Clifton 2A is a flexible contemporary family residence recently designed by SAOTA architects, located in Clifton, an affluent suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. The home is situated on a spectacular but challenging site, positioned on the ridge below Lions Head with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, Camps Bay, and the Twelve Apostles beyond.

1. Brief
A flexible contemporary family residence on a spectacular but challenging site. The owner’s brief was to design a flexible contemporary family residence. The site was spectacular requiring a design that could respond to a challenging slopped corner site and its aspects” says Thaabe Ramabina of SAOTA.

2. Site
The site is positioned on the ridge below Lions Head with 270° views of the Atlantic Ocean, Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles beyond. It is an extreme corner site – a compact wedge of steep, predominately south-facing hillside with exposure to prevailing winds and its longest boundary on a busy road. Careful analysis of all site conditions largely informed the design.

3. Approach
A key strategy to create a generous level for principal living rooms was to elevate the main level on a plinth comprising guest bedrooms and secondary spaces such as the Gym, Study, and Garage. This Ground Floor is partially set into the steep site thereby maximising the living level and raising it above the noisy provincial road. The First and Second Floors were then set back, fragmented, and rotated to create a central but sheltered external terrace. A glass bridge forms the link between the fragmented structures at the upper levels and permits North sunlight to shine between the bedroom wings and into the central areas on the South side of the house.

“Due to the steepness of the site and the resultant excavation, the structural frame of the house virtually follows the natural ground level – this inherent drama was expressed as part of the overall aesthetic of the house”, says Tamaryn Fourie Project Leader.

By elevating the main living areas and with careful consideration of the landscaping around the Ground Floor – privacy from the road and noise reduction were achieved. The Ground Floor rooms all have double glazing.

The family bedrooms are strategically positioned on the Second Floor with expansive views and opulent interiors. All have their own dressing rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and private balconies.

The main en-suite enjoys lush tranquillity of all-white finishes complete with an outside shower and views of the National Park. The linearity of the dressing room is accentuated by central skylights which scoop natural light into an internal space surrounded by full-height joinery. The master bedroom is set forward as if propelled toward the view of the coast whilst clerestory glazing perfectly captures another view up to the cable station and Table Mountain. A customized fireplace with a weathered Corten conical flue and polished concrete plinth complete the luxurious live-in haven whose off-shutter concrete wall contrasts with slick stained oak paneling and natural timber floors.

On arrival one is led up delicate cantilevering concrete stairs alongside an immense off-shutter concrete wall which tapers dramatically towards its base – and thence into a triple volume Entrance Foyer. Here visitors are welcomed by a sculpture set into a water feature and, through full-height glazing, glimpses of the mountain beyond. Monolithic stairs are suspended above and filter shafts of refracted morning light creating a sense of calm. The Study, Gym, Massage Room, and luxurious Guest Bedrooms are all situated on the Ground Floor behind vegetation, screens, and double glazing considerately layered to provide privacy and peace.

North from the main stairs the Entrainment Room with its faceted weathered copper bar, natural stone tops and custom laser-cut aluminium screen behind presents a rich, detailed contemporary living space. The Family Room, Kitchen, Dining and Lounge are to the South and all flow seamlessly onto the centrally positioned External Terrace which, though elevated, is sheltered by the carefully rotated bedroom wings above- whilst views out are vastly improved. A blue mosaic rimflow pool runs the length of the terrace and brings sea and sky into the living spaces.

Generous overhangs, external sliding shutters, and perforated steel and aluminum eaves assist with naturally shading the facades. All doors and windows have performance glazing and are mostly full height which, together with the careful arrangement of internal spaces, ensures that the magnificent views are optimised for all rooms.

Landscaping was also a priority; 7 yellow wood trees soften the verge and lush vegetation conceals retaining structures; on the level above a more formal lawn helps relocate the living areas on their elevated plinth.

Photos: Adam Letch

The aesthetic of the house – when viewed externally – is of thin steel edges to perforated eyebrows hovering above bands of full height glazing offset against the massive and expressive concrete structure. Inside, off-shutter concrete walls retain their timber-shuttered texture, and, with natural stone floors have been sandblasted to provide warmth and texture against the more highly finished wall and ceiling finishes”, says Tamaryn Fourie Project Leader.