
Brookfield at Royal
Brookfield at Royal is located in Sandringham, a lush and mature suburb on the outskirts of central Johannesburg, South Africa. It is close to the affluent residential and business nodes of Rosebank and Sandton, and around 50 kilometres from the country’s administrative capital, Pretoria. The development is an example of how design innovation can maximise the value of unused land at the edge of urban golf courses.
Established in 1890, the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club is recognised as one of the premium golf courses in Africa. The long-established club is regarded as the “home of golf” in South Africa, housing the Gauteng Senior Golfer’s Society, the PGA of South Africa and the Club Managers Association of South Africa. This is the first luxury apartment development to be situated within the precinct of the club. The estate offers one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations, starting from 38m2 up to 154m2 penthouses.
The brief by Tricolt for Brookfield at Royal was to conceptualise a luxurious residential experience that bridges the gap between the past and present. The result is a high-end estate that represents the true value of sophisticated design in urban housing. The development is set out on a long, narrow, sloping site alongside the golf course and is arranged in a linear form of stepped row-houses that follow the contours of the land. Each block consists of three-story walk-up structures, typically arranged in clusters of six to eight units. Each cluster features a symmetrical layout with two-bedroom apartments on the ground and first floors, and loft units on the top floor with bedrooms and living spaces split between two levels.
The design is characterised by a central pitched frame flanked by flat-roofed sections. This combination creates an undulating rhythm along the length of the development. The pitched roofs are clad in slate-grey standing-seam steel roof sheets, while the flanking sections feature red brick and white-painted plaster. These vertical roof elements play a key role in the terraced design form.
Open gables one side house entrances and vertical circulation, with balconies facing on to landscaped parking. Gables on the other side feature expansive glazing and steel-and-glass balconies overlooking the golf course, with vertical brick barbecue columns forming privacy dividers between units. Each unit is crowned by twin steel chimney pipes, forming an iconic leitmotif throughout the scheme.
The combination of traditional materials of red brick and plaster, and modern elements of steel and glass creates a harmonious blend of solidity and lightness that references the treed landscape between the buildings, private gardens, a dam and golf course. The dark steel and slate-grey tones reference the original black slate roof of the Royal Johannesburg clubhouse. The overall effect is a carefully articulated contemporary interpretation of a traditional terraced row-house development. Brookfield is aimed at a consumer looking for a contemporary home in a safe and visually appealing parkland setting, close to convenient local amenities. Brookfield at Royal draws on the club’s heritage and encompasses a timeless design aesthetic within a high-quality environment.
Phased construction started in September 2021. Phases one and two were completed in December 2022. The development is due for completion by December 2025. When complete Brookfield will feature around 290 units.
- Client Tricolt
- Location Johannesburg, South Africa,
- Year 2024
- Status The development is due for completion by December 2025
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