House in Blair Atholl View all (106) images House in Blair Atholl is one of the most recently completed projects by the highly acclaimed Nico van der Meulen Architects. This luxurious contemporary farmhouse is situated within a secluded golf estate located between Pretoria and Johannesburg, South Africa. Designed by Werner van der Meulen of Nico van der Meulen Architects, this double storey home boasts nearly 750 m² and is surrounded by serenity and tranquility.Free from high boundary walls and electric fencing, this is a design with a difference. With unrestricted views of the countryside, the expansiveness of this home is certain to catch your attention as you approach the house.The brief called for a contemporary, practical home that makes provision for outdoor living with an emphasis on entertaining. Due to the form-follow-function approach of the design, this modern family home is spacious and uncluttered from unnecessary decorative elements. The design concept is undoubtedly a strong one which speaks for itself and whilst Werner van der Meulen was restricted by the estate rules which included making use of pitched roofs and specific natural materials, it was in fact these very parameters which led to the concept of a contemporary farmhouse.
The floating double pitched slate roof also played a huge role in the development of the concept and reinforces the contemporary nature of the design. Orientating the house northwards allows for the home to be naturally lit all year round and provides expansive views of the garden from nearly every room. While the overhangs provide protection from the sun during the summer, they also ensure that the sun still penetrates the rooms during the winter months. The double volume entrance hall is partially surrounded by glass and bordered by two double garages on either side. The symmetry of the solid timber garages highlights the transparency of the house as views of the garden captivate you even before you have entered. Enveloped in natural wood, the garage doors disappear into a timber wall.Once inside you appreciate how effortlessly the open plan spaces flow into each other, with the living room, dining room, kitchen and lanai all in close proximity to each other. The frameless folding doors create an invisible threshold between the inside and the outside, and when completely open, the lanai becomes an extension of the kitchen and family/dining room and vice versa.
The spacious lanai accommodates a braai, bar and seating area making it ideal for entertaining while the swimming pool is integral to the design of the lanai and extends beneath the cantilevered floor slabs. The floating roof rests on a wall of glass while the slightly elevated lanai encourages landscaped terraces to connect the house to the countryside.The floating timber staircase becomes a grand feature which floats above the floor plane as the natural stone cladded wall forms the perfect frame for the sculptural masterpiece by Regardt van der Meulen. A bridge with glass balustrade connects the two wings of the house while also maintaining a sense of privacy for the main bedroom which is located on the eastern wing of the house. All the rooms have been organized around the double volume living space which becomes central to the family’s lifestyle. The two en-suite children's bedrooms are positioned on the western wing with their own private balconies.M Square Lifestyle Design ensured that a mood of warmth and comfort filtered through into the interior spaces, and that the finishes remained true to the architecture of the home, thus emphasizing the modern clean lines and natural materials used throughout this house.
To achieve this M Square Lifestyle Design set out to incorporate materials like timber and stone, as well as materials such as concrete and glass into the interiors of the home, which facilitates in seamlessly blending it in with the estate's country environment. Making use of these materials created a textured and unique interior all the while aiding in the flow of inside and outside spaces. This visual incorporation of the exterior flowing into the interior, along with the linear design elements, allowed the area to further remain practical and uncluttered. The scullery, wine cellar and guest toilet are strategically concealed behind shop-fitted components enabling a simple contemporary interior. The kitchen counter doubles up as a server for both the kitchen and the lanai.The design of the main bedroom incorporates a private lounge and a discreetly screened walk in dressing room. The tinted glass screen offers privacy for the dressing room thus adding an element of luxury with its high gloss finish.
The suite flows onto a large private balcony with magnificent views of the paddocks and surrounds. The bed is perfectly positioned in a recessed niche lined with textured wallpaper creating an intimate setting. M Square Lifestyle Design and Nico van der Meulen Architects have flawlessly merged the interior with the exterior, while M Square Lifestyle Necessities' supply of contemporary furniture, sourced from the finest international brands, completes the home's luxurious look. This results in visual continuity between every room and every aspect of the home, which ultimately lends itself to the family being able to interact from every space in the home. Publish Your Projects Show off and upload images, text, and video of your work. We pick the very best for our project newsletters.As garage doors get larger, we ask more than ever of our openers. For this reason, the team at Automatic Technology has upgraded our best selling openers to deliver improved power ratings and reliably operate the vast majority of residential doors.
