d+a | Issue 115 • Apr/May 2020

/ ABODE / 62 by an extensive and centrally-positioned dry kitchen, offering commanding views of adjoining spaces such as hall, living, dining and outdoor pool areas. Importantly, the kitchen is a hub for the family of four, a place to have meals, do work and share stories, and on occasion, entertain. Feng shui and security were also key considerations in the layout; succinct planning of the latter, which integrates roller shutter and door grill into the design, allows private areas to be cordoned off, offering the owner peace of mind without compromising the brightness and openness valued by the architects. Recalls Farah, “The original house was quite dark; we were very conscious of it. So, 3. Planting, pool and patio define a simultaneously open and private outdoor environment between house and perimeter. we felt it was important to bring light and height into the (new house’s) living spaces, especially when you enter. “That’s why we did a double-height entrance, because it’s a good way to bring natural light in.” The high perimeter glazing, coupled with a lofty ceiling and openings for ventilation, produces a well-lit and airy atmosphere within the interior. “People who live in houses which aren’t built with natural light as a priority, when they come here, they are amazed,” the owner happily validates. “I don’t have to turn on any lights, nor the air-conditioning. We don’t use that much electricity at all.” 4. The double- height volume of an internal hallway brings natural illumination into the house, eliciting a play of shadows on its feature brickwall. 3