- Project: Victoria 73 House
- Architect: SAOTA
- Location: South Africa, Cape Town
- Year: 2015
- Area: 1099 m2
Set against the dramatic coastline of Bantry Bay, Cape Town, the Victoria 73 House by SAOTA is a masterful example of contemporary architecture that marries bold form, luxurious function, and a deeply contextual design. With sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and sculptural geometries inspired by the Californian Case Study Houses, this 11,829 sq ft residence is a testament to SAOTA’s design ethos: modern, site-responsive, and globally resonant.
Site Challenges and Spatial Strategy
When SAOTA was approached to reimagine an underutilized property on Victoria Road, the brief from the clients—a young family—was clear: transform the site into a private, outdoor-oriented retreat that maximizes views while navigating Cape Town’s complex zoning codes. The original home, partially illegal under current regulations, had to be partially retained due to budget constraints, complicating the redesign and submission process.
The site’s steeply sloping, tapered form—26 meters wide at the rear and narrowing to 17 meters along the street, 16 meters below—posed significant architectural and engineering challenges. Yet SAOTA turned these constraints into opportunities, vertically organizing the home across six levels while integrating layered terraces, framed vistas, and outdoor living zones at multiple elevations.
Programmatic Zoning: A Home for Family and Entertainment
The residence is vertically structured to clearly distinguish family life from entertainment:
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Fourth and Fifth Floors: These levels serve as the heart of the home, containing an open-plan living room, kitchen, and dining area, all bathed in sunlight and oriented toward ocean views. Below this, the fifth-floor entertainment zone features a bar, an outdoor braai area, and a pool terrace with shaded and open lounging spaces. A dramatic gazebo anchors the western edge, catching the last rays of Cape Town’s sunset.
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Sixth Floor: Reserved for the family’s private quarters, including the main bedroom, two en-suite children’s rooms, and a dedicated children’s lounge.
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Second and Third Floors: Accommodate a guest suite, staff quarters, and a serene library.
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Ground Floor: Features a five-car garage, the entrance hall, and vertical circulation via a glass elevator and external staircase.
Design Language and Architectural Influences
The design references the modernist rigor of Mies van der Rohe and the Californian modernist movement. A cantilevered roof slab floats above the main living level, detached from the off-shutter concrete ceiling via a clerestory window—an elegant nod to planar architecture and the iconic Barcelona Pavilion.
Materiality plays a starring role throughout:
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Textured stone cladding enriches both interior and exterior walls.
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Off-shutter concrete introduces raw texture to key communal areas.
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Timber panels and colorful mosaic finishes layer warmth and artisanal detail, offering a tactile contrast to the home’s sculptural framework.
Contextual Integration and Privacy
Despite the density of the surrounding neighborhood, privacy was maintained through strategic spatial planning and sectional design. The home turns inward while simultaneously opening up to unobstructed sea views. Outdoor areas, especially on the entertainment levels, are shielded from the region’s prevailing winds—maximizing both usability and comfort.
Conclusion: A New Cape Town Icon
The Victoria 73 House by SAOTA is a powerful example of how South African architecture continues to evolve at the intersection of innovation, landscape, and lifestyle. It is not only a home but a sculptural presence that enhances the Bantry Bay coastline. With its complex interplay of forms, materials, and layered spaces, this residence reflects the ambition of modern architecture in Southern Africa—a seamless fusion of nature, technology, and art.
