For some, living with ocean view and gentle sea breeze is like living a dream. SAOTA makes their dream come true and then some, with their contemporary approach to seaside residences. Here are some dwellings in Cape Town that may serve as your inspiration.
Blending with Nature
The clients residing in the Nettleton 198 wanted a six-bedroom, sevel-level home that makes the most of the site, the views and the mountain aspect to the rear. To enjoy the spectacular view to the sea and the nearby ridge, the living room can open up onto the west and the east completely. The project embraces both robust and warm ambiences with powder-coated aluminium covering the exterior and walnut timber dominating the interior. To visually separate elements and make the space appear even larger, black marble & black glass were integrated into the design as accents.
The sundeck space roofed the lounge on the lower level which extends to the courtyard on one side and the pool on the other. Another design ‘delights’ of the house is the circular entrance area, clad in walnut timber and amplified by lighting installation that reminds one of rippling water.
“Inspiration was drawn from the mountain and dark colors were used on the facade, allowing the building to visually recede into the mountain instead of being an obtrusive construction,” says Greg Truen, Project Partner.
Open and Practical
With family residing in the house, it’s important for De Wet 34 project to respond to the practical needs while still boasting the spectacle overlooking the Bantry Bay. Despite the open plan, each area has definitive identities to separate the mood and role as one shifts through the different spaces, from the cocooning and comfortable L-shaped family room wing to the panoramic ocean fronting section. The pool terrace also leads off to the courtyard garden on the east. The glass doors and windows allow a wide view to all areas, and in turn allow the parents to keep an eye on the kids.
By utilising a broad base of textures and finishes, the décor feels natural and subtly organic with redwood ceilings, sculptures and raw textures like tumber and concrete, while maintaining the overall ambiance of calm and serenity. The interior tone is kept natural and minimum, so the exterior views, the mountain, the ocean and sky and also the art pieces in the house can bring in the color.
“We consciously emphasized the different roles of each zone, shifting the mood from room to room. We wanted the space to surprise,” explains Stefan Antoni, owner and Partner at SAOTA.
Dramatic Contemporary
The challenge with the First Crescent project site was its shape, 50m long and only 20m at its widest. The approach was to create strong lines and unusual yet exciting layout to accommodate all living spaces with almost seamless connection from the interior to the exterior. Most rooms and areas are highly transparent and granted excellent views, focused on Camps Bay beach, and the views of Lion’s Head in a Northerly direction. There are also great views back to The Twelve Apostles and the Cable Station.
The roof over the deck has a steel structure which cantilevers out of the reinforced concrete of the roof slab. A steel ‘ring’ beam was used to create the square cut-out, a special space designed to allow direct sunlight pouring down the terrace dining table. Steel sections remain visible creating the illusion of a very thin roof.
To maintain the privacy, clerestory frameless glazing (skylights) replaced structure and framed views which might otherwise have been missed. Sandblasting of the full height glazing at the eastern boundary maximizes light to the linear passage and maintains views of the mountain peaks.
“The client has a discerning eye for striking contemporary design and that, along with the fantastic position of the site lent, to creating an elegant response,” Philip Olmesdahl, Project Partner.
Division of Zones
Built on several levels, the Nettleton 199 is designed to give a surprise at every turn, altering the mood from the private and secluded spaces to the open courtyard and the generously spacious area. The decision was to create a double volume space at the top of the site that could connect the garden court to the east while also taking advantage of the views over the ocean to the west. This double sided space reduces the heat load from the setting sun by taking advantage of natural ventilation.
Intent to leave a strong impression, the entertainment level of the house offers an open-plan, multi-zone experience with panoramic views and a floating mezzanine where the master bedroom is separated from the living room by a set of walnut shutters. The pool deck is framed by a large Rheinzink clad buckle, a sun shading device that also adds drama to this terrace. The horizon pool creates a seamless connection to the ocean beyond.
“The building provides a volumetrically dramatic and dynamic interior space on a grand scale. The objective of the interior décor was to create a softer and intimate counterpoint whilst not jeopardizing the clean, geometric lines of the architecture,” says Adam Court of OKHA Interiors.
Photos by: SAOTA, Adam Letch, Wieland Gleich, Karl Beath
