Karl Jooste was born in Pretoria in 1926. He attended the Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool and studied

architecture at the University of Pretoria.

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Jooste worked for Norman Eaton before establishing his own practice. He was a friend of

French architect Le Corbusier andvisited France regularly.

 

The house at 381 Aries Street is one of the last projects Jooste designed and implemented.

He designed the house in 1965 and completed the project in 1967.

He lived in the house with his wife until his death in a car accident in 1971.

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The design of the house emulates the work of Le Corbusier set in an African regional context.

The use of large overhangs to create deep shadows to temper the African sun; the use (and expression) of local materials and craftsmanship;

Le Modular-based proportions; and the dominance of the masonry structural grid topped

with sinus curved brick vaults create a unique spatial and architectural experience.