Restio river house

Restio house is perched on the banks of the Buffels River, close to its mouth in Pringle Bay – a small coastal town less than 100km from Cape Town, South Africa.

The clean and robust architecture protects the three-storey holiday residence from salty winds, with materials resistant to the tough coastal climate, while letting in the sun and the natural beauty of the surrounding indigenous vegetation and mountain valley.

The house faces due north with a large stairwell that floods morning light into the centre of the middle level. Α seamless open plan space comprises the communal areas: the kitchen with a lounge is at the centre, in a direct relationship with the dining area and sitting areas on either side. Vertical elements, such as the open fireplace with punched brass cladding, delimit these areas with a unique dynamic, while continuous glass panels open out towards a perimeter external corridor that ends to a semi-outdoor courtyard with a lounge and BBQ. A black metallic staircase leads to the top level with the bedrooms and the master suite which opens out on a private terrace above the semi-outdoor courtyard. A lower level comprises an entertainment area, two more bedrooms and auxiliary spaces.

The colour white on walls complements the bare concrete ceilings. Finishes include the use of terrazzo floors and marble-layered panels that clad the bathroom walls. Interior design by ARRCC and Home Owner includes custom made furniture, a neutral colour palette, natural materials and rich textures, creating thus an immediate sense of serene euphoria, further enhanced by Deborah Poynton and Albert Coertse works of art. Restio house is technologically equipped with the latest audio, lighting and automated systems.

The lounge and terrace face westerly towards Cape Point, the most southerly tip of Cape Town’s False Bay, enjoying fantastic haloed sunsets in the early evening. Lastly, the landscaped surroundings incorporate indigenous vegetation and iconic South African trees – Milkwood, Coral tree and Waterberry’s – making the house a true-to-style South African family holiday home.

SAOTA – Philip Olmesdahl, Riaz Ebrahim,
Nasreen Larney & Werner Lotz