PROJECTS
BESPOKE RESIDENTIAL
People and their individual aspirations lie at the core of residential architecture. The work is as varied as people are unique. New challenges and rewards come with each project.
TOMLINSON
Such great clients. I really enjoyed this design and management process.
Shape and orientation of this property provided some design challenges but as is so often the case, the most interesting designs are born from restricted sites.
Making the most of the Northen garden, views, and sunlight – while keeping separate access for Guest accommodation was important with a house that stretched quite far into the property.
The house is in Fourways Garden Estate North of Johannesburg.
McDONALD
This was the first project that I undertook as James Ellis Architecture CC in 2003.
It is an 800m2 house located in Dainfern Valley Estate, near Fourways.
The clients were good friends of mine. The house was a 4 bedroom plus study and Guest Suite.
The clients were great entertainers and the body of the house centered around a large open plan entertainment area that was both indoor and outdoor, with Bar, Covered Terraces and swimming pool.
LIVINGSTON
My favourite location in South Africa is The Kruger Park.
I was lucky to be able design and manage the construction of a house/ holiday lodge with Mjejane, which is located on the South side of the Crocodile River.
This was to be used as holiday house and rental for guests as well as possible retirement house.
It was designed for this flexibility of use by separating some of the spaces so different families could use it at the same time.
It was also designed for disabled use.
Thatch was the natural material, being in the bush and providing an insulation layer from the extreme heat.
Specific features for its use and location were open plan living areas with good cross ventilation, outdoor shower with lathes for both shading and privacy screens, solar panels to maximise the sunlight and a swimming pool to keep the residents cool.
MILLS
Clean, simple traditional forms were used with natural materials in sculptured elements.
The natural stone was found in a relatively unknown quarry North of Tshwane.
RIFFEL
This large family house in Saddlebrook Estate near Kyalami for an adventurous client who loved the finer detail of design.
A unique feature of the house was a double volume entrance that contained a water feature that was partly indoors and partly outdoors, with a floating staircase spanning over.