Silverhurst
Mon, 12 Nov 2012
I love when emails from SAOTA pop into my inbox. Exciting new designs from South Africa. I always think of them as "houses for when you have arrived". There is a softening of materials in this new house. Natural materials and a limited palette but still the contemporay luxury that SAOTA is known for. Here's how the designers describe their latest project Silverhurst at Constantia, Cape Town.
VIVID Architects prepared the initial concept design for this home, a contemporary reboot of the more classical architectural styles. SAOTA - Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects and ANTONI ASSOCIATES were then appointed to refine & develop the design and oversee the project to completion. The facade is Georgian inspired but the modern aspect of the look is driven by a dynamic of recessed and projecting panels and cubes that create courtyards and terraces that articulate and add interest to what is a highly organised shell. The interiors, by ANTONI ASSOCIATES, are equally sculpted.
Entering the house, a large light-filled entrance hall divides the two ground-floor wings which consist of a series of living spaces that open out to a private courtyard and the very edgy Franchesca Watson landscaped garden beyond. For the design ethic within the house, ultra-slick finishes and a futuristic home-tech edge were chosen. Stripped back ceilings with recessed details cleverly hide curtain tracks and act as a mechanism through which wooden feature walls can disappear out of sight, lending each room a clean crisp finish. Clusters of directional spotlights were selected to add ambience and subtly highlight architectural nuances, such as the floating stairs.
Natural materials were used to add warmth and texture throughout. Jerusalem stone flooring extends from the main entrance through most of the internal and external spaces giving way to fumed oak floors in the living and dining areas, as well as American cedar for the doors and pergolas and Ipe for the pool decking. This natural but uncluttered linear language was carried through to the decor by Mark Rielly of ANTONI ASSOCIATES who opted for solid timber pieces. Leather and suede were chosen for the upholstery. Feature lights are also strategically placed to add drama and definition to different spaces. The symbiosis between the decor and architecture is such that the overall impression is that of a clean but carefully considered scheme that soothes with its high-end modern appeal.
