Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside

  • Project: Kloof 145
  • Architect: SAOTA
  • Location: South Africa, Clifton, Cape Town
  • Year: 2021
  • Area: 1200 m2
  • Photography: Adam Letch

Perched along Kloof Road in Cape Town’s prestigious Clifton suburb, Kloof 145 by SAOTA is a breathtaking cliffside residence that unfolds as a series of layered architectural volumes, harmonizing with the rugged terrain of Lion’s Head. With panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Clifton’s white sandy beaches, and the Twelve Apostles, this terraced villa reflects SAOTA’s signature approach of weaving contemporary form into the natural landscape.

Sculpted to the Slope

The steep topography was the primary design challenge—and opportunity. SAOTA responded with an arrangement of staggered blocks, rising organically from the mountainside. This design minimizes excavation while enhancing privacy and acoustic buffering from the street below.

At its base, a gabion-walled apartment anchors the home like a stone outcrop. Its interiors—dark-stained oak, off-shutter concrete, and earthy tones—echo the rocky strata of the mountain. Above this, a green terrace and braai area acts as a landscape threshold, bridging built form and indigenous context.

“The conceptual approach was to reinstate the qualities of a natural landscape,” explains SAOTA director Phillippe Fouché.

A Treehouse Experience with Urban Elegance

Floating above the terrace, a vertically slatted aluminium box forms a semi-enclosed pavilion, allowing bushwillow trees from the forest below to grow into the architecture. These screens, which resemble tree bark in tone and texture, can be adjusted to filter sunlight—simulating the shade of a forest canopy.

Moving upward, the main living level is set back into the slope to further enhance privacy while anchoring the occupants within the expansive views. A mountainside courtyard brings in natural light and air, softening the concrete geometry with planting and openness.

The space features rough-sawn plank concrete ceilings, timber floors, and a timber-clad scullery, exuding a raw yet refined materiality. Above the scullery, a mezzanine study is suspended like a bridge—adding to the home’s vertical dynamism.

Airy Minimalism Above the Canopy

The top floor master suite rises above the treetops and is expressed in pale timber, white marble, and glass walls that fold away, revealing a cinematic view of the sea and sky. Skylights further flood the space with light, evoking a sense of elevation, calm, and retreat.

A continuous sculptural staircase, designed as a folded timber ribbon, links the levels and gradually lightens in tone from bottom to top—mirroring the ascent from rooted mountain textures to air and openness above.

Natural Architecture for a Dramatic Setting

Kloof 145 is an exercise in contextual sensitivity and architectural poetry. Through terracing, material honesty, and landscape integration, SAOTA delivers a home that is visually powerful yet environmentally responsive, drawing on the firm’s deep experience in coastal and hillside living.

Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch
Kloof 145 by SAOTA: A Sculptural Home Carved Into the Cape Town Hillside
Photography © Adam Letch

Posted by SAOTA

SAOTA is an internationally acclaimed architectural firm known for its visionary design approach and global impact. Led by a dynamic team including Stefan Antoni, Philip Olmesdahl, Greg Truen, Phillippe Fouché, Mark Bullivant, Roxanne Kaye, Logen Gordon, Dani Reimers, and Dominik George, the firm seamlessly blends innovation, functionality, and aesthetics to redefine contemporary architecture. With a portfolio spanning six continents, SAOTA has established itself as a leader in delivering cutting-edge architectural solutions across diverse markets. The firm's success stems from its ability to harmonize form and function, creating bespoke designs that maximize value while responding to unique environmental and cultural contexts. A commitment to technological innovation places SAOTA at the forefront of the industry. The firm integrates advanced Revit modeling and virtual reality tools to enhance the design process, ensuring precision, clarity, and immersive client experiences. Rooted in a spirit of continuous exploration, SAOTA thrives on pushing creative boundaries, shaping iconic spaces that embody elegance, sophistication, and architectural excellence. Through its unwavering dedication to quality and client-focused solutions, the firm remains a global benchmark in contemporary architecture.