About the project
Perched on the banks of the Buffels River, Restio River House, Pringle Bay is a house that has an easy living permanence that shakes off the salty winds and lets in the sun and the natural beauty of the surrounding indigenous vegetation and mountain valley. SAOTA is the architect of this family holiday home, which is nuanced and sophisticated, and built to fully grasp the daily rituals of holiday living.
The architecture is clean and robust. The materials are hard-wearing and resistant to the tough coastal climate and its winds that periodically sweep the bay. The individual open-plan rooms flow seamlessly, forming one extended living zone and central space. The welcoming kitchen and lounge area is at the centre, with a sofa in the kitchen large enough to seat the entire family. The living rooms have a direct relationship and the flow between these spaces adds a unique dynamic to the house. A sense of mystery is created through the various spaces glimpsing each other.
The house faces due north with a large stairwell that floods morning light into the kitchen area. The westerly facades, of lounge and terrace, is towards Cape Point – the most southerly tip of Cape Town’s False Bay and offers a fantastic haloed sunset in the early evening. The character and interior architecture of the kitchen area demonstrate a fresh approach to living.
The interior design, by ARRCC, offers a sophisticated and eclectic mix of easy-living and comfort. Shades of white and grey fabrics are accented with original Moroccan Berber rugs and colourful kelims, complimented with solid French oak coffee tables and lacquered round timber stools. The use of soft leathers, white linens and rich textures create an immediate sense of calmness.
A warm, but playful, and quirky element to the home is added with the likes of the punched brass cladding to the lounge fireplace and graphic-lighting installations. The artwork has been carefully curated and includes artists such as Deborah Poynton and Albert Coertse. The art is limited to key areas of the home for maximum impact. The neutral colour palette and modest furniture pieces of the bedrooms allow the incredible views to be the focus and become the ever-changing artwork of each day.
Behind the scenes, the home is technologically-enhanced with the latest audio lighting and systems that can be automated for the time of day – with the beauty being in the understatement and absence of seeing it. Finishes to the home include the use of terrazzo floors. A beach-house style is integrated with modern finishes, through the likes of the marble-layered panels that extend up the bathroom walls.
Built at good elevation with lots of access to the surrounding fynbos, the natural choice for landscaping was to incorporate as much indigenous vegetation as possible – surrounding the house and in the internal courtyard. The addition of three iconic South African trees – Milkwood, Coral trees and Waterberry’s – make this an iconic, true-to-style South African family holiday home.
