INVERMARK

Discover a new design project Invermark House, a symphony of masculine, feminine Ying & Yang.

Located in the heart of Cape Town’s Higgovale, at the foot of Table Mountain, Invermark is a bold, concrete structure paradoxically in symbiosis with its lush organic surroundings.  The home, designed by Krtzinger Architects with interiors by OKHA design studio, both internationally recognized for their design excellence, embarked on a journey to transform an existing structure into a contemporary haven that captures the essence of modern living.

Inspired by the iconic Stahl House, famous for its cantilevered structure and panoramic views, the architects aimed for lightness & openness, executed through authentic materials such as off—shutter concrete, stone and blackened timber. The carefully designed cantilevered slabs, sever as a dynamic focal point, while the infinity pool’s link to the sea emphasizes contact with nature and the seamless blend of indoors and outdoors.

The distinctly masculine and purist architecture and surrounding ranging landscape speak of a provocative narrative of enticing opposites. The off shutter construction by KRITZINEGR ARCHITECTS was honed into an artfully sophisticated domain; the direct, linear architectural style cuts dramatically into a backdrop of verdant landscape and rocky outcrops capped by the iconic Table Mountain behind and the expansive Cape Town cityscape below.

The house’s genesis emerged from the client’s brief for a new 3-bedroom house for a newlywed couple. The challenge was to retain the existing garage structure and demolish the rest, all while maximizing city views and preserving a maximum amount of indigenous landscape. The result is an architectural statement that merges minimalist volumes with deep consideration and respect for nature.  The seamless integration of spaces designed to work in unison through transitions between indoor and outdoor areas, is achieved by large sliding doors that open to allow the inside and outside to function as one space. This is especially evident in the living area where the entire front façade and corner open up to address terraces on the front and side of the house. Existing granite boulders were celebrated and seamlessly integrated with an elevated bridge that elegantly spans a protected stream.  A commitment to sustainability through materials including sustainably sourced timber, borehole water, solar and thermal heating derived from thick roof slabs and the large organic roof garden.

Internally, OKHA, Creative Director, Adam Court, creates a texturally shaded world, where furniture and art, become an eloquent narrator telling a tale of personal expression through form, material and tone. The masterfully crafted furniture pieces, play with luminance and shadow to create an alluring story of curvaceous sensuality and geometric masculinity.

Each furniture item emerges as an essential note in an artistic dialogue, amplifying the space’s visual yin yang / masculine / feminine narrative. Clean, linear designs dramatically punctuate the natural backdrop, forging a provocative visual dialogue that connects the interior with its majestic surroundings. This intricate weaving of yin and yang, is skilfully brought to life through curated detailing of texture, tone, light and shadow play resulting in a harmonizing with the opposing force.

The interior mood board with its dark and light palette, creates enigmatic clashes; the monochromatic and monolithic forms and the use of raw textures paired with sinewey sculptures and sensual furs and fabrics add to that feeling of warm minimalism, sensitive masculinity. The décor and furniture items seem to have either sweeping curves and sensual forms or are clear cut geometry and are distinctly masculine. This mixed and diametrically opposing palette moves us into zoned spaces, emotionally and functionally zones spaces that are either light or dark, rough or smooth, soft or hard, masculine/ feminine or sometimes both combined.

The inky shadow tons of carbon and ebony in the dining room ignite a sense of mystery and allure and the living area by the fireplace is all about light neutrals and embrace gentle organic forms and light neutrals, emanating an aura of warmth and serenity.

A curated collection of contemporary South African art was selected, each for its distinctive style, all sharing a common monochromatic thread utilizing varied techniques and materiality. Architecture, art, furniture, décor and external landscape merge and layer as one sensorial canvas, creating a unified experience unique to Invermark.