House Cooper

Meyersdal, Johannesburg, Gauteng
2007

This architectural house design is situated in a residential estate within a nature reserve. The original land was densely populated with indigenous trees and a few clear areas were identified in order to place the building. The challenge was to build around the existing trees.

The house faces true North. The layout is divided into different “blocks”, namely, public area, main bedroom area, other bedrooms area, and service area. These are connected by glazed links bridging between the existing trees. Each “block” is divided into 2 sections, the front northern section for the rooms, and the directly adjacent back southern section for services and circulation.

Aesthetically, the house is made of face brick for walls, and a laminated on site timber structure for columns, beams and the roof. The roof is divided into 2 parts above the front and back sections. These have different slopes, the front shallower, and the back steeper roof which allows for deep lighting and high up ventilation.