Protea Lane Residence: A Modern House with Rounded Exposed, Concrete Elements

Nico van der Meulen Architects has completed a residential project located in the east of Pretoria’s city center called Protea Lane Residence. It is a modern house that has rounded exposed, concrete elements feature throughout the whole design.

Site

The site borders a protected green belt and the house is primarily north-facing. This house is designed on one of the last open stands on the site, amongst 1960s houses and some mature trees. With views onto the conservancy, the house is elongated on the east-west axis.

Structure

Throughout the design, the rounded exposed, concrete elements are defined as nodes filled in-between glass and steel. There is a two-and-a-half-storey, curved, off-shutter, concrete wall that leads to the house entrance while another one surrounds a dramatic cantilever at the entrance.

Steel louvres not only add depth to the house but also shade and create privacy from the neighbors on the south side. Through the double-volume entrance hall, one can enjoy the views of the pool and water feature.

Rooms

The floor plan under the roof is 874 sqm in size, deviating from the normal floor plans. The family room is separate from the double-volume dining room and open-plan kitchen while the main suite can be found on the ground floor. Adjacent to the pool, this ground floor area flows onto the covered lanai.

Still, on the same ground floor, there is a staff cottage, 6 hidden garages, a workshop, a music room, and an artist’s studio. Two suites and a pajama lounge are on the first floor, facing the awesome views and trees to the north.

Details

All major structural elements and materials are exposed naturally so the honesty of structure and materiality can be kept as the base rule in this residential project.

Protea Lane Residence Gallery

Images Source: Nico van der Meulen Architects