Previously the site of an old family home in suburban Morningside, Sandton, this tract of land was acquired to develop surrounding plots into a high-end cluster development. The resulting complex provides almost every freestanding house with four bedrooms, plus en suite bathrooms. This is one example of three bedrooms with a built structure of 300 square metres on a stand of 360 square metres.

location: Morningside, Sandton | interior: TBAD (Theo Bothma Architects & Design) | photography: Chantal Madgwick – www.igola.co.za

The brief to architects Theo Bothma Architects & Design (TBAD) was to create a home suitable for high-end entertaining, with bespoke furniture and incorporating sophisticated home automation; further, to make the best of a small but intimate garden. Indoor and outdoor finishes were to integrate seamlessly in an elegant fashion to endow the dwelling with a spatial ambiance, even though the built structure would be relatively compact.

A full and in-depth understanding of what the clients wanted to create in this space was important, coupled with the architect’s vision. Says architect Theo Bothma: ‘In line with the client’s budget, we flawlessly completed the project and were able to exceed expectations.

‘The brief was uniquely complex and required an application of both experience and methodology that employed high precision. The clients are avid art appreciators and have an extensive collection. Through careful placement we were able to establish a focal point in each interior space, using the art as inspiration, conceptualising the rest of the room around these pieces. These artworks are incredibly rich and include bold, bright colours in a variety of mediums where different textures give each piece a distinguishing quality.’

So this elaborate and distinguished art collection was key to the overall interior signature. Recalls Theo Bothma: ‘It was critical to source other textures and materials which complemented the art without overwhelming or distracting from it.  In this regard, there was particular value placed on the importance of light within each space, an element which is often overlooked and taken for granted. So we designed the lighting plan to not only accentuate the vibrancy of the art but also to create the perfect mood for each individual room.

‘As this project was a development, we had limited architectural input regarding the exterior appearance of the house; we were, however, able to make some interior changes. The four bedrooms were reduced to three and a pyjama lounge and stand-alone bathroom were added on the upper level. Further, we changed the sliding doors around the dining room to glass folding / stacking doors to reinforce the idea of a seamless interior / exterior entertainment space.

‘A most important objective was to create necessary flow from interior to exterior in order to maximise and celebrate both spaces in synergy; a coordinated area that invited a variety of entertaining. Inspiration came from international influences, such as Moroccan architecture, which helped drive the choice of colour palette and the materials selected, whilst adhering to contemporary design principles.

‘The clients are well travelled and continue to travel extensively. Bearing this in mind, we wanted to provide spaces which immediately felt familiar when returning to an easy-living family home, a lock-up-and-go solution. The final result boosts the clients’ lifestyle, and beyond that tells the story of their travels through mementoes and memorabilia. Our aim as architects, seeks always to design a living machine which epitomises this rationale, within a structure that provides perrenial fulfilment.’

 

 

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