Architecture: Luxury Modern Living and Stylish South African Interior Design Style

Okha / Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects [South Africa]

[Image credit: First Crescent – Okha]

Happily sitting with the curtains or blinds open long into the night I find lingering by a window gazing at the twinkling lights of the city at night, or snatching glimpses of the world going about its day is one of life’s simple pleasures. And is probably the reason that when it comes to contemporary architectural features; an expanse of glass giving the illusion of having no walls, just floor to ceiling windows in the form of movable glass doors is a dream feature. Opened or closed as you wish, glass walls are a stunning feature that works to seamlessly blend exterior and interior living spaces, opening up the interior by letting in amounts of natural light and capitalising on magnificent panoramic views if you are lucky enough to have them.

Although some may disagree with me, this is a feature that is well suited to hot climates where interiors call for airiness and natural cooling systems that come with rolling back the doors to allow the cool breezes to waft through whilst enjoying the night air. Being able to completely open up the walls allows you to fully enjoy and interact with your living space. It was the abundance of glass and skylights that grabbed my attention whilst perusing the online portfolio of Okha, a leading South African interior design company, who specialise in creating the kind of covetable homes gracing the pages of glossy lifestyle mags. Designed to maximise the spectacular views surrounding them, the homes shown here were designed by Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects, an architectural practice also based in South Africa and feature stylish interiors created by Okha. Following the principles of less is more, Okha is about defining new standards in luxury African living, and their interior solutions result in stylish havens for the demanding standards of luxury modern living.

[Image credit: Nettleton 199 – Okha / SAOTA]

The sprawling spaces are accentuated with high-quality materials and surface finishes in a style of decor that is minimalist yet quite warm. Minimalist interiors can often come across as cold and impersonal but here I pick up a sense of calm and tranquility and could quite happily spend my days perched on a chair under the skylight like the one on the Fresnaye property. In addition to interior design, Okha supports selected South African artists, craftspeople, and suppliers working in partnership to design and produce high-quality furniture and objects that can compete on the international stage, as well as being used to adorn the spaces they create.

[Image credits: top, Fresnaye – Okha / SAOTA; centre and bottom, SAOTA]

The innovative, often sculptural designs of the buildings are characteristic of Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects style, which sees steel supports softened by natural and organic materials like wood. An award-winning practice that was formed by Stefan Antoni, Philip Olmesdahl, GregTruen, the company has a global reach having designed public and residential buildings in places that include Geneva, Switzerland, draws on the best talent to help realise their visions.

…reaching the heights of contemporary African luxury in stylish homes

Additional details:
For further information about Okha visit: www.okha.com
For further information about Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects visit: www.saota.com