- Project: La Lucia
- Architect: SAOTA, ARRCC
- Location: South Africa, La Lucia, Kwazulu Natal
- Year: 2021
- Area: 677 m2
- Photography: Karl Beath
Set among protected milkwood trees on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, La Lucia by SAOTA and ARRCC reimagines contemporary beachfront living with effortless sophistication and natural integration. Located just south of Umhlanga in the seaside suburb of La Lucia, the residence combines architectural simplicity, responsive design, and textural interiors into a calm, modern retreat.
Seamless Integration with the Landscape
Nestled into its coastal setting, the home is shaped by framed ocean views, filtered sunlight, and the milkwood canopy. Bronzed anodised aluminium sliding screens cocoon the building, mimicking the delicate branching of milkwoods to provide protection from wind, rain, and sun while defining the home’s signature façade.
“The surrounding beauty of the environment inspired so much of the design,” says Mark Rielly, ARRCC Director. “It’s about crafting spaces that reflect both the location and the people who live in them.”
A Dramatic Yet Understated Entry
A floating timber platform threads between two milkwood trees to a discreet front door. Inside, a double-volume entrance—aligned slatted ceilings and a controlled axis—delays the reveal before opening to a sweeping ocean panorama.
Ground Floor: Coastal Flow & Flexibility
The ground level is conceived as a seamlessly connected indoor–outdoor space, integrating sea-facing terraces and pool decks, a warm west garden, and flexible sliding screens that modulate privacy and openness. Spaces can be opened as a continuous coastal living zone or closed for intimacy—always maintaining unobstructed coastal flow.
Interior Design: Sophisticated Simplicity
ARRCC composes a tactile, relaxed palette: polished sand-toned concrete floors, bleached timber, soft leathers, and grey linens within a neutral base lifted by charcoal, teal, and azure accents. The indoor and outdoor lounges operate as a single social sphere, with adjacent dining enhancing generous entertaining.
“The interiors are not over-designed but rather confidently relaxed,” adds Rielly. “Each piece was selected to create an elegant yet understated beach lifestyle.”
Upper Level: Privacy with a View
Four sea-facing bedrooms open to private terraces, blending retreat with immersion. When closed, the bronzed aluminium screens ensure privacy and protection while contributing to the façade’s rhythm. These patterned panels serve as both functional shading and sculptural expression.
External Materials Echo the Shoreline
Outdoor surfaces reinforce the beachfront connection: weathered Iroko timber clads decking and ceiling slats, honed sandstone anchors thresholds, and polished light concrete extends interior tactility outside. The pool and entertainment deck are slightly raised for uninterrupted views over the dunes—creating a natural transition from built form to ocean horizon.
Crafted Moments & Coastal Everyday
Throughout the house, quiet junctions and framed views choreograph daily rituals—morning light filtered through screens, shaded afternoons on the deck, and evenings facing the sea breeze. The architecture softens thresholds without losing definition, making the home equally suited to slow living and generous hosting.
A Refined Response to Coastal Living
La Lucia by SAOTA and ARRCC offers a luxury beach home experience that is both deeply connected to nature and precisely controlled in expression. Through context-sensitive design, environmental protection, and curated textures, the house shows how clarity of form can elevate relaxed living into a harmonious, life-enhancing retreat.
