SCAPE Coffee Table Edition 2024 | Vol. 111 by Paper Plane Publications

COFFEE TABLE EDITION

From forest to floor

Hardwood Flooring, Cladding & Decking Manufacturers

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INTRODUCING THE HERITAGE COLLECTION | A CELEBRATION OF MODERN CLASSIC BATHROOM DESIGN

THIRTY FIVE YEARS OF FINE BATHROOMWARE

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ANATOMY OF A SANCTUARY

Terre Paisible Medical Rejuvenation & Spa

Tristan du Plessis

28 OF VINES AND VITALITY

Bosjes Die Stalle Spa Meyer & Associates

SCULPTED BY THE SEA

Wave Villa ARRCC

48 CONTOURS OF CONTEMPLATION

48 Devonvale Metropolis

54 THE GEOMETRY OF NATURE

The Pavilion

Malan Vorster Architecture Interior Design

Watson Pellacini Garden Design Studio

62 WHERE ROOTS RUN DEEP

Elaleni Forest House

Julia Rutherfoord Architect

Nikhil Tricam

41 A BOAT OF ONE’S OWN

La Camargue Penthouse KAA Architects

THE ART OF THE EMBRACE

House Houghton

Julia Day Interior Architecture and Design

REBELS ON THE RESERVE

The Reserve Studio BHD

RHYTHM OF THE HIGHVELD

New Highveld House

Meshworks Architecture + Urbanism

87 CHAMBER OF A SECRET CELLAR

La Colombe Secret Cellar

MR. Design Studio

WHERE THE WILD THINGS STAY

Ngala Tented Camp

Fox Browne Creative

Jack Alexander Studio

AGED TO PERFECTION

Kanonkop Wine Cellar

NEO Architects

104

KALAHARI DREAMING

Loapi Tented Camp GAPP Architects and Urban Designers

Gregory Mellor Design

111

COLOUR ME CRIMSON

ROOI Muza Lab

116

PLAYING IT COY

COY

KT Interior Architectural Studio

123 A SECOND ACT

Cape Grace Hotel 1508 London Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

129

STEPS AHEAD

Shelflife TDC&Co

135 IN FULL BLOOM

The Rose Fabian Architects & Make Studio

142

TWISTING EXPECTATIONS

The Rubik dhk Architects

149 DOCKING ON RESTRAINT

14 Dock Road

SVA International

156 PLAY IT FORWARD

Redhill Early Learning Centre

Hubo Studio

165 A LEGACY OF LOVE

Durban Girls’ College Anele Tembe Library

Hesse Kleinloog Studio

170

DOME OF DISCOVERY

Wits Anglo American Digital Dome

Kate Otten Architects

176 A SOCIAL BEACON ABLAZE

Lantern House

Local Studio

182 CULTIVATING COMMUNITY

Soweto-Caracas Community Centre

Urban Think Tank Empower

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The ‘SayYES’ Year!

Well, 2024 has been everything!

As we draw the curtain on the whirlwind that has been 2024, in retrospect it has just felt so full, so intentional, and so right! From jam-packed trips to Salone del Mobile Milano, attending the Dezeen Awards in London, and a few local and international stops along the way for amazing clients and contributors, to launching our inaugural Awards of Excellence, delivering a meaningful Trade Show, and presenting 12 issues, SCAPE said yes to every opportunity this year – and we’re better for it! We’ve fallen in love with architecture and design all over again, and with everything we’ve seen abroad, I still believe our local industry is the most exciting and dynamic space.

I feel it is 昀椀tting to allow ourselves to feel good about the industry after this year. We’ve seen some exceptional work and unique perspectives achieved, and what is being accomplished feels like it is gathering momentum.

And so, it brings us great joy to curate, for the 昀椀nal encore, our very special edition of the year — our 2024/2025 Coffee Table Edition. This is not just another issue; it has become an absolute industry staple and a brag book for those mentioned (and those aspiring to be mentioned), par excellence.

This issue is our annual benchmark for brilliance and a measure of the year’s most remarkable and standout new projects. It embodies a vision that de昀椀nes our community. It’s a keepsake, a conversation starter, and an issue that takes pride of place on the coffee tables of some of SA’s most iconic studios and 昀椀rms.

After SCAPE’s most successful year yet, we are thrilled to unveil this collection of our country’s most awe-inspiring spaces. So, share it widely and let it inspire a bold new chapter for our industry as we take a 昀椀nal bow for 2024. 2025 is fast approaching, and as always, you’ll need to grab a front row seat as we take on new challenges and look to move the industry forward.

Warmly, fondly, and 昀椀nally for 2024,

Chel

Cover image by Elsa Young

Tristan du Plessis Taps into Unsurpassed Luxury at Franschhoek’s New Terre Paisible Medical Rejuvenation & Spa

ANATOMY OF A SANCTUARY

Location: Franschhoek, Cape Winelands

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On the proverbial ‘peaceful land’ known as Terre Paisible, a treatment centre for rejuvenation and health has emerged amidst a setting of fine wines and extra-virgin olive oils. The Terre Paisible Medical Rejuvenation & Spa facility is a haven of well-being encompassed by the Simonsberg mountains. The spa not only offers a place to revitalise oneself, but thanks to renowned interior architect Tristan du Plessis, it also stands as a tale of the power of design as a catalyst for restoration.

Terre Paisible may be known for its luxury wine and oils, but the potential for restoration on this land has increased signi昀椀cantly with the addition of the Medical Rejuvenation & Spa. Shirley van Wyk, the Managing Director of Terre Paisible, pursued the wellness facility with the goal of crafting a serene, contemporary space that balances warmth with a clean aesthetic.

Grounded amongst the groves

Inspired by the tranquility and beauty of the olive groves and vineyards, the centre was considerately designed by Tristan du

Plessis with a keen understanding that the design could not compete with the wonder of the natural surroundings. With this in mind, Tristan says he aimed to create a design that ‘embraces the views out, acting as a platform to visually engage with the landscape.’ The team selected a neutral palette, complemented by touches of mirrored surfaces and stone, to evoke a sense of ethereal lightness while remaining 昀椀rmly grounded in the environment. ‘Our intent was to design a space that fosters calmness and relaxation, prioritising the atmosphere and experience over just aesthetics.’

SUPPLIERS

Oak flooring: Oggie Hardwood Flooring | Sanitaryware: Meir | Lounge sofa centrepiece: de Sede

Surrender to sanctuary

A contemporary sanctuary, the wellness centre is composed of immaculate spaces which see a considered use of screens that lends a subtle play of light and shadow to the architecture while creating a series of secluded spaces for rest or meditation. The array of treatment programmes is provided in eight elegant treatment rooms, which include two discreet, private-access suites.

The space invites guests to let go of the outside world and surrender to full sensory immersion which extends from the treatment rooms to an indulgent hydrotherapy, sauna, and steam room. The space further channels divinity with its sleek archways, pristine pool area with views of the estate, and a serene lounge, adorned with an iconic sofa centrepiece from de Sede.

The Terre Paisible Medical Rejuvenation & Spa offers more than a retreat; it invites a deep experience of rest and renewal amidst nature’s quiet grandeur. With Tristan du Plessis’s re昀椀ned design approach, the facility integrates gracefully with the landscape, enhancing the restorative qualities of this idyllic estate. The thoughtful interior architecture and harmonious palette create a space that encourages guests to disconnect from the world and fully embrace relaxation. By blending serene aesthetics with immersive wellness experiences, Terre Paisible becomes a sanctuary where the beauty of design meets the healing power of nature.

“The space further channels divinity with its sleek archways, pristine pool area with views of the estate, and a serene lounge, adorned with an iconic sofa centrepiece from de Sede.”

Images courtesy of Terre Paisible

“Our intent was to design a space that fosters calmness and relaxation, prioritising the atmosphere and experience over just aesthetics.”

- Tristan du Plessis

HARMONY.

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South Africa.

OF VINES AND VITALITY

Bosjes Continues to Evolve with Tranquil Wellness Facility

Die Stalle Spa, Designed by Meyer & Associates

Photography by Paris Brummer

Size: 530 m2

Location: Breede River Valley, Worcester

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Well-known and -loved as a historic working farm that dates back to 1790, Bosjes is an extensive sanctuary found in the Breede River Valley near Worcester. The farmstead first hosted only three structures: a manor house, barn, and stables, built in a line facing the valley with the Waaihoek mountains forming a backdrop. Today, the expanse of land has evolved to offer an array of luxurious experiences in this humble valley, the latest of which being the Bosjes Die Stalle Spa designed by Meyer & Associates.

From stables to spa

The addition of the spa facility followed multiple other additions which have turned the site from a homestead to a shared haven. Meyer & Associates began this journey with an expansion of the Bosjes Guesthouse, which led to the start of the development of the spa — a remodelling of the stables also known as Die Stalle — in 2019. As was the case with the guesthouse, the design of the spa was guided by the need to protect the heritage façade. Built from stone and mud-brick masonry, this exterior was retained and a new interior 昀椀tted into the structure.

The old informing the new

The project includes treatment rooms, a sauna, hydro pool, and a modern take on a Rasul chamber. The Cape Dutch architecture and original stables informed the architectural theme in elements and 昀椀nishes such as the timber stable doors, rough plaster work, small aperture windows, and reconstructed water trough. The interiors, designed by Liam Mooney Studio, create an appropriately warm, embracing feel with soft lighting, generous plaster cornices, basketweave floor tiling, brass ironmongery, and sanitaryware. The extension of the spa that began in 2022 formed part of the recon昀椀guration of the guesthouse complex, which included a circulatory spine passing through the whole complex. This route guides visitors through a collection of guest rooms in the old Schuur (barn) building, ending at the entrance to the renewed version of Die Stalle.

Photography by Paris Brummer

“As was the case with the guesthouse, the design of the spa was guided by the need to protect the heritage façade.”

@meyer_and_associates www.meyerandassociates.co.za

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: Meyer & Associates | Quantity

Surveyors: 2ii Consulting Quantity Surveyors

Structural and Civil Engineers: Kantey & Templer

Consulting Engineers | Interior Designer: Liam Mooney Studio | Landscape Designer: Franchesca Watson Gardens | Building Contractors: Cum Laude Konstruksie | Landscape Contractors: Vula Environmental Services

Photography by Paris Brummer

A wing mirrors the old stables across this route’s axis, with the reception building placed symmetrically between them to receive the axis. A courtyard is then formed amongst these, opening on the southern side to an exquisite garden designed by Franchesca Watson.

A gentle reminiscing

Reminiscent of the stables, the new wing is a quiet, low-slung block with white plastered walls and a parapet roof. The architectural and interior themes from the 昀椀rst stage of development were continued in the new buildings, with the addition of a klompie clad vault at the entrance to the reception, and klompie floors in the passages.

The transformation of Bosjes from a simple homestead into a luxurious sanctuary exempli昀椀es the harmony of heritage preservation and modern innovation. By retaining historical elements like stone and mud-brick façades and blending them with thoughtful, sophisticated interiors, Die Stalle Spa at Bosjes continues to evolve without losing its storied roots. This marriage of old and new creates a space that offers visitors an unforgettable journey through time and tranquility in the heart of the Breede River Valley.

