"Our perfect": The Loft House

For the last 60 years, the street view of the home in Alma Road, Cape Town, has remained the same. Now, as one ventures deeper into the property, new and modern features are revealed: a stark geometric shape frames the loft. An elevated terrace, entirely imperceptible from the street, stretches out to Devil’s Peak Mountain. The existing roof line was extended to match the needed height and increase the volume of the new loft which accommodates a spacious, unusually shaped reading nook.

Design strategies were employed to change the spatially tight layout and obstructed views of Devil’s Peak Mountain. Stewart and Partners transformed this heritage home in Cape Town, modernising it with a playful juxtaposition between organic and geometric shapes, classical and contemporary styles. In the garden, the mountain feels so close that the client explains it is “as if you own it”: this location convinced the family to make the home in Rosebank theirs. The suburb is known for its homes with porthole windows and quirky heritage. The family, seeking to create a sentimental, peaceful home for years to come, chose this as a base to separate into two living areas, an upstairs and downstairs suitable for simultaneous separate recreational areas for children and adults.

The loft’s living space looks onto the terrace, raised to match the mountain’s peak. Vertical planting acts as a barrier to prevent looking into the neighbour’s space and simulates a closeness to the natural fauna beyond the immediate suburbia. Sliding doors convert the indoor-outdoor space into an open plan area. In the colder months, the fireplace (alongside a convenient wood storage in the sidewall) offer comfort.

Architectural and interior design strategies were employed to change the spatially tight layout and obstructed views of Devil’s Peak Mountain. Stewart and Partners transformed this heritage home in Cape Town, modernising it with a playful juxtaposition between organic and geometric shapes, classical and contemporary styles.

The loft accommodates a spacious, unusually shaped reading nook on the one side, and looks onto the terrace, raised to match the mountain’s peak, on the other. Vertical planting acts a barrier to prevent looking into the neighbour’s space and simulates a closeness to the natural fauna beyond the immediate suburbia. Sliding doors convert the indoor-outdoor space into an open plan area. In the colder months, the fireplace (alongside a convenient wood storage in the sidewall) offer comfort.  

Yet, building into the roof brings the inevitable campaign against darkness. For the loft, choosing light colours and adding skylights –eight in total in the house – ensure that ample natural light filters in and are reflected in the finishing’s glow. On the opposite end of the loft, intimate spaces – a new bedroom and bathroom – benefit from the raised height and treetop views. Large glass windows and skylights add a modern touch and maintain a closeness to the outdoors.  

From the exterior, strong angles and straight lines emerge from the protrusion that holds the loft, a scene that is visible only within the back garden. Feathertop grass (Pennisetum villosum) amongst other ornamental grasses soften the hard edges, climb over the balcony. Earthly tones continue the natural effect in the short, slatted timber pergola that shields the open plan living space from the sun. One level below, dry vines skirt over the planks of a larger pergola stretching over the barbeque and new pizza oven on the patio. Containing no pillars, it rests on the garden wall on one side, attached to the second storey balcony on the other.

Staying true to the home’s history, the architects realised the client’s vision, turning the home into what they called “our perfect”. Intricate details liven the space: mesh pendant lights, cosy sofas and warm timber tones make the space a welcoming, homely environment. Indoor-outdoor living is made easy: the sliding kitchen doors opens to the patio overlooking the pool, harsh shapes soothed by wildish planting.