This indoor-outdoor oasis is that of architect and director Greg Truen of SAOTA Architects, nestled below Lion’s Head in Cape Town, South Africa. The architecture was designed to maximize breathtaking views of Table Mountain, Lionโs Head, Signal Hill, the city of Cape Town, and the mountains of the Boland and the Winelands in the distance.
The strongest gesture is the inverted pyramid roof which creates a clerestory window around the upper level. It enables the structure to open up, capturing views of Table Mountain and Lionโs 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. Scroll down for the floor plans and an informative video!
DESIGN DETAILS: Project Team: Greg Truen, Dov Goldring, Jaco Bruwer, Ian Cox and Puja Patel STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS Moroff & Kรผhne Consulting Engineers QUALITY 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, built 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 familyโs work and bedroom spaces are on the mid-level with the garage, gym, cinema, and guest room on the lower level.
The dark exterior breaks down the mass of the building pushing it into the background. Internally, colors are muted and the use of a washed oak provides the spaces with warmth.
What We Love: This indoor-outdoor oasis does a fantastic job of inviting nature inside, from walls of disappearing glass to designing the architecture around gardens and courtyards. We are especially loving the main level with its seamless connection to the swimming pool its jaw-dropping views. This exemplary home is another masterpiece carried out by the architects who design the most unforgettable homes.
Tell Us: What do you think of this architect’s family home? Do you think the architect achieved the goal of devising the architecture to capture the breathtaking surroundings? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments!
Note: Have a look at a couple of our favorite SAOTA Architect designed houses that we have featured here on One Kindesign: Striking hillside home overlooking the white sandy beaches of South Africa and Brilliantly designed South African home with magnificent ocean views.
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 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.
PHOTOGRAPHER Adam Letch & Micky Hoyle
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