Contemporary farmhouse living in the Cradle of Humankind
There’s a compelling and intentional simplicity to The Kitchen Garden, a farmhouse set in an organic kitchen garden northwest of Johannesburg that sets the tone for time spent here.
Designed by the owner architect Lee de Wit, his brief to himself was to reimagine an existing farmhouse into a better, more modern version of itself. The intention was to reuse as many of the existing materials as possible, while encouraging an intimate, layered relationship with the kitchen garden that surrounds it… all of which has greater significance when you discover that the house is in the Cradle of Humankind, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells of the story of where we come from. Erm…right here.
Rich in extraordinary paleontological treasures, it is here that many significant fossil finds have been made, from Mrs Ples, a 2,5-million-year-old Australopithecus Africanus, a distant relative of all humankind. Or Little Foot, that at 3,67 million years old is believed to be an earlier form of Australopithecus Africanus. Besides learning about our ancient forefathers, there’s much to do here from game drives to hot-air ballooning or discovering more about the origins of mankind at world-class museums. Nirox Sculpture Park is next door too, with 30 hectares of cultivated gardens, wetlands and waterways of the Blaauwbankspruit River that adjoin the Kkatlhamphi Private Nature Reserve, a 1 000-hectare wilderness of hills, valleys riverine forests, caves and Highveld grasses. Nirox hosts more than 50 permanent installations by artists from around the world in this inspirational setting.
Knowing this makes more sense of The Kitchen Garden and how Lee wanted to reuse whatever they could from the existing house with materials from the forests on the farm. ‘It was an ecological exercise on a grand scale,’ he says. ‘We tried to make do with what we had, albeit slow and painstaking.’ Simplicity of materials, clean lines and an attention to detail give the house its contemporary edge. The decision to make the kitchen the main room in the house meant they could play with giant granite boulders brought from the farm that Lee grew up on. ‘I wanted the house to feel more rooted to the earth and to the provenance of this place. Bringing the rocks inside, like giant pieces of memorabilia, immediately felt right.’ Wherever possible, tiles left over from previous buildings were upcycled, and eucalyptus was harvested for the ceilings and floors from forests on the farm.
Why the kitchen garden?
As the farm is far from shops, the decision to place the house in a kitchen garden was equally inspired. ‘It was in keeping with the ecological philosophy of the house and ensures that our commitment to less waste is carried through in every way,’ explains Lee.
His sensitivity to these connections blurs the distinctions between nature, landscape and architecture, so that guests are immersed in the beauty of their surroundings. ‘I wanted to create a place where guests could escape and understand the huge privilege it is to be here.’ Days can begin with yoga on the roof terrace – and end there too, with a stargazing session. It’s a space that adapts to suit your needs and one that will have you asking yourself just how much you really need? For most of us, the answer is very little.
What we love!
- This is, hands-down, one of the most exciting kitchens you’ll ever cook in. Here giant boulders, stone tiles, jacaranda ceilings, and large-pane A-frame windows bring the outdoors in and ground the home to this incredible landscape.
- The decision to combine a simple design with recycled materials from the existing house. Even the eucalyptus ceilings were harvested from forests on the farm.
- Forest ‘bathing’ from the comfort of your bed, outdoor showers, inviting day beds… meditative places to pause.
- The pitched roof is a thrilling design element that matches the height of the trees outdoors but also creates a calming, light-filled space.
What you need to know…
- The Kitchen Garden is about 45-minutes’ drive from Joburg or Pretoria, but only 20 minutes from Lanseria Airport, making it an easy escape for anyone flying in for the weekend.
- Nirox Sculpture Park has a residency programme for artists and sculptors from around the world, as well as ever-changing exhibitions at the Nirox Foundation.
- Nirox hosts an active concert, performance and programme of diverse genres including jazz, blues, folk, classical, contemporary, indigenous, opera, new music, live and performance arts.
- We don’t think you’ll want to leave this heavenly kitchen, but if you do, the nearest restaurant is And Then There Was Fire, a wood-fired grill and tapas café in the Cradle.
- It’s worth spending a morning or afternoon at the world-class Maropeng Visitor Centre near the Sterkfontein Caves.
Edited by Kerryn du Preez and Michelle Snaddon