Forging Lorenzo’s Cucina Italiana at Delaire Graff Estate with Platform Architects

Delaire Graff Estate is a jewel of the Cape Winelands, located at the top of the Helshoogte pass with views that extend over Franschhoek, towards Simonsberg and Botmanskop, and back to Table Mountain. The estate is home to the Delaire Graff Winery and Tasting Lounge, two award-winning restaurants, and a Relais & Chateaux-rated hotel and spa. As this haven grows, the estate welcomes a new addition to its list of visitor attractions: Lorenzo’s Cucina Italiana.

The estate’s legacy is deeply connected not only to its exquisite location, but also the vision of its owner, Laurence Graff OBE. A homage to this, a new pizza and pasta dining concept named Lorenzo’s(after Mr Graff) was introduced by redesigning an outdoor grill area and decking within the existing restaurant.

“The aesthetics of the installation are based on the mathematical concept of a facet dome, positioning a set of points in a spherical shape, where each point is the origin of a flat plane. All these planes intersect, and where they meet, the edges of the facets are created.”- Charles Haupt, Bronze Age

A vision in bronze
The restaurant transformation reimagined an existing terrace, turning it into a functional and elegant Italian-themed dining area to seat up to 40 guests. Inspired by the owner’s jewellery-making background, the design reflects the bronze scalloped design of the Graff jewellery stores, the architectural concept centred on emulating this theme. The estate’s collection of bronze sculptures and artworks further echoed this concept, leading to the focal point of the restaurant — the pizza oven — to be adorned in an intricate bronze cladding.

Platform’s design facilitated the collaboration with skilled artisans and specialists, working closely with Bronze Age’s Charles Haupt to develop the pizza oven’s faceted bronze cladding detailing. To achieve the vision, Charles had to use advanced parametric modelling techniques to design 251individual bronze panels with approximately 3000 unique bends. Its hand-patinated panels continue the estate’s emphasis on artistry and craftsmanship, aligning with the pieces by Deborah Bell, Lionel Smit, and Dylan Lewis found across the property.

Complementing brilliance
All surrounding materials were then chosen to complement this centrepiece, employing locally-sourced brown clay klompie bricks, Angolan antique brown granite, and solid iroko timber. The Angolan granite countertops underwent meticulous processing to match the calibre of the bronze cladding. Polished work surfaces were crafted for functionality and roughs and blasted textures for aesthetic contrast. The monolithic character of the stone serves to frame and ground the brilliance of the bronze centrepiece.

VC Fit-Out executed the detailed construction of the iroko timber pergola, which was designed to provide shade and create a sense of intimacy and connection between the terrace and the sculpture garden. The structure enhances the spatial experience by framing views of the garden and creating a transition between the restaurant and surrounding landscape. The contrast between the oven’s polished brilliance and the earthy tones of the klompies and granite add depth and sophistication to the design. Coordination with various contractors, including Lime Green for tiles and Gemstone Construction as the main contractor, ensured the project’s successful realisation.

Forged from precision
One of the primary challenges was the tight project timeline of just four months for design, procurement, and installation. Another significant hurdle was achieving the precision required for the bronze cladding to fit the hand-built pizza oven. Through 3D scanning and digital modelling, the team ensured a seamless installation. Charles Haupt shared that the aesthetics of the installation are based on the mathematical concept of a facet dome, positioning a set of points in a spherical shape, where each point is the origin of a flat plane. All these planes intersect, and where they meet, the edges of the facets are created. The aesthetic is a direct result of the digital design process.

Lorenzo’s Cucina Italiana at Delaire Graff Estate exemplifies the marriage of artistry, craftsmanship, and architecture. From the jewel-inspired bronze oven to the thoughtfully designed pergola, every detail contributes to a dining experience that is as visually striking as itis inviting. Luxuriously in harmony with its surroundings, the space offers guests an unforgettable culinary journey.

This article is an extract from our February issue. Read the full issue here.