ARCHITECTURE256 MAGAZINE E-ISSUE 15201 | Page 4

4 HOUSE ABO House Abo O n the Tropic of Capricorn, where the heat is excessive, houses require specialized treatments in ensuring that additions and alterations take this factor into account. And so, the client approached Nico van der Meulen Architects only after careful consideration, in the hope that the Architects could help redesign and style their outdated home in Limpopo. Werner van der Meulen took up the challenge, knowing that his task was to turn an unattractive face brick house (which wasn’t very well designed either!) into something stunning and modern. Although initially the client only requested the entrance, living and entertainment areas redesigned, on presentation of the plan they agreed on having an inviting entrance with water features and the living areas opened up. The bedroom section was planned to then feature an “old school” style long, dark passage and to have an additional guest bedroom. The existing single storey house, 343 sqm on a 1132sqm stand, quickly became a double storey 494sqm building! www.architecture256.com