Cape Town-based studio SAOTA – Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects has completed the Head Road 1816 project in 2011. This two story contemporary home is located in the Fresnaye neighborhood of Cape Town, South Africa. According to the architects: The language of the house reflects bold contemporary lines and extended planes, but the introduction of timber has softened and blurred this distinction. The tactile qualities of timber and the way it is used activate the senses – the sound and smell of the hardwood timber underfoot on the staircase sets a tone on entering the house. Screening elements ensuring privacy have become an integral component of the aesthetic. The juxtaposition of solid mass to large expanses of transparency is transitioned with semi-transparent slatted screens and shutters. The architectural language takes its cues from a Spanish approach to simple cubic volumes with punctured openings and planar walls that open up to create generous ocean views.
