Johannesburg residence seduces with opulence

This incredible home was designed for an extended family in Johannesburg, South Africa by Saota Architects. Situated in Houghton on a gentle slope, the site is surrounded by trees and has views from the upper levels. The site was split into two separate sites organized around a common entrance and driveway providing access to both houses. The houses have a U-shaped configuration organized around an internal courtyard and allow access to all of the living spaces and the swimming pool. A perforated wall separates the public forecourt from the private spaces.

Internally the spaces pivot around a central volume with a ribbon like spiral stair. The living spaces, kitchen and private garden are to the north, while the games room, pool and gym are to the west. All of these spaces connect to the courtyard which in turn connects back to the main house and its living spaces.

Because of the west facing facade, a set of large shutters, which drop below the level of the first floor slab, provide shade and protection from the setting sun. Care was also taken in selecting performance-glass that would minimize the impact of direct sun. The bedrooms and study are on the upper level. The passage to the children’s bedroom runs along the perforated wall that separates the building from the driveway.

ANTONI Associates were appointed to create a contemporary interior which needed to reflect their family lifestyle. The decor and furniture selected are modern and have strong lines to complement the linear architecture. A number of bespoke furniture pieces were designed by OKHA Interiors.

Neutral palettes with accent colors have been used throughout. Strong graphic rugs add drama and texture to the rooms which offset against the solid architectural surfaces. Curated art by South African artists amongst others Lyndi Sales and Philip Barlow have been placed throughout the house.

Photos: Adam Letch, Elsa Young

Fabulous contemporary residence in South Africa

Cal Kempton Park is a contemporary residence situated in Johannesburg, South Africa, designed by Nico van der Meulen Architects. The client wished to have a generous-sized family home with separate living quarters their adult son and two daughters. The property is a private estate, so the house was designed to be open to the street, with a glass link across a koi-pond as the entrance. This also separated the guest wing with the son’s bedroom over it from the main house, creating almost a cottage, consisting of the gym, guest suite, double garage, the son’s lounge/study and his suite.

The crescent shape of the stands determined the shape of the house towards the street, as the architects tried to keep the house as far south on the stand as possible, because the stands were fairly shallow towards the north. To get enough light into the house, they used double volume windows, deeply shaded to only allow winter sun into the living areas. By using a huge internal balcony upstairs and an atrium they were able to give the two daughters two north facing suites and lounge, with balconies both on the north and south side. The home blurs the boundaries of indoor and out through the use of sliding/folding doors, enabling the lanai/bar and family/breakfast nooks to be open to the pool and internal atrium.

Photos: Courtesy of Nico van der Meulen Architects

Contemporary-chic courtyard home in South Africa

This recently designed private family home is situated on a prime site in Higgovale, Cape Town, South Africa. The client was referred to Three14 Architects by SAOTA, who were initially approached for the conceptual design. Upon completion of the sketch design, Three14 Architects took over, translating and expanding on the original ideas and creating a tailor-made, contemporary-chic, courtyard home with a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. The house takes an honest approach to aesthetics with an expression of tactile materials – bagged brickwork, rough stone, exposed concrete, warm timbers and polished concrete floors – whilst remaining cutting edge with clean lines and details.

Steel and glass dwelling with views of Johannesburg

This steel-framed pavilion has been designed by GASS Architects, situated on the Westcliff Ridge within a wooded estate with stunning views of the Johannesburg, South Africa skyline. Westcliff Pavilion was constructed with a steel frame to take in the magnificent views from the cottage. It also created a minimal impact on the site, allowing the building to float above the ground plane, leaving most of the ridge intact. The steel frame also created an elegant, timeless aesthetic and allowed for the incorporation of sprung solid timber floors which blended seamlessly with the exterior solid decking.

The architect also wished to integrate a floating stone into the overall design of the residence. “Many of the houses on the Westcliff Ridge and surrounds are famous for their use of native stonework in their detailing, including works by architectural greats like Sir Herbert Baker. Georg was keen to continue in this tradition of using indigenous stone in the design, and so the as such, wanted to include a wall made from stone harvested on the site itself. However, he wanted to give this wall a twist, something that would differentiate it from all other walls in Westcliff,” state the architects. This stunning open plan living with two bedrooms and two bathrooms and floor to ceiling glass windows embraces the natural landscape and creates an amazing place to call home, what do you think?

Photos: Bernard Viljoen

Overlooking Bantry Bay: Victoria 73 House

Victoria 73 House was designed by SAOTA Architects in conjunction with Antoni Associates for a family in Cape Town, South Africa. The property originally had a house that under-utilized the site’s fantastic characteristics. The project brief was aimed at capitalizing on the site to create an environment where a young family could enjoy an outdoor lifestyle offered by the site. This outdoor area is protected from the prevailing winds, enjoying sea views, and more immediate views of large boulders to the South. The clients were eager to utilize every possible area of the site, yet ensure that they maintained privacy in this dense part of Bantry Bay, where sites are fairly small and owners typically maximize their allowable building envelopes.

The design was driven by creating a family home that could accommodate a kitchen, living room and dining room in one single space. These areas enjoyed all day sunlight with simultaneously framed views of the sea. The secondary living area was to be a dramatic entertainment space, located on the level immediately below the family level, where the clients could entertain large groups of friends. The pool terrace allows for covered and uncovered areas to relax around the pool. The entertainment lounge accommodates a generous bar, and is close to the outdoor braai area. A dramatic gazebo structure is perched at the Western edge of the pool deck, which allows the owners to enjoy the last hours of the setting sun.

