Special Stories / G&G _ Magazine N°20

“What started out as a normal interior architecture brief quickly evolved into my passion project with a focus on coupling global design and South African art and craftsmanship.”

Deep overhangs and a restrained natural palette of materials blend into the beautiful natural surroundings while landscaped terraces on each level ensure that the building will settle even more effectively into its D environment over time. The building mimics the existing contours of the site, sensitively ensuring that the views from neighbouring sites were unaffected or even improved. The interior décor and interior architecture has stylistic connections to the style modern movement of the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 30s.

Each apartment effortlessly binds state-of-the-art technologies into the fabric of its functionality and existence with 24/7 security, services, and amenities that afford a lock-up-and-go lifestyle for summer or all-year-round living. Through the seamlessly integrated home automation system, almost any aspect of the villa can be remotely controlled and personalized, including the lift, pool and Wi-Fi.

The client felt it was a natural choice to work with ARRCC and OKHA on reimagining South Villa’s interior architecture and interior design respectively. Together with SAOTA, these three companies are the leaders in their own rights and as a group, their skills and strengths are even further compounded.

Entering Clifton Terraces via its stone-clad reception area, a private lift ascends six levels to the penthouse and opens to a hallway featuring a full panel of Fantasy marble before reaching the private lobby of the penthouse. Here, a provocative layering of oak and brass inlay accents, together with charcoal grey ribbed timber skirting converge in a backlit slab of Verde Fume Onice Onyx beneath a shadow skylight and LED-lit walls.

Once out of the lift, a classic clad steel mesh door leads into a living area.

The double volume living area features warm bronze and glass installations such as the feature staircase and, in turn, opens onto a 150 sqm terrace that boasts a raised rectangular heated pool offering 360-degree, year-round views of Clifton and Table Mountain. The penthouse doubles as a private art gallery, curated by OKHA in collaboration with the client and features works from galleries such as SMAC, What If the World and Southern Guild. Featured artists include the likes of Chris Soal, Galia Gluckman, Michele Mathison, Alexandra

Karakashian, Mongezi Ncaphayi, Pierre Vermeulen, Chuma Maweni and Atang Tshikare. There is a broad range of custom-designed OKHA furniture pieces featured in key areas throughout the apartment; from the master bedroom and the dining room to the formal lounge and lobby. Stand-out pieces include the double trapezoidshaped Morpheus Dining Table and the ViA console in the lobby. Taking their cue from the architecture, OKHA’s emphasis was intentionally placed on the power of form, mass and materiality.

“The emotive tension between colours, materials, tactility, forms, and spaces symbiotically contribute to the overall design narrative.”

In the living room, the highlight is the Tectra coffee table by OKHA, which Court designed as a modular table that can be separated into three standalone tables and is made from blackened mild steel tube-shaped legs and polished Calcatta Vagli marble.

“The character of the furnishings throughout isn’t achieved through ornamentation but in keeping with the principles of style modern, using clear articulation, with scale playing an important role.”

ARRCC used a classic ribbed wall paneling in a rich dark green in the master bedroom which, together with wooden flooring, echo the Cape pines that frame the windows facing Camps Bay. The custom bed with multi-panelled headboard in Oak and French cane, broad, low armchair in rich green velvet and marble-topped timber side tables are all custom-made by OKHA. The en-suite master bathroom, where French cane bronze mirrors and oak are combined with wall-to-wall slabs of Bianco Carrara marble, provides a vibrant backdrop to the dramatic and moody master bedroom. SAOTA, ARRCC and OKHA have matched luxury with maturity and sophistication in a statement that enriches the conversation about the possibilities of contemporary design.