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There’s a free flow from indoors to the outdoors, and the bar-and-lounge area on the second floor affords 360-degree views. -
The timber bench and round table in the entrance hall were designed by Pim Verdoorn and crafted by Leon at CCXIX. The chandelier is by Riaan Chambers. -
When the weather is mild, meals can be enjoyed outside. The house is rented on an exclusive-use basis, and included in the rate are all meals, drinks, activities, a private guide, a private chef and a butler. -
A sculptural installation by Lionel Smit hangs above the large dining table that can accommodate 12 people. -
Upstairs in the bar area, you can enjoy the views from the comfort of oversized armchairs by Leon at CCXIX, as copper and brass accents reflect the light. -
In one bedroom, blue and chartreuse hues take their cue from the sea and surrounding vegetation. -
With a view like this from the large freestanding tub, you’d be excused for not wanting to get out of the bath. -
The cosy sitting room features furniture upholstered in luxurious fabrics by Designers Guild in a colour scheme chosen by Janine Butter. -
In the study-cum-playroom, the wallpaper by Pim Verdoorn on one wall features a photograph by Dook.
PHOTOS Dook PRODUCTION Janine Butter and Pim Verdoorn WORDS Tracy Greenwood
Ocean House in De Hoop Nature Reserve marries luxury and eco credentials on one of the world’s most pristine stretches of coastline.
The road into De Hoop Nature Reserve snakes towards the Indian Ocean through a sea of fynbos dotted with small patches of bright white sand. The salty smack of the sea is carried on the breeze before you even catch a glimpse of the blue-grey water.
Dotted left and right are a variety of wildlife – an eland here, some springbok there. Grey rhebok and Cape mountain zebra call De Hoop home, as do the ubiquitous ostriches, grazing alongside the road, seemingly oblivious to the slow passage of vehicles. And this without a fence in sight. If you are truly lucky you may catch a glimpse of the rare Cape vulture; the reserve is home to the last remaining breeding colony of this endangered species in the Western Cape.
De Hoop covers more than 35 000 ha, of which there is 51 km of pristine white beach fringed by mounds of bone-white dunes and a marine reserve that extends 5 km out to sea. It is said to be the best place for land-based whale watching in the world.
Crouching on the edge of the fynbos fringe a scant 200 m from the beach, with 360-degree views of the bay, is Morukuru Ocean House, an off-the-grid eco retreat that delivers on the promise of tranquillity and luxury with an eco-friendly state of mind.
Owners Anke and Ed Zeeman, Dutch property entrepreneurs with a passion for Africa, bought the land to realise their dream of owning a house where bush and sea meet. Their mandate to architect Nicholas Plewman was clear: Come up with a design that complements the surrounding landscape and keep the ecological footprint to a minimum.
In response, Nicholas created a low-slung contemporary structure from local bricks, clad in local sandstone, with huge windows making the most of the views – and it operates off the grid. Even the green roof has an environmental imperative: The sections not covered with solar panels have been planted with fynbos by landscaper Sean Privett, allowing the house to almost disappear into the landscape. (There’s a back-up generator for cloudy days.) Irrigation water comes from a borehole, and hot water for the boiler and under-floor heating is available via the ESSE wood-burning stove in the kitchen.
The interior architecture is all clean lines, open-plan spaces and majestic views. Dutch interior designer Janine Butter was tasked with creating a chic yet comfortable space filled with light and hues that echo the surrounding veld. Chandeliers crafted out of shells and bones, Designers Guild curtains and upholstery fabrics, furniture made by Pim Verdoorn for Cape Town design and manufacturing house Leon at CCXIX… all the elements of the interior design pay their respects to De Hoop’s natural palette of wood, stone, sand and shades of blue, green, lilac and yellow.
It’s the picture of harmony, and it feels rather like being cocooned in luxury.