SUPPLIERS

Klompie brick tiles: Lane’s Ceramic Works | Plaster cornices and feature walls: Plaster Art | Oak doors, timber doors, shutters and decking: Goosen Shopfit Design Brass fixtures: Wehmeyer & Sons | Bronze sanitaryware: Still Bathrooms | Stone cladding: Stone Age Masons | Pool mosaic tiles: Pudlo | Granite tiles: WOMAG

Photography by Claire Gunn

SCULPTED BY THE SEA

ARRCC Presents a Masterclass in Designing with Nature in the Wonder of Wave Villa

Size: 519 m²

Location: Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town

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As light dapples across the walls and floors of this seaside sanctuary, Wave Villa announces with ease and charm: ‘The water is warm, you might as well swim.’ The structure rests gently at the foot of Lion’s Head, staring out over the ocean and emulating the view. Its rippling forms, vast open spaces, and juxtaposed interior design elements all speak to the care with which ARRCC envisioned and executed this undulating delight.

“A page from the book of design poetry, Wave Villa is where the ceiling sighs a breath of relief and light starts to dance as you enter.”

Between two wings

Divided into two main wings, the house separates living and entertainment spaces from private and sleeping spaces. The living spaces boast impressive sea views from the top level and include open-plan lounge and dining areas that flow out onto a terrace through floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Below, you’re met with three guest bedrooms, staff quarters, a gym, a study, a games room, and another lounge that joins onto the pool terrace. Finally, the main bedroom occupies the upper level of the second wing.

The dappling of light

Although eager to invite natural light, provisions are made for the excess sunlight inevitable to the setting in summer. Perforated sliding metal screens on the façade act as shelters, dispersing the sunlight in dappled patterns across the interiors. For the staircase, the team channelled the simple elegance of a citrus peel to link

Redesigning this home on Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard was an exercise in expanding life beyond four walls. For ARRCC, as the architects and interior designers on the project, the new design needed to retain the structure’s existing footprint, so the team remodelled the envelope and the interior to create a flowing, openplan arrangement that seeps into the gardens and terraces, and reaches beyond towards the divine panoramic ocean views.

Emulating the ocean

From outside the structure is unassuming, with only a tantalising glimpse of the sculptural roof visible behind the trees that adorn the property. It may be a concrete shell of sorts, but it is elegant in its emulation of the billowing ocean waves and mountain ranges in the backdrop. On a practical note, the ceiling pushes upwards above clerestory windows to frame the views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head.

The front of the building rises towards the expanse of the sky, creating an essence of openness, welcoming the entry of natural light. Similarly, the roof of the master bedroom in the adjacent wing has been peeled back and lifted upwards to embrace the views. This flooding of light is continued in the upstairs living space, which is designed in a pavilion-like fashion. The space connects to the back yard, maintaining an openness to ample natural light and fresh air.

SUPPLIERS

Oak flooring: Oggie Hardwood Flooring | Bespoke feature light: One to One by Martin Döller

the spaces above with what is below. This sculpturesque feature is enhanced by a custom pendant light which floats neatly between the twists and turns of the stairs.

A 昀椀nal salute to the serenity of Wave Villa, the material palette was restrained and kept consistent. Tactility and neutrality are the driving influences, allowing the landscape views to showcase themselves fully without interruption. Light oak panelling on the ceilings, walls, and floors creates softness and warmth, the use of exposed concrete standing in gritty contrast, while Cape Granite resonates with the mountainous site.

A page from the book of design poetry, Wave Villa is where the ceiling sighs a breath of relief and light starts to dance as you enter. This Atlantic Seaboard abode isn’t just a remodel; it’s an ode to nature, flowing beyond the con昀椀nes of structure into light, land, and sea. By embracing juxtaposition, openness, and harmony, ARRCC presents a place where ocean waves meet sculptural form and all that is expected of you is to bask, reflect, and simply be.

Photography by Greg Cox

A BOAT OF ONE’S OWN

KAA Architects Take a Sea Point

Abode Out to the Ocean with La Camargue Penthouse

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Size: 560 m²

Location: Sea Point, Cape Town

Taking its place in a 1970s apartment building on Sea Point’s beachfront, La Camargue Penthouse draws its inspiration from the sweeping sea views. Inspired to channel the feeling of floating above the water on a luxury yacht, KAA Architects designed this home as a maritime capsule.

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: KAA Architects | Electrician: JDM Electrical Builders and Plumbers: WhiteHouse Building & Plumbing Kitchen and Joinery: Kitchen Emporium | Interior Decor: Di Morris | Photographer: Paris Brummer

A trip to the marina

When the client approached the KAA Team, there was no doubt that this project would be closely connected to its surroundings. The client already owned a boat of his own, and together with the architectural team, visited the local marina to study several boats in search of design ideas. As they explored the vessels, a clear concept formed to create an authentic, marine-inspired, luxury apartment.

Elements of the ocean

KAA Architects were fortunate in that they had the creative freedom to incorporate ideas that came to them as the project progressed, adding dimensions of richness and depth of detail to the space. Polished timber ceiling panels were introduced in the main bedroom areas together with strip LED lighting, reminiscent of the interiors of the most spectacular yachts. A ‘front deck’ area was included where the entire frontage of the apartment’s ‘fore deck’ can open through sliding, folding frameless glazing. To further the experience of opening up to the ocean elements, a motorised glass roof was installed to slide open above the swimming pool.

The team was able to get special Nordic pine planking manufactured for the upper pool deck, which closely emulates the exterior decks on yachts with black strips between each plank. This choice also adds to the authenticity of the concept being taken through to every detail.

Superyacht sanctuary

Local suppliers offered an incredible range of world-class materials and 昀椀nishes. The aim for the project was for every material to project a sense of quality and beauty and to have contrasts between what highlighted each individual material while staying true to the ‘Superyacht’ theme. Major material decisions included the choice of the light-stained timber flooring from Lalegno as well as the choice of marble 昀椀nishes from Marble Gallery. The marble’s natural beauty adds a sense of timeless luxury to the various spaces, working to create a coherent and visually striking narrative with the timber flooring.

Beating the battles

Being situated on the 8th and 9th floor of the building presented major construction challenges. The building’s lifts couldn’t be used due to Body Corporate rules, so the contractor had to build a dedicated hoist at the back of the building. Every brick and build component was lifted up using this hoist system.

Working within an existing structure also presented signi昀椀cant structural issues as spaces were opened up and certain levels lifted to create better spatial flows and connections. The entire glazing system was redone with a double-glazed installation for energy ef昀椀ciency, but it wasn’t easy to 昀椀nd a glazing system that could be installed without the use of scaffolding.

Entering La Camargue Penthouse is like boarding a spectacular and luxurious Superyacht. As you gaze out at the ocean, a sublime maritime experience exceptionally curated by KAA Architects awaits on the horizon.

SUPPLIERS

“Entering La Camargue Penthouse is like boarding a spectacular and luxurious Superyacht. As you gaze out at the ocean, a sublime maritime experience exceptionally curated by KAA Architects awaits on the horizon.”

CAPE TOWN - JOHANNESBURG - MAURITIUS

Mah Jong MISSONI - Outdoor sofa

Designed by Hans Hopfer

In the Embrace of Stellenbosch's Protea Fields, 48 Devonvale Unfolds as a Meeting Point Between Architecture and Landscape.

CONTOURS OF CONTEMPLATION

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Size: 375 m2

Location: Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands

A once vacant 4.5-hectare protea plantation east of Stellenbosch sets the scene for 48 Devonvale, a home designed by Metropolis that evokes a sense of wonder and introspection, distorting the boundaries between the constructed and the natural. The architectural narrative of this single-storey home is one of abstraction and integration, showcasing a well-crafted relationship with the surrounding hills and farmland.

SUPPLIERS

Switch gears: Lumen8 | Kitchen: LEICHT | Furniture: James Mudge Furniture Studio, DouglasBuilt, Mark Miller Furniture Design, Louw Roets

“A structure that embodies both containment and openness, echoing the gentle undulations of the land.”

From the outset, the design intent was clear: to create an immersive experience that reflects the complexities of human existence. Metropolis envisioned a structure that embodies both containment and openness, echoing the gentle undulations of the land while providing a sanctuary for its inhabitants.

Investigating spatial dynamics

Unlike the vernacular-inspired architecture that pervades the region, the house speci昀椀cally references the character of the landscape. Its form emerges from a deceptively simple gesture: stacked, overlapping cubes arranged to create a detailed architectural narrative. The structure, partially embedded into the slope, presents a non-disruptive silhouette while creating wind-protected courtyards with varying characters. This careful positioning, combined with strategically placed berms formed from excavated soil, ensures both privacy and a sense of rootedness.

Using locally sourced flush-jointed paving bricks and off-shutter concrete, the team achieved a minimalist aesthetic. The colour palette, dominated by soft greys, natural timber, and crisp white 昀椀nishes, exudes tranquillity, allowing the house to serve as a backdrop to the ever-changing moods of the land it occupies. Strategic skylights and overhead beams ensure that light floods the interior, creating a dynamic interplay that shifts throughout the day and seasons, enriching the lived experience of the home.

@metropolis_design_ www.metropolisdesign.co.za

Dissolving boundaries

The home’s design is a product of collaboration between architect and client. The client, an architect from Sweden, was deeply involved in the process, resulting in a residence that reflects not only a commitment to sustainable design but also a personal desire for a life lived outdoors, or as close to the outdoors as possible, while enjoying the refuge of a beautifully crafted space. The comfortable and minimalist interior features ample space for family gatherings, a home of昀椀ce, and multiple areas that encourage contemplation and rest.

The success of 48 Devonvale lies in its resolution of apparent contradictions: it offers both endlessness and containment, human comfort and natural integration, simplicity and complexity. In doing so, it transcends mere domestic architecture to become a meditation on our relationship with the land that we share.

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: Metropolis | Structural Engineer: Misc

Engineering | Quantity Surveyor: Prodigious | Landscape

Designer: Franchesca Watson Gardens | Landscape

Contractors: DDS Projects | Photographer: Paris Brummer

DISTINCTIVE CEMENT-BASED FINISHES

THE GEOMETRY OF NATURE

Malan Vorster Redefines Design

Individuality at the Paarman Estate in a Striking Collaboration with Watson Pellacini

Building Size: 365 m²

Garden Size: 7120 m²

Location: Constantia, Cape Town

Extending across 8135 m² of land on the edge of Old Constantia, this site tells a story of the architectural evolution undertaken by Ina and Graham Paarman over the past two decades. The family have ventured on various enhancements to their estate, including Graham’s celebrated ‘tree house’ and a modern gym pavilion. Most recently, the Paarmans acquired a neighbouring pocket of land which presented itself as a canvas for a striking new structure — and a special new adventure for Malan Vorster Architecture Interior Design alongside Watson Pellacini Garden Design Studio.

Embedded in the land

The Paarmans envisioned a structure that would gently integrate comfortably into its surroundings, serving as both a sanctuary and an entertainment venue, while maintaining a profound connection to nature. Their desire was for a design that would be partially embedded in the site, featuring planted roofs that engage with the landscape, creating the illusion of being gently dug into the hillside. The fortuitous existence of a historic poplar-lined wagon road enriched the site’s narrative further, influencing the layout and integration of the new design with the original estate.

Although striking and strong, the resulting design by the team at Malan Vorster is a low-slung structure that rises organically from the terrain, blending seamlessly with its environment. The use of rough, sandblasted concrete evokes natural boulders, allowing the building to visually recede into the landscape and enhancing its tactile experience. This approach grounds the architecture, celebrating the site’s unique topography.

“By embedding the building into the hillside and embracing its contours, the design solidifies its connection to the environment.”

