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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. House Ber in Midrand, South Africa by Nico van der Meulen ArchitectsSeptember 22nd, 2012 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Nico van der Meulen Architects House Ber has come to life in response to the client’s request for a contemporary, iconic house with no opportunity for unnecessary space, whilst featuring open plans and airy characteristics. And right in response to that and to the rules of the estate, which bans burglar bars, the architects presented a plan inspired with random steel bars used around the house, which could possibly keep flying elephants out!  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher
 Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher The house was designed by Werner van der Meulen of Nico van der Meulen Architects as a simple rectangular shape that still surprises the visitor with innovations and the audacity of originality: surrounded by a koi pond and a pool, the living room has been designed to be the central space of the house.  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher Walking over the koi pond from the porte cochere it is possible to have a glance at the hall, the dining room and family room, up to the swimming pool on the north side. And here once again, water features on two sides around the space of the dining room.  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher From the dining room and the hall one can almost glide down to the family room and kitchen using the steps created with broken slabs of granite with steel sheet and purposely placed to be an invisible divider between the two spaces, while a cantilevered staircase jut out of a granite clad wall, with an illuminated handrail cut into the wall.  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher With its frameless doors that open up to the lanai and the east, the kitchen invites to relish the freedom of the garden, which almost naturally becomes part of the indoor space.  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher On the north-east corner there is a steel grating balcony to the main bathroom, which protects the kitchen from too much morning sun; and from the study, which faces north and east, one can see the lanai across the pool.  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher The pyjama lounge and the kids’ bedroom are connected to the main suite through a bridge that crosses over the living room.  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher Phia van der Meulen, lead designer of M Square Lifestyle Design used the random patterns evident on the steel facade as inspiration for the interior design. Illuminated ceilings add to the feeling of transparency, while the materials used were chosen to complement the contemporary feel.  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher B&B Italia, Pedrali and Molteni &C furniture, Foscarini and Zero lamps and Ligne Pure rugs were supplied by M Square Lifestyle Necessities, along with steel sculptures by Regardt van der Meulen.  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher  Image Courtesy David Ross, Barend Roberts, Victoria Pilcher
Contact Nico van der Meulen Architects
Tags: Midrand, South Africa |
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