A meticulously site-sensitive architectural approach and restrained-yet-comfortable interiors characterise architect Yvette van Zyl’s recently completed coastal home.
Architect Yvette van Zyl designed her home to both fit seamlessly into its rocky site and also make a striking visual statement. The use of bold vertical and horizontal elements in the design is key to its success, as is the tactility derived from the deployment of a variety of contrasting natural materials.
Immediately inside the front door and to the left, a short passageway opens onto the beautifully finished kitchen, with a large kitchen island and other joinery. The floor-to-ceiling cabinetry on the far wall conceals all the storage that serious cooks and entertainers could desire.
The living, dining and kitchen space is completely open plan, and while not a very large area, has a generously spacious feel. Thanks to the fully retractable sliding doors and the use of the same flooring indoors and out, the transition between the inside of the house and the outdoor living space is seamless.
A PC Linear Pendant light fitting features above the kitchen island and the vintage extendable dining table and suspended lamp above the table were sourced in Cape Town.
Fully retracting glass doors open the indoor living space to the outdoor braai (barbecue) area, and the brick pavers used for the flooring both inside and out make for a seamless feel. Open to the views on its north-facing aspect, the area is always light-filled thanks to the brise-soleil screening wall and circular perforation in the roof above the table and is in use almost year-round. A built-in bench across one side of the space creates both additional seating and a display area for potted plants.
Above, Yvette’s husband Dëon is on the open, north-facing aspect of the outdoor living area, from which panoramic views of the bay can be enjoyed.
A built-in bench across one side of the space creates both additional seating and a display area for potted plants.
The living area is furnished with iconic mid-century Togo lounge furniture by Ligne Roset, which has a soft solidity that combines beautifully with the various oval and circular elements in the light fittings. A rounded wood-burning stove by Dovre keeps the entire space warm during the winter.
The couple are both avid readers; Yvette designed the minimalist built-in bookshelves using the simple twin-slot rails and powder-coated metal shelving usually deployed for shop fittings. Beneath it, a marble-clad shelf displays collectibles and a Globe table lamp, which is also by Ligne Roset. Floor-to-ceiling curtaining transforms the living space into a cosy cocoon as required.
The passageway towards the additional bedrooms on the west side of the house is illuminated by a round paper lantern suspended close to the floor.
Luxuriously minimalist, the main bedroom features plush carpeting and a beautiful marble-clad storage unit. Circular and oval elements, both structural and in the form of fixtures and furnishings, soften and complement the more angular elements of the design. A classic Componibili storage unit makes an ideal bedside pedestal.
The mosaic tiles in the main bathroom are the same shade of green as the leaves of the indigenous milkwood trees to be found at the rear of the house – and all along the Western Cape coastline. The bathroom has a charmingly retro feel that is reminiscent of mid-century public baths or swimming pools, with the use of floor-to-ceiling mosaic tiles resulting in the creation of fully “wet” rooms.
Yvette says she most likes “to watch the light change through the seasons and wash down the walls from the skylights, to wake up with the sunlight from the vertical slot on the eastern side of the bedroom spreading over the soft curtains and plush carpet… and to read and birdwatch from bed with a view over the harbour and mountains”.
Contrasting textures and colours enliven the home’s entryway, which features a pebbled floor and double front doors painted in Lapis Blue along with a blue Panton Flowerpot Pendant suspended light.
In the guest bedroom, the wooden bed is dressed in shades of soft ochre and dusty pink as well as a Maja Malević blanket from Something Good Studio.
Words — Robyn Alexander
Photography — Warren Heath
Architect — Yvette Van Zyl
