Saota

First Crescent

First Crescent
© SAOTA

FIRST CRESCENT

 Saota

LOCATION
Cape Town, South Africa

CATEGORY
Houses

ARCHITECTS
Saota

AREA
676 m²

YEAR
2007

Text description provided by architect.

The owners brief was to design a dramatic, memorable house. The house needed to suit his specific aesthetic considerations and have the flexibility that it could be either partially or completely rented out.

First Crescent
© SAOTA
First Crescent
© SAOTA

The client has a discerning eye for striking contemporary design and that, along with the fantastic position of the site lent, to creating an elegant response.

A double storey house was positioned centrally on the site i.e. where it starts to widen towards the north which basically cut the property in half resulting in a very large south facing front garden.

First Crescent
© SAOTA
First Crescent
© SAOTA

As the existing house did not maximize the sites’ potential, it was entirely demolished except for the small basement area which was converted into a guest suite with special views of its own. The challenge with the site was its shape; it is 50m long and only 20m wide (at its widest).

Our response was quite striking due to its strong lines, yet created difficulties in how to accommodate all the rooms without creating a dull layout. The property not only had an existing building which needed to be demolished but it also had extensive fill above the natural ground level.

First Crescent
© SAOTA
First Crescent
© SAOTA

The property, and subsequently the plan of the house, focused on Camps Bay beach, and the views of Lion’s Head in a Northerly direction. There are also great views back to The Twelve Apostles and the Cable Station.

To capitalize on the views, meant that the design also needed to respond to issues of privacy with the neighbour’s property. Clerestory frameless glazing (skylights) replaced structure and framed views which might otherwise have been missed.

First Crescent
© SAOTA
First Crescent
© SAOTA

Sandblasting of the full height glazing at the eastern boundary enabled us to maximize light to the linear passage and maintain views of the mountain peaks whilst adhering to councils requirements and ensuring privacy of the neighbouring property.

The bedrooms were simply arranged to look west towards the great sea views – off the linear circulation space which forms the rear ‘spine’ of the house. There is a dramatic staircase in this circulation space; with good views back to the Cable Station.

The living spaces are at the Northern side of the house, and feel like they propel themselves towards the view. All living spaces have a great connection to the covered or uncovered terraces and the interior / exterior space continuation is dramatic. The living spaces are highly transparent to take full advantage of views.

First Crescent
© SAOTA
First Crescent
© SAOTA

The Upstairs & Downstairs are very similar in that each level is fully equipped and independently habitable. The ground floor differs in that it has a self-contained staff suite, only two bedrooms and a water feature which runs the full length of the passage emphasizing the linearity of the house. At this level the views from the terrace are mostly restricted to the North. However, at the First Floor one is elevated above the neighbouring houses and can appreciate the 360 degree view.

The roof over the deck has a steel structure which cantilevers out of the reinforced concrete of the roof slab. A steel ‘ring’ beam was used to create the cut-out and the remaining external extent of the roof was then clad with aluminium panels.

Steel sections remain visible creating the illusion of a very thin roof. Reinforced concrete upstand beams are however set back from the edge of the roof edge and are not visible from below.


First Crescent
Plan
First Crescent
Plan


First Crescent
Section

Saota
T +27 21 4684400
Saota
109 Hatfield St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa