The intent of the design was to really take full advantage of the beautiful “forest” site. With such thick bush encapsulating the house, privacy and direct sunlight were not really issues, so that enabled us to use large amounts of glazing to take advantage of the views and natural light on offer and reinforce the indoor/outdoor lifestyle desired by our clients.
Volumetric play was a theme that was explored with the design, with the double volume staircase area, as well as the high level glazing and raked ceilings on the top floor, and the generally high ceilings throughout.
Accessed from Kloof Road, which winds along the western slopes of Lion’s Head, this site is positioned in the wind-protected suburb of Clifton. Years before any development was introduced, this slope was conceivably covered by indigenous forest and fynbos. Today, however, the area is developed and enjoys spectacular views over the sandy beaches, boulder outcrops, and Twelve Apostles mountains towards the south and sunset views over the Atlantic Ocean.
The first aspect of the project that required addressing was the steep slope that would have to be excavated to accommodate the structure. The home was conceived as an arrangement of staggered blocks that rise along the side of the mountain, with the upper, private levels becoming appropriately shielded from both visibility and street-level noise.
dhk Architects has completed an apartment block conceived as a monolith with indentations and cut-outs. The building features 85 luxury residential apartments and penthouses supplemented with small-scale commercial and retail space at ground level. Occupying a prominent corner position in growing suburb Century City in Cape Town, the landmark development has been designed to capitalise on enviable views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.
The building connects to the environment in a myriad of strategic ways and sets a precedent for urban conscious residential developments in the city. The compact form of the building wraps around itself and gradually rises, orientating most of the apartments towards views of the city. Its unique doughnut-shaped form is adorned with visual gashes that allow the sheltered walkway spaces to catch glimpses of the city around it, connecting the inside circulation to the outside world. The rising form cuts away, creating dynamic terraces and activity at differing heights, culminating in generous penthouse units. Transporting every inhabitant on a scenic journey to their destination, a large panoramic lift runs the full height of the building and is positioned at the pinnacle of its mass. A stand-out element of the design, the exterior of the lift is completely clad in red aluminium and sits within a glass shaft facing Table Mountain.
Floating over the trees in one of Durban’s exclusive housing estates ‘The Tree House’ is set amongst one of the North Coast’s precious few remaining indigenous coastal forests.
This modern contemporary home seeks to seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living and was designed around the sub-tropical Durban climate.
Tucked away in a leafy suburb in Cape Town stands a statement-making home – not only for the modern, glass-fronted architecture but more so for it’s vibrant interiors. For local design studio ARRCC, who executed the project, it was the homeowner’s affinity for colour – and a multitude of materials – that informed the creative journey. ‘By working with the homeowner’s wide and varied art collection we were able to create spaces that allow for a dynamic dialogue between the artworks and furnishings,’ says ARRCC director Mark Rielly. This is immediately apparent in the expansive, marbled entrance hall of this Jenny Mills Architecture-designed home, where the brightly coloured, geometric Emmemobili Arlequin C cabinet is complemented by a two-tone suede sofa, angular rug and organically shaped side table. The scene sets a welcome sense of repose that carries through to the rest of the home. ‘Materiality is just as much a feature in this area,’ says ARRCC designer Quintin Gilman, pointing to the architect’s vision for the staircase leading down to the basement level. ‘Crema Marfil marble, glass balustrades with brass cladding, and dark-stained timber all create unique textures in this stairwell,’ he says. On the staircase wall, laser-cut, coated-steel cladding was added and then back-lit for dramatic effect.
Norval Foundation is a modern pavilion for art set against a dramatic mountain and vineyard landscape, located on the slopes of the Constantiaberg Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. The Norval family who are the founders and initial funders of Norval Foundation envisioned a world-class art museum in an exceptional location that would be accessible to the general public. This provided a unique opportunity for architecture studio dhk; to strike a balance between two motivations: protect the artwork within and maximise views of the natural landscape outside.
The building’s architectural design is a pure expression of form; a bold rectangular mass, delineating its heavy-walled enclosure and light over-sailing roof. It is constrained by a linear site, between a busy road and an existing wetland; turning its back to a neighbouring embassy compound. The linear circulation spine is positioned along this edge, with the galleries and public spaces facing the natural landscape, capturing framed views of the wetland, vineyards and mountains beyond.
Battery Park is a new 12 000 sqm (1.2 hectre) urban park situated at a key entranceway to one of Africa’s most visited tourist destinations, the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa. Developed as the nucleus of a larger urban vision for the district, the site includes a park and piazza that effectively conceal a 1 206-bay parking facility as well as new pedestrian routes to invigorate the precinct with activity. The site is of archaeological importance as it contains the remnants of one of the city’s oldest structures, coastal fortification the Amsterdam Battery. This provided a unique opportunity for architecture and urban design firm dhk – to pay homage to the historic landmark whilst incorporating a parking facility and providing spaces for leisure and recreational activities.
On Cape Town’s mountainside stands a striking angular building by renowned local architecture firm SAOTA. Complementing this terraced home, the interiors, by interior‐design leader ARRCC, are a treasure trove of gem‐like materials and custom furniture which pull together the client’s brief for ultimate comfort within high‐ functioning entertainment zones. A profusion of metallic surfaces is juxtaposed with warm wood and splashes of bright colour, invoking a sense of dynamic living.
Says ARRCC Designer Nina Sierra Rubia of the entrance hall: ‘The walnut paneling reflects the warmth seen throughout the rest of the home, while the metal fleck ceramic by Chantal Woodman for OKHA, standing on a suspended black swing server, tells you that there’s fun to be had inside,’
The Forest House is an exploration into materiality, light and the integration of architecture into the landscape. Situated in an exclusive forest estate in Durban, South Africa, the forest house strives to frame the landscape with clean horizontal lines.
The home celebrates raw materials, which helps soften the transition between built form and the precious landscape that surrounds it. This raw materiality reinforces the honesty behind the architectural tectonics of its construction.
This SAOTA designed family home is positioned below Lion’s Head; with views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, the city of Cape Town and the mountains of the Boland and the winelands in the distance, the architecture is shaped to take in as much of the surrounding as is possible. The strongest gesture is the inverted pyramid roof which creates a clerestory window around the upper level. It allows the building to open up, capturing views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head that would otherwise have been lost. This has also opened up views of the sky bringing the sun and moon into the home, heightening the connection to nature and its cycles.
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