• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Location Johannesburg, South Africa
Architect: Gottsmann Architects
Photographer Credit: Rene Walker

This concrete house by Gottsmann Architects seeks to be pure in both form and materiality. A design that is not pretentious but refined. The use of material is expressed in a purposeful and unambiguous manner, using off-shutter concrete as the primary building material with large expansive glass doors as key aspects of the project.

The design needed to result in a contemporary single-storey family home with 4 bedrooms and open living areas. Natural light was a key requirement from the brief, as well as circulation and flow of spaces, and strong visual connections to the surrounding landscape. Due to the front street elevation being primarily composed of the garage, it was also important that this was treated sensitively with a welcoming approach.

Surrounded by lush greenery, the home is designed to create the necessary privacy between neighbours whilst showcasing bright living areas that are free of curtains and blinds. The addition of planting onto and against the building softens the façade while the central garden atrium in the core of the house helps breathe light into the interiors. The exterior of the garage is softened with a timber custom-made oversized garage door, which became one of Gottsmann Architects’ favourite elements of the home.

The low-lying house blends in with the surrounding landscape rather than compete. The expansive use of glass helps blur the lines between the interior and the exterior, connecting the inhabitant to the surrounding green open spaces, bringing a constant awareness of the changing seasons and grounding the home within the context of its surroundings.