Modern Minimal

A sensitive renovation has turned a Joburg duplex into a serene suburban escape

- Tess Paterson

As far as townhouse complexes go, few can be more sought after than Walkways in Joburg’s Craighall Park. Designed by the iconic South African architect Michael Sutton and completed in the late 1970s, this suburban gem defies any retro pigeonholing, remaining resolutely timeless in the way of a genuine classic.

Interiors can be far less enduring, though, often seeming almost date-stamped with the trappings of a particular era. When the owner first saw this unit – a heady clash of terracotta tiles and blue paint – she knew that a substantial amount of work was in store. ‘At the time, I lived nearby and had always loved this complex. It is ahead of its time, and has set the benchmark for urban living. The challenge was definitely the interior, which was pure Ê¼70s, plus decades of wear and tear. Fortunately, I had a very clear vision of what I wanted, so I put in a cheeky offer and moved in two months later,’ she says.