Running water
BY: Sarah-Jane Bosch
PROJECT CO-ORDINATION: Shanee Smart
PHOTOGRAPHY: Fiona Barclay Keating

This is an extraordinarily beautiful yet functional home with magnificent views of Camps Bay and the surrounding mountains. One of the property's most remarkable features is a mountain stream that naturally runs alongside and below the house, providing a constant soothing background melody.

Nico van der Meulen and Associates transformed the existing seventies-style house on the sloping plot into a modern multi-level residence with all the dramatic architectural expression this practice is renowned for.

Working closely with a group of preferred suppliers and contractors, the architect has created a home with a relaxed, yet sophisticated ambience that incorporates customary modern amenities, including a state-of-the-art home theatre and an outdoor pizza oven.
Architect, builder and client worked together closely on this extensive project, which encompassed several complex architectural structures and detailed finishes. These include a digital electrical system that allows the home owners, at the touch of a button, to view security film, dim or brighten lights according to a range of preset mood settings, and turn on piped music at the right volume.

Notable architectural features include a timber suspension bridge over the stream; massive house-supporting pillars on the river bank; a folding glass wall that opens the entire living area out onto the extensive patio; and flush glazing throughout ensuring plenty of natural light and optimal views from every room.
Once all the construction work had been completed, the garden was completely relandscaped with terraces to accommodate the sloping site; a project that included earthworks, soil preparation, and laying of lawns and flowerbeds.
A textured exterior finish was chosen to complement the magnificent mountain setting, and indoor and outdoor lighting enhance the home's features, with downlights, uplights and carefully selected chandeliers combining to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere while remaining functional.

One of the hallmarks of this architectural practice is complete unity of architecture, décor and furnishings, with all their homes incorporating carefully selected colours, textures, and designs that create a satisfying whole. Contemporary finishes in this stylish home include custom-made furniture, soft furnishings, artworks and accessories that enhance the innovative architectural features.
Filled and honed travertine creates a warm ambience throughout the ground floor living area, complementing the stained African rosewood and stainless steel kitchen and adjoining sit-down bar, which were designed by the architect to follow the lines of the expansive open-plan interiors.

A stainless steel duct suspended over a customised gas burner set in a travertine fireplace with a wooden mantelpiece, is an eye-catching element of the elegant double volume formal living room, which is overlooked by a balustraded Juliet balcony opening out of the guest suite on the upper level.
A second fireplace has been built into the column that separates the dining room from the family room, providing warmth in both. Illuminated alcoves in the column and some of the interior walls have been specially designed to house the home owners' collection of artworks.

Custom-designed furniture includes the twelve-seater rosewood dining table with chairs upholstered to complement the living room couches, and matching rosewood coffee tables in the lounge and family room.
A massive pigmented concrete slab was selected for the magnificent outdoor patio table. Resistant to scratches, oil and water, hard-wearing and functional concrete provides an attractive contemporary alternative to wood, granite and marble.
Garaging is provided at street level, with internal stairways giving access to the double storey home above. For visitors, a steep driveway leads up to the imposing main entrance, which is dominated by a stainless steel port cochere over a wooden foot bridge spanning a water feature.

An outsize wooden pivot door opens into the vast living area, with views through the double volume lounge and dining room windows to the patio, with a gas braai and pizza oven, and a sizeable rimflow swimming pool.
Drab-painted interior walls with plaster detail form an effective background for chic furnishings in organic shades. In the lounge, a collection of couches, daybeds and armchairs upholstered in shades of olive are arranged around a sisal carpet, and set off by strategically placed objets and attractive flower arrangements.
In the kitchen, clinical stainless steel work surfaces, splashbacks and appliances contrast with warm rosewood cabinets and travertine floors. At the back of the kitchen, two travertine steps lead up to an intimate lounge area with a modern daybed, illuminated by ceiling mounted spotlights.

The family room adjoining the kitchen is furnished to match the lounge, with olive-upholstered couches and rosewood coffee tables as well as a wall-mounted plasma screen. In the adjacent games room the sizeable pool table is lit by ceiling-mounted spotlights, which are reflected in the mirror backed shelves of the neighbouring well-equipped bar.

Sliding glass doors open out of the pool room onto a timber deck, which leads onto the wooden suspension bridge that ends in a viewing deck ideal for intimate sundowners.
A second bridge with rustic timber handrails follows the river bank, where carefully selected plantings are beginning to take root.

Two internal stairways lead to the upper level, where carpeted, balustraded walkways overlook the living area and kitchen. A secondary staircase links the family lounge with the bedrooms and study above, while the main travertine-tiled stairway rises up from the entrance close to the formal lounge. This stairway overlooks the water feature and port cochere at the main entrance through a double volume glass wall, and the living room below is visible through a glass panel set in the mid-level landing.

An outsize wooden door opens into the spacious main bedroom, with a luxurious cream cut-pile carpet, lowered perimeter bulkheads with inset downlights, and a ceiling-mounted stainless steel starlight chandelier. Spotlights in the bulkhead over the bed can be adjusted for optimal reading light, and one corner of the room is taken up by a television set that is wall-mounted to optimise floor space.

Décor combines cream, brown, and warm red wine. Striking tartan drapes on simple chromed rails conceal a series of smaller windows as well as the sliding glass doors that open onto the travertine-tiled balcony with stainless steel balustrades.
The custom-made wall-mounted bed is flanked by matching wooden pedestals, and the modern daybed and footstool are covered in calico.

A sliding glass door opens into the adjoining dressing room, which has been carpeted to match the bedroom. Built-in dark wood cupboards with stainless steel handles line the room, which is illuminated by ceiling-mounted downlights and ends abruptly in a mirror wall.

Glass doors open out of the dressing room into the bathroom, with a travertine floor and half-tiled walls topped by mosaic listellos. The kidney-shaped spa bath is set in travertine, under a curved bulkhead with inset starlights.

Aluminium venetian blinds provide light control and allow sea views from the bath and shower areas, and a full-width wall mirror in the opposite wall is set under a high butt-joined window that enables spectacular views of the nearby mountains.

Twin rectangular ceramic basins are set in a travertine slab above a wood vanity cabinet. Toilet and bidet are separate, and a sliding door opens from the flush floor shower onto a balcony that overlooks the river below as well as the sea in the distance.
From the imposing main entrance and expansive living area to the smallest cloakroom, the emphasis in this lovely home is on gracious living, while remaining supremely functional.

PROFESSIONALS:
Nico van der Meulen and Associates - architect
Cloete Contractors - building contractor
VanderM Interiors - interior design

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