City of Lights
Sector
Residential
Location
Cape Town, South Africa
Type
Residential - turnkey project design and project management
SQM
200sqm
Goal achieved
Light and flow are fundamental
This project involved the complete transformation of a dark, dated townhouse where the interior was reimagined around natural light, intuitive circulation, and a strong connection to place. The home is uniquely positioned between two of Cape Town’s most defining landscapes.
​To the front, the living spaces open toward the bay, where shifting light, sea air and expansive horizons create a constant sense of openness and movement. To the rear, Table Mountain rises with quiet authority, providing a powerful natural anchor and reinforcing a sense of permanence and refuge. These dual outlooks frame daily life within one of the world’s most visually and ecologically rich cities.
Expansive living areas are designed to maximise uninterrupted 180-degree views across the city’s twinkling lights, allowing long sightlines that promote visual rest and emotional grounding. Custom-designed furniture and carefully curated artworks establish a calm, cohesive interior language that supports both comfort and clarity.
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The owners’ extensive travels informed the layered narrative of the home. Collected artefacts and objects are integrated with restraint and intention, allowing personal history and memory to coexist with spatial legibility. Each piece is given space to breathe, reinforcing a sense of belonging without visual overload.
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A pivotal architectural intervention was the removal of the original concrete central staircase. This fundamentally changed both the psychological and physical experience of the house, allowing light to penetrate deep into the interior and restoring natural flow between levels. The new staircase, crafted in stainless steel and timber, is celebrated as a sculptural element and tactile transition, highlighting craftsmanship while enhancing ease of movement and orientation.
Landscaped gardens connect the levels seamlessly, introducing greenery, softness, and seasonal variation into everyday life. Designed to be low-maintenance and restorative, these outdoor spaces extend the interior experience and strengthen the home’s relationship with its environment.
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The result is a home that functions as a sanctuary. Calm, coherent, and deeply personal, it supports the rhythms of its occupants while remaining quietly attuned to the natural beauty of Cape Town.
