Some projects carry more meaning than others. 20 Ladlau Drive, Simbithi Eco Estate was SJC Projects’ very first residential build, and returning to it years later for a complete renovation gave the project a significance that extended well beyond the scope of works. The brief was comprehensive: a full internal gut and refit of the original home, brought back to shell and rebuilt to a standard that reflects how far both the client’s expectations and SJC’s own capabilities have evolved since that first project broke ground.

The renovation stripped the interior back completely, allowing the team to address the bones of the structure, update all services and finishes, and reimagine the living spaces from the inside out. Working within the constraints of an occupied estate and an existing structural footprint, the build required careful sequencing and close coordination with the client to minimise disruption while delivering a result that felt entirely new. The 3-month programme was achieved without compromising the quality of the refit.

A newly added swimming pool completes the transformation, extending the home’s usable outdoor space and adding a lifestyle element that was not part of the original build. The completed project stands as a fitting measure of the distance travelled since SJC Projects first broke ground on this site, and a testament to what a thorough, well-executed renovation can do for a home that already had good foundations.