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Modern Clifton Home -
The sea-facing aspect of the main living area features an off-shutter concrete ceiling. Cécile & Boyd custom-made the fumed oak coffee table and lounge suite. The Catch chair was designed by Jaime Hayon for &tradition, the Leaf chandelier is by Lampadari, and the bronze sculpture is by Lionel Smit. -
The house was conceived as an arrangement of staggered blocks rising along the side of the mountain, with the upper levels shielded from street-level view. Cécile & Boyd was responsible for the interior architecture. -
The cantilevered rim-flow pool on the first floor, constructed by Island Pools, overlooks Clifton’s beaches and the Twelve Apostles. -
When open, the screened terrace offers sensational views of the Atlantic Ocean. -
In the airy master bedroom en-suite and dressing area, white screed floors blend with mirrored wardrobes and sanitaryware by ProjiSpec. The teak Spindle bench with its woven-leather riempie seat is from Weylandts. -
The guest bedroom on the lower level features a chocolate cork headboard that adds interesting texture to the space. -
The sculptural staircase is defined by chocolate oak that lightens in hue as it progresses upwards through the house. The textured wall features volcanic sand that lightens into pale white on the upper levels. The cat sculpture is by Dylan Lewis. -
The mountain-facing aspect of the lounge area opens up to a vertically planted courtyard. The timber-and-glass staircase is backed by a lift shaft clad in beige concrete. Wire-brushed oak floors by Oggie Hardwood Flooring lend warmth. All furniture (including identical faceted coffee tables) were custom-made by Cécile & Boyd. The Cone suspended fireplace is from Beauty Fires and the DODO floor lamp is by SEED Design. The bronze sculpture is by Dylan Lewis and the paintings are from the homeowners’ private collection. -
Interlinking statues by Angus Taylor form a focal point on the garden level, where textured stone leads to an outdoor braai area. Nicholas Whitehorn did the landscaping.
WORDS Biddi Rorke PHOTOS Adam Letch
Carved into the western slopes of Lion’s Head, this tiered hideaway – Kloof 145 – takes its cues from the indigenous trees and fynbos that once covered the landscape.
Five levels. Authentic materials. A clear design narrative. This sleek yet organic residence in Kloof Road, Clifton, makes a dramatic statement.
From the gabion-walled ground-level exterior that mimics the mountainside strata from which it emerges to the fold-away glass doors, skylights and pale timber used in the uppermost level, each floor of Kloof 145 tells a convincing story of natural progression. Most notably, a vertically slatted box hovers over the middle terrace, with space for the forest bushwillows from the second tier to grow. These lightweight aluminium screens, which can open and close, filter the amount of natural light entering the interiors.
“The idea was to architecturally express the varying relationships to the site and the greater context of mountain, sea and sky,” says lead architect Phillippe Fouche of SAOTA. Cécile & Boyd did the interior design, led by partner and designer Paul van den Berg, who focused on organic interior furnishings and finishes to reinforce the unfolding experience of natural elements that the house affords.
Looking for more architectural inspiration? Take a look at this modern Pretoria home.
