Bryanston Residence by Nico van der Meulen Architects, Cantilevered Concrete Volumes in a Leafy Johannesburg Setting
Architecture Design of Bryanston Residence
Description About The Project
Bryanston Residence by Nico van der Meulen Architects explores privacy, structure, and material expression through cantilevered concrete volumes and refined indoor–outdoor living in northern Johannesburg.
The Project “Bryanston Residence” Information:
- Project Name: Bryanston Residence
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Designed by: Nico van der Meulen Architects
A Private Urban Retreat Hidden Within the Suburb
Located in one of the most established and tree-lined suburbs of northern Johannesburg, Bryanston Residence is carefully concealed from the street, accessed via a panhandle driveway that immediately establishes a sense of privacy and security. This deliberate spatial sequence allows the house to retreat from its urban surroundings, creating a controlled and almost ceremonial arrival experience.
“The panhandle access wasn’t a limitation,” explains Nico van der Meulen. “It became an opportunity to slow the approach and heighten the sense of arrival, reinforcing privacy as a fundamental design driver.”
The elongated driveway culminates in an entrance courtyard, where the main entrance opens to the west. This orientation not only shapes the arrival experience but also responds to Johannesburg’s climatic conditions, balancing light, heat, and shading throughout the day.
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Cantilevered Concrete Boxes as Architectural Statement
The architectural identity of Bryanston Residence is defined by two chamfered, exposed concrete volumes positioned on the first-storey level. These bold forms hover above the entertaining spaces below, creating dramatic cantilevers that express both structural confidence and visual lightness.
Rather than reading as heavy masses, the concrete boxes are carefully proportioned and articulated, allowing shadow lines and negative space to soften their presence. Their chamfered edges introduce a sense of movement, preventing the geometry from becoming static or overly monumental.
“The idea was to let the structure speak honestly,” says van der Meulen. “Exposed concrete gives the house a raw clarity, while the cantilever creates a dynamic relationship between upper and lower levels.”
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Layered Screening and Material Contrast
A refined material palette reinforces the balance between openness and control. Perforated bronze aluminium screens are used extensively—cladding the entrance gate and garages while also functioning as solar screening devices throughout the residence. These screens provide privacy without sacrificing light or ventilation, casting ever-changing patterns across interior surfaces.
The warm metallic tone of the bronze contrasts subtly with the cool, monolithic character of the exposed concrete, adding depth and tactility to the façade. This layering of materials ensures the house responds visually to different times of day, as light filters through the perforations.
“We were interested in how the building could breathe,” van der Meulen notes. “The screens soften the architecture, making it responsive rather than defensive.”
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Indoor–Outdoor Living Anchored by the Pool Terrace
At ground level, the architectural language continues through the elevated swimming pool terrace, which slopes gently down to meet the natural ground level. This gesture mirrors the dynamic concrete boxes above, reinforcing a consistent formal logic throughout the project.
The pool terrace becomes the social heart of the home—an expansive entertainment zone seamlessly connected to the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living spaces. Large openings dissolve the boundary between inside and outside, allowing daily life to flow effortlessly across these zones.
“Entertainment spaces needed to feel generous but not exposed,” explains van der Meulen. “By elevating and angling the pool terrace, we created a space that feels open yet contained.”
A Contemporary Expression of Suburban Living
Bryanston Residence is ultimately a study in balance—between solidity and lightness, privacy and openness, structure and experience. While the architecture makes a confident statement through its cantilevered concrete forms, it remains deeply responsive to its suburban context and the lifestyle of its occupants.
Rather than relying on ornamentation, the project derives its character from proportion, material honesty, and spatial sequencing. It exemplifies a contemporary approach to luxury living in Johannesburg—one where architectural clarity and everyday functionality coexist seamlessly.
Photo credit: | Source: Nico van der Meulen Architects
For more information about this project; please contact the Architecture firm :
– Add: 43 Grove St, Ferndale, Randburg, 2194, South Africa
– Tel: +27 11 789 5242
– Email: marketing@nicovdmeulen.com
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