Kloof 151
The client’s brief was for a family home with a guest and a ‘work-from-home’ wingspread over two levels. The home was not only to enjoy the dramatic views of the Clifton beaches but also to engage with the natural fynbos on the slopes of Lion’s Head to the North. The house is a 3 story building with building parking. The large entrance to the basement allows for direct sunlight and a pleasantly warm entrance to the house. On the ground floor, the main living room enjoys a fantastic position overlooking Clifton. The majority of the living levels – including the open plan kitchen – open onto the large well-covered terraces to the West or North facing the mountain slope and Lion’s Head. The extreme heat and glare of the setting sun are addressed by the cantilevering balconies, extended irregular, and striking hardwood screens, and motorized vertical fabric blinds. These devices along with the performance glazing result in an all-year-round cool interior. The terraces are surrounded by the most part with either planting beds that have been planted with indigenous flora to echo the adjacent nature reserve and to minimize the use for additional irrigation. On the North-Western corner of the site, a rim-flow pool is situated that creates a seamless connection to the ocean.
The ground floor is bisected by a double volume to enrich the spatial experience and create a dialogue with the double volume stairwell towards the rear. A more intimate second lounge and external terrace have been created which looks out onto the dense natural fynbos of the Table Mountain Nature Reserve. The finishes are characteristically clean and simple and include natural and robust finishes, such as wide plank Walnut floors, off-shutter concrete soffits as well as unpolished large porcelain floor tiles. This also allows features such as the imported kitchen and the stone-clad fireplace to contrast with the less refined elements. The first floor of the house accommodates 4 en-suite bedrooms, a gym, and a studio space. To reduce the effect of glare experienced at the house, the finishes palette is rich and in deep colors. The bedrooms are generally lighter and contemporary with accents of classic pieces of furniture and a fresh fabric selection that create tranquil spaces. Frameless glass balustrades are used to the stairwell to increase the sense of openness and transparency in the stairwell.
Project Info
Architects: SAOTA
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Project Team: Philip Olmesdahl, Stefan Antoni & Johann van der Vyver
Interior Design: Mark Rielly & Ashleigh Gilmour
Year: 2010
Type: Residential
Photographs: Courtesy of SAOTA