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: Malan Vorster Architecture Interior Design Structural and Civil Engineers: DesignTech | Quantity Surveyors: HBQS | HVAC Consultants and Installers: Jo Lubbe & Associates, Airfreeze | Landscape Designers: Watson Pellacini Garden Design Studio| Landscape Contractor: Heimo Schulzer Gardens | Stone and Gabion Landscapers: The Art of Stone | Pond Filtration Designers: EcoPools | Photographer: A Lookbook Studio production, photography by Elsa Young

SUPPLIERS

Timber joinery: Versfeld | Stone basin: Stone Age

Masons | Exterior timber wall cladding: RH Woodworx

Stone wall cladding: Elem Stone and Garden | Garage door: BH4 Doors | Aluminium doors and windows: Dix

Aluminium & Glass | Furniture: Minotti

Echoes of the architecture and landscape

The material palette — comprising raw stone, sandblasted concrete, and lush plant life — reinforces the relationship with the landscape. By embedding the building into the hillside and embracing its contours, the design solidi昀椀es its connection to the environment, creating a unique space where the boundary between interior and exterior disappears.

Integrating integrity

Constructing a building on steep terrain presented signi昀椀cant logistical challenges for both the architecture and landscaping components of the project, particularly regarding access for construction vehicles. The absence of a dedicated driveway impeded the transport of materials to the upper sections of the site, especially during the concrete pouring for the cantilevered portions of the planted roof. To overcome this, concrete trucks were stationed at the base, employing a pumping system to convey the concrete through a long pipeline directly into the formwork at the top, ensuring structural integrity while minimising disruption to the landscape.

Integrating a cantilevered triangular reflection pond posed another challenge, necessitating precise engineering to maintain stability while extending outward. This feature enhances the aesthetic appeal and functions as a bio pond, requiring a natural 昀椀ltration system that supports aquatic plant life and improves water quality. The design team calibrated water levels and flow rates to facilitate the growth of native vegetation, fostering biodiversity and ecological health on-site. The planted roof also demanded careful engineering to support both structural integrity and vegetation. Despite the complexities involved, the roof emerged as a triumph, softening the concrete’s starkness.

A plant-rich design approach

The architects designed the building to harmonise with the landscape through integrated planting, incorporating greened and softened elements like planted roofs that rise naturally from the ground. This thoughtful approach avoids any suburban sensibility, opting instead for a plant-rich landscape that complements the strong architectural lines. Given the architecture’s bold presence, Watson Pellacini envisioned a garden that would embrace and soften the structure, blending it seamlessly into the landscape while delivering a dynamic and engaging planting scheme.

The two teams collaborated closely to ensure the garden’s design aligned with the building’s function and concept, especially in relation to the ponds. The water features are arranged on two levels: a triangular reflection pond that enhances the experience within The Pavilion itself, and a more natural pond at garden level, which serves as a reservoir to receive the reflection pond’s cascading water curtain. This water element introduces both movement and sound, extending into the garden, where extensive grass plantings sway with the wind.

The Pavilion stands as a sophisticated synthesis of architecture and landscape, with each design element — from the embedded pavilion to the carefully curated garden — demonstrating a profound respect for the land. Malan Vorster Architecture Interior Design and Watson Pellacini Garden Design Studio have crafted a space that is both timeless and forward-thinking, honouring the Paarmans’ vision while celebrating the site’s natural and historical beauty.

WHERE ROOTS RUN DEEP

Julia Rutherfoord and Nikhil Tricam

Let Nature Pen the Blueprint for Elaleni Forest House

Size: 300 m2

Location: Dolphin Coast, KwaZulu-Natal

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The Elaleni Forest House in Northern KwaZulu-Natal is a prime example of letting nature take the lead.

This extraordinary dwelling, conceived by the creative minds of Julia Rutherfoord and Studio Kalki’s Nikhil Tricam, doesn’t just pay lip service to environmental consciousness — it quite literally builds itself around it. The site, densely populated with trees and blessed with rich biodiversity, presented what some might label ‘challenges’. Yet, in the hands of Julia and Nikhil, these natural elements became not obstacles but conversation partners in an exciting and unique architectural dialogue.

The tree that spoke

At the heart of this project stands an ancient 昀椀g tree, commanding the attention of any onlooker of the site. Rather than viewing this arboreal giant as an obstacle, the team embraced it. Its sprawling roots dictated the position and levelling of the 昀椀rst floor, with care taken not to damage or stunt any further growth. The tree’s canopy determined the ceiling height, and it quickly became evident that this would be a one-storey home. In fact, the tree informed almost every major architectural gesture of the project, sculpting the building’s distinctive U-shaped courtyard and ultimately providing shade, shape, and sculpture before the 昀椀rst brick had been laid.

Quiet con昀椀dence

Whilst many contemporary homes trumpet their eco-credentials, Elaleni Forest House walks the talk with quiet con昀椀dence. Nearby quarry stone was sourced for cladding and framed pine from the area

forms the backbone of the structure. The house powers itself through solar panels and employs gas for hot water and cooking, moving away from conventional grid dependency. The courtyard functions as a natural cooling system, with the central tree providing shade as cool air circulates through the living spaces. When the doors are thrown open, the main areas transform into what feels like the world’s most sophisticated treehouse.

A tale of two faces

The street-facing elevation presents a protective façade of stone and black-stained timber, exuding a somewhat austere demeanour. However, step inside, and the interior bursts with warmth through Volakas marble and natural oak. Brass accents around the 昀椀replace add a touch of flair, while hand-glazed Kalki Ceramics Boomslang tiles echo the forest’s leafy green palette.

MEET THE TEAM

Architect: Julia Rutherfoord Architect

Interior Architect: Nikhil Tricam

Contractor: KR Projects | Structural Engineers: Tobell Stretch & Associates

Landscape Architects: Land Art Studio

Photographer: Nikhil Tricam

The social spaces of the house perform a clever disappearing act, with full-height frameless glass doors that slide away to merge the interior and exterior worlds. The intention to create architecture that feels as though it emerged from the earth, alongside the forest, is most clearly visible from the courtyard space, with its medley of natural 昀椀nishes and textures.

A new heart

In a delightful twist on tradition, the 昀椀replace — an age-old symbol of domestic gathering — has been relocated from its usual family room setting to a sunroom adjacent to the edge of the forest. It is through these simple yet impactful design choices that nature’s influence is illustrated, demonstrating how the home facilitates an intimate relationship between family and landscape, supporting the idea that nature is not a place to visit; rather, nature is home.

The Elaleni Forest House is proof that when talented designers listen to what a site has to say, the results can be nothing short of remarkable. One might say it is not just a house in a forest; it is a forest that happens to have a rather splendid house within it.

@julia.rutherfoord.architect www.rutherfoordarchitect.co.za

“The intention to create architecture that feels as though it emerged from the earth, alongside the forest, is most clearly visible from the courtyard space, with its medley of natural finishes and textures.”

SUPPLIERS

Tiles: Kalki Ceramics | Cabinetry: Ken Leiman Furniture

Marble: Stone Slabs

THE ART OF THE EMBRACE

Julia Day Channels Grounded Elegance with the Contemporary, Timeless Interiors of House Houghton

Size: 900 m²

Location: Houghton, Johannesburg

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An elegant family home situated in an enclave of three houses in the leafy suburb of Houghton, Johannesburg, House Houghton was originally built in 2012. It boasts a spectacular façade that opens to the pool and patio area, looking both inward and outward — a juxtaposition of two design directions. In need of a gentle refurb, the clients sought the expertise of an interior design aficionado, and thus House Houghton became a Julia Day Interior Architecture and Design endeavour.

“Houghton House stands as a structure built on refined elegance, balancing contemporary sophistication with timeless warmth.”

SUPPLIERS

Travertine floor tiles: Mazista Tiles | Sanitaryware: Nicolazzi, Linea Brigio | Timber flooring: Zuberi Flooring Wooden shutters: American Shutters

Grounding with dimension and depth

Julia’s 昀椀rst move was to strip the spaces down to the bones to revise the interiors. Previously the space was flat and simple, with walls and floors that read as bland. Julia recognised that she needed to change up the resonance of the shell and create dimension and depth of 昀椀eld for the rooms to feel warm, architectural, and instinctively inviting to the senses — a place anyone would want to spend hours in. One of Julia’s solutions to this was to panel the wall using flowered cognac-toned walnut and continue the warm golden colour palette on all the vertical surfaces, even via the art and the ebony-stained shutters. Immediately, one feels held and grounded within the walls. Adding the architectural element of the wall cladding de昀椀ned the space without having to do a full renovation. Further, walnut cladding and sculptural marble 昀椀replaces create dimension and depth.

Iconic identity

The clients wanted to create a family home which was both elegant and practical and to utilise the interior and exterior spaces to foster a family lifestyle. The spaces needed to be timeless yet detailed, emanating warmth and comfort with iconic furniture that resonated with the contemporary spaces and abstract art that they love. When observing the landscape, Julia saw it as a continuation of the home due to the con昀椀nes of the property and ensured that the transition between both was uninterrupted. Huge windows, doors, and sliding doors open up to allow the movement of traf昀椀c and the eye. The 昀椀nishes and design pieces were chosen not to interfere or overpower in any way with the key stone of this architectural concept and to elegantly extend visually to the exterior, turning the outside into another interior space.

From cold to cocoon

All the interior detailing was undertaken to create a clean interior layered with traditional techniques of craftsmanship. A holistic design approach is successfully implemented by converting cold spaces into a layered warm cocoon, catering to the clients’ lifestyle. The rich patina of stone, marble, brass, and natural linen and leather tells a visual story of an embrace and yet holds its own as a timeless, traditional, re昀椀ned interior.

A textural interaction

Natural products such as stone, marble, travertine, timber, and brass were used to underpin a feeling of contemporary elegance which brings the natural landscape in and creates a textured pallet. In keeping with this natural pallet, Julia incorporated jewel tones contrasted with creams and wheat colours. Slubby linens and buttery soft leathers accentuate the textural interaction with the space. The repetition and flow of these 昀椀nishes enhance the feeling of continuity and calm in the interior.

The client also had a speci昀椀c interest in abstract sculpture and art pieces, so Julia used the art to create movement and focal points within the spaces. An elevated blend of iconic pieces and designer and bespoke furnishings were paired with luxurious 昀椀nishes, infusing and upgrading the space. Strong emphasis was placed on the careful selection of materials and 昀椀nishes, like marbles, grained timbers, and warm brasses. The interior lighting was intentionally placed in the settings to create a soft, ambient, and warm experience when lit, with sculptural accent lighting reminiscent of jewellery being added to the 昀椀nal product.

House Houghton stands as a structure built on re昀椀ned elegance, balancing contemporary sophistication with timeless warmth. Julia Day’s expert touch transformed this family home into a layered space where every detail — from the rich walnut panelling to the carefully curated art pieces — contributes to a cohesive, immersive experience. The result is a sanctuary harmoniously blended with comfort and functional beauty, embodying the clients’ vision of a home that is both inviting and iconic.

Photography by Elsa Young

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REBELS ON THE

Studio BHD Pushes the Envelope of Luxury Estate Living in Val de Vie

Size: 735 m2

Location: Paarl, Cape Winelands

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Studio BHD’s The Reserve, situated in Val de Vie’s exclusive Reserve enclave, breaks away from traditional guidelines with a home designed to embody private freedom that speaks beyond gated living.

The vision for the project reflects an understanding that true luxury does not merely exist within four walls but extends into the natural beauty beyond. This commitment to environmental stewardship underscores a new standard in luxury living, where the home celebrates its setting.

In prime position

Bordering a protected Fynbos reserve, the site commands uninterrupted views, providing a living canvas of South African wilderness. The property’s privileged position within one of the Cape’s most sought-after private estates offers a lifestyle where polo 昀椀elds and world-class wineries are quite literally on the doorstep. It was on this plot that the clients called upon Studio BHD to design their dream home — one that incorporates the natural views, light, and vegetation of the area.

