‘T
his house lives so well,’ Luchelle Nel starts, her words
hinting at the success of its design, its easy flow and the joy
of living in harmony with the outdoors. The relationship to
what’s outside is an integral part of the way we live as South Africans
and, as a result, glass-fronted homes and giant doors that fold away
are all a means to drawing the outside in. It was exactly that, plus
a manageable house that maximised functionality, that Luchelle,
a doctor, and her surgeon husband Philippus wanted for themselves
and their two small children Philip (one) and Alexa (four).
‘I didn’t realise it at the time but my style is very Scandinavian,’
she says, confessing it’s not really her arena of expertise. Luchelle
instinctively distinguishes good design from bad, believing that
everyday objects should be considered, beautiful and practical –
why else have them? Having returned from a trip to Helsinki she
gleaned that everything the Scandinavians advocate in design
resonates with what she loves.
Her appreciation for clean, functional spaces was echoed by the
work of architect Karin Harcus-Harrison, who became a natural
choice for the Nels. ‘The brief was for a small, easy living familyhome with a walk-in closet (for Luchelle), an underground wine
cellar (for Philippus) and a double volume door that would open up
onto the nature reserve bordering their property,’ explains Karin.
In line with their combined philosophies, all furniture is
modern and streamlined, either custom designed by Karin or
bought from a handful of Luchelle’s favourite designers – Hay,
Philippe Starck, Tonic and Mezzanine. ‘Every item has been hand-
picked, nothing is by chance,’ she confirms. Luchelle spends a lot
of time researching harder-to-find items, often seeking them out
from afar. Her latest project is a unique set of house numbers she
had made in Japan.
On its southern border the house embraces an enclosed garden
with the entrance passage, dining and living room all looking
directly onto it. Turn the other way to the north and the dining and
living rooms as well as the kitchen and entire upstairs area share
a view of the main garden and koppie beyond it. In a bold move they
sought out and installed ‘a five-metre-high, double-glazed facade
door, which folds away in its entirety’, says Karin of the home’s
most daring architectural feature.1015_HL_070_079_House_Nel_RFO.indd 72 2015/09/02 4:08 PM