Merge inside and outside spaces

In South Africa, with our great climate, it’s a sin not to make the most of a home’s outdoor area. Are you unsure of how to create a good flow between indoor and outdoor spaces?

Interior Architect Jan-Heyn Vorster of Meyer + Vorster Architects in Cape Town gives a few practical tips:

•  Consider and design outdoor areas as carefully as interior spaces. Think of these as beautifully finished and furnished outdoor ‘rooms’ and not merely verandas or patios.

•  Settle for glazed walls that slide or fold away completely, in order to blur the boundaries between internal and external areas. Go for maximum height, preferably to the height of the ceiling or soffit.

•  Consider adding pergolas over outdoor areas in order to create the effect of the outdoor area as an extension of the interior space. Ensure that this outdoor ‘ceiling’ is at the same level as the adjacent ceiling within.

•  Try to keep floor levels the same inside and out – this makes for a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. Care should however be taken in the choice of floor finishes and door types as well as with the detailing of these ‘thresholds’ in order to prevent waterproofing problems.

•  Add interesting focal elements (vertical gardens, planterboxes, waterfeatures etc.) to outside spaces. This will draw the eye outwards and will contribute to the flow.

Meyer + Vorster: 021 461 5514, www.meyervorster.co.za