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At Las Rocas, you always have two views: the lake and the rocks, which was the impetus for erasing the corners of the home. “The corner openings were a must for this project, because they really connect you to the outside,” says architect Ignacio Urquiza.

“Where we let loose was on the window,” Matt says. “It’s an aluminium window frame, which is bushfire compliant and easy to install, but the way that we detailed it was about hiding the frame so that the eye is drawn into the space.”

Double fir rafters encase steel flitch plates, allowing for long spans of open space. Hemlock ceilings layer above, bringing warmth to the inside.

While the original house had a full glass facade, the addition uses windows in specific areas to draw your attention to the smaller details.

This historic two-story condo by Ray Kappe has double-height windows, original wood paneling, and three separate patios.

Just past sunrise at Betasso Overlook.

A well-placed skylight directly over the bed in the lofted bedroom is perfect for stargazing and bringing in natural daylight.

The home was designed as much for outdoor living as it was for indoor living, with a large porch around the home.

A custom, Japanese-inspired cast concrete ladder leads to the green roof, where native plants and grasses thrive in the Johannesburg heat. The powder-coated steel railing adds a touch of visual warmth.

The roof garden adds another area for gathering to the home, allowing the residents to enjoy views of Johannesburg while appreciating the nature around them. One of the clients, Toni, sits on the roof every afternoon with a cup of tea.

While floor-to-ceiling glazing defines the public space, smaller picture windows—like the one at the home’s first floor office—frame views more selectively.

One of the home’s six bathrooms, the spa-like space favors natural materials like textural wood and stone.

The organic curve of the staircase borrows its form from nature—one of several biophilic design moves that increases resonance with the natural environment.

The interior incorporates earthy materials like salvaged teak. “You can see the landscape on either side of you,” says Hoppenot. “The rich teak walls disappear into the height of the space, and diluted natural light floods down from the skylights and in through the windows.”

The home’s design unifies two extremes—light and dark, weightless and heavy.