Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Saxonwold House Saxonwold, Johannesburg, Gauteng MARKOVITZ MARGOLES and PARTNERS: Architect

Date: 1960s Type: Homestead Status: Extant Street: 21 Saxonwold Drive   Click to view map Coordinates: 26°09'21.73" S 28°02'31.30" E Alt: 1675m

A small site, 47 ft. O in. [14,3 m] wide on the narrowest side, wedge-shaped, situated on a busy corner in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, and subject to several very restrictive Local Authority building lines: these were some of the difficulties that presented themselves, in addition to an emphatic "No" from the architect's wife when confronted with a proposal that the house should be designed on a multilevel principle. Advantages: Close proximity to the City centre, well served by public transport, good schools nearby and an extensive shopping centre in the vicinity. The house was built in one corner of the site, freeing as much north garden as possible, and in order to maintain complete privacy, entrance is from the south allowing all walls facing on the street, except for a few bathroom windows, to be built up as a blank surface to the underside of the roof. Apart from these walls, the remainder of the house under the 5,500 sq. ft. [511 sq. m] of roof is completely encased by glass and steel, allowing for a visual inter-penetration of internal and external areas both roofed and open. The basic design approach has been to create an overall concept of unity and flow of space without necessarily allowing the structure or any architectural features to obtrude or dominate the interiors. An attempt has been made to create a simple environment for a variety of interior decor. The house is built around two central courtyards, and a north-facing garden. It is intended that the smaller courtyard to the east of the dining room will eventually be turned into a hot-house with tropical plants. The approach to the house is across a timber bridge over a reflecting pool, to the entrance hall, at which point the main circulation areas are laid out. From here the three main zones branch out, namely the living, sleeping and service zones. Basic structure consists of a steel frame with inverted channel sections welded together on a 12 ft. O in. [3,7 m] module. The roof is built at a 5 degree pitch and is covered by Baltic deal tongued and grooved boarding with felt waterproofing and contains slag-wool blanket insulation. All ceilings are of Baltic deal boarding. All painted surfaces in the house are white; colours and textures are obtained from the plants, furnishings, e.g., ceramics, marble, glass, fabrics, and materials has been achieved through simple detailing and a careful choice of fine finishes. [Wale 1962:55,57]