In the midst of works of art

In Cape Town, South Africa, the architectural firm SAOTA has imagined a villa as a contemporary setting for life and art, where the comfort of a modern house is combined with a design that draws its elements from a setting in dramatic scene.

Perched on the side of Lion’s Head hill in Cape Town, the mansion, designed by studio SAOTA, has views of the white beaches of Clifton. Entering from Nettleton Road, South Africa’s most sought-after street, immediately gives an impression of careful composition. The lower levels house six spacious bedrooms, three of which can be linked together to form a family suite, and a leisure area with spa, game room and home cinema. The main living room is at the top of the building; it is a large open volume, under double height of ceiling, housing the kitchen, the bar, the dining room, the living room and the bedrooms, as well as a winter living room, an office and an art studio at the mezzanine level. The glazed lines between the interior and the exterior blur the boundaries, to form a continuous and transparent place, which connects a generous garden directly overlooking Table Mountain National Park, with a swimming pool which extends towards the sea in front. The masterful play of light and materials used in the residence also allows it to welcome another true family: a wonderful collection of contemporary South African art, which finds here a showcase to its measure.