PIONEER VILLA
Designed by Rudolph and Michael Zietsman of Nico van der Meulen Architects.
The  Pioneer Villa is situated on a 90-hectare secluded private estate on the outskirts of a capitol, was designed on a grand scale. The programme consists of a private residence, offices, sports and entertainment complex, and a staff village, which were seamlessly interwoven with each other.
The major facades are clad in marble, providing a monolithic yet elegant and luxurious environment, with a slatted floating anodized aluminium entrance portico and a reflecting pond.
The basement contains a 16 car garage and a home theatre with a bar and lounge area.
The main entrance opens into the entrance foyer, revealing the dramatic spiral staircase going up two stories and down one. A 70m long water feature stretches from the entrance hall to the north, with a large formal sitting room on its edge. A lift connects all 4 stories.
At the entrance hall, the house splits into a formal area and an informal family area. In the formal area are the sitting room, a smaller lounge, 30-seater dining room, two guest suites with their own private lounge, study/ library, and his and hers guest toilets.
The informal area consists of a dining room, family room and open plan kitchen, breakfast room, and a large lanai. Behind this is a large industrial kitchen, pantries, scullery, and laundry with direct access for caterers to the industrial kitchen and a shaded lanai.
Also on the ground floor level is a private office suite, comprising his and her studies, each combined with their private bathrooms, reception area, kitchen, and a boardroom.
On the first floor, there are 4 suites for kids, plus a pyjama lounge and music room.
The second floor is the main suite with a private lounge, and his and her dressing room, as well as an indoor pool with a pool lounge and roofed terrace.
A private golf course, water features, and a sports complex, including a multi-sport arena with a bar, gymnasium, banquet space, including an industrial kitchen, to cater for around 100 as well a large shady veranda for another 50+ people complete the picture.
Whilst the design reads very solid and closed-off from the south, it is entirely open to the north, with large expanses of wall-to-wall glazing orientated towards the views.