An award-winning family home in the heart of Birdhaven, Johannesburg brings space, volume and greenery into its core, while keeping every space accessible from the heart of the living hub.

Creating a sense of awe and occasion in a family home is no easy feat.

For David Hollis, founder of Arch3D Architects, the approach to this brief was all about the juxtaposition of materials and designing a visual feast for the senses. After visiting the owners’ previous home, he noticed the lack of volume and layering. “Each space merged into another, with no identity,’’ David says. “I wanted to play with volume here, and bring the excitement of creating a unique feeling of space within each function of the home, but still maintain that easy, flowing openness.” An amalgamation of these concepts has resulted in a space that allows for both family interaction and for refuge, based around a central statement hub.

Celebrating volume also allows for large vertical planes, perfect for displaying the owners’ art collection. Walking into the home, you are immediately struck by the use of complementary materials – concrete, timber, steel, glass. David’s main aim was to keep the walls sculptural and striking enough to exist without anything on them, for the home to speak volumes as a stand-alone creative space. “The project started off with a desire to build a house that gave us more space as a growing family, but it was important that we did not get lost in the space,” explain the homeowners. “We were nervous of creating something in which the family actually became disconnected because of a rambling design – so our initial brief was to build a large house that lives small.”

READ MORE: Modern Clifton Home

With large, steel-framed glass “walls” in the living room, supported by concrete columns, David managed to blur the lines between the interior and exterior, and pull the considered landscaping to the forefront. The green elements are pops of urban jungle throughout the home, with a floor-to-ceiling living wall taking pride of place in the living room; it also effectively dampens sound and manages acoustics in the large area. “It’s light and airy, with high ceilings and lots of greenery,”say the homeowners.“ Nature is a source of endorphins for us, hence the green wall and swathes of glass.”

A floating concrete staircase emphasises the angular lines presented in the architecture. It leads upstairs to the bedrooms, main bathrooms and study, all of which overlook the centre without imposing on the area. “We wanted a home where every space was used – a home that made the most of the beautiful weather in Johannesburg, and that allowed for shared spaces while also offering the ability to find a quiet, secluded pocket somewhere,” the homeowners say. “We wanted a place where we could entertain friends and family, no matter the weather conditions.”

Striking a balance between opening the home out towards the James & Ethel Gray Park across the road – and the views – but still maintaining a sense of privacy and security was also a priority for David. This resulted in positioning the home strategically to the rear of the site. The natural elevation created opportunities for a visual connection between the designated spaces of the home and the park. The driveway, car court and raised entrance court were created as a series of nodes to further heighten the sense of journey and occasion on arrival, with views from the street giving little away.

The result is a suburban oasis that brings a family together by embracing architecture, design and nature in equal measure. Recognised at the 2021 Gauteng Institute for Architecture Awards, the home is the recipient of an Award of Excellence, with the judges describing it as a residence that “can be celebrated for ticking all the right boxes in terms of sustainability, striking appeal, conceptual strength, technical execution and practical functionality”.

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The inspired architectural design of this contemporary weekender works as a series of controlled openings that respond to the area’s wild weather conditions while cleverly merging African and Mediterranean design principles with the owners’ distinctive sense of style.

What started as an occasional getaway to the coastal village of Scarborough grew into a full-blown love affair for the owners of this home – a creative director and a surgeon. “Just 45 minutes from Cape Town, Scarborough is the last village before Cape Point – a little piece of heaven within walking distance of the beach,” they say.

The couple were so enamoured with the village, they had no desire to tell anyone about it – not even their three grown children. “It was a year before we took any of them with us,” they say with a laugh. “Predictably, they immediately fell in love with it too, and suggested we start looking for a place where we could all go to as a family.”

READ MORE: The Boat House

It took a few months to find the ideal plot of land – but as soon as they stepped onto the piece of pristine fynbos with the bush all around them and the sound of the sea in their ears, they knew they’d found their slice of paradise. They also knew exactly who they wanted to bring their vision to life: architects Saskia Vermeiren and Matthew Beatty, who had previously won an award for another residence they had designed in Scarborough.

“Our brief was for a house that would sit quietly in this space,” says Saskia, “a place that would blend in as much as possible with the landscape.” For her and Matthew, who live nearby, the knowledge of the climate helped in interpreting a design that would incorporate the owners’ distinctive style while acting as a shelter for their family during the extremes of the weather in both summer and winter.

