Mega mix
Mixed materials is the trend of the moment. Think textural walls in natural finishes elevated by accents of lustrous metals, as seen in this Cape Town home
Mixed materials is the trend of the moment. This Cape Town home perfects the style using texture and metallic touches
Neil Roake had an ambitious vision for his new-build Modernist home. His plan was to construct two concrete residences on this steep plot in Bakoven, Cape Town – one an investment property, split over two levels and accessed at street level, the other Neil’s private 350-square-metre apartment spread over three floors. The decor would be a talking point, and each of the rooms defined by walls of blue stone, wood or marble, inspired by the rugged coastal setting. ‘I wanted to instil a sense of history by using raw materials, but also to create respite and calm from the relentless sun and the noise of the nearby beach,’ says Neil, who is a chef and cookbook author as well as a retailer and hotelier. ‘Naturally, creating my dream kitchen was central to the plan.’
Stellenbosch-based architect Willem Bosch was commissioned to bring Neil’s ideas to life, and his conservatory-encased kitchen sits at the heart of this new home. It is a ‘theatre kitchen’, from where Neil commands the room and his guests’ conversation inevitably turns to the striking design of the cabinetry, which is punctured by copper-clad wall units. Beyond the kitchen, there is a leafy sunken courtyard with a natural swimming pool as well as a two-metre-high vertical garden that trails down to a water feature.
The main living spaces are screened from the nearby buildings by a large glass structure ( below right). ‘I designed the screen myself – it took eight men to move it onto the site,’ Neil says. ‘At sunset, the screen is transformed into a magical sculpture set aglow by the crimson sun.’ While the architectural details are cutting-edge and visually engaging, their sole purpose is to enhance the level of comfort inside Neil’s home. ‘This is very much a family space, where I can spend time catching up with my grown-up children,’ he says. ‘There are two en suite bedrooms for guests on the first floor, while the balcony room belongs to my daughter, Jordan Alexandra, and the twin bedroom next door is reserved for Tyler Hope, my son.’ Neil’s bedroom, meanwhile, occupies the entire top floor and segues into a dressing room and shower area – all with sweeping views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range and Bakoven beach.
‘This project has changed me, and I like that,’ says Neil. ‘Often I’ll be downstairs when I’ll suddenly realise that there’s magic happening over the ocean, and I’ll nip upstairs to see the sun setting on the horizon, like a firecracker leaving its mark in the sky. I hope this house has the same mesmerising effect on the landscape.’ wpboscharchitects.co.za
‘NATURALLY, CREATING MY DREAM KITCHEN WAS CENTRAL TO THE PLAN’