Text Roberta Coci Styling Leana Schoeman Photographs Elsa Young, Sally Shorkend (portrait)

on the edgeA modernist pavilion in Westcliff is the perfect spot from which to enjoy Joburg’s resplendent views

Open spaces and breezy decks make this Mies van der Rohe-style pavilion in Westcliff, Johannesburg, the ultimate summer hideout. GASS Architecture Studios was recently awarded a commendation in the architectural category at the annual South African Institute for Structural Steel Awards for its design.

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Perched on the ridge of one of Johannesburg’s oldest suburbs, Westcliff, lies a modernist pavilion hidden amid a forest of trees. ‘This house touches the earth lightly,’ says

architect Georg van Gass of GASS Architecture Studios, and looking at how it is almost suspended in its sylvan setting, it’s obvious how much respect the structure has for the surrounding area.

While the home takes up only a tiny corner of what was once a massive 5 600m2 property, Georg is convinced they chose the ideal spot on which to build.‘When you’re sitting out on the front deck, you think things can’t get better than this,’ he says, pointing to the striking urban views and glorious Joburg skies. ‘But then you turn around and you’re immersed in nature. That’s the beauty of this house; no one side is more impressive than the other.’

Co-architect Clare J. Eisenstein agrees that the setting is magnificent, but is quick to add that it came with three large restrictions that affected the design of the home. Firstly, the site is at the end of a long, awkward driveway, which made access difficult during construction. Secondly, they wanted to limit the environmental impact on the ridge, and thirdly, they had to negotiate an extremely steep slope. The original brief was to use glass and steel, and the architects found that by creating a pavilion in the manner of architect Mies van der Rohe, they could overcome all three challenges, while perfectly encapsulating the brief.

‘The whole house is essentially a steel structure,’ explains Clare, ‘which means that the subcontractor could build off site and create a “kit” that was welded on site.’ By doing this they neatly sidestepped the access problems. ‘Steel is a sustainable and fully recyclable material, and we reduced our impact on the ridge by building off the site.’

In one of the most aesthetically interesting features of the house, Georg and Clare created a ‘floating’ stone wall that spans the length of the house. Clerestory windows complete the effect, giving the impression that both the building and the wall are suspended. ’Because we did not build directly on the ground, we overcame the problem of the steep slope, and once again minimised our impact on the ridge.’ Clare adds that the fact that all the stone is quarried from the site itself makes this a typical Westcliff house, but that the floating wall is a folly. ‘We wanted to turn the whole concept of a wall on its head.’

Inside, the cheekiness of the wall becomes even more apparent. ‘We wanted the wall to look massive from the outside, but inside it’s actually carved out to provide cupboard space,’ explains Clare. ‘Once again, it’s a folly, but a practical one, given our spatial constraints.’

As the home is a subsidiary dwelling, property laws dictated that the architects had only 110m2 to play with. In order to work around this they made effective use of decks all the way around the property – thus increasing the area while providing unbeatable living areas from which to enjoy the views and Joburg’s superb weather.

Space constraints led to another innovation. ‘The kitchen incorporates a scullery and prep area which you can simply close off with sliding doors when you’re entertaining,’ explains Georg. ‘This was part of our plan to use minimal space for the private areas and maximise the entertainment area,’ he says, adding that features such as wet-room bathrooms mean all the spaces are generous.

Standing in the pavilion, it’s hard to imagine that the interior of this house is no bigger than your average apartment. And while this home takes a giant step away from the style of baronial mansions so typical of the area, it has its own magnificent sense of space. ‘This house represents a way of living,’ says Georg. ‘It’s not about creating icons and monuments, but more about complementing the nature that surrounds it. It’s a simple space that you can love and enjoy.’ GASS Architecture Studios, gass.co.za

The kitchen scullery and prep area can be closed off neatly with sliding doors. The armchair in front of a wooden side table by Goet Furniture (goet.co.za) is from Mødernist (modernist.biz, 082-903-6886). OPPOSITE, FROM TOP Flooring indoors and out is by Top Decks (topdecks.co.za); a Jozi Table by Goet Furniture is surrounded by .03 chairs by Maarten van Severen, available at Créma Design (cremadesign.co.za).

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Q&A WITH GeorG vAn GAss What was your design principle for this house? To design a house that complements its surroundings and makes the setting the hero. A building you wish you’d conceived? Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion. Your pet design peeve? Trends. What are you inspired by? People. We ultimately design spaces for people. I can study people and their interactions with spaces for hours. I love it when I design a space in a certain way and people use it exactly in that manner without my having to explain it to them. Which individuals do you have your eye on? I love the work of Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan. Your favourite summer colour? Green. I think summer’s beauty lies in the transformation from brown to green. Just imagine how boring it would be if everything was green all year round. What is your best piece of architectural advice? Design buildings around you and your needs. Design aesthetic is important, but functionality is more so. Buildings should be beautiful, but they won’t stand the test of time if they aren’t functional and practical. How would you describe your style? South African minimalism – minimalism with texture. What is your favourite way to spend a summer evening? Outside with family, friends, food and drinks. What do you love most about old Joburg? The abundance of good architecture in the CBD. Do yourself a favour and go on one of the city walks operated by the Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust (parktownheritage.co.za). Best thing about summer? The long days: there’s so much more sunshine to enjoy.

The entire pavilion hovers above the ground, providing a floating effect, which reduces its

environmental impact. The contractor for the project was Vision 5 Projects (vision5.co.za)

and the engineer was Ferdi van der Kuil of E-Struct Consulting (082-336-1035).

OPPOSITE, FROM TOP Architects Clare J. Eisenstein and Georg van Gass; patio

seats from the owner’s garden make a perfect spot from which to watch the sunrise; in the main bathroom, spectacular views provide a

backdrop to bathroom fittings from ON TAP Plumbing and Bathrooms (ontap.co.za).

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