House Ber by Nico Van Der Meulen Architects

Designed by Nico Van Der Meulen Architects. House Ber is a luxury villa in Carlsworld, Johannesburg, South Africa.

From the architects: The inspiration for this contemporary glass villa was drawn from the estate rules that forbid the use of burglar bars. Toying with the idea of protecting a house that’s already secured led to the exploration of large cantilevered boxes enclosed by black steel bars.

Rectangular in form, the design of House Ber is centered around the living room, water features and covered patio areas.

The double volume spaces embrace the open plan of this villa, while the bold steel bars make a point of being noticed. Stepping up towards the front door that’s discreetly located in a frameless glass wall, you find yourself standing on a concrete podium elevated above the water feature.

The asymmetrical stairs between the split levels are disguised as granite slabs punched with steel inserts. Unimposing and nearly invisible, the frameless folding glass doors seamlessly separate the interior from the exterior while thresholds being kept to a minimum create transparency between the indoor and outdoor environments.

keyword: luxury villa