africa

Werner van der Meulen of Nico van der Meulen Architects created this double storey home that is free of boundary walls, offering unrestricted views of the countryside. Surrounded by tranquility, this spacious contemporary farmhouse truly promotes outdoor living and entertaining with M Square Lifestyle Design handling the interiors and incorporating natural materials like timber and stone.

The house faces north allowing for maximum natural light, while the floating double pitched slate roof reinforces the contemporary nature of the design. A double volume entrance hall is surrounded by glass, and timber wrapped garages further highlight the transparency of the house.

Frameless folding doors create an invisible threshold in such a way that the veranda becomes an extension of the kitchen, family room and dining area. The spacious veranda is also designed to accommodate a braai, bar and seating area, with a swimming pool that extends beneath the cantilevered floor slabs. The scullery and wine cellar are also strategically concealed.

A timber staircase to the second level appears to float above the floor plane, and the natural stone clad wall forms the perfect backdrop for a sculptural masterpiece. This level has a bridge with a frameless glass balustrade connecting the two wings of the house, while also maintaining a sense of privacy for the main bedroom, which incorporates a private lounge with balcony, en suite bathroom, and a discreetly screened walk in dressing room.