Gallery Sanctuary

Take a look at the home of Saota Design Firm Director, Stefan Antoni, the beyond villa is a remarkable showcase of how art can be integrated into everyday lifestyle.

Set upon the Lion’s Head, the highest point in Clifton, South Africa, is the Beyond villa. A collaboration between SAOTA for architecture, ARRCC for interior design and OKHA for interior decor, its structure features an expert balance of volume and cosiness, as well as light and texture.

The villa is accessed from Nettleton Road, among South Africa’s more upscale roads. From street level, one sees just four storeys, with a glimpse of the two top storeys. This ensures privacy, as the latter is where most of the living areas and sprawling open spaces are, including a pool with a glass-floor bar, dining terrace with pizza oven, and a garden facing the Table Mountain National Park.

Placed almost 700m above sea level with the gorgeous view of Cape Town’s beaches and the Atlantic Ocean. The villa capitalises on open spaces and soaring windows.The entertainment space on the third floor comes with a bar, pool, and ping pong tables and cinema that could fit 12.

Adding a sense of location are ubiquitous contemporary South African art. Art pieces are thoughtfully curated to accentuate each space, be it the floating Blowfish installation by Porky Hefer in the entertainment area, a sculpture hugging the stairway’s glass bannisters, or African masks on a dramatic feature kitchen wall.

This is where the villa’s design truly shines – with polished interior design and significant art pieces, the Beyond villa is elevated above being a mere vantage point for residents to enjoy striking scenery. Rather, it becomes a gallery, celebrating both human and natural masterpieces.