SAOTA Architecture & Design completed this spectacular family home with an inverted pyramid roof, located in Cape Town, South Africa. Set below Lion’s Head, the residence showcases views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, the city of Cape Town and the mountains of the Boland and the winelands beyond. The architecture was designed to maximize views of the surrounding environment.
The strongest feature of this home is the inverted pyramid roof, forming a clerestory window around the upper level. It allows the building to open up, capturing views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head that would otherwise have been lost. This has also opened up views of the sky bringing the sun and moon into the home, heightening the connection to nature and its cycles.
Project Team: Architects: SAOTA / Structural Engineers: Moroff & Kühne Consulting Engineers / Quantity Surveyor: SBDS Quantity Surveyors / Main Contractor: Gossow & Harding Construction Pty (Ltd) / Interior Decor: OKHA / Landscaping: Franchesca Watson Garden Designer
The house presents a stone wall, constructed in a traditional Cape way, to the busy city street that it sits on, revealing very little about its interior. At night, the inverted pyramid roof glows creating a giant lightbox adding to the intrigue.
One enters the house through the large metal front door, which sits between the house proper and the stone wall, into a small entrance lobby connected to a courtyard garden. From this restrained quiet space a few steps take you up into the living space with its cinematic bold views over the city.
The house is arranged on three levels. The top level has the strongest views and holds most of the living spaces; the open-plan kitchen, dining room and lounge. The family’s work and bedroom spaces are on the mid-level with the garage, gym, cinema and guest room on the lower level.
Each level has its own set of gardens and courtyards. These gardens extend from the mountain surface down against the house, screening the neighboring buildings and intensifying the relationship with nature; allowing light and air into spaces that would otherwise be dark and isolated.
The dark exterior breaks down the mass of the building pushing it into the background. Internally, colours are muted and the use of a washed oak gives the spaces warmth.
The sophisticated spaces were furnished using OKHA furniture. The Hunt Sofa, the Nate, Nicci Nouveau, Vince and Miles Armchairs are placed on the upper and middle levels and the Planalto Dining Table creates a focal point adjacent to the second floor courtyard, which is used as a working/personal space. OKHA also provided the To Be One and Lean On Me floor lamps in the lounge area.
What We Love: This fascinating Cape Town home features a unique roof form that helps to illuminate the living spaces with natural light. Expansive windows not only captures mesmerizing views of the surrounding landscape, but creates a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. High-end materials and finishes are complimented by designer furnishings and fittings, creating an opulent design for its inhabitants to live and entertain.
Readers, what do you think of the overall design of this home? Are there any details that you think should have been design differently? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below!
Photos: Adam Letch & Micky Hoyle
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