South Africa's Eco Architecture

Now here's a contemporary home that's exceptional on numerous fronts. Located at the foot of Table Mountain which looms over Capetown in South Africa, it offers a spectacular view of the bush and the bay just beyond. Critical attention in the architectural design was given to its placement and integration in the immediate environment. Bordered on three sides by a nature preserve, its garden was planted uniquely with locally growing plant species.

The Capetown region is characterized by one of the most original and lush natural expanses in the world, the Fynbos (or "fine bush"). The swimming pool on the property is nestled in the garden and bordered by a deck in wood. The water is filtered without use of any chemical products.

The garden, savage yet sophisticated, lies in harmony with Table Mountain which is home to a unique and abundant flora and fauna exclusively found there in their original ecosystem. More than 1,450 species of plants have been identified including 250 varieties of daisies!

Lucien Rees Roberts, a New York based decorater and landscape architect, designed the interior of the house. A British citizen and Cambridge graduate, Roberts knows just how to evoke harmony and sophistication through a mastery of color and subtle detail, all the while maintaing a clean, modern look for the ensemble.