Nico van der Meulen Architects is one of the most prominent modern architectural practices of the African context. With more than 40 years experience, we specialize in contemporary home design and modern luxury residences. At Nico van der Meulen we work closely with all our clients to ensure optimal satisfaction and outstanding results.

Because we believe that the interior and exterior should be approached holistically, we established M Square Lifestyle Design to accommodate all our clients’ requests; our ultimate wish is to have a seamless transition between inside and out with architecture and interior design complementing each other.

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Johannesburg-based studio Nico van der Meulen Architects has just completed the House The project, an
extensive remodeling of a South African residence.

“Following the trend of making alterations to and revamping existing houses, the owners of this home
enlisted the expertise of Nico van der Meulen Architects for a modern upgrade. “They liked the current
trend in our work towards a mix of steel construction and concrete framing,” explains Nico van der Meulen
of Nico van der Meulen Architects.

The new design was achieved by removing most of the internal walls on the ground floor and adding a
porte cochere and a new lanai with an infinity edge pool. The impressive porte cochere is suspended from
a semi-circular beam supported by the bisecting wall and a huge column and transfer beam over the pool.
The element of water was added into the design with a koi pond to the north side of the existing lounge,
with glass stepping stones that lead to a new pivoted glass front door. A small waterfall at the front door
adds the welcoming sound of water, while a huge sheet of water is visible through a cut-out in the massive
rusted steel wall bisecting the contemporary South African house to create a private pool area.
M Square Lifestyle Necessities decorated the interiors using a palette of monochromatic colours with the
interior furnishings in similar and contrasting colours. Accents of green were used sparingly to add fresh
splashes of colour. The modern lines of the furniture are a continuation of the interior structural lines. As the
structural interior elements are simple with sharp lines, attention is brought to the furniture pieces and
decorative items within the interior. For this project, the interior designers professionally created these
interior spaces with the use of its unique imported products, Molteni and C, Zeus and Ligne Pure. The
designers cleverly balanced the stark simplicity of the structural elements with carefully selected and
placed furniture pieces, colour schemes, soft furnishings and decorative details.

The end result is a home with a liberated feel – as if the normal rules of a suburban home have been
suspended, with light, nature and views from everywhere.”

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The house simply rectangular in form is structured around the living room as the centre of this home. Unimposing and nearly invisible, the frameless glass doors seamlessly separate the interior from the exterior. Thresholds’ being kept to a minimum leaves one wondering whether you have just stepped inside or outside.

Stairs disguised as Granite slabs punched with steel inserts, one cannot help but glide down the entrance hall into the living spaces. M Square Lifestyle Design’s final product presents black steel inlays that are seen throughout the house in various forms. Ensuring that each room captured a feeling of transparency, M Square Lifestyle Design demonstrated their ability to work with materials in their purest forms, making use of natural products like marble floors and Caesarstone kitchen counter tops. The illuminated ceilings highlight the contrasts between different textures and forms, leaving you in a state of anticipation as you move through this house. In keeping with the theme of randomly placed steel bars, the interior designers conceptualized a line drawn across the house linking all elements and spaces together. In doing so, they managed to create a feeling of connection that can be felt throughout the house.

M Square Lifestyle Necessities provided the final touch in furnishing this house with European furniture pieces and lighting to compliment the design, while Regardt van der Meulen’s sculpture livens up the space in its tri-dimensionality.

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Their use of see-through materials wherever possible, such as expansive glass windows allow for an uninterrupted view and a feeling of continuity between you and your surroundings. Nico van der Meulen Architects understand how important this relationship is between the interior and exterior and as such founded the MSquare Lifestyle Design so that their architectural vision could be followed through by the interior design. MSquare Lifestyle Design believes that the interior and exterior should never be seen as separate entities and should transition easily with both architecture and design.

The Tsi Mooikloof project is a perfect example of this design vision. In this gorgeous remodel the landscaping is a seeming continuation of the front deck which is a continuation of the living room. Providing elements of outdoor décor it is easy to see how even the garden has been included in the ‘interior’ design.

The clever use of lines and borders that extend out into the garden and beyond help give the feeling of this garden truly being a part of the house. Nico van der Meulen design and architectural genius can be seen with the use of similar materials in the interior entertainment spaces that is used in the garden. This gives for a feel of inclusivity and continuity between the interior and exterior.

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