The Pavilion is situated on a working farm and, according to architect Lee de Wit, ‘It’s the closest you can get to living in nature without being exposed to the elements’. The aim of Lee’s decision to use glass and steel for the 60-square-metre glass box was to facilitate an intimate relationship with the scenery. ‘The compact glass structure makes for an unobtrusive addition to the landscape, with its seemingly invisible walls which we refer to as a “glass curtain”, as many of them are sliding doors that can be pulled aside’, Lee explains.
The Pavilion scores highly for both simplicity and style. The interiors may be pared back, but there’s plenty of bold colour and flair. The surrounding trees and greenery merge with the structure, and the setting, deep amid the vast farm, allows for absolute privacy, making this a truly one-of-a-kind unique holiday home.
Once you’ve experienced The Pavilion’s calm and charm, you may find yourself hooked, pegging it a best weekend getaway and returning year after year; it’s an idyllic bolt hole from the big city for those needing a dose of nature’s restorative medicine. Found a hop and a skip from Johannesburg or Pretoria, and only 20 minutes from Lanseria Airport in the Magaliesberg, The Pavilion also works brilliantly as a place to recoup after a long flight, before springboarding onto safari.
On a hot summer’s evening, take drinks and snacks up to the rooftop verandah and watch the sunset over the lush, green landscape. As the evening cools, retire downstairs, build a roaring fire and pour a glass of good red in the ‘white box’.
History and art on your doorstep…
The Pavilion, however, is not just about chilling among the trees; there’s plenty on your doorstep to fascinate the curious mind. The Cradle of Humankind is rich in extraordinary paleontological treasures; it is here that many significant fossil finds have been made, such as Mrs Ples, a 2,5-million-year-old Australopithecus Africanus, a distant relative of all humankind. Discover more about our ancient forefathers at one of the world-class museums in the area. For an art fix, Nirox Sculpture Park is next door, hosting more than 50 permanent installations by artists from around the world in this inspirational setting.
And for those who just can’t get enough of Mother Nature’s work, this vast park incorporates 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. An idyllic way to explore if you’re keen to stay in chill mode is by drifting silently above it all in a hot air balloon.
Reviewed by Kitty George