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Glenalmond
Melrose, Johannesburg, Gauteng

REID, GARDINER and MARTIN: Architect

Date:c1932
Type:Homestead
Status:Unknown

Cumming-George 1934

THIS attractive house in the Spanish Mission style has recently been erected in Melrose, Johannesburg. The house stands on about two acres of ground, and is approached through massive brick entrance pylons in which grow geraniums.

The entrance to the house is from the south and opens into a large stair hall from which access is gained to the lounge, dining-room, sun-room, cloak-room, and via a lobby (containing a refrigerator) to the kitchen. An interesting feature of the ground floor is the way in which the double garage has been linked to the house by means of a back stoep, so that it is possible to get to or from the motor cars under cover.

Upstairs, the wide landing gives access to three bedrooms, a very large sleeping porch, and the bathroom, W.C., and linen store.

A great deal of thought has been expended on the lounge which is lit by a large semi-octagonal bay window facing north. The fire¬place has been carefully placed so that people sitting before it will not be in a draught, and is of a very unusual design. Up to the mantle-shelf level it is of mellow golden klompjes and above the mantle shelf there is a large coloured tiled panel surrounded by a wide scrolled plaster architrave. The tiled panel shows a layout of .the grounds and has been treated in a light and playful manner.

The cost of the house was about £2,800.


Books that reference Glenalmond

Cumming-George, L. 1934. Architecture in South Africa - Volume Two. Cape Town: The Speciality Press of S.A. Ltd.. pg 57-58
MacMillan, Allister & Rosenthal, Eric. 1948. Homes of the Golden City. Cape Town: Hortors. pg 66
van der Waal, Gerhard-Mark. 1987. From Mining Camp to Metropolis - The buildings of Johannesburg 1886-1940. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council. pg 233