New House in Midrand, Residence, Luxury South African Property, Home

House Ber : Midrand Property

New South African Residence design by Nico van der Meulen Architects

11 Nov 2013

House Ber

Location: Midrand, South Africa

Design: Nico van der Meulen Architects

photo from architect

Residence in Midrand

Gone are the days where a house is designed with the intention to remove its occupants from the outdoor environment, and House Ber is an exquisite example of this. Designed by Werner van der Meulen of Nico van der Meulen Architects, the house’s striking rectangular structure makes the house stand out from every angle.

photo from architect

Between the use of transparent glass, a koi pond and pool surrounding the living room area, and the porch forming part of the interior-this masterpiece invites the serenity of the outdoor environment. Not only does the open plan of the entire house make it a practical and comfortable space to live in, but it also creates unity between all its different spaces, as each room subtly transforms into another as occupants move through it.

photo from architect

The cantilevered granite clad wall staircase is elegantly secured between the wall on one side, and glass support on the other. There are handrails on both sides for added support, with the one handrail resting on the glass support structure, and the other neatly cut into the wall. The steps are made from slabs of granite, and steel sheets were used as the dividers between the steps. These steel sheets are barely visible, making the steps appear as though they are floating in the air- this creates an aesthetically pleasing illusion.

photo from architect

The steel grating balcony of the main bathroom is located in the north-east corner of the house, enabling it to also protect the kitchen from too much morning sun. The kitchen itself was cleverly designed to be as stylish as the rest of the house, yet simple enough to work in.

photo from architect

A bridge that crosses over the living room connects the pyjama lounge and children’s bedrooms to the main suite. The bathroom and bedroom are spacious, yet cosy-the latter being a crucial component in order to maintain the sense of privacy that these rooms should have, in any house.

photo from architect

As inviting and open as the home is, security was not compromised-neither was originality. Instead of conventional burglar bars, steel bars were placed in a unique uninformed fashion all around the house.

photos from architect

Innovation and originality were the driving concepts behind the design of House Ber, however functionality was never overlooked. As a result, it is impressive enough to be the ultimate dream home, yet practical enough to also be a liveable home.

Phia van der Meulen, lead designer of M Square Lifestyle Design used the random patterns evident on the steel facade as inspiration for the interior design. Illuminated ceilings add to the feeling of transparency, whilst the materials used were chosen to complement the contemporary feel.

B&B Italia, Pedrali and Molteni &C furniture, Foscarini and Zero lamps and Ligne Pure rugs were supplied by M Square Lifestyle Necessities, along with steel sculptures by Regardt van der Meulen.

photos from architect