“The focus was on controlled openings that framed the views, rather than a glass architecture,” says Saskia of the final design that is raised on a plinth in the landscape, much like a veranda or stoep. “The building aesthetic is an interpretation and a merging of African and Mediterranean architecture that suits the climate,” adds partner Matthew.

Laid out over two floors, the house pivots off a central wall and a wind-still covered stoep, with a kitchen leading onto it that is at the heart of the plan. The four bedrooms – two of them plus a small loft downstairs, with the main en suite bedroom upstairs – form a series of separate volumes, each maximising views, light, privacy and cross-ventilation. Builder Micah Burger did a phenomenal job of incorporating the owners’ must-haves in the final product, including African mahogany doors and windows, natural grey screed floors, and stone and brickwork detailing.

READ MORE: Dreamy Local Beach Houses

Seen from the beach, the house looks like a pink mirage set against the mountain behind it. “We chose the shade of pink very carefully, painting different colours on the north-, south-, east- and west-facing walls, and watching them change in the light,” recall the owners. “It was a total meditation – but in the end, the final colour revealed itself because of the way it blended in with the sky, the fynbos, the rocks and even the hills in the distance.”

And for the owners, who spent two and a half months here during lockdown, it was “a dream”. “Our goal is to have that amount of time here again. We feel so incredibly lucky and blessed and excited for our future here, as we inevitably gear down our businesses and look forward to embracing life in the simplest and purest way possible.”

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With 2022 around the corner, we’ve decided to round up some of the most-read features on VISI this year. From secluded mountain retreats to ultra modern beach houses, here’s a look at your top 14 favourite spaces in 2021.

Klein Karoo Farmhouse

With a reputation for designing trailblazing buildings across the globe, Greg Truen and his partner Nancy Kashimoto chose to use a different approach when taking on the renovation of a 200-year-old farmhouse. Instead of putting their own contemporary spin on the structure, they breathed new life into the property in the most respectful way.

Lured by the charming building in Buffelsdrift, a farming district nestled between the Swartberg and Langeberg mountains, Greg embarked on a design and renovation process that spanned four years and would transform the neglected property into a working olive farm.

Read the full story on the Klein Karoo farmhouse.

Bloemfontein Home

Set in a burgeoning grove of indigenous Karee trees on the outskirts of Bloemfontein, Philip and Lisa Nel’s home anticipated the current trend of prefabricated dwellings by a decade. Back in 2009, having just renovated and sold a house, Philip finally took the plunge and built the prefabricated small dwelling he’d had in mind for a while. A piece of property adjacent to his parents’ home on the western edge of the city was the chosen site – and 12 years later, it’s where the couple still live.

Originally just 45m2 in size and manufactured in three sections that fit neatly between two of his beloved karee trees, the design for Philip’s own home became the basis for a design and construction business, Inizio Homes – a company that offers a turnkey solution including design, fabrication, project management and construction

Read the full story on this Bloemfontein home.

Bainskloof Family Home

“We wanted this space to be a special place to connect with nature and make memories with friends and family,” says Keri Paddock, who together with husband Sam (founder of GetSmarter and JEFF Fitness) and toddler twins, Violet and Fletcher, makes every effort to spend as much time as possible at India House on Kerala Estate.

Home to the elusive Cape leopard, caracal, duiker, buck and impressive birdlife, this private reserve boasts access to spectacular mountain hikes and trails, and proximity to the Witte and Bastiaanskloof rivers. “We say the water has magical properties because we always feel so fantastic after a swim,” Keri says of the picnic-perfect river frontage just 150 metres from their door

Read the full story on this Bainskloof family home.

Montagu Retreat

The scenic Route 62 o the Klein Karoo unfolds into vivid pictures of rolling rocky mountains and lush vineyards, followed by a slow ascent as you head into the historic town of Montagu, as well-known for its beautifully preserved buildings as it is for its hiking trails. The old town might seem an unusual location for this modern and minimalist home, but it turns out to be ideal for a hideaway in which time stands still.

“Hendre transformed the design into something we love,” says homeowner Martly Calitz of the interior designer who pieced together the significant details that make this home unique – including the decision to paint it mostly white with touches of black, which sets off the warm, earthy terracotta floors beautifully. Hendre Bloem is known for his clean and modern yet luxurious aesthetic, and he very much shared the couple’s vision of creating a home that embodies the maxim “less is more”.

Read the full story on this Montagu home.

