Cape Town architect Stefan Antoni’s new abode combines rawness and sophistication in equal measures to orchestrate a powerful experience of its spectacularly beautiful setting, all the while making a home for close-knit family life.
The facade of the house is clad in a finely perforated composite aluminium screen, which is folded open at points to allow the windows to peep though horizontal slots. The laser-cut pattern on the screen was inspired by the fynbos and mountain vegetation of the natural landscape behind the house.
The aluminium screen unifies the building and creates a sculptural presence – the ‘fins’ of the folds also creating a sense of mystery. The garages and entrance are on the ground level.
The entrance hall is a deliberately cave-like, primal space, with faceted stone walls of matte silver-grey granite reminiscent of ancient buildings and monuments. It signifies the beginning of a journey, a prompt, as Stefan puts it, “to submit to the experience of the building and let it take you on its journey”.
On the top level of the house, the open living space includes the kitchen, dining room, lounge and bar lounge. The courtyard garden behind the living area connects the house with the mountainside to the north-facing Lion’s Head. With the glass sliding walls stacked away, this pavilion-like space allows the presence of the mountain to flow down into the courtyard, through the living space, out onto the balcony and out over the rim-flow pool to connect with distant views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The grassy courtyard at the back of the house on the north side creates a rare (for Clifton) north-facing garden and lawn for sports and games, as well as an outdoor eating area sheltered from the wind.
The poolside area is ‘held’ by a bar lounge, which is cantilevered over the pool, sheltering the outdoor poolside deck from the wind. The way in which the volumes slide into and over each other and the rim-flow pool creates a sense of weightlessness and endless space where the architecture gives way to the immensity beyond.
The outdoor dining pavilion showcases panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The outdoor dining are in front of the living area is sheltered by a planted pergola and showcases panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The master bedroom enjoys endless ocean views from the balcony. The en-suite bathroom forms part of an open-plan arrangement in the bedroom, and also features beautiful ocean views. The granite-clad bath features an ethanol fireplace. “The idea is that in winter, when you lie in the bath, you have a little strip of flame next to you,” says Stefan.
Words — Graham Wood
Photography — Greg Cox