Breaking the mould

Studio BHD approached the estate’s guidelines with what one might call ‘respectful rebellion’. Given creative carte blanche by their clients, the team cleverly pushed the envelope of traditional Winelands architecture with a new framework of well-justi昀椀ed design choices. The result? A fresh architectural language that tips its hat to convention while boldly stepping into the future.

The heart of this home beats in its ingenious manipulation of natural light and space. A dramatic double-volume area serves as the showstopper, creating an atmosphere that feels more cathedral than residence. The kitchen, positioned as the command centre, orchestrates an organic flow between social spaces, ideal for the clients, who are keen entertainers.

“It pushes boundaries while respecting the traditions that precede it, creating spaces that feel both grounded and elevated, and delivering a home that is not just built for living but built for living well.”

A material story

Conceptualised and constructed from the ground up, this property offers panoramic views of the nature reserve while maximising natural light through the strategic placement of expansive openings and glazed façades. It features locally sourced Malmesbury shale stone, white plastered masonry walls, and natural timber, all complemented by the sleek use of steel and glass. The meticulous attention to detail reflects a commitment to harnessing light, creating spaces that change with the sun and enhance the landscape’s beauty throughout the day.

Privacy by design

Estate living is largely synonymous with living privately and safely, providing residents with a sense of community while ensuring peace of mind. In this project, privacy has not been left to chance — strategically placed screen walls and limited eastward openings create secretive internal sanctuaries, while clerestory windows and skylights ensure that the spaces remain flooded with natural light.

The Reserve represents more than just high-end residential architecture. It pushes boundaries while respecting the traditions that precede it, creating spaces that feel both grounded and elevated, and delivering a home that is not just built for living but built for living well.

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: Studio BHD | Structural and Civil Engineers: A19 Consulting Engineers | Quantity Surveyor: MMA PQS

Main Contractor: Phase Three Construction Company

Landscape Professional: Keith Kirsten Horticulture

International Photographer: Paris Brummer

RHYTHM OF THE HIGHVELD

Meshworks Architecture + Urbanism Ventures on an Unfolding Journey of Exploration with New Highveld House

Size: 635 m²

Location: Abbotsford, Johannesburg

New Highveld House offers a reverence for cyclical change, an innovative answer to a desire for comfort and permanence, and an appreciation of natural forms and materials. Located in Johannesburg and designed by Meshworks Architecture + Urbanism, the project sought to create a forever home to delight and surprise, navigable as its retired owners age. Inspired by an unfolding journey rooted in pre-colonial forms of spacemaking, the home is a venture in challenging the traditional domestic typologies of the Highveld.

The inspiration of exploration

From the outset, the design approach for this project was guided by the client’s desire for a house that inspired exploration. Meshworks went forth by conceptualising this project as a home that continuously unfolds and reveals itself in layers. Inspired by the client’s dream for this home, Meshworks extended the concept by integrating the site’s natural slope, orientation, and optimal sun angles for winter and summer.

Juxtaposing concepts

Upon better understanding the site, the focus turned to challenging the rectilinear property boundary constraints radically by creating a building that escapes these restrictions, turning away from nearby neighbouring buildings, and focussing inwards. The design advanced through many stages of re昀椀nement using 3D testing, sketching, and material studies. A series of contrasting concepts helped advance the primary focus on creating an explorative journey, which included fluidity versus rectilinearity, expanding versus contracting, exposing versus hiding, and placing versus burying.

An experiential journey

Thick ribbon walls of rammed earth are intersected by large glass planes enclosing the interiors, while gridded concrete block walls provide a Cartesian counterpoint to the sinuous plasticity. Permeable steel screens 昀椀lter views and disaggregate the solidity. The house is not merely a place of dwelling — it is an experiential journey. A canyon-like spine ramps from the driveway to the public areas then descends towards private zones nestled in the south. A walkway — circling from the living spaces to the sunlit bedroom walkway and de昀椀ning the central courtyard — sets up an ever-changing orbit. Views are simultaneously restricted and revealed, spaces compressed and expanded.

Uncanny and unprecedented

The house scoops its largely indigenously-planted surroundings into its rhythms and flows. Light is wielded optimally through strategic openings and the house changes radically as sunshine dances across its ochre walls. The design is also inextricably linked to the site’s topography. With its permeable exterior paving, thick thermallyresponsive walls, double glazing, slab insulation, water storage, and solar energy, this house minimises its reliance on resources and maintenance. Its undulating forms and natural patinas further offer an uncanny energy; an unprecedented response to the location’s context.

Embracing the limits

Using stabilised rammed earth as the primary building material in a residential setting presented a unique challenge. Meshworks explored the material’s potential and qualities through horizontal curves, aligning radii, and ramming around circular openings. This allowed the design to embrace and push the limits of rammed earth, resulting in a con昀椀dent architecture that reflects the site’s tones and hues, once more resonating with the context.

New Highveld House speaks to an innovative approach to architecture that is deeply rooted in its environment yet pushes the boundaries of traditional design. Meshworks Architecture + Urbanism has crafted a home that respects the natural rhythms of the Highveld while offering a profound sense of permanence, adaptability, and discovery. Harmonising the ever-changing landscape with the life cycles of its residents, this home is a timeless sanctuary that reflects both the resilience of nature and the progressive potential of modern South African architecture.

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: Meshworks Architecture + Urbanism

Engineers: Hull Consulting Engineers | Contractors: Billet Construction Services | Landscaper: Tim Steyn Landscaping

Photographer: Sarah de Pina

“Inspired by an unfolding journey rooted in pre-colonial forms of spacemaking, the home is a venture in challenging the traditional domestic typologies of the Highveld.”

@meshworks.archi www.meshworks.archi

SUPPLIERS

Oak flooring: Oggie Hardwood Flooring | Terrazzo tiles: Union Tiles | Handmade tiles: Wolkberg Casting Studios

Doors and windows: Alumac | Switch gear: LUMEN8

Permeable pavers: SmartStone | Klompie bricks: Revelstone

CHAMBER OF A SECRET CELLAR

Descending into a Subterranean Sensory Experience at La Colombe’s Secret Cellar

Size: 50 m²

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Location: Silvermist Wine Estate, Cape Town

La Colombe’s Secret Cellar is proof that when a brilliant team of designers joins with a trusting client, big things can happen in a mere 50 m². For this project, that team consisted of three phenomonal names: MR. Design Studio, One to One by Martin Döller, and Wiid Design’s Laurie Wiid.

A subterranean descent

Formerly a tiny storage room, the Secret Cellar is an adventure in exploring the idea of what happens below the forest floor as one descends into its subterranean level. To accentuate the feeling of being underground, MR. Design Studio stripped the concept down to its basic elements, symbolising a sub-forest world; each element has purpose and function.

Channelling juxtaposition

Earthy walls made of hand-chipped cork by Wiid Design, hollowed to store wine, create an experience that’s transportive and quiet. Piercing roots in the ceiling create intentional lighting and drama,

while bronze mycelium creeps up the walls. For the sommelier’s station, an oversized core drill stands lit by the craftsmanship of One to One by Martin Döller, in all its glory. The collective result is a hypogeal world that contrasts the light and open dining area upstairs.

As you walk down the stairs to the cellar, the cork magically mutes sound, absorbing all distractions. By the time you’ve reached your tasting plate and glass of wine, you have surrendered to the experience before you; you are at the mercy of the chef, the sommelier, and the senses. A journey of merging the external world with the internal one has just begun.

@instabymr www.bymr.co.za

“To accentuate the feeling of being underground, MR. Design Studio stripped the concept down to its basic elements, symbolising a sub-forest world; each element has purpose and function.”

MEET THE TEAM

Interior Designers: MR. Design Studio | Lighting Designer: One to One by Martin Döller | Cellar Walls Designer: Wiid

Design | Photographer: Warren Heath

SUPPLIERS

Cork walls: Wiid Design | Bronze sculpture: Bronze Age Studio | Bricks and terra table: Plaster Art

WHERE THE WILD THINGS STAY

Fox Browne Creative’s Reinvention of andBeyond’s Ngala Tented Camp Shatters Safari Stereotypes with Bold Modernist Flair

Size: 100 m² per tent

Location: andBeyond Ngala Private Game Reserve, Timbavati

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In the competitive world of luxury safari lodges, redesigning a respected and beloved camp requires a skilful touch. Fox Browne Creative’s recent transformation, in partnership with architect Jack Alexander, of andBeyond Ngala Tented Camp exemplifies this finesse, delivering contemporary sophistication while preserving the raw appeal of sleeping under canvas in the African bush.

Positioned on the edge of Kruger National Park, where the Timbavati River meanders through distinctive grassland, Ngala’s story began in 1999 on the site of a former ranger training school. Its latest chapter, completed in October 2024 after 14 months of meticulous execution, represents a thoughtful reintroduction of a cherished safari experience. For the design team, the challenge was clear: to elevate the ‘under canvas’ experience without losing its soul and authentic intention.

Where lions roam

Named after the Shangaan word for ‘lion’, Ngala Private Game Reserve is distinguished as the 昀椀rst private reserve incorporated into Kruger National Park, South Africa’s wildlife crown jewel. Here, among riverside trees, on the original training site, nine intimate tented suites illustrate how design can enhance rather than compete with the wilderness experience. Increasingly, travellers seek experiences that ensure privacy and unique memories all bundled into one curated package — a desire that the newly imagined Ngala Tented Camp effortlessly provides. Fox Browne Creative has rede昀椀ned the concept of safari accommodation, breaking free from the predictable green canvas tents and colonial style to present a refreshing perspective.

“It is a place where luxury treads lightly, where contemporary design bows to nature, and where every sunset feels as though it was orchestrated just for you.”

@foxbrowne_creative www.foxbrowne.com

SUPPLIERS

Bespoke tented roofs: Canvas and Tent | Windows and doors: DB Joinery | Tiles: Wolkberg Casting

Studios | Soft furnishings: Kaross Weavers Mirrors: Arkivio | Stained glass: Fanus Boshoff

Stained Glass | Steel cabinetry: Urbanite | Flooring: Mpumalanga Timbers

Breaking the canvas ceiling

The tented interiors draw on a re昀椀ned palette inspired by the surrounding bushveld, with custom furnishings and locally inspired details adding delightful depth. Stained glass vanities introduce an unexpected modernist touch, while traditional Shangaan embroidery adorns ceiling panels and upholstery. Clean architectural lines meet stone-clad walls and polished wooden decks, while innovative furnishings and a con昀椀dent use of colour create spaces that feel both contemporary and contextual.

The selection of materials reflects a commitment to sustainability and sophistication. Reclaimed railway timber and FSC-certi昀椀ed wood provide warm counterpoints to Pelindaba granite and clay tiles, creating textural interest while adhering to strict environmental standards. Even the lighting scheme underwent meticulous testing to ensure it enhances the unique quality of light particular to Timbavati. Each tent offers both indoor and outdoor showers (because why choose?), private salas, and enough modern touches to satisfy even the most connected guests.

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: Fox Browne Creative in partnership with Jack Alexander Studio | Contractor: Mike Buyskes

Construction | Photographer: Dook Photography

The devil’s in the details

The renovation’s centrepiece is a sophisticated expansion of the main lodge, where a new flat-roofed extension appears to float above the riverbed. Floor-to-ceiling glazing creates a seamless visual connection to the landscape, while the doubled communal spaces now include seasonal dining areas and an elevated bar that maximises its privileged position. The addition of a river-view gym and spa pavilion — raised on platforms to protect the underlying vegetation — brings wellness into conversation with wilderness.

