Forged by the OCEAN

This Kommetjie retreat balances coastal calm, modern flow and deeply personal touches for a British-South African family

- text LYNETTE BOTHA photographs GREG COX

On Cape Town's wild Atlantic coastline, a home in Kommetjie has been designed as much for barefoot mornings as it is for cocooned winter evenings. Conceived by architectural design studio Zeanne & Goss, the house is a reflection of its owners, a British and South African couple whose love for family and the ocean shaped their vision of a sanctuary for gatherings, connection and calm.

From the outset, the brief was united: The house needed to feel authentic to its setting, warm in tone and texture and adaptable to the shifting moods of the coast. 'Our initial vision, shaped closely with the clients, was to create a warm, welcoming family retreat that felt deeply connected to its natural surroundings,' says Zeanne Duminy, co-founder of Zeanne & Goss, alongside James Goss. 'Everyone wanted to celebrate the raw beauty of Kommetjie, but also create a liveable, grounded family home that would support both everyday rituals and holiday rhythms.'

For James, the surrounding landscape was the guiding influence. 'The soft tones of the sand dunes, the rugged textures of the rocks and the natural palette of the fynbos inspired our material selections,' he explains. Timber flooring grounds the interiors, its driftwood hues echoing the nearby shore. Expansive glazing frames the sea and floods the rooms with light, while wraparound decks blur the threshold between inside and out.