HCvR

Muckleneuk, Pretoria

In this addition, the old and new are clearly articulated. The roof is conceived as a simple, single pitch sitting low on top of the new first floor volume. It acts like a visor, keeping out the sun but allowing for breathtaking views over the city. In contrast with the traditional masonry construction of the existing ground floor, the addition presents an innovative use of a lightweight steel structure. The exterior is clad in steel sheeting and the envelope is well insulated, resulting in a comfortable interior space. A large, singular volume is interspersed with banks of bespoke cabinetry, defining individual areas of activity. The richness of the material palette, warmly-textured timbers, wool carpets, and brass fixtures, crafts a luxurious hide-away. The site itself is also interspersed with a number of associated interventions. Steel canopies over entrances to the site and the existing ground floor are articulated in a similar language which unifies them and recasts the house in a contemporary idiom.