Kloof Road House, Johannesburg

Located at the foot of a nature reserve in Bedfordview, Kloof Road House in Johannesburg is the latest addition to Nico van der Meulen Architects’ portfolio of work. The client’s brief called for a home that very much revolved around the family, with provisions for entertainment and uninterrupted views of the great outdoors. The architects’ translation of this was a sculptural structure that was a 180 degree transformation from the previously modest single-storey house. Each room linked to the outdoors, driving in the principle of indoor/outdoor living. And translating the architectural concept of this project into the interior we see was a task successfully carried out by M Square Lifestyle Design.

Following the ethos of parasitic architecture, a new structure was attached to the older one by means of decorative steel forms that wrap and frame. As you approach, you are greeted by a monolithic boundary wall that sparks a sense of curiosity about what lies beyond. It is here that you are first introduced to the concept of the design, as the concrete cladded boundary wall becomes host to black morphed steel that lingers overhead. Steel sliding garage doors create another solid barrier that emphasizes the element of mystery.

Steel and glass are the prominent materials used in Kloof Road House and have been uniquely integrated into the design. A sculptural steel staircase sits on display within the double volume glass tower, and is framed by one of the many modified steel forms. It connects the first floor to the ground floor, cutting through the vastness of the space. These steel forms blur the borders between the floors, walls and various rooftops.

Steel perforated panels soften the harsh forms, while the lighting defines the angles. Natural timber herringbone on the entrance wall creates a sense of warmth, while backlit ceilings create a shadow-less effect.

The concept of inside/outside design is exemplified by frameless folding glass doors which, when open, transform the veranda into an extension of the living room. Angled columns and steel beams pierce the double volume space, while the sculptures on display compliment the structural components of the building.

Kloof Road House has four en suite bedrooms – three downstairs, with the main bedroom suite located upstairs. The design of the master bedroom includes a large balcony with uninterrupted views, while the open plan bathroom flows around a corner into a sizeable dressing room. Meanwhile, outside, a large pavilion located on the lower section of the garden offers views of the northern façade in its entirety, and a koi pond cantilevering over the swimming pool adds to the dramatic backdrop of this design.