Pniel Farmhouse

Smitten by its location in the picturesque village of Pniel at the foot of the Simonsberg mountain in Stellenbosch, Dané Erwee and Chris Willemse bought this 2.5-hectare piece of land 10 years ago. The idea was to start a flower farm that could supply their floral retail business, Okasie. “There was nothing here then besides a few gardenia bushes and plum trees,” recalls Chris, a horticulturist. “Our first mission was to build a road that would allow the builders to access the land.”

Architect Henri Comrie was entrusted to design the house. “We chose Henri for his strong ideas, and because we knew he’d give us something timeless,” says Dané, a master florist and landscape designer. “In fact, his answer to our brief for a re-imagined farmhouse was so spot on that, from the moment we received the proposed plans for this house, we honestly didn’t change a thing.”

Read the full story on this Pniel farmhouse.

Buffelsbaai Home

Family holiday homes evoke images of blissful summer days filled with nothing but hours spent on the beach and sipping homemade (somewhat punchy) lemonade to keep cool. And this Buffelsbaai beachside gem most certainly lives up to that billing, ticking all the boxes for what’s required to ensure that the Ferreiras’ getaways are always restful, invigorating and, quite simply, a holiday.

An existing structure was demolished on this third-generation property to make way for a new home for the family. Richly reflective of the opportunities and constraints of the landscape, the design of the house was inspired by the sea and the milkwood forest that surrounds it.

Read the full story on this Buffelsbaai home.

Yzerfontein Beach House

An intimate understanding of the small coastal town of Yzerfontein has made Evi Elsner something of an expert when it comes to creating beach homes in this idyllic enclave. Originally from Germany, Evi and her husband Jochem lived in Somerset West for 15 years before relocating to Yzerfontein, where they established themselves as sought-after dream-house developers.

Combining architectural, interior design and building skills, the husband-and-wife team found a winning formula: Home Concept, their business, starts from the ground up, quite literally. They find a special piece of land, plan and design the structure, furnish the space, and only then find a buyer. The house is handed over complete, down to cutlery in the kitchen drawers and food in the fridge. This unique model allows Evi the freedom to design unencumbered – a strategy that’s proven to be very successful. After their first Yzerfontein house was completed, a waiting list formed for turnkey spaces, signalling a real demand for this kind of service.

Read the full story on this Yzerfontein home.

Cottage Rock

Located on the outskirts of Pretoria’s Tierpoort, Cottage Rock fully embodies the idea of sustainable living. Designed by award-winning architect Nadine Engelbrecht, the client’s brief asked for a ‘100% off-grid house that embraced nature’ making use of material on-site and weaving it into the fabric of the house.

Budget constraints and a sensitivity to nature enforced material choices including a selection of reclaimed steel windows, raw concrete floors and walls, stone, raw stock bricks and cement washed walls. “As avid rock climbers the clients wanted stone side walls, intended to be used as rock-climbing walls. The natural stones collected on site was therefore incorporated into Cottage Rock,” says Nadine.

Read the full story on Cottage Rock.

Kerala Estate Cottage

The vast tracts of private land that fan out from the Witte and Bastiaanskloof rivers in the Bainskloof Valley are home to the elusive Cape leopard and impressive birdlife. This is the Kerala Estate and reserve, and being here is a nature lover’s ultimate escape – a chance to unplug while appreciating the fynbos-scented air and the thrill of bracing mountain-water swims.

With a clear idea in mind, the couple tasked architect Bridget George of KLG Architects with updating the existing buildings. They also contracted landscaping company Oasis Design to integrate the dwellings into the terrain, and to create unexpected garden spaces filled with fynbos and proteas.

Read the full story on the Kerala Estate cottage.

Eclectic Hout Bay Home

The Hout Bay home that creative director, interior designer and curator Tracy Lynch and husband Frank van Reenen (the equally off-the-charts artist, sculptor and animator) share with their teenage daughter Franny perfectly expresses their unique view on the world. As founder of Studio Lee Lynch and the creative director of Nando’s Design Programme, much of Tracy’s is work is about reinvention; Frank’s is also inventive, but with a side order of dark, playful and wacky.

Three years ago, when they decided to swap their inner-city Victorian home in Cape Town for a spacious out-of-towner, they were looking for a well-designed space they could move into immediately. “A new, modern space is contrary to anything we’d ever lived in before, but as my days are creatively charged, I was hankering after something calm, structured and resolved,” says Tracy. But that never happened. Not long into the house-hunting process, they fell in love with – and bought – a garden… with peacocks, a vineyard and a garden cottage as part of the package.

Read the full story on this eclectic Hout Bay home.

