South Villa

September 30, 2020

Designed by SAOTA South Villa is a five-story penthouse in the award-winning Clifton Terraces apartments on Victoria Road, Cape Town. Its elevated position on the iconic Lion’s Head takes in extravagant ocean views and local landmarks such as Table Mountain and Clifton’s pristine beaches.


Deep overhangs and a restrained natural palette of materials blend into the beautiful natural surroundings while landscaped terraces on each level ensure that the building will settle even more effectively into its environment over time. The building mimics the existing contours of the site, sensitively ensuring that the views from neighbouring sites were unaffected or even improved. The interior décor and interior architecture, by ARRCC and OKHA, has stylistic connections to the style moderne movement of the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 30s.



Entering Clifton Terraces via its stone-clad reception area, a private lift ascends six levels to the penthouse and opens to a hallway featuring a full panel of Fantasy marble before reaching the private lobby of the penthouse. Here, a provocative layering of oak and brass inlay accents, together with charcoal grey ribbed timber skirting converge in a backlit slab of Verde Fume Onice Onyx beneath a shadow skylight and LED-lit walls.



Exiting the lift into South Villa, a classic clad steel mesh door leads into a double volume living area that features warm bronze and glass installations such as the feature staircase. ARRCC director Jon Case says, “Classical wall detailing has been given new life with a contemporary color pallet introducing moody greys, deep blues and textured green finishes.” The living area in turn opens onto a 150 sqm terrace that boasts a raised rectangular heated pool that affords 360-degree, year-round views of Clifton and Table Mountain.




The penthouse doubles as a private art gallery, curated by OKHA in collaboration with the client and features works from galleries such as SMAC, What If the World and Southern Guild. Featured artists include the likes of Chris Soal, Galia Gluckman, Michele Mathison, Alexandra Karakashian, Mongezi Ncaphayi, Pierre Vermeulen, Chuma Maweni and Atang Tshikare.



The emotive tension between colours, materials, tactility, forms, and spaces symbiotically contribute to the overall design narrative,” says Case.



There is a broad range of custom-designed OKHA furniture pieces featured in key areas throughout the apartment; from the master bedroom and the dining room to the formal lounge and lobby. Stand-out pieces include the double trapezoid-shaped Morpheus Dining Table and the ViA console in the lobby. Taking their cue from the architecture, OKHA’s emphasis was intentionally placed on the power of form, mass and materiality.



ARRCC used a classic ribbed wall panelling in a rich dark green in the master bedroom which, together with wooden flooring, echo the Cape pines that frame the windows facing Camps Bay. The custom bed with multi-panelled headboard in Oak and French cane, broad, low armchair in rich green velvet and marble-topped timber side tables are all custom-made by OKHA. The en-suite master bathroom, where French cane bronze mirrors and oak are combined with wall-to-wall slabs of Bianco Carrara marble, provides a vibrant backdrop to the dramatic and moody master bedroom.



“The character of the furnishings throughout is not achieved through ornamentation but in keeping with the principles of style moderne, using clear articulation, with scale playing an important role.



Photography by Adam Letch & Niel Vosloo

www.saota.com
www.arrcc.com
www.okha.com

SHARE THIS

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

Recent Posts

By G&G _ Magazine February 3, 2026
Merav Bustan, founder of the Berlin-based design studio bearing her name, is the creative force behind the interior design of the new boutique hotel, VIA Antwerp , located in the vibrant heart of the Zurenborg district.
By G&G _ Magazine January 28, 2026
From January 18 to 20, 2026, Destination Design confirmed itself as a key observatory for contemporary living where design is no longer just about form or function, but about emotion and adaptability for the future.
By G&G _ Magazine January 26, 2026
Workspace Design Show is set to take place from February 25-16, 2026, at the Business Design Centre in London, returning with a powerful series of immersive installations that bring the theme Connected Realities to life.
By G&G _ Magazine January 12, 2026
DA bureau designed a 150 m² apartment in St. Petersburg, conceived to offer comfortable, functional living for a couple with three children.
By G&G _ Magazine January 10, 2026
Designed by studio gram, Monarto Safari Resort tells a story of migration, encounter, and reconnection with nature. Conceived as a sensory retreat, the project invites travellers to step away from fast-paced routines and immerse themselves in a landscape where architecture, wildlife, and human experience coexist in quiet harmony.
By G&G _ Magazine January 9, 2026
OF. Studio, an internationally award-winning architecture practice based in London, designed a 571 m² single-family residence in Mendoza, Argentina, conceived as a bold architectural response to its landscape, where form, materiality, and human inhabitation are expressed with radical honesty.
MORE

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Popular Posts

By G&G _ Magazine November 6, 2025
interihotel once again amazed the city of Barcelona from October 21st to 23rd, bringing more than 11,600 industry professionals from around the world, reaffirming its position as Europe's leading event for hospitality design.
By G&G _ Magazine September 11, 2025
At M&O September 2025 edition, countless brands and design talents unveiled extraordinary innovations. Yet, among the many remarkable presences, some stood out in a truly distinctive way. G&G _ Magazine is proud to present a curated selection of 21 Outstanding Professionals who are redefining the meaning of Craftsmanship in their own unique manner, blending tradition with contemporary visions and eco-conscious approaches.
By G&G _ Magazine May 2, 2025
Nestled at the foot of Shuiguan Mountain, just an hour's drive from Beijing, Commune by the Great Wall stands as a testament to contemporary architectural innovation harmoniously blended with China's rich heritage.