Parkhurst, known for its walkability, rich history, and tree-lined streets, is one of Johannesburg’s most unique suburbs. In this vibrant, characterful context, Monograph Architects have elevated a two-bedroom house to an architectural expression that discreetly balances daring with restraint.
The clients, passionate collectors of mid-century modern furniture and art, took this as an opportunity to create a home that was not only contemporary but deeply meaningful, unfolding like a narrative around the pieces embedded in their collection.
From the beginning, the brief envisioned more than just a renovation. The house lacked spatial cohesion: its living areas were fragmented, its link to the garden vague, and its detached cottage isolated. Monograph Architects’ subsequent architectural response was equally strategic and sensitive. The design, preserving the footprint of the old house, responds to the surrounding scale and rhythm of Parkhurst. However, even within that recognisable structure, the home has been entirely re-envisioned, rooted in an architectural language that embodies mid-century philosophy while aligning with contemporary living principles.
More than a renovation
The home’s new form is solid, almost monolithic. Deep-set window and door openings accentuate the façade, while drawing in natural light, framing views of the garden and creating a play of shadow throughout the day. The roofline has been integrated into the overall shape of the house, giving it a simple, sculptural presence. Clean, careful lines are offset by layered depth and texture. This interchange between solidity and space ensures the build feels substantial, avoiding an awkward or severe appearance.
Opening directly off the living areas, a sheltered courtyard sits at the heart of the home. Framed by brick and softened by timber, it creates a private garden space that is a flexible setting, both introspective and socially accommodating; equally suited to quiet contemplation or casual gatherings. The courtyard, an essential upgrade to the original layout, reinforces the house’s connection to the garden, while focalising the interiors.
Materiality has redefined the experience of the home. Facebrick, used externally and internally, grounds the building and gives it a quality of timelessness, allowing for a quietly confident, minimalist palette. Inside the house, this solid texture is counterbalanced by crisp white walls and warm timber joinery. The interiors, a calm and neutral backdrop, showcase the clients’ furniture and art. Rather than merely housing the collection, the house lets it take centre stage, embedding it in its framework.
Innovation emerges from subtle elegance rather than obvious additions. All details from the integration of the roofline to the continuity of materials privilege the house’s form as much as its aesthetics. Natural light and thermal comfort are optimised by its deep-set windows, while its pared-back material palette reduces maintenance requirements and boosts the home’s environmental functions. These decisions reveal the power of meticulous design in achieving sculptural appeal and practicality.
A mid-century design narrative
Monograph Architects’ Parkhurst residence is defined by a seamless convergence between architectural ingenuity and personal expression. The clients’ love of mid-century modern design became more than a mere stylistic choice to incorporate —rather, it laid a conceptual framework to be reinterpreted. Instead of leaning into nostalgia, the house foregrounds ideals of clarity, proportion, and material integrity, creating a form that endures. This design, grounded in the past, yet completely receptive to the present, is simultaneously sculptural and warm, modern, and unmistakably lived in.Viewed from the street, the house is modest, its silhouette precise and context-specific. Internally, it reveals layers of intimacy and personality, unfolding around art, furniture, and lifestyle. The project’s success is found in this balance: between daring and thoughtfulness, moderation and luxury. Beyond a renovation, this home is a narrative, articulating a story of site, collection, and a profound passion for design.
“The home has been entirely re-envisioned, rooted in an architectural language that embodies mid-century philosophy while speaking directly to contemporary living.”
SUPPLIERS
Aluminium Manufacturer: Gorr’s Glass & Aluminium | Basin Manufacturer: Liquid Concrete | Carpenter: Chez Moi Woodcrafts | Protea Travertine: Corobrik | Tiles: Wolkberg Casting Studios
MEET THE TEAM
Architects: Monograph Architects | Contractor: GCT | Structural Engineer: IH & Associates
