-
Slatted light filters into the antechamber that leads towards the glass door of the home’s main entrance. The two abstract stone statues (“graceful sentries”), commissioned from a Zimbabwean artist, help to break up the grey space, as does the water that flows beneath the suspended walkway. -
Located in a cul-de-sac, the home has Lion’s Head as its back yard. -
The austere and cleverly proportioned exterior. -
Ample natural light softens the moody, sophisticated colour palette of the top floor. Most of the home’s furniture was custom-designed, including the dining table made of wooden plinths and tinted glass. -
Retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors reveal an impressive rim-flow lap pool and uninterrupted ocean views. -
Interiors are minimal throughout, punctuated only by artworks (shown here is Somber Mind, by an Australian artist) and eye-catching light fittings. -
An exposed zigzag staircase leads to the lower levels. -
The floating staircase acts as a spine, linking the three levels of the home both functionally and aesthetically, while the elevator, encased in black glass, ensures convenience. -
Ideal for entertaining, the linear open-plan kitchen features a smartly concealed galley scullery. The oak stools with leather seats were designed by the owners, and custom- made. -
On the second floor, two guest suites are demarcated by timber cladding, while the children’s rooms are accessed at the end of the passage. -
In addition to the staircase, the home is connected via repeated feature accents. -
The family hangout area on the third floor has its own kitchen. -
The main bedroom’s expansive bathroom features a three-metre moulded freestanding family bath that can comfortably accommodate four people (the couple’s children are still young) and a moulded floating double basin, both made from Corian. -
The home’s exceptional views stretch over the city and the ocean to Robben Island in the distance.
WORDS Lynette Botha PRODUCTION Annemarie Meintjes PHOTOS Dook
A fortuitous find in the Mother City was transformed into the modern family home the owners had always dreamed of.
What you see if not entirely what you get with this Atlantic Seaboard home: a steely exterior belies the light and airy characteristics of the living space within. Hovering at the base of Lion’s Head, its clever and considered design was brought to life by architect Luis Mira.
Having known the homeowners for years, and aware of the type of modern family home they desired, Luis says there was nothing ambiguous about the brief. “They had always wanted something architectural, and a free-flowing space that would invite the outdoors in,” he says. “The direction wasn’t the problem – finding the right location was.” The homeowners had discussed the vision for their dream space with Luis long before they knew the site of it. And while it took a few years to find the perfect address, it was certainly worth the wait. A lucky find in Bantry Bay’s Top Road, the property has uninterrupted views of the ocean, and Lion’s Head as its back yard, which really inspired Luis and his team when they started on the project.
“I have always been mesmerised by the presence of boulders on the mountains, and Lion’s Head has plenty of these,” he says. “Using that texture as inspiration, the massing and materiality of the house – in off-shutter concrete – was the answer to the poetic connection to nature that we were looking for.” These connections continue throughout, with wooden accents, considered greenery and elements of water that link the front and back of the home.
READ MORE: Keurbooms Lagoon Home
Beyond the entrance is an open-air courtyard with a moat-like water feature and the mountain as its backdrop. “We often introduce water features in our projects to create reflections and focal points, and to play with the air temperature of a house,” Luis explains. “A good example in this home is when you open up the courtyard doors on a hot day – you immediately feel the coolness thanks to the water.”
The most impressive body of water, however, is the lap pool that runs the full length of the top floor of the home, with views of the ocean, across Table Bay to Robben Island. The house is split into three levels, and the top floor is also the main living area, which consists of a linear open-plan kitchen, a dining area and a lounge. Interiors are minimal and muted throughout, and punctuated only by striking artworks and eye-catching light fittings.
READ MORE: Contemporary Constantia Home
On the second level is the sleeping area, consisting of the main bedroom suite, two guest rooms and two children’s bedrooms, as well as two pyjama lounges and a cinema room. But it’s on the bottom floor that much of the magic happens. With a chill room, a playroom, an additional bedroom, a gym and a spa, the space has been maximised to create an area that meets all of the family’s needs, including those of the four-legged members, who have a lawn and dog “playground” that leads off this storey.
“I have to give the clients immense credit – it was their close involvement in the design process, and their direction, that led to the success of this build,” says Luis. “They have created the most beautiful space in which to live as a family, and we’re so happy that we, together with the rest of the professional team, were able to bring it to life for them.”
Looking for more architecture and design inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here.