Caracal Cabin

The landscape and the environment were the key design generators from the client’s brief,” say Miguel Ferreira-da-Silva and Andrew Payne of Migs + Drew about the build of the new Caracal Cabin. “Owners Samantha and William Rupert Mellor had identified a potential cabin site on the farm that they loved, which offered privacy from the existing Cabine du Cap accommodation, along with dramatic, jaw-dropping views. Once we saw it, we were sold.”

Intending to build from sustainably farmed wood that doesn’t come from natural forests or contribute to deforestation, the team consulted with Seamus Harcourt-Wood of Rare Woods before settling on Siberian larch for the majority of the exterior. “The lower portion of the dwelling is clad entirely in stone, all of which was collected on the site, by hand,” says William. “The work was spread across the property, to leave minimal impact on the landscape. This also allows the building to ‘disappear’ into the landscape.”

Read the full story on Caracal Cabin.

Plettenberg Bay Home

With breathtaking beaches, pristine nature reserves and adventure-packed amenities, it’s no surprise that Plettenberg Bay is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country. And it’s where architects Johan Wentzel and Grete van As of W Design Architecture Studio set out to create a private haven of tranquillity for their clients – a place where the natural beauty of the bay would be an undeniable focal point throughout the house.

“For us, architecture is not about the physical building; it’s about the spirit that creates the space,” Johan explains. “The building is just a sheltered platform from which you experience the world – space and place should be perceived by the spirit.” With direct beach access and views stretching across the bay and towards Robberg Nature Reserve for as far as the eye can see, the site is a gem. “We designed the house with absolute focus on the natural world outside – the ocean, the waves, Robberg, the bay, the wind and the limitless sky,” Johan says.

Read the full story on this Plettenberg Bay home.

Uxolo Apartments

Uxolo’s beautiful tapestry-inspired exterior has been drawing admiring glances from design-savvy denizens of the Mother City for some months now. Its clever combination of materials and colours is meticulously executed, making this one of those new builds that feels a bit like a work of street art from the get-go. And inside, it only gets better.

We spent some time with architect Theo Kruger – who, together with André Krige, is TwoFiveFive Architects, the creators of the building – to find out more about the project’s ins and outs. This is the first local development we’ve seen to really make the most of the concept of living in a genuinely small apartment. To put it in perspective, the majority of the apartments in Uxolo are about 24m2 – which, to many South Africans, is an absolutely tiny space.

Read the full story on the Uxolo Apartments.

Llandudno Home

As far as grand debuts go, architect James Mitchell’s first solo venture under the banner of his newly minted firm Abon Studio is a corker. Set against a backdrop of Llandudno’s beachfront, the show-stopping three-level residence’s façade is fragmented into rectilinear configurations of off-shutter concrete, timber and zinc cladding, artfully Tetris-ed around the negative space of a glazed rectangle that lets you see all the way through to the ocean.

“Some areas of the beach are surrounded by enormous boulders that position themselves as if they had been strategically placed there,” says James. “The large off-shutter concrete wall has a primary function of forming a privacy boundary from the neighbouring properties, but it’s also a representation of the boulders in its size and colour, with the windows around it representing the openings between them.”

Read the full story on this Llandudno home.

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Guided by the owners’ brief for a ‘contemporary interpretation’ of a farm-style abode, the architect of this Southdowns Estate home used volume and light to create a modern, minimalist space.

“This plot in Irene’s Southdowns Estate had a wide northern boundary that fronted onto a nature conservation area, which meant we really had free rein when it came to space, volume and light,” says architect Devilliers du Toit. The vision for the house was twofold: “to create a modern home that tested the boundaries of the estate’s farm style-based architectural guidelines; and to create a sense of never-ending open space with uninterrupted views.”

The create a spacious contemporary home for clients, Schalk and Angelique Janse van Rensburg, Devilliers made use of volume to clearly define the main open plan living space. 

The front door opens into the dramatic double-volume entrance hall which, in turn, leads to the living spaces and the centrepiece of the house: the kitchen. The kitchen features a large south-facing gable window to bring natural light into the deep space. “Almost the entire northern edge of the kitchen and living space is composed of frameless glass doors so that, when opened, there is virtually no distinction between inside and outside,” says Devilliers. 

A daring cantilevered timber and glass staircase leads to the first storey where a ‘house-shaped’ opening in the passage looks down into the one-and-a-half volume kitchen. In the closed off private spaces, like the bedrooms, the use of raked ceilings help create a continued sense of space.

A balcony runs the full length of the house with each of the rooms opening onto it to allowing the upstairs rooms to be flooded with natural light.  

