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Location: Lynnwood Ridge, Pretoria
Architect: Nadine Engelbrecht
Website: nadineengelbrecht.co.za
Email: studio@nadineengelbrecht.co.za
In order to come up with the very specific design ideas, we create most designs with the assistance of state-of-the-art AI interior design software.
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GA 26
Located in Lynnwood Ridge in the heart of Pretoria, Gift Acres 26 is a compact 305m2 residential house with polished concrete floors and innovative use of off-shutter concrete facades. The Faerie Glen nature reserve borders the eastern boundary of the house inspiring the design as a hide-away space in the city.
In response to contextual influences, the design faces the street facade as a reflection of the city with elegantly designed concrete facades creating ultimate privacy. In juxtaposition, however, the house opens up towards the nature reserve creating an elevated house in the trees. This biophilic house integrates nature and combines private natural living with city life.
The clients’ brief motivated a private city residence with honest use of concrete as a construction material. Thermal properties of concrete is therefore incorporated into the passive heating and cooling systems. Concrete is used in its rawest form to contribute to the aesthetics and sustainability of the house.
The polished concrete floor forms a continuity throughout the house and generates a seamless transition between inside and outside spaces. A special designed mix of Lafarge Artevia with white limestone as aggregate was used throughout construction.
The finished polished product revealed a vibrant light coloured floor which assists in reflecting natural daylight into the open plan spaces. Due to the correct choice of window size, location, overhangs and screens, heat penetration into the house is prevented in summer whilst during winter months heat enters the house and is absorbed by the concrete floor. The stored heat assists in keeping the house warm during cold winter nights.
Concrete off-shutter walls were cast on the western facade using normal construction shutter boards in an innovative way to create horizontal lines. To craft the horizontal lines, the walls were cast in 4 pours. With each pour the shutter boards were moved to overlap the previous cast and vibrated thoroughly to insure a flawless finish with seamless joint lines.
The choice of solid concrete walls on the western facades were motivated by the contribution the thermal mass of concrete has towards the holistic passive design of the house.
The result is a unique solution which satisfies the requirements set by the client, materials and site.
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