‘house ber’ by nico van der meulen, midrand, south africa image © barend roberts all images courtesy of nico van der meulen
south african firm nico van der meulen has recently completed ‘house ber’ in midrand, south africa as a response to the client’s need for an open plan, airy spaces and a large study. the center of the house is based around a rectangular mass housing the public functions: living rooms, dining room and kitchen flanked by a koi pond and swimming pool. protruding steel structures on the second floor frame the private areas with playful steel bars drawing lines between the girders, while steel grates on the floor help to block out the sun on the storey below. a series of stone and concrete walls and marble tile floors add an array of textures in a semi-open volume that connects to the exterior pools and gardens.
perspective image © barend roberts
approach to entry image © barend roberts
view from garden image © barend roberts
exterior koi ponds images © victoria pilcher
retractable glass doors open the indoor to the outdoor pond image © victoria pilcher
image © barend roberts
exterior terraces shade below image © barend roberts
exterior pools images © david ross
open central living room image © victoria pilcher
main interior space with koi pond image © david ross
stone steps connect to kitchen and dining room image © barend roberts
dining room image © barend roberts
image © barend roberts
stone wall and fire place image © barend roberts
interior (left) image © victoria pilcher (right) image © david ross, barend roberts, victoria pilcher
open-plan spaces create a singular room around a pond image © victoria pilcher
bedroom image © barend roberts
bathroom image © barend roberts
floor plan / level 0
floor plan / level 1
