HOUSE CAMPBELL

Nestled in the foothills of Table Mountain, this 150-square-metre home is a sculptural piece of architecture in a suburban landscape. Contextually, it sits comfortably in the old neighbourhood of Vredehoek with established similar scale houses. Bespoke deep-set, black steel windows frame spectacular views, while one windowsill doubles up as a quirky basin, draining water directly into the garden bed outside. The landscape, designed by Room to Grow, is an important component of the architecture here, and is introduced wherever possible. The curves, a nod to the Art Deco heritage of Vredehoek, allow for façade planter boxes, and the zero-maintenance face brick was chosen so that, over time, the building could be enveloped in greenery.

The home is a study in compaction of space, and cleverly employs light and volume to uplift the constraints of the plan. Inexpensive materials are used throughout, but are balanced by custom detailing and craftsmanship. While the arrangement of the house is extremely efficient, it does allow for some surprising spatial luxuries. A split level in the living space affords a four-metre ceiling height as it steps down with the site, and a five-metre-high shower area is well worth the sacrifice of a bit of extra floor space above. A floating concrete staircase leads to perhaps the most surprising feature of all: a generous roof terrace replete with garden beds and a fireplace, with 360-degree views of the mountain, the city, and the harbour.