The main lodge area exempli昀椀es the camp’s design philosophy of ‘less is more, but make it remarkable’. Expansive al fresco decks, sheltered by reticulated awnings, provide multiple contemplative spaces. Through thoughtful architectural intervention and considered interior design, Ngala Tented Camp speaks a language that both traditionalists and modernists can appreciate. It is a place where luxury treads lightly, where contemporary design bows to nature, and where every sunset feels as though it was orchestrated just for you.

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AGED TO PERFECTION

NEO Architects Crafted a Blend of Heritage and Timelessness for Kanonkop with the Showcase of a New Wine Cellar

Size: 135 m²

Location: Kanonkop Wine Estate, Stellenbosch

Built on a history of artillery practices from centuries gone by, the cellar at Kanonkop (and the estate itself) holds a fascinating story. The estate is named after the 17th- and 18th-century tradition of firing a cannon from the Simonsberg Mountain to announce arriving ships in Table Bay. Artillery being a key part of this era, the building is now a cellar embraced by small windows mimicking the strategic openings for shooting during early settlements. With the new design by NEO Architects, the nostalgia of these elements remains while the space humbly steps into a new chapter in its history.

MEET THE TEAM

Interior Architects: Neo

Architects | Contractor: OHB Construction

Joiners: Prowell Kitchens

Photographer: 3Sixty

Photography

@neo_architects www.neoarchitects.co.za

A backdrop of heritage

The windows play a bene昀椀cial role in the cellar’s design, maintaining a cool temperature inside which is ideal for the production and storage of exceptional wines. As a working wine cellar open to visitors, the space blurs the boundaries between business and pleasure. The inner workings of winemaking are subtly on display, with the new interiors enhancing the sight rather than overbearing it. The result is a signi昀椀cant backdrop of context to the warm public tasting room, a highly regarded vinothèque, and a unique private tasting room.

Along with the atmosphere of the working wine cellar, the client also wanted visitors to feel like they are on a family farm (as opposed to a commercial farm), welcoming them into a homely space. Simplicity was the order of the day, and there was no place for anything excessive in the interiors and 昀椀nishes.

“The space now hums with a different rhythm: that of tradition being both honoured and reimagined.”

Showcasing the cellar

In the main tasting room, the existing arches and slatted natural timber ceilings are strong characteristics of the original interior. NEO Architects used this as a guide for including timber as a primary material throughout. For the private tasting room and vinothèque, frameless glass doors create an effortless flow between the spaces both visually and kinetically. As guests experience the intimate wine haven, ageing barrels are in view and the movement of forklifts and workers in the cellar put on a show of exquisite skill and tradition. The display and reserve of wine bottles in the cellar were central to all the joinery, which was carefully workshopped with the joiners and the client to execute an elegant balance of both showcase and storage.

The preservation of tradition NEO’s task may seem straightforward at 昀椀rst glance, until you learn that the facility had to remain in use for the duration of the construction. The project had to be divided into phases, with certain areas closed off as the work progressed. Also essential to the 昀椀nal result was the structural requirements of the space. A working cellar uses sizeable equipment, but typically cellars don’t cater to forklifts moving through the walkways. Nevertheless, the team was committed to the successful execution of the brief and the 昀椀nal product reflects exactly that. Further supporting the preservation of the space’s history, much of the original antique furniture was reused, with the interior renovation respecting rather than alienating the sentiment of the previous design styles.

As light 昀椀lters through the narrow, history-laden windows of Kanonkop’s cellar, it illuminates not just the bottled labours of love, but centuries of resilience, tradition, and reinvention. The space now hums with a different rhythm: that of tradition being both honoured and reimagined. Kanonkop, through its transformation, offers more than wine; it offers an enduring testament to the art of evolving without forgetting the past.

SUPPLIERS

Wooden floors and ceilings: Hakwood | Freestyle baffles: OWA Acoustic Ceilings | Klompie bricks: Revelstone Glass and aluminium: Neo Aluminium | Lighting: Regent Lighting Solutions | Private tasting room chairs: Weylandts | Bathroom mixers, spouts and accessories: Meir | Actuator plates and wall-hung WCs: Geberit

KALAHARI DREAMING

Tswalu’s Poetic Embrace of the Kalahari Emerges with the Loapi Tented Camp by GAPP Architects and Urban Designers

Size: 321-466 m² per home

Location: Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Kuruman

With a name fittingly meaning ‘the space below the clouds’, Loapi comprises six tented safari homes spread out across the foothills of the Korannaberg mountains, each carefully positioned to admire the mesmerising views of the reserve’s arid Savannah. Embracing the principles of low-impact architecture, GAPP Architects and Urban Designers produced a perfect fit for the unique surroundings, reflecting and celebrating both the spirit and magnificence of the place and offering a heightened experience of being immersed in the African bush.

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: GAPP Architects and Urban Designers

Interior Designers: Gregory Mellor Design

Surveyors: RLB | Photographer: Andrew Morgan

“... Untouched, untamed, and unforgettable.”

SUPPLIERS

Light and shadow

Consisting of a suspended, steel-framed structure, the tented camp introduces materials like glass panels, canvas, cork, and sustainably sourced, modi昀椀ed timber. Slatted screens are sporadically spread out, casting shadows across the façade and creating a shimmer similar to the soft swaying grasses of the landscape. The effect of light and shadows moving across the canvas envelope dissolves the surfaces, allowing the structures to amalgamate naturally.

Integrated interplay

These modular homes, largely manufactured off-site, minimise environmental impact and protect native flora like the iconic shepherd’s trees. With the ability to be entirely dismantled and relocated, the structures leave the land as they found it, as if untouched.

Loapi Tented Camp is a prime example of Tswalu’s commitment to environmental conservation. The structures are designed to be light on the land, featuring insulated walls, double roofs, and crossventilation to regulate temperatures with ease. Energy-saving airconditioners, solar-powered pool pumps, and the absence of baths promote low water and energy consumption, ensuring that the camp operates with minimal environmental footprint.

In continued celebration of the natural world on which the tented camp stands, the design emphasises the relationship between interior and exterior spaces. Covered versus exposed areas, horizontal versus vertical lines, and the interplay of 昀椀nished and natural surfaces create a fluid transition between the indoors and outside.

Heart of the home

Each element of the interior design curates a habitat richly imbued with warmth and depth. Interior Designer Gregory Mellor shared that the team ‘took inspiration from the palette of the landscape, so the eye follows through without being interrupted’. Small, superfluous objets were intentionally avoided so as to highlight the expanse of space. ‘Shapes were drawn from the boulders on the ridge — big, bold, and with exaggerated organic edges. We used the ancient petroglyphs found on the property as inspiration and subtly repeated this motif throughout,’ says Mellor, whose attention to detail and choice of locally crafted products make the interiors a tasteful extension of the Kalahari.

Underscored by a deep respect for the Kalahari, every element of Loapi Tented Camp invites visitors to admire the land. In the heart of each tented safari home, GAPP have successfully converged comfort and conservation to create a harmonious blend that celebrates the essence of the African bush — untouched, untamed, and unforgettable.

Doors, cladding and decking: Accoya | Internal pavilion floors: Corcoleum | Tent oak flooring: Oggie Hardwood Flooring | Ripstop canvas cladding and tensile tent roof structures: Texwise | Double glazed sliding doors: Aluvent | Fibreglass pools: Phoenix Pools | EDPM pavilion roof: Carlisle SynTec Systems | Pavilion and study tapestries: African Sketchbook | Handblown glass vanity lights: David Reade Glass Art | Mohair panels: Coral Stephens Handweaving @gapp_ www.gapp.net

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COLOUR ME CRIMSON

ROOI, Designed by London-Based Muza Lab, Ignites One&Only Cape Town with Local Flavour in a New Take on Grillroom Dining

Size: 550 m2

Location: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

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ROOI is a celebration of land and sea, touched by fire. As a South African grillroom, ROOI aims to redefine the traditional dining experience, allowing local influences to shine through in the smallest details, from décor to menu. Located in One&Only Cape Town, this innovative restaurant invites diners to immerse themselves in the best the country has to offer.

One&Only Cape Town, long celebrated for setting the gold standard in resort lifestyle and haute cuisine, has ignited the city’s gastronomy scene once more with its latest venture, ROOI. This sophisticated newcomer joins the resort’s impressive culinary portfolio, which includes the reimagined Vista Bar & Lounge, the Mediterraneaninspired Isola, the intimate Wine Studio, and the iconic Nobu.

The art of assembly

Rising from the ashes of its predecessor, Ochre, ROOI — meaning ‘red’ in Afrikaans — embodies power, vitality, and the primal element of 昀椀re. The transformation, led by Muza Lab’s Founding Director Inge Moore, and Senior Project Designer Chironne Engelbrecht, stripped the space to its structural bones while maintaining its original footprint and infusing a flavour of South Africa.

In the main dining space, full-grown Natal Mahogany trees create intimate dining pockets beneath their spreading canopies. Overhead, two custom chandeliers by MUD Studios suspend hundreds of porcelain tiles like crystallised rain, while the private dining area showcases an innovative fallen tree pendant.

The restaurant’s stunning centrepiece is a sculptural curved oven that required full-scale mock-ups prior to installation. Above it, the Bronze Age Studio team dedicated their time to meticulously hand-laying copper tiles in a captivating tapestry of purple, rust, silver, and platinum. The entrance mural demands attention with its masterful depiction of wildlife, painted by Elise Wessels of Black Fan Studio. This exquisite artwork, completed over two weeks, conveys to guests at a glance the essence of the local fauna and flora, all without falling into the trap of safari-chic clichés.

The aesthetic achieves a balance between earthy and elegant. Warm terracotta and copper tones dance with soft limestone green, while bespoke details — such as Pincushion Protea embossments on menus and tables — weave in layers of local narrative. The custom host desk, featuring hand carvings inspired by Khoisan rock art, pays homage to the region’s original inhabitants.

SUPPLIERS

Breakfast bar and kitchen tiles:

VEELVLAK | Copper surfaces and pendants: Bronze Age Studio

Custom chandeliers: MUD Studio

Wall lights: Greg Marshall Design

Woven raffia: Ashanti Design

Custom host desk: Umdabu

Dining chairs: Mija Finest Furniture

Custom tables: Pierre Cronje

Bar stools: OKHA | Wine cabinets:

Dokter & Misses | Stone flooring and countertops: Cannata & Sons

Kitchen oven: Josper | Cork

wall panelling: Amorim Cork

Sanitaryware: Dornbracht, Copper

Bath, Franke

@muza.lab www.muzalab.com

MEET THE TEAM

Interior Designers: Muza Lab | FF&E and OS&E

Procurement Agents: Argenta Projects | Joinery: Libra Joiners & Interiors | Lighting Designer: Pamboukian lightdesign | Electrical Engineer: Valley Electrical

Contractor: GVK Siya -Zama | PDR Feature Pendant: Cape Town Society for the Blind | Muralist: Elise Wessels Photographer: Greg Cox

An invitation to gather

ROOI elevates the beloved South African tradition of a braai from a casual gathering to a sophisticated dining experience without sacri昀椀cing the communal spirit. The menu reads like a love letter to local produce, featuring South African Wagyu alongside Kalahari Venison and Masala Spiced Kingklip. Signature cocktails pay homage to South Africa’s nine provinces, while the wine list reads like a who’s who of South African vintages, thoughtfully complemented by international classics.

A study in contrast

What makes ROOI particularly compelling is its ability to hold opposites in perfect tension. Four-metre-high sliding doors in the private dining area create architectural drama while maintaining intimacy. The end result is a space that feels neither overtly designed nor accidentally assembled. Instead, ROOI exists in that sweet spot where intention meets intuition.

