ECHOES OF THE OCEAN

Suspended between mountain and sea, Waterside emerges as a residence reimagined by rhythm and reflection. ARRCC transforms three apartments into a singular coastal home where the architecture resonates with the tide.

Inside, sweeping volumes, fluid lines, and tactile finishes mirror the shoreline’s shifting forms, creating an interior that feels sculptural and serene — a living extension of Clifton’s expansive vistas.

Seamless flow

ARRCC’s priority was to redevelop and unify the floor plan with a particular emphasis on celebrating the entrance. Towards the front of the apartments, the slab was removed to create a fully glazed, double-volume central living space that opens onto a sea-facing balcony, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the interior.The grand entrance, relocated to the top floor, now overlooks the living space, offering a radically different spatial experience and providing glimpses of the ocean beyond. A sinuous staircase and undulating walls at the entrance take creative inspiration from the shapes of boulders on the beach below and the contours of the cliffside, expressing their natural presence while simultaneously enhancing the flow, orientation, and integration of the spaces throughout the apartment.

The timber wall cladding has been designed to accommodate concealed lighting, which washes and accentuates it as a feature throughout the day. In fact, light fittings and other services were concealed wherever possible, and strip lighting is intentionally included to maintain the seamless continuity of the timber interior wrapping, keeping walls, floors, and surfaces uncluttered by lamps.

Natural force

Natural materials such as marble and timber were selected to evoke the surrounding environment. Other features, such as the wave-like wall at the entrance, are finished in simple plaster and paint to emphasise their form. The bedrooms and bathrooms are finished in calm, sophisticated neutrals, including limed oak and a classical combination of black-and-white marble, that contrast with the pops of colour and patterns in the social spaces.

The interiors themselves hold as much gravitas. Led by KS Designs, and driven by the client’s keen eye for design, colour, and texture, the use of smoky mirror, oxidised copper, and green marble throughout the apartment all evoke the hues and textures of the seashore. This further manifests in the spectacular Fire + Ice lighting piece by Stephen Pikus, incorporating the use of recycled glass. Other custom-designed furnishings, such as the dining table by OKHA and the ribbon-like wall installation by Louw Roets, deepen the dialogue between forms, while soft furnishings offset shell and coastal elements.

The delicate balance of richness and restraint creates an understated backdrop for the owner’s curated collection of contemporary art. Together, all these elements of the redeveloped interior create a powerful and compelling response to place, space, and user experience.