[Image: StudioMAS]
Completed in 2012, this architectural marvel was on sale last year for a cool R21 million. We missed out, but that doesn’t mean we can’t admire its beauty.
Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain, 17 Glen Ave stands as both a sculptural extension of the landscape and a long-term urban experiment designed to foster conditions for life.
This architectural wonder blurs the line between human habitation and the natural world, gradually disappearing into a canopy of trees, plants, and endemic wildlife that migrate freely between the property and the mountain, which is a mere 50 metres away.
In this space, the urban and the wild coexist, creating a sanctuary within Cape Town’s built environment.
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StudioMAS, the architectural firm behind this house, note that the design ethos is one of purposeful simplicity. Using straightforward systems and materials, the dwelling harmonises with its surroundings, offering shelter without disrupting the broader ecosystem.
Yet, within this simplicity lies a complexity born from nature’s dynamic systems—plants and animals are encouraged to appropriate both the building and its site, transforming the structure into a living part of the landscape.
This innovative design has earned 17 Glen Ave numerous accolades, including the Cape Institute Award for Architecture (2015), the South African Institute of Architecture Award of Merit (2013/2014), and the prestigious South African Institute of Architects Award for Excellence (2016).
At night, the house remains dark, casting no artificial light that might disturb nocturnal species (unlike that outlandish display that lights up the whole mountain during the festive season). This thoughtful feature invites creatures of the night to roam freely, reinforcing the seamless integration of architecture and ecology.
The building’s most striking feature is its sweeping curved wall—a form that echoes the sculptural contours of Lion’s Head and the adjacent boundary road. The design also evokes the ancient, immersive atmosphere of the Great Zimbabwe ruins, enhancing the site’s sense of place and history.
Surrounding open spaces have been densely planted, allowing the house to vanish into layers of vegetation. This dense foliage acts as a portal, transporting residents and visitors from Cape Town’s structured urban grid into a world of organic growth and natural rhythms.
However, it is some people’s opinion that the interior doesn’t do the concept any favours.
The interior designers seem to have missed the memo. The inside is giving boring boardroom:
The lighting also seems to be a bit off:
What do you think: worth the R21 million price tag?
[Source: StudioMAS]