While the interior of the house has been kept sparse, light and airy, the exterior has been finished in tonal greys. The exterior finishes have been deliberately kept muted so as to reduce the bulk of the building.  “A darker and lighter grey helps to define the building volumes,” explains Devilliers. 

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Take a look at the colourful, bold contemporary Johannesburg home.

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GARTEN house by Caio Persighini Arquitetura in Araraquara, Brazil is a compact contemporary home that strikes an aesthetic balance between form and function, assuming at once energies of impressive grandeur and modest subtlety.

In remedy to the plot’s planimetric divergence and corner positioning, the architects employed dynamic social spaces: on the upper floor, a warm communal lounge doubles as a gym and cinema room. Surrounding this convivial lounge are the three bedrooms. The master bedroom is a suite while the others share a family hall with the lounge, fostering both interconnectedness and privacy.

On the lower level, the kitchen-cum-entertaining space opens onto an elongated outdoor area with a pool surrounded by greenery. The limited space is made expansive through the stacking of geometric concrete shapes and shelved greenery around and above the water, providing stolen spots from which to enjoy balmy sunshine otherwise lost. Lower still, the garage sinks beneath the pavement, tangential to the house. For someone strolling by, the house appears a mirage – more and more grandiose with every approaching step.

Love this space? Check out Cranberry Pavilion by Wright Architects – a small space that too affords the illusion of expansiveness.

h/t: archdaily.com

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Combining the ultimate in holiday ease with a clean-lined, contemporary aesthetic, a new home on the edge of Plett’s glorious Keurbooms Lagoon is perfectly suited to stylish downtime with family and friends.

Located less than a minute from Plettenberg Bay’s pristine Keurbooms lagoon, this newly built home combines beach- holiday practicality with elegant design. It’s a place where sandy feet and effortless glamour combine – and a product of an excellent client-architect relationship. From the start, says architect Luis Mira, he and the client were in complete agreement about what sort of house was needed.

The brief was to create a holiday home over two levels with “a roof terrace, where the main lounge, dining and kitchen would be elevated to maximise views”, says Luis. The client, he adds, “had a clear diagram of how they envisioned this, and we loved that starting point”. The end result is a striking home on multiple levels, with sculptural staircases and a boldly celebrated support pillar – clad in vertically applied, naturally ageing raw-wood panels – reminiscent of the smokestacks of an ocean liner.

From the start, Luis explains, the house was designed by working with three suspended horizontal planes: the ground floor, first floor and roof level, and the space sequence among these. The idea was to focus on how the three planes connect vertically, and create internal and external spaces in constant relation to the surrounding views and natural condition of the site.

Successfully enhancing “the sense of being in proximity to a tidal giant”, as Luis puts it, the open-plan kitchen, living and dining area is on the upper floor of the house, alongside the master bedroom suite. The entire level opens up to views of the lagoon at the front, while to the back is a shaded outdoor braai and bar, plus an outdoor dining table and chairs. Still higher, up on the roof, is a more intimate braai and entertainment space, and adjacent to these, a rooftop Jacuzzi.

While the upper levels are ideal for elegant entertaining and taking it easy, the lower floor is all about family fun – and is also teenager-friendly. There’s an entertainment area somewhat reminiscent of a smart sports bar, with a large- screen TV and quirky guest bathroom. Also on this floor is a wine cellar and state-of-the-art modular gym equipment, stored for on-demand use. A chill-out lounge and the remaining bedrooms and bathrooms complete the space.

The house was conceived as a response to its remarkable location, says Luis. “You walk along the most beautiful bush path to reach the water in less than a minute,” he explains. “The lagoon is ever-changing, with low and high tides, light intensity, reflections… And these natural forces constantly wet, cover or unveil the golden sand of the beach that is in full view from the house. It is an exquisite natural phenomenon to witness; building in front of it was truly special.”

To help keep everyone’s eyes on the spectacular surroundings, the interiors feature a restricted materials and colour palette. “We were extremely lucky that our client’s understanding of the need for this was superb, and a driving force during the project,” says Luis. “You can see the same principle applied to their selection of furniture and artworks.”

This approach plays out in two ways,he says.First,a connection is established with the natural shades of the surrounding landscape, with a useful example of this being “the beige tiled floor and seats in relation to the sand dunes”. The natural wood cladding and planted elements also bring the subtropical lushness of Plettenberg Bay into the home. Secondly, Luis explains, the pared-back interiors are “neutral enough to allow the architecture to be more of a background, which enables daily life to take over”.