In a city already spoilt for choice when it comes to dining destinations, ROOI manages to carve out its own distinct identity. It’s a space that celebrates South African cuisine not just through its menu but through every design detail, every carefully considered element, and every interaction. It’s 昀椀ne dining with a local accent, and darling, it works brilliantly.

“ROOI — meaning ‘red’ in Afrikaans — embodies power, vitality, and the primal element of fire.”

PLAYING IT COY

KT Interior Architectural Studio Serves Up a Restaurant Space That Turns Dark and Moody into a Spotlight on Exceptional Dining

Size: 270 m2

Location: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

In a city known for its striking vistas and world-class dining, it takes something truly special to turn heads. Enter COY, a restaurant with all the necessary ingredients to offer guests a fine-dining experience with a focus on the ocean, age-old African flavours, and a moody atmosphere that feels exquisitely curated yet comfortably relaxed.

While some may view being tucked away as a disadvantage, COY embraces its discreet location with a knowing wink. Nestled between two footbridges, this contemporary space not only offers diners exceptional South African cuisine from celebrated chef Ryan Cole but also provides front-row seats to the majestic Table Mountain and the historic Robinson Dry Dock, dating back to 1882.

The intrigue of a dark embrace

The design narrative unfolds an intriguing tale of contrasts. Drawing inspiration from the striking imagery of charred, blackened protea bushes — a distinctly African muse — KT Interior Architectural Studio has created an environment where matte black surfaces and sandblasted textures come together to form an atmosphere that is intimately bold. The restaurant’s interior cleverly mimics the inside of a camera, with dark, dramatic surfaces directing attention to two focal points: Chef Cole’s artfully-plated dishes and the captivating harbour views. In this design, even the most subtle details contribute to a composition that proudly embraces a dark and moody colour palette.

Crafting complexity from simplicity

The design brief called for a contemporary Afro-chic aesthetic imbued with understated elegance. The space blends rusted steel accents, chunky oak tabletops, and textured black flooring, while carefully-curated African art pieces infuse soul into the setting.

Notably, the studio’s use of pine to clad both walls and ceiling adds warmth and texture, transforming what could have been an austere space. The design approach mirrors the culinary experience, showcasing familiar ingredients presented with fresh creativity. Guests can look forward to dishes such as fermented amadumbe sourdough, seared line昀椀sh with mussels, and Xai-Xai chargrilled squid, along with a curated wine list offering South Africa’s 昀椀nest.

Clearing the hurdles

The project wasn’t without its hurdles. The building, originally not intended for restaurant use, required clever engineering solutions to accommodate kitchen equipment and an open wood-昀椀re cooker. The team also tackled the complex task of programming lighting to create the perfect atmosphere throughout each area, whilst the bar’s domed joinery tested the limits of bespoke craftsmanship. A particularly striking element is the marble used in the bar, kitchen, 昀椀replace, and private dining area, which resembles a cross-section of Earth itself — its veins and colours adding a natural richness that perfectly complements the restaurant’s understated identity.

While it might be surrounded by an abundance of dining options, COY proves that sometimes the best experiences are indeed hidden in plain sight. Once discovered, this is a destination that rewards the curious with an unforgettable fusion of design, culture, and cuisine.

“The design approach mirrors the culinary experience, showcasing familiar ingredients presented with fresh creativity.”

MEET THE TEAM

Interior Architects: KT Interior Architectural Studio

Acoustic Installers: Sonic Audio Visual | Muralist: Melissa

Dreyer | Photographer: Jan Ras

@kt_interior_ www.kt-interior.com

SUPPLIERS

A SECOND ACT

Cape Grace Hotel Unveils a New Look, Crafted by 1508 London as the Ultimate Destination on Cape Town’s Waterfront

Location: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

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Perched on its private quay in the bustling V&A Waterfront, Cape Grace Hotel has long stood as a beacon of luxury in Cape Town’s hospitality landscape. First opened in 1996, this grand dame of South African hospitality has emerged from an extensive renovation by design studio 1508 London, marking the most ambitious transformation in its storied history. The red-brick edifice, though modest in exterior, now houses an interior that blends contemporary sophistication with the property’s rich heritage.

Under the stewardship of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, the reimagined Cape Grace presents 112 elegant rooms and suites, each offering a fresh interpretation of luxury that pays homage to South Africa’s diverse cultural tapestry. The transformation, orchestrated by 1508 London, artfully captures Cape Town’s evolution from a historic trading port to a cosmopolitan destination, while maintaining the timeless elegance that has long been the hotel’s hallmark.

Walls of meaning

The hotel’s artistic soul beats strongest in its carefully curated collection of local artwork. Galia Gluckman’s commissioned pieces, ‘Sunrise’ and ‘Sunset’, crafted from recycled materials, embody an ancient African proverb about the perpetual dance of day and night. Johannesburg-based artist Lulama Wolf’s works adorn the walls with deep pigments and distinctive techniques, creating a visual dialogue between traditional African artistry and contemporary expression.

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“The renovated Cape Grace Hotel maintains its position as a bookend of South African journeys — a place where memories begin or culminate at the continent’s southern tip.”

The design palette shifts from bold and vibrant to subtle and inviting, yet consistently delivers a modern take on classic luxury. French windows and private balconies frame either the marina or the iconic Table Mountain, while the crowning Cape Grace Suite offers a twobedroom haven complete with an expansive terrace, private bar, and butler’s pantry — a testament to the no-expenses-spared approach to opulence.

The epicurean experience

At the helm of the hotel’s culinary renaissance is Heirloom Restaurant, which presents elevated South African-inspired cuisine that pays tribute to local ingredients through a decadent menu. The Bascule Bar has been transformed into a sophisticated homage to Prohibition-era speakeasies, showcasing an impressive whisky

collection and exclusive wine cellar. The Library Lounge offers a setting for contemplation, while the new Pool Bar provides a casual retreat for sun-drenched afternoons. The addition of the Fairmont Spa completes the luxury offering, providing treatments inspired by local elements.

Standing at the crossroads of luxury and heritage, the renovated Cape Grace Hotel maintains its position as a bookend of South African journeys — a place where memories begin or culminate at the continent’s southern tip. Under Fairmont’s guidance and 1508 London’s vision, this beloved institution continues to write new chapters in its legacy of excellence, welcoming a new generation of discerning travellers through its doors.

STEPS AHEAD

TDC&Co Designs a New Home for Shelflife, Taking Inspiration from Cape Town’s Juxtaposition of Grit and Glamour

Size: 560 m²

Location: Cape Town City Centre

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What if retail could tell the story of a city? Shelflife’s new flagship, located in Cape Town’s historic Barracks, does just that. Blending the city’s rich heritage with modern street culture, this innovative space offers more than shopping — it’s a vibrant hub for community, art, and design.

Reclaimed and repurposed

The Barracks, an iconic 18th-century structure in Cape Town, has witnessed centuries of transformation. Shelflife’s redesign celebrates this evolution by seamlessly incorporating original architectural elements, including weathered stone walls that speak to the building’s maritime roots. TDC&Co drew inspiration from the raw beauty of the site, using reclaimed materials and local craftsmanship to bridge the gap between old and new. Float boxes from Paarden Eiland, repurposed as striking wall cladding, evoke the city’s industrial legacy while modern lighting highlights the building’s natural textures, creating a dynamic contrast between history and contemporary design.

The store’s aesthetic draws from Cape Town’s unique blend of grit and glamour, capturing the essence of a city where history, nature, and modernity collide. Each design choice is intentional, as though the store itself is telling the story of the city it inhabits.

On community and collaboration

The layout is designed as a journey, encouraging visitors to explore and discover the multi-faceted space. Featuring a dedicated café, gallery space, and showcase for local designers, it serves as a community hub that invites collaboration and interaction. The iconic dolos, a massive concrete structure typically used in breakwaters, is reimagined as a striking sculptural feature and functional seating, further symbolising Cape Town’s celebrated coastal heritage.

In the face of transient retail experiences, Shelflife and TDC&Co have crafted something special — a dynamic destination and a community heart. It joyously reminds us how designing with thought leads to spaces that are not just seen, but truly experienced.

“Each design choice is intentional, as though the store itself is telling the story of the city it inhabits.”

@tdcandco www.designcompany.co.za

SUPPLIERS

Stonework: Sangengalo

Lighting: LED Lighting SA

Dolos: Concrete Studio

Planters: Resonate

MEET THE TEAM

Interior Designers: TDC&Co | Shopfitters: Rochelle

Retail Solutions | Tilers: Deno Tiling Services

Sound Consultant: AVT | Contractors: Novo Group

Photographer: Paris Brummer

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IN FULL BLOOM

How Fabian Architects & Make

Studio’s The Rose Fits in with Perfect Harmony

Size: 2324 m2

Location: Cape Town City Centre

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On the edge of De Waterkant, the CBD, and the northern fringe of Bo-Kaap, Fabian Architects & Make Studio seized the opportunity to replace a derelict and featureless industrial building with one that injects fresh and vibrant energy into the streetscape. The Rose, positioned at the intersection of these distinguished neighbourhoods rich in cultural history, offers a sense of pink-hued serenity, serving as the perfect base for travellers to the Mother City.

Certain areas possess a distinctive identity, and the hillside neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap evokes sharply focussed images of narrow, cobbled streets lined with colourful houses, while De Waterkant presents a vibrant hub of trendy eateries and upscale local retail options. In crafting a building that stands out yet pays homage to these distinctive surroundings, Fabian Architects & Make Studio have elegantly unveiled The Rose — a structure that testi昀椀es to the harmonious interplay between contemporary design and historical resonance, while introducing its own flair.

From brief to brilliance

The site’s narrative dates back to 1878, when historical maps reveal a patchwork of modest terrace houses and small businesses. Fast forward to 2023, after a 14-month construction period, and an investment of R53 million, and the plot had transformed into a brand-new offering for the area.

What began as a straightforward brief for retail space and traditional apartments evolved to address the burgeoning market for short-term rentals. The developers pivoted to incorporate Airbnb-friendly units, creating a mix of two-bedroom flats and studio apartments across seven storeys. Capitalising on Cape Town’s allure, the rooftop pool terrace offers breathtaking views, providing an exquisite highlight for all who come to stay.

The design ethos draws inspiration from the historic row houses that characterise Bo-Kaap. The team, under the guidance of heritage consultant Claire Abrahamse, adeptly navigated the complexities of the Heritage Protection Overlay Zone to ensure that the new structure respects its historical context. It serves a mediating role between neighbouring buildings which range from monolithic glass modernism to contrasting ornate nineteenth-century façades.

The pink perspective

When it came to the building’s exterior, the architects proposed a powder-coated aluminium ‘skin’ to echo Bo-Kaap’s famously vivid aesthetic. While initial discussions leaned towards shades of green, the decision was ultimately made to embrace pink, thus marking The Rose as a distinctive addition to the already iconic colour palette of the surrounding neighbourhood. The exterior features unique pin昀椀nned developments and elegant balustrades, with aluminium panels carefully selected in various shades of pink.

The Rose brings an exuberant energy to its setting, exemplifying how thoughtful design can enhance rather than overshadow its historic surroundings. In a neighbourhood renowned for its colour and character, this pink beauty has found its perfect home, adding its own chapter to a rich architectural story.

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: Fabian Architects & Make Studio

Developer: Signatura | Quantity Surveyor: LDM

Civil and Structural Engineers: De Villiers

“A distinctive addition to the already iconic colour palette of the surrounding neighbourhood.”

