Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man blends art and mathematics, the exquisite balance of proportion and form. Imagine this then, in an interior in which you immediately sense the subtle algorithm of symmetry in architecture, interior spaces and the art placed in it. KoKo House is genius in its design concept and unsurprisingly, the work of owners who are two veteran London designers.
From the outside, upon arriving at the front door of this thatched Cape Dutch hideaway, in the heart of the Franschhoek village, KoKo House appears to be the perfect depiction of a countryside cottage. Quaint and idyllic. Conjuring up all of those childhood imaginings that came with the picture books. From the moment you walk in, the interiors reveal their sophisticated spaces that declare distinction. A whimsical romance with African aesthetics, elevating those childhood visions to a very new understanding of design.
And all of the inspiration it evokes when done right. Just when you thought you were on a lovely luxury getaway to the Cape Winelands, eager to sample the grapes and tend to those much-anticipated desires of indulging, you’re escorted on an entirely new kind of escape. Where the ambience of the property transforms every element of your itinerary into something playful, vibrant and extraordinary.
French doors and windows stack-away and open out into the garden, allowing all of the mountain air and valley aromas to engulf the living, dining, and entertaining areas of the ground floor. Statements made at every turn by the sculptures, the furnishings and signature pieces of art. Unique pieces like a six-metre sideboard from a school circa 1930, a sideboard in reclaimed 19th-century yellowwood, a gazelle-legged dining table by James Mudge, and a hall table by metal artist Gregor Jenkin.
Off you go on an aesthetic meander, discovering some of the home’s permanent “residents”: David Ballam’s striking photograph, entitled Himba Boy. Portraits by John Murray, and Leonard Matsoso’s oil on pastel; The Struggle. Then comes the quirkiness. Two life size ink-black sheep, strays from a collection of 13 by Sanell Aggenbach, guard the one living room, and the home’s very own angel – look for Uwe Pfaff’s delicate interpretation of a divine being.
Style, symmetry and sophistication
In other rooms, the owners’ collection of masks from decades of travelling across Africa are displayed, capturing stories of the continent. Otto du Plessis’ delicate bronze Zebra, Eduard Louis Laden’s ’51 bronze that looks rather like a miniature silhouette of Alfred Hitchcock. Anton Smith’s stone sculpture that surveys the garden. And while we are here, the symmetry and order continues in a wonderful external expanse of greenery and herringbone-brick pathways, with the Dassenberg as a distant background.
Often tipped in snow in the winter months. In summer a lap pool, swing seat and loungers will tempt you out into that golden Franschhoek light. Reminding you why you’ve ventured here with your wine-faring friends. Time to resume the practice of tasting and toasting to the beautiful life that unravels in the winelands.
Edited by Colleen Ogilvie