The design and execution of an eye-catching home rebuild in Pretoria suburb, Groenkloof, required SAFLOK 700Ⓡ concealed fix roof sheeting to replace a legacy cement tiled roof and also for a new feature – a new steel-clad first floor extension.
Groenkloof, is regarded locally as one of the greener suburbs of Pretoria, and it is here that a bygone-era single-storey house was transformed into a contemporary eye-catching new home. The fully renovated house offers enhanced spaces and new sustainable building innovations, while still retaining the “bones” of the old building. This is according to the architects involved in the project.
“An old tiled roof simply did not fit in with the contemporary aesthetic” says Renier Botha, the principal architect at Space & Shape Design Studio, a Pretoria-based firm.
“The existing roof structure sagged, so we had to brace the rafters and replace the purlins. The SAFLOK 700Ⓡ roof sheets provided straight roof lines and offered an ideal solution to this problem.
“Using COLORPLUSⓇ in colour Thunderstorm profiled by Safintra, the dark roof and cladding colour ties in with the black aluminum windows/door frames and I-beam structure.
“It looks neat, has clear lines that flow and is very modern”, Botha adds.
Supporting this, from a functional perspective, the erection of a second storey on the house, effectively created a double-volume entrance lobby with a staircase leading up to a 4th bedroom and home office workspace on the new level. This required treading lightly on the “old bones” of the building by using lightweight construction methods that take into account the single-storey load-bearing structures of the house. It was here that the use of SAFLOK 700Ⓡ lightweight steel roofing and cladding came to the fore.
Botha explains: “The fourth bedroom takes the form of a contemporary barn-like metal-clad structure with a 3.5m shop front window. This window frames the views towards Muckleneuk as seen through the treeline. The ceiling slopes with the 25-degree pitch of the roof, creating a cathedral-like volume in the room. This room has an en-suite bathroom, creating a private suite perfect for visitors or teenagers and includes the work-from-home space.
The new ground floor layout was designed around the kitchen as the home’s centre, on the ground level. Turning out from the lobby, you enter an open plan kitchen, dining, and lounge area with full-height north-facing sliding doors connecting the covered pergola stoep with the indoors.
The existing house was extended using steel framing – lightweight construction methods – to accommodate the new upstairs suite.
The facade
“The house was sensitively renovated. We did not demolish everything in clear sight, because we wanted to obtain something of the character of the old house. Hence, the footprint of the original house was mostly unaltered. The existing roof structure was reinforced but otherwise retained as far as possible.
“We used face brick in the new structure and kept rendered plaster to a minimum. The first-floor addition roof and walls are clad in SAFLOK 700Ⓡ concealed fixed sheeting, communicating the contemporary nature of the renovation.
“The new renovation aims to create a modern yet familiar family home with a strong connection to the outdoor greenery of the suburb. The new internal layout creates comfortable open-plan living with a seamless flow onto the covered patio, swimming pool, and garden”, Botha explains.
Sustainability aspects
In addition to building lightweight, the domestic water-handling aspects are catered for by means of a 5 000l backup water storage system. Solar heating ensures minimal usage of grid power for hot water. On hot Pretoria summer days, the 2,4m high doors can be opened for a cooling breeze, creating a seamless flow to the garden, mitigating the use of air-conditioning.
Of course, the use of the SAFLOK 700Ⓡ roll formed from COLORPLUSⓇ steel roofing material means that the embodied energy aspect of the rebuild is low. Considering the recyclability of steel and its long life in service, this makes for a sensible environmental choice.
Professional team
Architects: Renier Botha – Space & Shape SA
Interior Designer: Marique Botha – Space & Shape SA
Building Contractor: Renier Botha – Space & Shape SA
Structural Engineer: Hannes Claasens
Roof Structural Contractor: Pierre Becker
Roofing Contractor: MJF Roofing
Roofing Roll Former: Safintra
Roofing Material: Safal Steel
Photography: Space & Shape Architects
