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WORDS Malibongwe Tyilo
One of Cape Town’s best-kept secrets is its pop-up summers that brighten up the otherwise weepy winter. Especially when we get to spend them at the De Wet 34 residence in Bantry Bay, designed by SAOTA.
Situated at the heart of Bantry Bay, right on the slopes of Lion’s Head, this home boasts uninterrupted and far-reaching views of Cape Town’s famed Atlantic Seaboard, along with all the splendour one might expect of its location, or indeed the architects who designed it. The home is a creation of Cape Town’s award-winning firm Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects (SAOTA). Their team has built luxurious homes in as far-flung places as Miami, Geneva, Phuket and, of course, Cape Town.
The home features a striking open-plan living area, which on the west side opens up to a swimming pool terrace and the aforementioned sea views. The opposite, mountain-facing side opens onto a courtyard garden, which can be viewed from all the house’s rooms. Access from this living area to both the east and the west is by way of glass sliding doors that, when open, create a feeling of interior-exterior ambiguity so complete that the living and dining area feel like an outdoor space with a roof.
The use of grey shale, rock, timber, concrete and minimal colour ensure that the structure lives well with its surrounds, rather than imposing itself on them. Inside, as one moves from room to room, slowly getting a sense of just how large this home is, the palette maintains an airy light feeling.
As one goes further into the home, descending through a double-volume atrium to the bedroom floor and, down another level, to the guest and playroom areas, the raw textures and finishes of the organic decor create a tranquil ambience.
With the mountain behind it, its leafy green surrounds and the blue sea in front, De Wet 34 not only creates shelter but also lets nature in, giving its inhabitants an ideal platform from which to view it.
Find out more about SAOTA here www.saota.com or read more of VISI’s articles about SAOTA.
