Century City’s most luxurious home, with a price tag of R14million, is simply breath-taking offering unrivalled splendor to a discerning buyer.
The four bedroom, four bathroom split level penthouse apartment with wraparound balconies and sweeping vistas of Table Mountain, the City Bowl and Table Bay, is perched atop Crystal Towers Residences, one of the two tower blocks in the luxurious Crystal Towers development.
The superbly appointed 429 square metre penthouse is one of seven penthouses in the tower block but the only one boasting four en suite bedrooms. From the moment you enter into the building, you know you have arrived at pure luxury. The grand triple volume entrance to the Residences and the 24 hour concierge set the tone of understated elegance. From the entrance foyer you can step into a dedicated lift, swipe your access card and ride in style directly to the floor of your apartment safe in the knowledge that only other residents of that floor have access to it.
Throughout the finishes of the Residences and the penthouses, which were designed by Vivid Architects, are world class and the attention to detail meticulous, from the imported German kitchens with Caesar Stone countertops, to climate controlled living and bedroom areas and heated bathroom floors. The uncluttered principles of modern minimalist design have been observed throughout, providing a timeless, clean and refreshing look.
The four bedroom penthouse differs from the other penthouses in that it was designed with the bedrooms on the ground floor entry level and the living spaces on the upper level in order to maximise both the panoramic views as well as to the opportunities of a north-facing, sheltered, outdoor living experience so desired in Cape Town. The front door entry to the apartment is framed and connected by a timber bridge with atrium cutouts on both sides. An extra width solid timber pivot door opens into a dramatic double volume entrance lobby that is flooded with natural daylight from a large fanlight above the door as well as a frameless glass skylight above the main staircase. And as Vivid Architect’s Paolo Viotti says one’s first impression is one of drama and fine detail design elements that is a theme throughout the design of this apartment.
The floors are finished in dark Walnut timber and the feature wall on entry is clad in rich patterned wallpaper. A cluster of glass lights form a chandelier that brings scale and sparkle to this space. The entry lobby experience is further enhanced by a steel and timber open tread staircase that takes one up to the living level on the first floor. The lightness of the steel structure, the elegant dark stained walnut treads and sheer frameless glass balustrades makes this circulation element appear to almost float in the space. The ground floor accommodates the bedrooms and private realm of the unit. The main bedroom has a luxury dressing room that is open plan to the ensuite bathroom. Great views are complemented with private verandah / balcony spaces that allow the bedroom doors to fully open and for one to experience a wonderful indoor outdoor feeling.
Other special features include the fact that all the rooms are fitted with individually controlled ducted air conditioning units while tiles are all imported polished full bodied porcelain with accent panels of special feature tiles behind the vanity units. All the bathrooms are an open plan design layout with freestanding baths and vanity units, oversized generous showers and toilets behind glazed screens. This “transparency” makes all the rooms feel much larger and more dynamic. The carpets are from the Belgotex “Royal Twist” range colour: Grey Monarch and are luxurious and soft underfoot – a perfect match to complement the undertile heated bathroom floors. The ceilings are all suspended plasterboard with specially designed feature bulkheads for accent lighting and to conceal the tracks of the full height curtaining. As one ascends this staircase and overlooks the lobby below the dramatic view out to Table Bay and the West coast Shoreline unfolds beyond. A generous open plan living space finished in the same dark Walnut timber provides the backdrop for a warm contemporary area to relax and dine. This living space is able to fully open up and out to the views and large covered verandah spaces with cleverly designed sliding doors that slide into wall cavities to disappear completely. The line between inside and outside is blurred allowing a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor entertainment. This space is further enhanced by wallpaper clad feature walls, a custom design TV unit and perimeter dropped ceiling bulkheads that provide a concealed fixing for the light sheer full height curtains. Heating in winter is provided by a combination of air conditioning and the stainless steel framed open pebble bed gas fireplace built flush into the TV unit. All the living areas have a ducted air conditioning system for summer cooling.
Adjacent to and screened on entry to the living space is an open plan bespoke designed German imported kitchen. Special feature of this kitchen is the incorporation of a freestanding kitchen counter bar unit that faces onto a private external courtyard with a horizontal slate clad feature wall. This space not only provides wonderful indirect natural lighting and ventilation to the kitchen but also a space to landscape as an outdoor room. The working kitchen area opens onto a partially screened scullery area and separate laundry room. These spaces both have secure access to a private yard space.
Architect Paolo Viotti says the advantage of the living space being on the upper level was not only the better views but also the wonderful opportunities it gives to utilize the roof space for outdoor living and entertainment. This unit takes full advantage of this by incorporating a number of exclusive features including a 6 seater Jacuzzi spa bath and a stainless steel “chado Chef” built in barbeque. The Jacuzzi is built into a raised Balau decked area with sun loungers to soak up the summer rays. The barbeque is built into a Caesar stone counter with under counter storage cupboards and forms the backdrop to the covered outdoor living area that can be used to dine or lounge outside. The roof over this area has a frameless glass rooflight above. A full height glass balustrade allows for uninterrupted views when seated.
Besides the 90 apartments, the Crystal Towers development also includes a 180 room five star hotel that falls within the exclusive African Pride Collection; a Life Day spa, restaurants, a 24 hour deli and triple A-grade offices.
The penthouse and other apartments offer dwellers a peerlessly lavish lifestyle with access to all the five star amenities.
For Crystal Towers sales & letting enquiries, please phone +27 (0)21 552 0690 or email info@crystaltowers.co.za.
(This article was first published in City, the official magazine of Century City.)
