This light and whimsical design for an apartment above an art gallery is not only a treasure trove of fascinating artefacts, but also represents a pioneering model for a new way of living in Johannesburg’s changing urban landscape.
The Everard Read Gallery is designed around a series of courtyards filled with trees, and has skylights that let lovely light into its rooms. Mark and Christine Read, the second generation of Reads to run the gallery, had reached a point in their lives when they wanted to “downscale and live lightly” as Christine puts it. Rather than move to a smaller house or an apartment nearby, they began toying with the idea of“living above the shop”. It made sense considering the city’s traffic congestion and urban sprawl.
Christine has kept to a neutral palette, occasionally bringing out blue, green and pink found in the glass beads and other objects. There’s a coffee table made from railways sleepers (opposite page), their first acquisition together more than 30 years ago.
The main living area is enveloped in thick Canadian oak, which cocoons the space and creates a sense of intimacy. It opens to a double volume space above the living area, high and light and airy. “Most important was maximum light at any time,” says Christine.
A delicate steel staircase against the wall has a balustrade inspired by willow branches. The furnishings are an eclectic mix, which the light, open tent-like space easily accommodates. They range from an antique Indian chest to hand-carved side tables and wing-back armchair, cosily combined with contemporary couches.
In front of the fireplace, the pair of green velvet chairs belonged to Christine’s mother 40 years ago.
Vintage natural wood elements such as the storage cabinet and bench, seen here left, add warmth and a weathered patina to the bathrooms.
Light and bright, the bathrooms feature simple recessed shelving and matt black mixer taps, hand showers and shower roses.
Because of the linearity of the apartment’s design, says Christine, “the TV room is essentially a passage”. It can, however, be screened off with sliding wooden doors. When not in use, the TV is concealed in a cabinet. The blue denim sofas are soft and comfortable, encouraging informal, feet-up relaxation. They’re easily combined with a hand-carved Senufo bed used as a coffee table and hand-carved side tables.
Beads, books, bowls and bones… Wherever Christine goes, she collects bones and artefacts. The collections reflect the Reads’ interests, ranging from palaeontology to ornithology and conservation.
The main living area is enveloped in thick Canadian oak, which cocoons the space and creates a sense of intimacy.
The main en suite bedroom at the end of the apartment is plush and carpeted. Instead of built-in cupboard doors, Christine opted for linen curtains, which soften the edges of the room and also screen off the bathroom area. “The thought of 14 metres of linen was daunting, so I took it to a friend to dip in ink so its feet were in a dark colour,” says Christine.
The main bathroom is a neutral cocoon of wood and white, with its own wood-burning stove for chilly winter nights. Shuttered stacking doors close off the floor-to-ceiling windows for privacy when necessary, but opening onto a deck with an outdoor shower that “tiptoes” between the vaulted skylights of the gallery below. Carved Indian window frames screen the shower.
