LUXURY LIVING
WITH RESPECT TO
Old
School Rules
BY ANDRE MELLET, MELLET & HUMAN ARCHITECTS
FAR FROM SIMPLE FINISHES, RAW MATERIALS ARE THE TOOLS AN ARCHITECT NEEDS TO CREATE A STRIKING CONTEMPORARY HOME THAT RESPECTS ITS OLD-WORLD RESTRICTIONS.
In the leafy Pretoria suburb of Lynnwood, we were presented with a paradox. Our clients, a family of four, wanted low-maintenance finishes, energy efficiency, and a seamless flow between indoor living and the garden. Yet the site came with srict title deed covenants demanding pitched, tiled roofs – a design language often at odds with contemporary architecture. Add a steep west-east fall towards the street, and you have a puzzle that requires more than a standard solution.
The result is a home that works respectfully within its context rather than fighting it. We used concrete, face brick, and glass, not as mere finishes, but as tools to frame light, views, and volume. The contemporary feel is softened by the bushveld beyond.
LEVELLING THE LAND
The first challenge was the slope. We positioned four garages on the lower ground, carving into the slope, then levelled the earth above to create a raised ground floor flush with the garden, pool, and lawn. This split in levels gave birth to the kinetic heart of the property: an open staircase that divides the main house from the home office with sculptural interest. Separate entrances at the top lead to the main house, the home office, and the study, ensuring privacy.
The pitched tiled roof restriction became a design opportunity. By linking fragmented, traditional tiled roofs with flat concrete roof sections, we created a modern patchwork that satisfies the law while achieving the contemporary aesthetic the family wanted. The flat concrete sections serve a practical purpose, providing passive sun control and shading the interior during summer, while allowing the lower winter sun to warm the house naturally.
40 INBOUND SA / MAY 2026