DEWEY RESIDENCE

A turnkey project consisting of a modern barn style home for retirement

2021, Neighbourhood Estate, Linksfield, Johannesburg, South Africa
Area: 357m²
Project Team: Nadine Clarke, Rory David
Contractor: Investbuild PTY LTD
Photos: Courtesy of Investbuild, taken by Re-imagine

barn style double garage gable end with gate leading to garden and riven stone cladding

main bedroom porch leading to private garden and view of private garden and guest suite wing with riven stone cladding

modern barn style master suite with steel and gable end details, with central pool courtyard and off the grid power solution

indoor outdoor living space with kitchen island and exposed trusses, enclosed patio connecting to interior living spaces

Dewey Residence floor plan of modern barn style house in neighbourhood estate

The Clients Dream

Rather than retire to the coast, this couple decided to opt for a compact lock up and go home, with a small garden, in an estate in Johannesburg to be close to their children and grandchildren. They still required the home to be desirable for family-living should they decide to sell.

To fast-track the process the client opted for a turnkey service. This was done hand in hand with a construction company so that costs could be generated and controlled from the design phase.

The Dream Actualised (Design response)

To optimise orientation on a tricky corner stand, and still have some garden space, the final design consists of a central living space with a generous patio flanked by two-bedroom wings.

A central kitchen and dining room have a direct connection to the closed patio, while a more intimate TV lounge, that can close off with shutters is located between the patio and the master suite. The master suite’s access door is disguised using wall panelling – very James Bond! The master suite runs adjacent to the pool area so that the bedroom is north facing and has its own private porch open to the garden.

Two additional bedrooms share a ‘jack and jill’ bathroom, making them en suite without the cost of two full bathrooms.

No Hassle

The client wanted the most self-sufficient home as they did not want to deal with the hassle of load shedding. For those of you wondering what load shedding is, here in South Africa our government is not able to supply electricity. Hence, their marketing department coined the term load shedding as this sounds better than power failure.

To design an optimally functioning home, orientation and passive design is always our first goal, thereafter we add technology.

This home is fully north facing and a full photovoltaic array generates power. Hot water is by means of solar and gas geysers and an evaporative cooling system cools the home. See our blog post on why that’s a good thing here.

Need a turnkey solution?

If you like what you see and hear and prefer a turnkey solution feel free to call or email us to set up an appointment to discuss your requirements, and how we can make your dream home come to life.

Nadine: 082 809 1970 || Studio: 011 025 8318 || info@meik.co.za