SUPPLIERS

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@fabianarchitects_makestudio www.fama.co.za

TWISTING

dhk Architects Fold Heritage into the Future with The Rubik

EXPECTATIONS

Size: 821 m2

Location: Cape Town City Centre

twentyIn Cape Town’s CBD, where the soaring ambitions of the financial district meet the historical narrative of the heritage precinct, stands The Rubik — a 91-metre architectural statement. This latest opus from dhk Architects for Abland Property Developers illustrates that in urban design, sometimes thinking inside the box can be surprisingly revolutionary.

Located within a Heritage Overlay Zone, The Rubik received approval from Heritage Western Cape in 2018, followed by the City’s endorsement in 2019. However, its journey was not without obstacles. The pandemic momentarily disrupted pre-sales progress, but, as in all great architectural tales, persistence prevailed. Construction commenced in 2022, and by May 2024, the 昀椀rst residents were unpacking their belongings in their new sky-high homes.

A puzzle worth solving

Situated at the intersection of Loop, Riebeek, and Sea Streets, the site presented a complex challenge: how to bridge the gap between the 昀椀nancial district’s vertical aspirations and the more modest twoand three-storey buildings of the heritage area. This conundrum inspired a design that prioritised clever transformation over

compromise. What began as just over a 41-metre-high, 12-storey concept evolved into a more ambitious vision when Abland Property Developers acquired the northern part of the site. The brief for the expanded site called for a much higher tower building that would accommodate multiple uses. Two existing buildings, deemed to have no signi昀椀cant architectural or heritage merit, were proposed for demolition.

The resulting 27-storey mixed-use development required intricate architectural manoeuvring, but the end justi昀椀ed the means. The project team recognised that a distinctive, elegant sculptural tower design would enhance the appeal of its retail, of昀椀ce, and residential components. Rising to 91 metres, the tower transcends conventional monolithic design through a series of stacked, orthogonal twisting cubes that rotate around a central axis — much like its namesake puzzle.

@dhkarchitects www.dhk.co.za

MEET THE TEAM

“Rising to 91 metres, the tower transcends conventional monolithic design through a series of stacked, orthogonal twisting cubes that rotate around a central axis — much like its namesake puzzle.”

Not just another pretty façade

The façade that envelops the parking podium is designed to reference the scale, vertical rhythm, and massing of the nearby lower-scale heritage buildings, reflecting their intricate urban grain. This façade combines primary elements of precast concrete arranged in vertical and horizontal bands with secondary vertical elements of extruded aluminium in between. It features a blend of glazed panels, aluminium louvres, and plastered masonry walls as in昀椀ll. The cladding is articulated into various panel sizes to reduce the perceived scale of the parking levels in relation to the adjacent buildings on Loop Street. Glazing effectively ‘stitches in’ elements of the tower above into the parking podium.

The Rubik’s residential offerings are as meticulously considered as its exterior. From cleverly con昀椀gured one-bedroom units to luxurious triplexes with roof terraces, each residence maximises space and views. The top-floor terraces are strategically positioned inboard to provide weather protection without compromising the spectacular vistas. The glazing on the upper levels forms smooth, differently-angled planes that capture varying reflections of the sky and surrounding buildings, further fragmenting the mass and creating visual interest across the skyline.

A new icon rises

In true 21st-century fashion, The Rubik not only looks impressive — it also operates sustainably. Extensive use of high-performance double glazing features desk-height opaque spandrels in of昀椀ces to reduce solar gain and improve space ef昀椀ciency. Recessed, semienclosed balconies promote natural ventilation and minimise wind loads. Finally, above-ground parking facilitates natural ventilation and smoke extraction, while energy-saving electrical devices and ef昀椀cient mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services are integrated throughout.

Despite the challenges posed by a con昀椀ned site, dhk Architects has successfully delivered a striking new landmark that not only energises its surroundings but adds distinction to the Cape Town skyline. With its innovative design and commitment to sustainability, The Rubik is poised to become an enduring symbol of modern urban living, integrating the vibrancy of city life into a considered respect for heritage and community.

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DOCKING ON RES TRAINT

SVA International Hits the Sweet Spot Between Bold and Subtle at 14 Dock Road

Size: 10 880 m2

Location: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

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Along Cape Town’s historic waterfront, situated on the original shoreline of Table Bay prior to the construction of the Foreshore, SVA International faced an intriguing challenge: to create something ‘distinctive, but not iconic’ that would provide a contemporary addition to the gateway district linking Cape Town’s CBD with the V&A Waterfront. The result is 14 Dock Road — a six-storey declaration of architectural restraint that proves sometimes less truly is more.

In visual harmony

The of昀椀ce building showcases a harmonious interplay between transparency and solidity, where a homogeneous glass skin wraps around the structure’s northern façade, while textured precast concrete panels anchor its southern aspect. This deliberate material dialogue creates what the architects describe as a ‘perfectly balanced duet’ — one that responds intelligently to both climatic demands and visual presence.

MEET THE TEAM

Client: V&A Waterfront | Architects: SVA International Interior Architects: Paragon Interface | Landscape Architect: Yes& Studio | Main Contractor: WBHO Project Manager: Igual | Quantity Surveyors: RLB Pentad, BH&A | Structural, Façade and Civil Engineers: Sutherland Engineers | Mechanical Engineer: Triocon Fire Engineers: Ekcon Consulting Engineers | Lift Consultant: Projitech | Greenstar Consultant: Solid Green Consulting | Traffic Engineer: Innovative Transport Solutions | Acoustic Consultant: Machoy Photographer: Johann Lourens Photography

Maximising light

Positioned ideally to offer breathtaking vistas of Cape Town’s Signal Hill, Table Mountain, and the bustling harbour, the design maximises views from every of昀椀ce floor. The façades are predominantly glazed, employing performance glass that allows natural light to flood the interiors while minimising glare. The use of horizontal fenestration and strategic mullion placement ensures unobstructed sightlines, fostering a seamless connection between the interior spaces and the stunning landscapes outside. This design philosophy not only enriches the user experience but also contributes to a sense of transparency and openness.

A civic presence

The atrium serves as a striking focal point, conceived as an ‘inside-outside’ space that invites visitors and enhances pedestrian

interaction. Elevated and crowned with a floating canopy, it reinforces the building’s contemporary aesthetic while respecting pedestrian circulation patterns. The careful integration of precast concrete panels, characterised by textured surfaces and a moss-grown 昀椀nish, beautifully juxtaposes the soft curves of the glazed façades.

Achieving a 5-Star Green Star rating, the building exempli昀椀es sustainable design without compromising aesthetic ambition. Forward-thinking infrastructure planning allows the basement to expand into a ‘super basement’ as the Canal District develops further, ensuring that the building remains relevant and functional well into the future of one of Cape Town’s most visited destinations.

“A

declaration of architectural restraint that proves sometimes less truly is more.”

SUPPLIERS

Tiling: LimeGreen Sourcing Solutions | Epoxy flooring: Sika

@sva.international www.svarchitects.com

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Hubo Studio Sets a New Benchmark for Educational Design, Implementing the Reggio Emilia Approach in Sandton’s

Redhill Early Learning Centre

PLAY IT FORWARD

Size: 2600 m²

Location: Sandton, Johannesburg

twentytwo

Deeply passionate about reimagining educational environments, Hubo Studio’s projects merge philosophy with architectural innovation to create spaces that inspire growth, curiosity, and creativity. Their latest project, the Redhill Early Learning Centre in Sandton, is no exception; a state-of-the-art educational facility inspired by the renowned Reggio Emilia Approach from Italy. Guided by this philosophy, the centre emphasises that children are not only learners of the future but active citizens of today — artists, researchers, and innovators in their own right.

A complete collaboration

The design process began by spending a week in Reggio Emelia, Italy, on an international study group venture. A unique and unusual experience for architects, the result is a continued transformation of how the team sees education and space, changing the way the studio views children and what they have to offer. As a result, the project is a complete collaboration between nature, the kids, and Hubo.

Consulting the ‘little clients’

The site was inherited from a previous architect that had bulldozed and levelled the sloped and treed space. Following the study group, Hubo worked to incorporate the Reggio approach in conceptualising the design of the building, beginning with workshops held on-site with their ‘little clients’. From these 昀椀rst workshops, it became clear that there was a deep sadness around the loss of the trees cleared from the site and the feeling of cover and safety. In response,

Hubo’s 昀椀rst move was to settle the building into the ground, lowering the ground floor to sit within the earth, thus returning the feeling of embrace. A large number of trees were also reintroduced, with those lost referenced in repetitive patterns forming the language of the school.

Softening boundaries

Capturing the essence of this design philosophy, the architectural centrepiece is an African piazza, a vibrant reinterpretation of the traditional Italian town square, designed to foster interaction and community. This dynamic heart of the school is encircled by four ateliers — creative studio spaces that encourage hands-on exploration, experimentation, and collaborative learning. Each atelier is shared by four classrooms, creating a fluid learning environment where boundaries between grades are softened. Grade 1 and Grade R students can easily interact, learn from each other, and grow together.

“Each design choice has been made with the child’s perspective in mind, ensuring that the environment is not overwhelming but instead perfectly scaled to their needs — creating a world that feels both magical and approachable.”

MEET

THE TEAM

Architects: Hubo Studio (Asher Marcus, Michelle Smith, Magriet Steynberg) | Main Contractors: Atcor Developments, DKon Construction | Engineer: ConsulTauri Design | Quantity Surveyor: James Welsh Consulting Photographer: Elsa Young

Structured learning, spontaneous discovery

The ateliers aren’t just single rooms — they are vertical, multi-level wonderlands, each featuring amphitheatre spaces, light rooms, rooftop gardens, and art studios. These spaces serve as extensions of the classroom, encouraging students to engage in group projects, productions, and creative problem-solving in a setting that feels more like a professional art or architecture studio than a traditional classroom. This innovative design allows for both structured learning and spontaneous discovery, blending the indoors with the outdoors in a seamless, organic flow.

Playful architecture

Beyond the academic spaces, Hubo also thoughtfully incorporated play and daily life into the architecture. Rooftop soccer 昀椀elds and garden play spaces with tunnels, hills, and hidden corners offer children endless opportunities for exploration, movement, and imaginative play. Even the kitchens are part of the learning experience, where children can watch healthy food being prepared, smell fresh ingredients, and participate in cooking and baking, integrating sensory learning with practical life skills.

A journey through exploration

The architectural attention to detail extends to every aspect of the school, from the furniture to the spatial layout. Each design choice has been made with the child’s perspective in mind, ensuring that the environment is not overwhelming but instead perfectly scaled to their needs — creating a world that feels both magical and approachable. The result is a learning space that feels like a journey through exploration, yet is meticulously organised to support both educational and emotional development.

Redhill Early Learning Centre is a space where children thrive as they move through spaces designed to stimulate curiosity and foster interaction. With a holistic approach that integrates Reggio Emilia’s philosophy with African cultural elements, the design challenges and transforms how we think about early education spaces. It’s a sophisticated yet playful environment where children are empowered to learn, explore, and grow in ways that feel natural and exciting, setting a new benchmark for designing early learning environments.

@hubostudio www.hubostudio.com

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A LEGACY OF LOVE

Inside Hesse Kleinloog Studio’s Library that Facilitates Female and Future-Forward Empowerment

Size: 500 m2

Location: Durban Girls’ College, Durban

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When the faculty at Durban Girls’ College identified their library as a space in need of change, they commissioned Hesse Kleinloog Studio to interrogate what a school library should stand for in the 21st century. The design team’s mission was clear: to create a library that would encourage questions, inspire curiosity, and ignite the imaginations of the students. Following classical aesthetic lines, they embedded a sense of wonder within the very fabric of the new Anele Tembe Library, crafting a space that beckons discovery.

