Tristan du Plessis describes it evocatively: ‘Perched along Victoria Road directly facing the shoreline of Camps Bay, Morea House sits where palm trees frame long stretches of white sand and the Atlantic horizon is unending.’ He identifies this site’s unique beauty as emerging from its dramatic contrast — while overlooking the iconic white beach, Table Mountain’s rock face rises steeply behind. At night, guests enjoy views of distinctly Cape Town silhouettes: Lion’s Head and the 12 Apostles.

Between elements

The materials and colour palette emphasise the hotel’s position between mountain and sea. Sandy hues transition into mountain greens through the layering of materials such as natural stone and timber. Greg Scott and Liana Abate of Scott + Partners note that the careful attention to materials is intended to mirror the care and comfort that guests experience. Timber screens and pergolas, for example, are thoughtfully juxtaposed with the stronger stone façades to introduce texture and offer visual relief. 

A meeting of extremes — raw weathered geology set against the stillness of the beach — continues indoors through material and atmosphere. Stone, timber, and textured plasters were selected to evoke the landscape’s erosion and permanence, while linen, sand-washed tones, and ambient light create warmth and ease. The project’s four narrative pillars guided this interplay of opposites: ‘Untamed Horizons’ embraces nature’s majesty; ‘The Land’s Edge’ refers to the southernmost tip where land yields to ocean; ‘Coastal Bliss’ captures the calmness of waves coming to rest; and ‘Living Tapestry’ celebrates Cape Town’s cultural diversity. 

While the materials show a sensitivity to the qualities of the immediate surroundings, the overarching design concept reflects a broader Cape Town context and its layered character. For du Plessis, a highlight was collaborating with local artists. The works of Jan Ernst, WonderBuhle, Ben Orkin, Chris Soal, Jeremy Rose, Julia Pepler, Kalki Ceramics, and the Nigerian artist Lakin Ogunbanwo enrich the space with local creativity.

“The materials and colour palette emphasise the hotel’s position between mountain and sea.”

In Cape Town, a significant part of the culture is an active lifestyle. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in the Cape Town experience, whether through ocean plunges or private rock-climbing and yoga sessions. For a more tranquil encounter, guests can enjoy views from a coastal pool or unwind in the Wellness Spa, where treatments such as the Cocoa Bliss Ritual and Cape Malay Massage combine traditional healing with modern wellness. 

For Scott, the building’s hidden surprises are perhaps its greatest delight. The garden courtyard with views onto the mountains behind and the 5-storey central atrium, which floods the interior with natural light, elevate the offering but only unfold as guests move through the hotel. One would never guess it now, but the project was not without its challenges. The client changed partway through, and Marriott joined later as the operating partner. The design criteria evolved numerous times, but each shift only elevated the standard. Today, Morea House, with its 90 elegant guestrooms, is part of the Marriott Autograph Hotel Collection, but remains a distinctly Cape Town property.

MEET THE TEAM:

Architect: Scott + Partners | Interior Design: Tristan du Plessis Studio | Contractor: Alpha Omega | Quantity Surveyor: RLB | Structural Engineer: LH Consulting | Mechanical and Fire Engineer: EKCON Consulting Engineers | Electrical: QDP Lighting and Electrical Design | Project Manager: Igual | Landscape Design: Viridian | Interior Procurement: Brandkonnect | Stone Masonry: Continua | Shopfitting: Trend Group, JL Joiners & Shopfitters, Durban Shopfitting & Interiors | Photographer: Sean Gibson

SUPPLIERS:

Timber Screens and Flooring: Oggie Hardwood Flooring | Natural Stone: Continua | Aluminium Doors and Windows: Q One Fenestration | Switchgear: Legrand | Lifts: Schindler | Steelwork: Prodesign | Taps: Still Bathrooms | Ironmongery: Contract Hardware | Fireplaces: Beauty Fires | Pool: Island Pools | Bronze Balustrades: R&R Aesthetics | Skylight and Shower Screen: Aluglass Cape | Lighting: Crema Design, APPARATUS Studio, Ozone Light | Light Installation Piece: Jan Ernst | Furniture: Natuzzi, Minotti, Egg Designs, MOOOI Carpets, GuidlineMNF | Art: WonderBuhle, Jan Ernst, Jeremy Rose, Kalki Ceramics