The Sixth floor above accommodates the main bedroom with two children’s en-suite bedrooms and a small children’s lounge. The guest room, a staff area and a private library are located on the second and third story below the entertainment level. The ground floor accommodates the entrance hall and a five car garage. A glass lift connects the building vertically, and an external service stair connects the levels externally.

Treetop house on the edge of a cliff

A treetop house on the edge of a cliff; a forgotten house, in one of Johannesburg, South Africa’s oldest suburbs, was transformed for modern living by Slee and Co Architects. The tree house is a sanctuary in the middle of the city, a solid cliff-like structure, opening up like caves into the tree canopy. Dry-packed stonewalls, characteristic of the suburb, were used as the main design element. Bringing you in from the motor court, across a sandstone bridge to the front door, one experiences the outside forest room with the pool below. Stonewalls also intercept the existing structure, creating slices where sunlight is pulled in through slots in the roof. The main living space on the upper level opens up towards the north, to allow the forest in, like a stage set. To the east, the space flows onto a covered terrace, cantilevered into the treetops like a tree house, where different moods of the forest can be experienced.

Thanda Private Game Reserve in Zululand

Thanda, meaning ‘love’ in Zulu, is an expression of the magical union of powerful Zulu culture, wildlife, romantic decadence and exclusivity in northern Zululand, South Africa. Thanda Private Game Reserve is a property that recalls the film “Out of Africa” and living luxuriously in the outdoors. Reawaken romance in one of the luxury nine luxury bush villas, or embrace nature in one of the six colonial safari-style tented camps. A safari with family and friends can be enjoyed at the Royal private Villa. Encounter an abundance of African game including the Big Five (lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard) and the endangered wild dog and cheetah found at Thanda Private Game Reserve. Let your tension be smoothed away at one of South Africa’s most exquisite African bush spas, or feel the rush of adrenalin diving with sharks at the nearby warm Indian Ocean waters. Be transfixed in awe as you witness a hundred-year-old ritual performed by Zulu warriors, offering you a glimpse of a powerful nation that still retains its deep traditions.

To stay at this spectacular lodge that is in harmony with nature, rates start at $308 per night, from here.

Magnificent South African home breathes new life

Moss Oaklands Residence is a stunning property in Cape Town, South Africa designed by studio Nico Van Der Meulen Architects. The scope of the project was to remodel a 1950s residence, breathing new life back into the home and giving it more of an urban feel. Here is a brief description of the project from the architects, “Alterations and additions were made to the original building to allow for four bedrooms and large entertaining areas. The single-storey building allows for large double volume spaces and flat roofs have been used in the alteration to keep vertical expansion in mind for the client’s future. In keeping with the owner’s brief to have a home with an urban and open feel, the interior and exterior entertaining areas have been blurred by sliding stacking doors that open up the whole facade. By using a neutral palette, the company was able to create a warm environment by bringing in touches of color through rich and bold accessories and furnishings.” What do you think of this fabulous South African home?

Ultra-chic seaside home in South Africa

La Lucia is a stunning family holiday beach house on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa designed by SAOTA Architects. The home has been sensitively designed to the landscape, gently nestled between protected milkwood trees. The entrance is flanked by two of the milkwood trees, which opens up to a double-volume hallway featuring a cinematic panorama of views. The ceilings are clad with aligned timber slats, drawing the eye to the distant seascape.

Here is a brief description of the project from the architects, “The ground level can be enjoyed as one continuous space or arranged into more individual and private spaces. All the spaces open up either onto the sea facing pool deck or to the afternoon sun lit garden on the West. The four sea-facing bedrooms are located on the upper level and open onto private individual terraces.

The East sea-facing facade is ‘wrapped’ with a series of bronzed anodized aluminium sliding screens that cocoon the structure entirely or in part. The screens, inspired by the milkwood trees, create the home’s signature. The Interiors by Antoni Associates express simplicity and restraint while making the home comfortable and cozy. Sand-colored polished concrete floors, bleached timber, natural leathers and grey linens, are anchored by soft neutrals and countered with touches of charcoal, teal and azure.”

Visit the SAOTA website – here.

Visit the Antoni Associates website – here.

Photos: Karl Beath

Spectacular modern cliffside luxury in Cape Town

Gripping the edge of the cliff in Signal Hill, Cape Town, Head Road 1943 has been re-furbished by Antoni Associates as a commissioned project of a SAOTA designed house. The clients wished to have a cutting edge 21st Century residence that incorporates the use of luxurious and tailored finishes. The clients also desired two additional children’s rooms, a gym and a home cinema to be added into the design scheme. The designers had to take into consideration the pool terrace to allow for entertainment as well as to capture the spectacular city views.

Here is a description of the project renovation, “the furniture selection and decor is a combination of bespoke pieces and imported branded furniture. Adjacent to the open plan living and dining room is the bar containing a custom-designed humidor for an extensive cigar collection. The kitchen is finished in high gloss white lacquered units with Volakas marble counter tops.

The outdoor entertainment area has been designed to facilitate a multitude of entertainment functions and includes a gazebo pavilion, outdoor dining and grill area as well as relaxation for sunseekers. The pool gazebo has been constructed mainly of Iroko timber and has a raised deck with concealed strip lighting. In contrast to the white Volakas floor, black Nero Maraquino marble has been used to clad a cantilevered fireplace shelf which extends over the pool edge. Sumptuous upholstery adds to the sexy comfort of this outdoor room. The infinity pool allows the eye to flow to the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.” Via

Visit the website of Antoni Associates here.

Photos: Adam Letch