By Daniela Sperotto, Project Consultant Candice Bailey, Photography supplied by Pam Golding Properties
This family dreamed of something so much more than an urban home located in the centre of the city and surrounded by the constant hustle and bustle of a city lifestyle. For their family, these home owners envisaged their dream home as one situated in a tranquil setting, surrounded by nature yet still completely accessible to the city. With this in mind, the lure of purchasing a stand on this working farm really appealed to them.
Even though it is just outside of Johannesburg, with the Juskei River meandering through the development, and surrounded by the breathtaking Magalies range of rolling hills, when in this estate you feel miles away from the urban jungle.
Unlike most developments, in this estate you are offered the best of both worlds – luxurious modern living situated on an actual working farm. It offers the security and lifestyle this family dreamed of and therefore building their idyllic home to match a wholesome lifestyle here was their next big project.
With a strong emphasis on organic agriculture, the development challenges conventional building. It reverses the emphasis on huge mansions dominating the landscape to homes designed to quietly merge with the environment, without losing any of the elegance and comfort of modern living. With these strict design parameters and development rules, every home within the residential side of the farm has a contemporary feel yet still encompasses farm values.
It is not very often you find a home that seamlessly blends with its environment and this home does it perfectly. Completely modern and luxurious, it has all the modern day amenities of a city home with the added benefit of incorporating energy-efficient systems and techniques.
Limited to a single-storey home, both the design and construction had to cater for uncompromised insulation and incorporation of energy conservation and generation systems resulting in an interior space that, via insulation and double-glazing, is thermally independent of the external surfaces and structure.
Every element of the design of this home exudes tranquillity and allows the home to be at one with nature. Its indoor/outdoor appeal is enhanced by stacking doors that completely open up the interiors onto the extensive patio and pergolas. This free-flowing space allows the family to enjoy the awe-inspiring landscape and scenery from every angle of the home.
Its interiors follow that of the exteriors and create a home that is unfussy and uncluttered yet completely homey and welcoming. Working closely with interior designer Laurie Owen, the home owners were able to create a casual, modern home with an almost autonomous feel. The home was designed to accommodate the large family, of two adults and four teenage children, to be able to live harmoniously and still entertain friends and family.
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