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For South Africa’s Hot Climate, the Cool and Elegant House Abo

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This beauty represents a thorough overhaul of a dingy existing structure in hot suburban Limpopo, South Africa.

Known for their sophistication and bold design, South Africa’s Nico van der Meulen Architects completely transformed the frumpy former brick house.

The outdated single story brick home, hot and cramped, is now the open and glorious, double height glass House Abo.

Outside, wooden slats take the brunt of the brutal sun.

New double height spaces are now pleasantly chilled by wonderful cool stone floors.

For the climate, on the Tropic of Capricorn, cooling is the main consideration…

As a result, refreshing water features occupy almost every second “room.”

Walkways connect the rooms across the pools.

Outdoor rooms take advantage of tropical breezes.

A bridge over yet another cool body of water connects the public and private parts of the house, leading to the bedrooms.

The master bedroom opens out onto its own generous private terrace.

The bedroom and the bathroom is faced with cool travertine stone.

One of these walls extends unbroken from the bathroom into the master bedroom.

House Abo represents an elegant and grand solution to an extreme climate, with civilized living spaces that appear to float like islands on the wood decking.