Brittlewood House by Metropole Architects, Coastal Minimalism with a Tropical Soul
Architecture Design of Brittlewood House
Description About The Project
Discover Brittlewood House by Metropole Architects, a refined modernist villa in South Africa fusing tropical lightness with bold linear design and panoramic ocean views.
The Project “Brittlewood House” Information:
- Project Name: Brittlewood House
- Location: South Africa
- Designed by: Metropole Architects
A Contemporary Vision in the Heart of Nature
Perched along the dramatic coastline of KwaZulu-Natal, Brittlewood House by Metropole Architects stands as a sleek, light-filled sanctuary. Designed for a family seeking peace, privacy, and the effortless beauty of coastal living, the home is defined by clean lines, open volumes, and a carefully curated relationship between interior and exterior.
“Brittlewood was designed to be a private haven—modern, minimal, but deeply connected to its tropical setting,” explains the team at Metropole Architects. “Our goal was to create a series of flowing spaces that open to the garden, the pool, and most importantly, the sky.”
With its crisp horizontal rooflines and a palette of natural materials, Brittlewood House embodies the essence of modern tropical architecture—bold in its form, yet harmonious with its surroundings.
SEE MORE: Carrara House in Algarve, Portugal by Mário Martins Atelier, A Monolithic Ode to Light and Landscape
A Linear Composition Framed by Light and Landscape
The house unfolds as a sequence of interconnected planes, strategically organized to maximize views and natural light. The design centers around a central axis that begins at the entry courtyard and leads through the home to the expansive rear terrace and ocean horizon beyond.
The façade is composed of floating horizontal rooflines, timber screening, and textured stone walls, which not only lend the home a sculptural elegance but also serve to provide shading, privacy, and visual rhythm.
“We wanted the structure to feel grounded, yet permeable,” notes the architects. “By combining solid vertical walls with large glazed openings, we created contrast—transparency versus opacity, openness versus shelter.”
At the core of the home is a double-volume living space, flooded with natural light through clerestory windows and expansive sliding glass doors. These elements dissolve the boundaries between inside and outside, inviting breezes, views, and soft tropical light to shape the ambiance of the interior.
A Fluid Program of Indoor-Outdoor Living
The spatial configuration of Brittlewood House prioritizes family comfort and functional elegance. The public living zones—kitchen, dining, lounge—flow seamlessly into one another, wrapped around a tranquil inner courtyard and opening to the main pool terrace.
The kitchen is anchored by a bold central island and features custom cabinetry in warm timber tones, creating a visual connection to the surrounding nature. Adjacent to the lounge, a covered veranda serves as an outdoor living room, perfect for dining al fresco or unwinding poolside.
“One of our key principles in the design was to make every interior space extend toward a landscape feature,” shares the team. “The line between home and garden needed to disappear.”
On the upper level, the bedroom suites are positioned for privacy and view, each offering its own balcony and framed landscape vistas. The master suite is particularly spectacular, featuring a walk-in dressing area and spa-like bathroom with floor-to-ceiling glass revealing uninterrupted views of the ocean and sky.
Material Harmony and Architectural Restraint
Material selection plays a defining role in the atmosphere of Brittlewood House. Metropole Architects opted for concrete, timber, stone, and aluminum, balancing modern durability with organic warmth. Throughout the interiors, neutral palettes allow the architecture and landscape to take center stage.
The floating staircase and open circulation zones reflect the overall lightness of the design, while timber screens filter sunlight and add a tactile softness to the modern form.
“Our intent was always to let the materials speak softly,” notes the architects. “Nothing is loud or overly decorative—it’s about calm, comfort, and connection.”
SEE MORE: KPR3 House by Ezequiel Farca Studio Blends Architecture and Nature on the Coast of Punta Mita
Conclusion: A Home that Breathes with Its Surroundings
Brittlewood House is a quiet masterpiece—a home that distills the essence of modern coastal living into a refined and highly personal space. It is a composition of contrasts: light and shadow, solid and void, protection and exposure. More than just a residence, it is a place where architecture becomes lifestyle, and every view, breeze, and beam of sunlight becomes part of the experience.
“This house isn’t about showing off—it’s about tuning in,” concludes the Metropole team. “It’s about peace, precision, and presence.”
Photo credit: | Source: Metropole Architects
For more information about this project; please contact the Architecture firm :
– Add: 271 Problem Mkhize Rd, Essenwood, Durban, 4001, South Afirca
– Tel: +27 31 303 7858
– Email: info@metropolearchitects.com
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