local LEGEND

An authentic late modernist gem of a home in Joburg has been brought to life by local fashion designer Lezanne Viviers

Inside the seriously chic Joburg home of fashion designer Lezanne Viviers

it’s not often that you stumble across a pristine example of modernist architecture in Joburg. There are a handful of wellknown historical examples, but few unknown gems waiting to be discovered.

So, imagine fashion designer Lezanne Viviers and her husband Walter Anderson’s surprise when they wound their way up a steep, narrow driveway and discovered this late-modernist beauty hugging the crest of the rocky ridge.

From the entrance, the house appears to be all low, horizontal forms as it hugs the ground and its flat roof seems to etch a delicate line above the crest of the ridge. From the other side, however, facing the view, the house seems to cascade over the edge of the rocky promontory. Its floating roof overhangs and balconies cantilever dramatically over three levels as the garden drops steeply away and descends a series of paths and stone stairways to a swimming pool set among the giant rocks, almost like a natural pond.

Lezanne says it reminded her of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. From the garden below, the house seems to grow organically from its rocky base, nestled among the big, friendly-leafed delicious monsters, bamboo and mature trees. Its facade is stitched together by stairways and a delicate lattice of low steel and timber balustrades, creating a geometric mesh-like pattern over its front that contrasts with the organic jungle of the garden.

From the inside, beautiful floor-to-ceiling wooden windows and doors let the light spill in with panoramic views over Joburg’s sprawling manmade forest. ‘The light is incredible,’ affirms Lezanne. Deep overhangs shelter the interiors from the sun, so the light is never harsh, and lofty volumes keep the rooms cool and airy. Balconies running the length of the house fusing indoor and outdoor space in the classic modernist fashion.

Lezanne and Walter were captivated. A bit of research turned up architectural drawings showing that the house dated back to 1960. It was designed by Kock & Orsmond Architects, but little additional information was available. The design, however, has all the trademarks of the kind of regional modernism that was gradually developing in Joburg in the Sixties, with influences from the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright and even hints of Japanese and Brazilian modernist architecture.

The house embraces texture, natural materials and decorative detailing. It’s sensuous rather than minimalist, rich rather than pristine and all-round better suited to the blue skies, open spaces and sunshine of Joburg’s climate than the flat-roofed white boxes that first came to South Africa influenced by the Bauhaus and Le Corbusier.

Another clear thing was that it was almost miraculously intact, with original details and fittings perfectly preserved, from the closets in the bedrooms to various servers and shelves in the dining and living space, panelling on what might be a study wall, and even a hidden hi-fi and bar fridge.

It had just two owners, which explains how so much original detailing survived. ‘We became its third owners,’ says Lezanne, determined to continue the legacy. She and Walter have been very restrained in their refresh of the house,

‘I researched which colours were popular in mid-century homes during that time and chose the ones that I liked’ LEZANNE VIVIERS

making an effort to preserve it rather than altering it. For Lezanne, living here is about appreciating a 60-year-old treasure. ‘All I can do is try to respect it,’ she says.

So, while the invisible work of maintaining the timber and pulling up old carpets occupied a lot of their energies, Lezanne did brighten up the interiors. ‘I researched which colours were popular in mid-century homes during that time and chose the ones that I liked,’ she says.

She brought in many treasured items of furniture and art. It’s an eclectic selection – ‘things I’ve collected over a long time, over six or seven years,’ she muses – including many vintage mid-century pieces. There are also contemporary and experimental pieces – many designed by friends and collaborators – even ceramics she made herself. Work by local designer August de Wet, for example, who does the lighting for Lezanne’s shows, can be found dotted about, alongside artwork by the likes of Marlene Hettie Steyn, who she worked with on her

S/S 2020 collection and Lady Skollie, who has modelled her designs.

The level downstairs was designed almost like a selfcontained apartment, and Lezanne set up her design studio there, so she can live above the shop, as it were, with just the right balance of home and work. She collaborates with artists and performers, has clients for fittings and entertains the steady stream of people that comes with a bustling studio.

Her dream of sharing her and Walter’s remarkable find has indeed been realised. Viviers Studio

 viviersstudio.com

For Lezanne, living here is about appreciating a 60-year-old treasure. ‘All I can do is try to respect it’ LEZANNE VIVIERS

lotus House, as owner lezanne Viviers Has dubbed this late mid-century Joburg gem, Has its entrance at the top level, Via a wide motor court with patterned brickwork paving. lezanne Has created a striking cactus garden at the entrance, and Has chosen bright primary colours for the planters and walls

OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM LEFT LEZANNE VIVIERS ON THE BALCONY OUTSIDE OF THE DINING ROOM, the drinks trolley with an antique Victorian epergne pink Vase and david reade glass ball the floor of the sitting room is softened with dyed sheepskins, a modular sofa keeps the space open and the coffee table is Vintage kartell and the ceramics are from artisafire

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT the kitchen includes art by lady skollie and nico krijno, long balconies along the House put Joburg’s manmade forest in full View, in the dining room artwork by irma stern Hangs above the drinks trolley, the sitting room with a built-in unit that Houses a Vintage Hi-fi, ceramics on the dining table are a collection of found objects: a murano Vase and ukrainian bowl

ABOVE the main bedroom with all of its original fittings intact, including built-in cupboards

RIGHT the wicker peacock chair, also in the main bedroom, adds flair in a corner alongside the window

LEFT the artworks above the kitchen server are the detoxer and rain on me by marlene Hettie steyn and gabrielle kruger, on the server is green dog by georgina gratrix