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Conways sell aluminium extrusion profiles, glass and hardware of various Crealco aluminium systems to aluminium and glass fabricators that assemble aluminium windows, sliding/pivot/hinged/stack doors, shop fronts, curtain walls, garage doors, showers, etc. and install them into new buildings and renovation projects. (Click here to view product catalog). Conways also stock and sell various standard aluminium profiles like angles, flats, tubes, bars, channels, signage profiles and many more for other aluminium users. (Click here to view standard product catalog). Conways also assist with sourcing and supply of custom designed aluminium extrusion profiles. Referrals of public, quantity surveyor, engineer, architect, developer, builder and contractor enquirers to loyal, reputable and quality Aluminium & Glass fabricators and installers in their area. Please go to "Contact Us" to submit your enquiry or click on info@conways at the top of this page. Hospitality & Professionalism - Real, warm, friendly and efficient people that look after your interest.
Crealco products (Also referred to as "Systems") to fabricate Shutters, Louvers, Casement, European style Tilt & Turn, Pivot and inward opening Windows, Tilt & Turn, Hinged & Pivot doors, Sliding/patio doors, Sliding folding doors, Garage doors, Flush & double glazed Shop fronts, High rise curtain wall facades with flush, double and triple glaze functionalities that meet latest South African regulatory requirements. A green start to your building or product with energy efficient Crealco products and extrusions that are largely manufactured from recycled aluminium relating to a very low carbon footprint. Crealco Glass - Selected laminated and float glass stock sheets for your glazing requirements. One Stop Shop to Aluminium & Glass fabricators. Custom profiles and solutions - Architectural, transport and industrial. FREE CAD symbol libraries and Revit families with literature of most Crealco systems to assist architects and designers with designs, drawings etc.
FREE Agrement certified StarFront computer software to loyal customers to assists with fabrication, design, costing, material requirement, ordering and CAD detailed typical shop drawings. FREE SAFIERA endorsed U-Solve whole window and door u-value and SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) calculator to Architects to ensure SANS 204 building complaint designs and specifications. FREE FPD (Fenestration Performance Declaration) to Fabricators to enable them to issue a project specific declaration to Architects that confirm they have quoted, procured, fabricated and installed geniune Wispeco Crealco products as specified. This declation document in turn enables the architect to confidently issue a CoC (Certificate of Complaince) on his/her project. Showrooms were you can view, touch and feel Crealco products. Effective quick distribution networks to deliver as per your need. Assists with export to neighboring Southern African countries. BEE level 4 contributor.
Product Design vs. Building Regulations Our innovative designs are aimed at new or improved aesthetics, functionality, structural and thermal performance. The underlying drivers of our innovation are to design attractive yet practical products that meet the necessary performance requirements and to reduce costs by providing fabricators with systems that are convenient and easy to fabricate and install. Our designs start with the principles of safety, green and energy efficiency of buildings and therefore meet the South African National Standards Building Regulations (SANS 10400-N & XA, SANS613 and SANS 204). Our products are tested by and meet specification guidelines set by the Association of Architectural Aluminium Manufacturers of South Africa (AAAMSA), South African Glass Glazing Association (SAGGA) and South African Fenestration, Insulation & Energy Rating Association (SAFIERA) (www.aaamsa.co.za) We maintain a close strategic alliance with our major suppliers.
We view suppliers not only as suppliers but as strategic partners. Our relationship with them determines our success in terms of offering you a quality product at market related prices and at the time you need it. These partnerships and support enables Conways to... Support and rejuvenate existing systems and design new systems that provide architects, developers, home owners and fabricators with choice that aims to satisfy the latest preferences, trends and regulations. Source and supply a wide variety of standard profiles. Offer South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) certified and International equivalent quality Powder Coating and Anodising on Aluminium profiles. Supply Green Aluminium profiles – Our key supplier (Wispeco Aluminium) makes use of recycled aluminium billit as input material in their extrusion production process. To recycle aluminium requires only 5% of the energy used to make virgin aluminium. Aluminium is 100% recyclable and is deemed a "energy bank".