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A Fantastic House With Views Over The Mountains And The Ocean

By Simona Ganea | Published on

Located in Clifton, Cape Town, this amazing house is was recently completed SAOTA, having architect Philippe Fouché as project lead. The location is absolutely spectacular, with some of the most gorgeous views over the sandy beaches, the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.

As in most cases, great views are not easy to come by and involve all sorts of challenges. The most notable obstacle to overcome in this case was the fact that the site had a very steep slope which had to be excavated in order to accomodate the residence. This didn’t stop the team from creating a dream house and these images capture the beauty of some of the key design elements as well as the views.

 

No matter how you look at it, the house looks like a collection of individually-shaped volumes with unique characterView in gallery
No matter how you look at it, the house looks like a collection of individually-shaped volumes with unique character
Each floor has its own unique structure and was designed with a specific selection of materials in mindView in gallery
Each floor has its own unique structure and was designed with a specific selection of materials in mind
The box-like volume which hovers over the ground floor allows trees to grow inside itView in gallery
The box-like volume which hovers over the ground floor allows trees to grow inside it
The connection between all the floors within the house is ensured by a simple and elegant staircaseView in gallery
The connection between all the floors within the house is ensured by a simple and elegant staircase
The timber staircase puts en emphasis on the natural beauty and grain of the woodView in gallery
The timber staircase puts en emphasis on the natural beauty and grain of the wood

Like many other cool houses we’ve seen, this one has a rather unique structure. The best way to describe it would be as an arrangement of staggered clocks. The lower section functions as an independent apartment framed by gabion walls, with a green terrace and transitional space just above it. On top of that a box-like volume hovers and allows nature to become a part of the house itself. Above this box stands the living area, a volume which follows the slope of the mountains in an effort to ensure a strong connection between the house and its surroundings. A mezzanine area serves as a private study and is followed by the uppermost floor which houses the master bedroom suite.

Large windows and openings seamlessly connect the indoor and outdoor and frame these extraordinary viewsView in gallery
Large windows and openings seamlessly connect the indoor and outdoor and frame these extraordinary views
This living room has a large L-shaped sectional which delineates a very inviting sitting areaView in gallery
This living room has a large L-shaped sectional which delineates a very inviting sitting area
The kitchen is seamlessly integrated into this open floor plan, featuring a large island and stylish lighting fixturesView in gallery
The kitchen is seamlessly integrated into this open floor plan, featuring a large island and stylish lighting fixtures
Even though at first it may seem that the house favores cold materials and colors, all the spaces are very warm and welcomingView in gallery
Even though at first it may seem that the house favores cold materials and colors, all the spaces are very warm and welcoming
The designers paid special attention to all the finishes and textures used throughout the roomsView in gallery
The designers paid special attention to all the finishes and textures used throughout the rooms
The master bedroom opens onto an enclosed space with a patio-like vibeView in gallery
The master bedroom opens onto an enclosed space with a patio-like vibe
All sections of the house enjoy panoramic views of their surroundings, including views towards the oceanView in gallery
All sections of the house enjoy panoramic views of their surroundings, including views towards the ocean
The bedroom terrace is a seamless extension of the interior space and has transparent glass railingsView in gallery
The bedroom terrace is a seamless extension of the interior space and has transparent glass railings
All the main areas of the house also enjoy a direct connection to the outdoors through various terracesView in gallery
All the main areas of the house also enjoy a direct connection to the outdoors through various terraces
All areas with no exception have a very stylish and sophisticated vibeView in gallery
All areas with no exception have a very stylish and sophisticated vibe
Nature is a very important part of this project and not just because of the extraordinary viewsView in gallery
Nature is a very important part of this project and not just because of the extraordinary views
The mountains towards the South look absolutely spectacular from this angleView in gallery
The mountains towards the South look absolutely spectacular from this angle
The interior decor is personalized with a variety of art pieces including paintings and sculpturesView in gallery
The interior decor is personalized with a variety of art pieces including paintings and sculptures
The staircase has a simple design with sculptural lines and a ribbon-like silhouetteView in gallery
The staircase has a simple design with sculptural lines and a ribbon-like silhouette
The transitions between the interior spaces are seamless and the same goes for all the terraces View in gallery
The transitions between the interior spaces are seamless and the same goes for all the terraces
The relationship between the house and its natural surroundings stands at the core of this entire projectView in gallery
The relationship between the house and its natural surroundings stands at the core of this entire project
The interior design strategy was to keep the spaces simple without making them look ordinary and boringView in gallery
The interior design strategy was to keep the spaces simple without making them look ordinary and boring