“The Anele Tembe Library was envisioned as a sanctuary, a museum, and a workshop — a space curated for modernday exploration and learning.”

The original Durban Girls’ College senior library was established in the old school hall, preserving the iconic wooden roof trusses and the historic 15th-century ‘Peppercorn’ stained glass window. However, as the school recognised, traditional libraries have evolved, with a new motto guiding contemporary design: Libraries should be about more than books. The Anele Tembe Library was envisioned as a sanctuary, a museum, and a workshop — a space curated for modern-day exploration and learning.

In an act of honour

In 2021, the school community mourned the passing of past student Anele Tembe. The concept of honouring Anele’s memory through the library’s transformation became a poignant act of legacy. Hesse Kleinloog Studio, co-founded by Durban Girls’ College alumna Andrea Kleinloog, approached the project with a clear goal in mind: to create a more innovative and functional space that would encourage the girls to pause, look around, disconnect, and ultimately discover. The design team’s personal connection to the school, combined with their expertise, made them the perfect project custodians.

SUPPLIERS

Kabir tables and communal desk tiles: Kalki Ceramics | Shopfitting and joinery: Ken Leiman Furniture | Rumi rockers: Douglas and Douglas

Photography by Samantha Maber

Library of the future

The design of the Anele Tembe Library is a captivating synthesis of old and new. The magni昀椀cent wooden vaulted ceiling resembles the hull of a majestic ship, not unlike the Galleon in the Durban Girls’ College school badge, while the beautiful sash windows 昀椀lter in the sunlight, offering stunning views over Durban.

The carefully designed interior spaces are sensory and encourage perspective and investigation. The colour palette is muted and restful, with a variety of learning environments, from acoustic booths for quiet study to café-style tables and comfortable reading nooks featuring large charcoal beanbags. Suspended paper scrolls by Elonah O’Neil Reid lend a serene ambience, while the revered stained-glass windows continue to cast their warm glow.

As the Anele Tembe Library ushers in a new era of boundless learning, it stands as a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and a touch of whimsy. Looking back on a design of the past, celebrating the love and legacy of a fellow student, designed by the hand of an alumna, the Anele Tembe Library introduces a special type of project to the portfolio of renovations, taking its cue from the students that came before it and laying out a launchpad for generations to come.

DOME OF DISCOVERY

Kate Otten Architects Introduce the Anglo American Digital Dome at the University of the Witwatersrand in a Powerful Act of Adaptive Reuse

Size: 2105 m2

Location: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

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Designed by Kate Otten Architects, the recent transformation of the Wits Planetarium re-energises this iconic structure, originally completed in 1960. With its stunning copper dome and slender portico, this planetarium has served as the largest in sub-Saharan Africa for over six decades. It has welcomed thousands of visitors, offering a celestial experience that has captivated both the academic community and the general public. The renovation aims to create a fully interactive digital system that expands its offerings beyond astronomy, fostering a greater connection with the community and reimagining the planetarium for the 21st century.

The Wits Planetarium, renowned for its extraordinary Zeiss planetarium projector, has long been a landmark on Yale Road. Recognising its historical signi昀椀cance and potential for modern engagement, the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome project emerges as a high-pro昀椀le centenary initiative, marking an exciting new chapter for the university.

New functions

The primary goal of the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome project is to create a cutting-edge visualisation laboratory within the planetarium. Kate Otten Architects were appointed in 2021 to spearhead the adaptive reuse of this iconic structure, carefully considering its heritage importance and the sensitivity of the building’s design. The process of reimagining the planetarium posed interesting challenges, particularly in the effort to seamlessly transition an already iconic building into a contemporary space while making it seem as though nothing had happened. This delicate balance involved navigating the interests of three conflicting

departments — art, science, and sport — while accommodating the diverse needs of each group. The project’s triumph lies in its ability to create a harmonious environment that serves all users while maintaining a seamless interface with the public.

The brief encompasses not only the transformation of the planetarium into a digital facility but also the upgrade of of昀椀ce spaces and teaching facilities. Plans included new ablution facilities, enhanced access points, and improved seating for the adjacent sports 昀椀eld and grandstands. A delightful addition to the project includes steel constellation-patterned screens designed to match the existing glass-etched impressions, fostering a dialogue between the original architecture and the new elements. The various components of the complex are designed to function cohesively and independently, with shared spaces like the roof viewing deck serving dual purposes: housing telescopes for views of the night sky while providing a vantage point for guests during campus events.

“The reimagined Wits Anglo American Digital Dome stands ready to transport 270 visitors across the universe, inviting minds from all disciplines to explore data in profound new ways.”

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MEET THE TEAM

Architects: Kate Otten Architects | Contractors:

A dome of possibilities

To initiate the renovation process, all sensitive heritage elements were meticulously protected or temporarily removed for later reinstallation. This included the intricately etched windows above the entrance, original doors, signage, and marble skirtings. In the foyer, the team introduced a long seating area and an open-plan kitchen, converting the original bookstore into a ticket of昀椀ce with reclaimed timber from the Gatehouse building, which complements the planetarium’s original woodwork.

The existing domed aluminium projection screen remains intact, with new projectors and equipment installed. The advanced digital projection system will enable not only the display of the 100 billion stars within the Milky Way but also stellar nurseries, other galaxies, and a fresh perspective of Earth. Seating has been recon昀椀gured to accommodate new raked arrangements, while the historic 92-yearold Zeiss Mark 3 projector has been carefully disassembled for future display as a museum piece on campus.

Designed for discovery

@kateottenarchitects www.kateottenarchitects.com

The reimagined Wits Anglo American Digital Dome stands ready to transport 270 visitors across the universe, inviting minds from all disciplines to explore data in profound new ways. As this celestial theatre prepares to raise its curtain once more, it promises to ignite wonder and understanding, ensuring that the magic of the cosmos continues to captivate generations to come.

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A SOCIAL BEACON ABLAZE

Local Studio’s Visionary Curiosity

Shines a New Light on Eldorado Park with Lantern House

Size: 2611 m²

Location: Soweto, Johannesburg

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Once known as Sub-City, Lantern House is a homage to the curiosity about an old sub-station in Eldorado Park that burned within the Local Studio team. A fascinating factor of the local built environment, abandoned electrical sub-stations are scattered around apartheid-era buffer zones in South Africa; relics of an era of selective electrification. To bring these spaces into a new era, Local Studio asked: what if these structures could shift from a past role as electrical transformers, to a new role as social transformers?

Out of the ashes

The project began as a proposal of an urban acupuncture initiative across from a social housing community in Eldorado Park, a suburb of Soweto. Local Studio envisioned a new library and community hub, which they dubbed ‘Lantern House’, and which could refocus a light on a forgotten corner of a forgotten neighborhood.

At 34 m², the original substation was too small for a wide and welcoming community, but thanks to the implementation of mass timber, expansion of the footprint became possible as the space could grow arboreally out of the original brick structure. As such, Lantern House reaches upwards to three storeys, with a roof terrace offering a new perspective over Soweto.

A social transformer

Although towering at a bird's-eye view, up-close, Lantern House becomes the social transformer in a newly-programmed community

plaza. The space connects the social housing community to one another, as well as to the broader context. At ground level, a flexible maker’s space spills into a new amphitheatre that can seat 65 people, while on the 昀椀rst floor, one wall of the digital learning wing is an outward facing projection screen, animating the park beyond. Going signi昀椀cantly beyond just collective entertainment and interaction, the space also houses a counselling room.

Through ensuring that the new infrastructure does not burden the community into which it is punctured, Lantern House places its influence on the surrounding context as priority. By exploring the potential of superfluous space within Sub-City, Local Studio were able to transform theory into reality. In its built form, this project embodies not only the needs of the community it is built within, but also the need for our cities to hand over the excess and allow it to be transformed.

“Up-close, Lantern House becomes the social transformer in a newly-programmed community plaza.”

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: Local Studio | Project Directors and Curators: Interactive Africa | Structural Engineer: The Structural Workshop | Project Manager: Luigi Marrai Project Management

@local_studio

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CULTIVATING COMMUNITY

The Next Stride in Local Upliftment with Urban Think Tank Empower’s Soweto-Caracas Community Centre

Photography by

Are Carelsen

Size: 520 m²

Location: Khayelitsha, Cape Town

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Created through the Urban Think Tank Empower Upgrade Model, the Soweto-Caracas Community Centre is a milestone in transforming informal settlements into holistic environments. The project was born as a thought experiment in 2016, and nearly a decade later is a movement in creating formal, safe, dignified, and empowering spaces for community members on the land they have inhabited for over 30 years.

A hub for connection

As part of the Empower project’s dedication to uplifting the people in Khayelitsha, Urban Think Tank Empower (UTTE) was determined to develop a space to provide support for the immediate and surrounding communities. The Soweto-Caracas Community Centre was an obvious move in achieving this goal. The facility is equipped to encourage community cohesion, provide practical and social support, and create a central hub and gathering space to facilitate increasingly sustainable socio-spatial equilibrium.

Celebrating collaboration

Housing is more than just four walls and a roof — an obvious notion, but one that is often overlooked in the provision of affordable homes. The community centre, however, places this as priority, providing a plethora of facility functions: a multi-purpose hall, a gathering space, an indoor soccer/netball 昀椀eld, a daycare centre and crèche, and a rooftop farm. Further, the centre provides an of昀椀ce and coworking space, as well as kitchen and bathroom facilities. Many design

discussions were held with the community members to ensure their needs were met, even including them in the programme selection. This collaboration was celebrated as a clear path to the successful execution of the project, proving to be a beacon of hope and a colourful commitment to empowering people and improving lives.

A system of sustainability

As a multi-faceted facility designed to ensure socio-economic sustainability for the full Empower precinct, the community centre utilises every component of the rooftop farm to provide a result far more valuable to the community than the sum of its parts. The rooftop garden provides food security, education, and income generation for ongoing management and maintenance of the development. ‘The Urban Farm initiative addresses food insecurity while supporting economic independence,’ says Delana Finlayson, Managing Director of UTTE. ‘It empowers residents with fresh, nutritious food and practical skills, fostering a stronger, healthier community.’

MEET THE TEAM

Architects: Urban Think Tank Empower | Contractor: Bambana Management Consulting | PV Solar System Installers: Allsolar Rooftop Farm Developers: LUFN, Aztec Agri Systems

Photography by Are Carelsen

The building is designed to operate off-grid and doesn’t have an Eskom connection, rather relying on a PV solar system above the rooftop farm, generating suf昀椀cient energy for the building to run itself and provide public lighting to the area. There is also a series of green practices provided to ensure sustainability through a variety of lenses and at a variety of layers, from the water recycling and storage tank below the building to passive ventilation and expulsion of hot air on the sports 昀椀elds.

Choosing local for longevity

UTTE was passionate about staying local in as many areas of the project as possible. The building is built from locally produced, easily sourced, and robust materials. The palette prioritised socioeconomic sustainability through an alternative building practice with 50% of the labourers being recruited from the local community and ensuring a skills transfer that would be relevant and bene昀椀cial in the area long after the immediate project’s completion. These approaches are all rooted in the concept of empowering the community through the centre, both in the construction as well as its future.

The inauguration of the Soweto-Caracas Community Centre testi昀椀es to the power of collaboration, particularly when pursuing the development of a space set to boost social support. Forwardthinking and holistic, Urban Think Tank Empower’s project is a step in the right direction for community development and upliftment through architecture — a much-needed movement for the local built environment.

“The palette prioritised socio-economic sustainability through an alternative building practice with 50% of the labourers being recruited from the local community.”

SUPPLIERS

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Photography by 1000Things ProductionsPhotography by Are Carelsen

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