Practical Magic

Tucked away in Bryanston, Jo’burg, this contemporary cluster was designed with cocooning and comfort in mind.

There’s a profound sense of calm in this generous, newly built cluster. Shielded from the surrounding urban buzz, it’s not unlike a serene, airy villa.

During the planning phase the owner brought in Tanja Beyers of Profurn Contracts and together they reworked parts of the original layout. “My client wanted a contemporary home with a fairly understated, masculine undertone,” she explains. “The idea was to create a feeling of privacy in the city, a cocoon where he can spend quality time with his son.”

Having incorporated much of the original garden space into the house, Tanja established a high-walled courtyard, which she softened with wild olive trees. “All the ground floor areas have a connection to the patio,” she explains, “whether via glass doors and windows, or reflected in a series of decorative mirrors.” The timber deck and stone-clad retaining wall add to the holiday feel, as does the clean-lined outdoor furniture.