House and Leisure – August 2019

henotion of terroir is
afamiliar one in winemaking,
referring to the way in which
theprecise environmental
contextof a vineyard
contributes to the unique
characteristics of a wine.
Similarly, Marina and Robert
Appelbaum’s Craighall home in Johannesburg,
which they share with Marina’s three children,
is an expression of their individual personalities,
interests and stories.
The house, originally designed by renowned
South African architect Michael Sutton,
underwent a major year-long renovation
in 2015. ‘As happens when you start doing
a small renovation, you very quickly realise
that everything has to change,’ Marina says.
For the job, she called in the same team who
built her previous home in Morningside, which
included her good friend Joe van Rooyen of
JVR Architects and landscaper Patrick Watson.
The characteristic poky layout was
reconfigured to create open-plan living spaces
with an abundance of natural light. The
entire interior of the house was revamped and
modernised while maintaining the integrity
of the original design. For the garden, Watson
created a minimal yet lush indigenous backdrop
(complete with winding cement pathways for
Marina’s son to skateboard on) that allows
the many artworks, objects and collectibles
in the house to shine as the star features.
The couple are both avid collectors. Robert,
a partner at Webber Wentzel and an owner
of Strandveld wine farm in Cape Agulhas,
collects vintage cameras, figurines and Art
Deco furniture, while Marina has developed
an impressive eye for contemporary art,
and has a considerable collection to match.