My clients wanted a home with a classic Cape feel: Cape Dutch architecture reinterpreted rather than copied. The traditional gable concept was given a modern twist.

To achieve this, we made sure the materials came from the place itself. Cape slate covers the roof. Granite like the stone on Clifton Beach runs through the floors, inside and out, all the way into the pool.

The suburb of Fresnaye is steep, and in this case the garage sat further up from the house. This meant that the route from the garage to the front door was long and open to the elements.

A bridge fixed this. It runs straight from the garage into the house, with a view of Lion's Head every time you cross.

Below the bridge, the previously neglected yard between the garage and the house became what we now call the internal street. A glamorous space with paving, greenery and beautiful lighting. The back of the house is now one of the best parts of the property.