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Katz installed a layer of high-density foam under the rooftop garden to better insulate the house. "With the climate here, if you insulate the place well, you need very little energy to heat or cool it," he says.

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 couple loves to entertain, and the oversized kitchen island is the perfect place to prep. The countertop is quartz; the backsplash, hot-rolled steel. Barstools are from Pottery Barn. Lighting was sourced from West Elm.

Hexagonal penny tile ascends from floor to ceiling in the skylit primary bathroom.

Dandelion cement tiles by Marrakech Design adorn the floor of the primary bathroom. The wall tile is from Daltile. The bed, seen in the mirror at right, is by Industry West.

The Lioz limestone bathroom complimented with white cabinetry and pine wood handles allow for a clean and spacious feel in the bathroom.

The concrete wall behind the porch provides a backdrop for the wood stove and privacy from the road.

Mac describes adding the fireplace’s Domingue plaster finish as a real "labor of love." "The end result was a credit to the builder and his team. It really pulled the spaces together, and there is nothing better than the natural light playing with the plaster finish," explains the architect.

The original wood columns and beams create a more open feel and flood the spaces with natural light. "The kitchen looks out over the courtyard, which acts as a light well and provides ventilation,