- Project: Kloof 119A
- Architect: SAOTA
- Location: South Africa, Clifton, Cape Town
- Year: 2022
- Area: 850 m2
- Photography: Adam Letch & Micky Hoyle
Set below Lion’s Head in the heart of Cape Town, Kloof 119A by SAOTA is a striking architectural feat that captures the drama of the South African landscape with bold sculptural geometry and seamless spatial flow. This three-level family residence frames iconic landmarks—Table Mountain, Signal Hill, and the Boland mountains—through a powerful design move: an inverted pyramid roof that floods the interior with light and reveals 360-degree views of city and sky.
A Roof That Redefines the Horizon
The defining architectural element of Kloof 119A is its inverted pyramid roof, which forms a clerestory window around the upper floor. This geometric gesture does more than anchor the home visually—it opens up skyward views, inviting sunlight, moonlight, and nature’s rhythm directly into the living spaces. The upper structure glows at night like a suspended lightbox, a beacon on the Cape Town hillside.
“The roof’s form allows views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head that would otherwise be hidden,” explains SAOTA.
Private Fortress, Open Interior
From the street, the house appears reserved and discreet, with a traditional Cape-style stone wall concealing the home’s interior. Entry is through a large metal front door into a quiet transitional courtyard garden. From this intimate arrival point, a short ascent reveals expansive living areas dramatically oriented towards the city skyline and distant winelands.
A Vertical Living Experience
The home is organized across three levels, each finely tuned to its function and relationship with the landscape:
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Top Level: Open-plan kitchen, lounge, dining, and entertainment spaces with commanding views.
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Middle Level: Family bedrooms and workspaces, including a secondary courtyard garden.
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Lower Level: Guest room, cinema, gym, and garage—tucked discreetly into the site.
Courtyards, Light, and Layered Gardens
Each level features its own gardens and courtyards, cascading down with the slope of the mountain. These planted terraces act as natural light wells, enhance privacy, and deepen the connection to the indigenous vegetation. They also shield interiors from neighboring properties, making even the densest parts of the structure feel open and serene.
The exterior is clad in a dark palette to visually soften the structure against the mountain, while interior materials include washed oak, lending warmth and understated elegance.
Curated Interiors by OKHA
The interiors are furnished with bespoke pieces by OKHA, including the Hunt Sofa, Nate, Nicci Nouveau, Miles, and Vince Armchairs. The Planalto Dining Table anchors the dining space, while OKHA’s To Be One and Lean On Me floor lamps complement the lounge’s sculptural ambiance.
The second-floor courtyard doubles as a personal workspace, reinforcing the home’s layered flexibility and adaptive use of space.
A Dialogue Between Architecture and Setting
Kloof 119A is more than a home—it is a compositional response to place, a sculptural object that reflects the terrain while offering residents a deeply connected, nature-forward lifestyle. With SAOTA’s signature sensitivity to light, form, and context, the house exemplifies a new standard in urban hillside living.
