F O U R W AY S P R O T O T Y P E

01

MACHINE

FOR

LIVING

02 R
 ainwater harvesting tanks have been

incorporated that, together with a long

verandah, give a farmhouse feel. The
overhang also has a practical implication
by wrapping around the east, north and
west, it shades the house in summer but
allows sun into the home in winter.

Design maverick, art gallery owner and architecture

aficionado Gavin Rooke has turned property
developer with a new Monaghan Farm house that
is a case study for how design and engineering can
meet at the sweet spot of eco-friendly beauty.
P H OTO S D O O K P R O D U C T I O N K L A R A VA N WY N G A A R D E N
WO R D S L I S A J O H N S TO N

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62

Stand 47 is slightly sunk into the ground to

make it feel more earthed to the site. The
landscaped mounds around the stand shield
it from onlookers without interfering with
expansive views of the farm.

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A
F O U R W AY S P R O T O T Y P E

row of
eucalyptus trees echoes the long horizontal lines of Stand 47 a
contemporary home set amid green and amber veld grasses on
Monaghan Farm just north of Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg. It sets
the perfect stage for the house itself, which is a prototype for a new
vernacular architecture that uses high-end engineering and design,
but manages to integrate this efficiency with environmental and
aesthetic appeal.
No one builds like this, says property developer Gavin Rooke,

referring to the considered approach to every aspect of the design and

materials resulting in the house being built quickly, with excellent
acoustics, cool in summer, warm in winter and easy to heat, together
adding up to a lower carbon footprint. We set an efficiency mandate:
get the most out of everything we put in.
The team, including architect Karlien Thomashoff, has designed the
house around a light steel frame using External Thermal Insulation
Composite Systems (ETICS) for the walls. The only exception is a stone
feature wall that, together with parquet flooring, add visual warmth to
the interior. The design needed to make the best possible use of the
materials to increase energy efficiency, but keep waste and costs down.
It also needed to turn traditional notions of a homes requirements
on its head, by adapting to the owners needs over time. For example,
two of the three bedrooms can be used either as a bedroom, guest
room or an office, making the house suitable for a young couple
working from home, a small family or an older couple whose children
have left home, but may still visit. The bathroom works in a similar way.
The shower, bathroom and toilet are in separate but inter-leading
rooms, which can be closed off or opened up, depending on how
many people are using them at a given time.
The design has also taken ease of renovation into consideration.
Since the house is built around a steel frame, interior changes wont
compromise the structure of the building in any way. The flooring was
laid in a continuous sheet throughout the length of the house before

01

02 Kiaat parquet flooring by vanrensburgwoodflooring.co.za

and a stone wall temper the high-tech ETICS walling with

a touch of the homely familiar. Amber pendant lights by
woltemade.co.za and bowls by bronzeage.co.za further
enhance the visual unity. A single fireplace is sufficient to
heat the entire space.

WE SET AN
EFFICIENCY
MANDATE: GET
THE MOST OUT
OF EVERYTHING
WE PUT IN.
the interior walls were established, which means that if the owners
decide to change the layout of the interior they wont need to replace
the flooring.
In terms of its environmental impact, Stand 47 has shifted the focus
from green building in terms of biodegradable products, to overall
durability and efficiency. In addition, the majority of power is generated
through 40 solar panels on the roof, water is heated by means of a heat
pump and there are three large tanks for rainwater harvesting.
I wanted to show that you could build a home at the top end of
the scale that was highly comfortable and appealing, but that
performs better, says Gavin. This isnt about getting off the grid for
the sake of getting off the grid, this is about building a state-of-the-art
house using contemporary materials and design This is a machine
for living.
stand47.co.za
facebook.com/thomashoffstudio
See Gavins personal Monaghan Farm home on VISI.co.za,
search for Rooke.
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Maverick design and property developer Gavin Rooke and

his wife Karin live on the property neighbouring Stand 47.

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01

T he use of organic
tones and textures in
the lighting and
furnishings by
ebonydesign.co.za,
including ceramic
bowls by Andile
Dyalvane on the
wooden table,
demonstrates that an
industrial design can
be made to feel warm
and inviting. The
photograph is by
Garth Meyer.

02 T
 rees are featured in

practically all the

artworks, including
these Pierneef
lithographs, acting
as a subtle visual
connection with the
environment by
echoing the line of
eucalyptus trees
running alongside
the property.

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02

I WANTED TO SHOW THAT YOU

COULD BUILD A HOME AT THE
TOP END OF THE SCALE THAT
PERFORMS BETTER.

02

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01

The Paker headboard in colfax blue from

mavromac.co.za stands out in the main bedroom,
which also features three Lure Lamps by
David Krynauw.

03

02 + 03 The

two smaller rooms can double up as bedrooms or

office space. A Vogel Nguni chair (back) serves as stylish

office furnishing with David Krynauws Sitting Man lamp
providing additional light over the desk area.
A linen-clad vintage chair makes for a casual seating
option. The cupboard stores a three-quarter bed.

F O U R W AY S P R O T O T Y P E

THIS ISNT ABOUT GETTING OFF

THE GRID FOR THE SAKE OF IT,
THIS IS ABOUT BUILDING A HOUSE
USING CONTEMPORARY
MATERIALS AND DESIGN.

01

The steel structure of the verandah provides

a feeling of enclosure and safety, while furniture
by weylandts.co.za adds to the earthiness of
the home.

02 T
 he best of the Highvelds warm summers can

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02

be enjoyed from the outdoor entertainment

space and inviting swimming pool. The solar
panels are embedded into the design of the
roof so they disappear.