Private Apartment - Miramar, Cape Town

Resting on the boulders of Bantry Bay, this four-bedroom apartment – Miramar, Cape Town in South Africa, boasts 270° views over the Atlantic Ocean. After purchasing an entire floor within an older ocean-front building, the client challenged the ARRCC team to convert four separate one-bedroom apartments into a luxury holiday retreat.

The client’s specific brief on how the apartment was going to be used formed the configuration of the new design. The couple planned to use the apartment on their own, most of the time; so it was decided to create the master bedroom as part of the living areas towards the front of the apartment. The three guest bedrooms would remain towards the back. This also solved the challenge of ensuring that all rooms have a front or side view over the ocean; this part of the brief being particularly challenging due to the narrow shape of the apartment block.

Entering through the front door that is concealed within a timber-clad wall, one’s eye is automatically drawn to the magnificent ocean views. These are amplified by fully-retractable glass doors, which also act as apartment walls. A large raw-timber dining table dominates the entrance area, which also features a custom-designed wrought iron chandelier. The same design is echoed in the standing lamps in the adjacent lounge.

The two front living areas were divided by a feature fireplace into which a bar unit was cleverly concealed behind mirror-clad touch release doors. The second larger lounge offers an alternative seating area and flows into the main bedroom, which can be closed off with timber folding screens for privacy. When open, the fresh sea air flows into the bedroom, immersing one completely into the surroundings.

The master ensuite bathroom, including the ceiling, is completely clad in mirror. This creates the illusion of a bigger space whilst simultaneously adhering to the modern design aesthetic of the room. The mirrored ceiling was a considered design solution, to give the impression of height; since the floor had to be raised to accommodate new plumbing. Signature timber screens separate the bathroom from the main bedroom.

A custom-designed kitchen sits adjacent to a third lounge area that includes a breakfast table overlooking the Atlantic. From this room, a mirror-panelled passage leads to the guest bedrooms. These rooms were designed to take maximum advantage of the available spaces. Large windows frame the views and unique design elements, by ARRCC, such as the timber screens that line the beds and metal detailing within the mirror cabinets in the bathrooms.

Detailed marble wall-cladding in the ensuite bathrooms add luxury and sophistication to the spaces. The colour palette is kept neutral, complementing the natural materials used throughout. Sophisticated detailing is achieved in the brass inlays, which line the timber floor panels as well as the fireplace, emphasizing the elegance of the space.

The client was personally involved in the decoration and furnishing of the apartment, which incorporates furniture from her daughter’s collection.