All the fixtures – such as the Italian kitchen,built-in cupboards and vanities by Assirelli Italian Design – and furnishings were chosen by the homeowners, while custom-made items such as beds, exterior tables, bars, desks, shelving and TV units were made by local joiners Wooden Wonders, or by main contractor No Fuss Construction, who have “excellent joinery expertise”, says Luis.

Complementing the custom elements is a selection of international design pieces ranging from the dining table and chairs by Carl Hansen to the supremely stylish Aballs suspended lights – by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon for Parachilna – above the kitchen island, and Jasper Morrison’s modern-classic Smithfield ceiling lamps in the dining room. The final layer is made up of thought-provoking artworks that reflect the homeowners’ predilection for smart, contemporary pieces.

As Luis points out, however, this home is primarily about facilitating tranquil holiday time. Asked what he personally likes most about it, he replies, “That it is well built, that it has been beautifully furnished and equipped, and above all, the fact that the family is already creating some wonderful holiday memories here.”

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Take a look at this Llandudno home and these dreamy beach escapes.

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Enveloped by Ivry-sur-le-Lac’s unspoilt forest and lakeside vistas, this Québec home boasts an extremely low environmental impact and a unique modular designed born of five prefabricated custom modules by Figurr Architects Collective.

Located in a village in the Laurentides region of Québec, Canada, overlooking Lake Manitou, this contemporary build’s prefabricated modules, each approximately 15 metres long, were assembled before being delivered to site.

And although the pre-assembly of elements allowed for optimal working conditions, the transportation of them opened up a completely new challenge for the architects. In order to transport the structures through the surrounding country roads – which encompassed 90-degree turns and inclement weather – the architects relied on meticulous preparation and planning.

Designing the house with a low environmental footprint was the primary focus. From the use of sustainable and local materials to the position of the build, allowing direct sunlight to aid in the reduction of both heating and lighting costs, no detail was left unconsidered. In addition, the building’s wooden façade allows it to blend seamlessly with the surrounding countryside. Notably, the architects are in the process of applying for a LEED Gold certification.

Interiors see each family member afforded their own personal space, while the ground floor functions as an open-plan concept where everyone can come together: an inviting kitchen and dining area, a three-season screened-in porch surrounded by picturesque views, as well as an atelier for painting and carpentry.

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Cranberry Pavilion by Wright Architects is a 163 sqm space that affords the illusion of grandeur and features envelope-pushing design inspired by Phillip Johnson’s Glass House and Mies Van Der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion.

Located in Cape Town’s scenic Camps Bay, Cranberry Pavilion boasts structures that are light, kept to a minimum and celebrate materiality. Architectural aspects aptly mirror the main house’s striking palette of dark colours, while interiors by Mazel Interior Design echo the celebration by means of neutral furnishings, forms and materials that have been carefully orchestrated to harmonise with the exterior.

The morphology of the pavilion is characterised by two thin, floating planes stacked on top of each other. Each juts out into the surrounding lush garden to create an illusion that is further accentuated by discreet steel columns that appear to be levitating above the perimeter walls.

Inhabitants are spoilt for choice when it comes to views: the west-facing facade opens up to the Atlantic Ocean, the first-floor terrace gazes upon Lions Head and clerestory windows frame the 12 Apostles mountain range in the bedroom.

In keeping with the idea of a pavilion, spatial boundaries are blurred by large sliding aluminium doors that, when opened up, allow interiors to exhale into the outdoors.

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Local architecture and design studio SAOTA has completed its first project in Canada, an ultra-modern summer house located on the banks of Lake Huron.

The contemporary design, a culmination of recent developments in design, technology and sustainability, attempts to look beyond the idea of traditional lakeside retreats.

Upon approach, Lake Huron appears as a simple stone box hovering weightlessly between fir trees. At the rear, facing the lake, the house dissolves into a double-storey wall of glass that draws natural light deep into interiors, created by local interior design studio, ARRCC, where fluid spaces are dressed in earthy hues.

The “engine room” on the lowest floor features a commercial-grade Building Automation System (BAS) that controls and monitors the home, ensuring continuous optimum performance. A 15kw solar array not only sustains the home, but regularly feeds excess power back into the utility grid for later use too. An underground stormwater system that can handle a 100-year storm and an eco-flo septic system are the finishing touches that make this contemporary home as sustainable as it is luxurious.

Love this space? Check out this lakeside home by SAOTA in Geneva, Switzerland.

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