Visi – August 2019

henthishousewasbuiltin1949,it wasonthe

edgeof theurbanareas,overlookingfarm-

land. The design was typical of suburban

housesoftheera,withrathersmallwindows,

buttherewerealsofarmhouse-style elements

anda largegarden.

Newownerssawthepotentialintheneglectedoldhouse,and

theirbrieftoarchitectNadineEngelbrechtwastotransformit

intoa modern,well-functioninghome without losing the charm-

ingtraditionaldesignfeatures.

Today,intrue farmhousestyle,thesmell of freshlybaked

breadwaftsthroughtheexposedtrussesofthedouble-volume

A-frameceilingandseepsintoknotsintheoakfloors.Instark

contrast,themonolithickitchenislandandfolded-steelstaircase

addstrikingmoderntouches.Steelcottage-paneslidingdoors

openthelivingareastothelushgarden and above-ground pool

reminiscentofa concretefarmdam.

It’sintheseincongruities that the house finds an amazing

visualharmony.

livesimple.co.za

nadineengelbrecht.co.za

W

PHOTOSMARSELROOTHMANANDANITA JANEKE

WORDSNKULI NHLEKO

LEFTANDABOVEThesouthfacade,andtheentranceto the

house– a simplesingle-storeyrectangularstructurethat

separatestheold fromthenewbuilding.Thematerialityof

thenewadditionsextendstheexistingbrick-and-mortarwalls

andcorrugated-sheetingroof.Slatepavingandsteel-framed

windowscomplementthetraditionalmethodsof construction.

An outside staircase provides a separate entrance to a flat.

63 visi.co.zaAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

�ISIMENLO PARK FAMILY HOME