Brick House

Brick House

BRICK HOUSE

Douglas & Company

DESIGN TEAM
Douglas & Company

CONTRACTOR 
Eljen

MANUFACTURERS 
AutoDesk, Corobrik, Dado, Duravit, Grohe, Siemens, Smeg, Global Roofs, Trimble

AREA
330 m²

LOCATION
Johannesburg, South Africa

CATEGORY
Houses

YEAR
2017

Text description provided by architect.

The project location, a bland suburban security estate on the outskirts of Johannesburg provided the framework and context for the project.

Brick House
Brick House
Brick House

The house directly responds to its physical and climatic environment, with a private, enclosed courtyard garden providing shelter from the relentless visual onslaught of the Tuscan and faux farmyard buildings surrounding it.

The dwelling consists of two wings, one public and one private, connected by a vaulted brick entrance hall that encloses the building from the street.

The public wing is a single large living space, with over-sized sliding doors that allow the northern façade to be opened up completely towards the private garden.

Brick House
Brick House
Brick House

A drum-shaped nook punctuates the rigid geometry of the plan and creates an ideal 'snug', an intimate enclosure from the open living area, whilst maintaining a visual connection with the living space and garden.

A small scullery is tucked away behind the kitchen in a wooden box, seamlessly integrated as part of the kitchen joinery. In the private wing, each bedroom opens out onto a small covered veranda.

The house and garden is arranged on one level throughout, apart from a brick tower leading off from the private wing.

Brick House
Brick House
Brick House

The tower was a request from the client who sought a space to retreat to where one can view the horizon. In a nod to the South African tradition of the economic use of brick, the same face brick is used in different applications including the masonry walls, external paving and vaulted ceiling.

The external monolithic brick volume is relieved and enlivened by different patterns and perforations in order to provide solar shading, privacy and compositional balance.

A restrained interior palette of natural materials, including green limestone, marble and timber provides a rich and inviting tactile experience in contrast with the monolithic brick exterior. The exposed timber roof structure touches the brick walls lightly with high level glazing in between the slender beams.

Brick House


Brick House
Brick House
Brick House
Brick House
Brick House
Brick House


Brick House
Ground Floor Plan
Brick House
Roof Plan


Brick House
Courtyard Section
Brick House
Tower Section


Brick House
East Elevation
Brick House
South Elevation
Brick House
North Elevation