The Evolving Home in Potchefstroom

Charlene Bekker
May 29
4 min read

Over the past century, a Potchefstroom house has always been more than brick and mortar ,it’s where family gathers, comfort is found, and life’s milestones happen. A home combines physical features (walls, roof, yard) with emotional bonds (family, memories, community).

In Potchefstroom today, most middle‐class homeowners emphasize interior comfort and family space. A recent study found North-West families prize a well-appointed kitchen and multiple bedrooms/bathrooms above all.

The same study notes that owning property still “gives a sense of security and belonging” to homeowners. In other words, a modern Potchefstroom home must feel safe and welcoming indoors – a cozy living room or dining space where children play, and parents relax – as much as it looks good on the outside.

Early to Mid-20th Century: Simple, Functional Homes

In the 1920s–1950s, Potchefstroom was a quiet agricultural town. Middle-class homes were generally simple and sturdy.

Many were single-story brick or wood-and-iron cottages with gabled roofs and small front or back verandas. Ceilings tended to be high to stay cool in summer, and families often grew their own vegetables in modest gardens. After World War II, plastered brick houses with tiled roofs became common.

These homes had separate rooms (closed-plan) , a formal lounge for visitors, a kitchen in the back, and bedrooms down a hallway. Builders used local materials; early Potchefstroom examples (even older Victorian-era townhouses) mixed “locally used materials” into their design.

Although not lavish, these homes had “character”,wooden floors, plaster moldings, and often a built-in braai (barbecue) outside. Life in these decades was family-centered; the house was a workhorse that provided warmth in winter (hearth or paraffin stove) and shade in summer.

Late 20th Century: Leisure and Lifestyle Features

By the 1970s–90s, South Africa’s growing middle class began adding leisure and lifestyle features to suburban homes. In Potchefstroom, backyards with swimming pools and wooden decks became aspirational.

These features signaled comfort: a shaded deck for Sunday braais, a pool for children to splash in hot summers, a cozy wood-fired or built-in jacuzzi spa on the patio. Homes also started to open up: sliding doors from kitchen to patio, and skylights to bring in light. Home security (walls, alarms) became more common in later decades.

New materials like treated pine decking and aluminum window frames appeared. Gardens, once for vegetables, evolved into manicured lawns or small decorative beds, since big gardens need lots of water (especially in our warm-temperate climate.Despite these luxuries, practical space remained paramount.

Even in the 2000s, Potchefstroom buyers valued functional space over indulgence. A home might have a pool, but people still expected at least 3–4 bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, and a spacious kitchen. Double garages became standard as car ownership rose. Porch or lapa areas (thatched or wood-roofed outdoor rooms) were popular for entertaining.

By the 2010s, many middle-class homes featured outdoor living spaces integrated with the interior – for example, a wooden deck abutting the lounge or dining room. This trend reflects our lifestyle: Potchefstroom families love outdoorsy meals and play.

Today’s homes might still include decks or verandas (wood underfoot, built-in bench seating) where kids color or families sip rooibos tea. Yet a 2016 survey of Potchefstroom buyers confirms these “luxury” items (like pools or decks) are the least priority, illustrating that at its core, home is about people, not just stuff.

The Modern Potchefstroom Home

In recent years, local houses have blended international design with local needs. We see many single- and double-story homes with open-plan living , a big kitchen flowing into a lounge and dining area, often facing north or east to catch sunlight.

Large windows and skylights are common to brighten rooms, while eaves and shade trees keep interiors cool in summer. Roofing choices (dark tiles, sometimes solar-absorbing paint) and insulation reflect awareness of our summer rains and winter chills.

Energy and sustainability have entered the picture: solar water-heaters on roofs (the ubiquitous orange cylinders), and increasingly, solar PV panels to power appliances during load-shedding. Rainwater tanks for gardens appear in newer estates. Home layouts now often include a dedicated home office or multi-purpose room, reflecting a shift in work and lifestyle.

High-speed internet wiring, backup generators, and security features (electric fences, cameras) are almost expected. In short, middle-class Potchefstroom homes today are practical “smart” houses for family life,designed for comfort, entertainment (media rooms, braai zones), and resilient living in our climate.

Looking Ahead: Sustainable, Smart, Adaptive

What will Potchefstroom homes look like in the next decades? We can expect that sustainability and technology will shape them.

Given our hot summers and dry winters, future houses will likely have green design, thicker insulation, reflective roofs, green spaces or courtyards to moderate heat, and rainwater harvesting for drought resilience. Solar panels and battery storage will probably become standard rather than optional. Water-wise gardens (succulents, native shrubs) may replace thirsty lawns.

Smart home technology is on the rise: app-controlled lighting, security systems, and even smart appliances in kitchens. As remote work becomes entrenched, homes will need quiet study spaces or offices.

Nationwide, buyers now look for homes “with flexible floor plans, good internet infrastructure, and quiet, private spaces for work”. This is true in Potchefstroom too, a spare bedroom or garden outbuilding might convert to an office.Lifestyle changes will also influence design.

Younger families may favor smaller, efficient footprints (townhouses or cluster homes with shared amenities) to free up time for travel or leisure. However, the ideal of a standalone family home,a safe place to raise kids and connect with neighbors,still holds strong here.

In the future, a Potchefstroom “home” will balance high-tech convenience with warm hospitality: wide verandas for weekend braais, living rooms that open onto gardens or parks, and enough space for multi-generational living. Climate adaptation features like solar water-heaters and shaded courtyards will merge with smart comforts like automated lighting and energy monitoring.

Through all these changes, the essence of home remains the same for Potchefstroom families: it’s where one feels belonging and security. From the early 20th-century brick cottage to the 21st-century smart house, that enduring mix of family and shelter guides how we build and cherish our homes.