South Africa’s Western Cape is known for its dramatic views – but the architecture of this holiday villa gives it some competition.

Silver Bay Villa was designed by Greg Truen of practice SAOTA in 2010, and it puts a modern spin on the traditional architecture found around Saint Helena Bay. Set above a sand dune, the South African holiday home is capped by a vaulted thatched roof.

‘The house needed to create an internal environment that maximised the connection with the view, minimised views on neighbouring buildings and created sunny wind free outdoor living spaces,’ says Truen.

Its voluminous first floor has few solid walls: floor-to-ceiling windows and doors look onto Stompneus Bay and its beaches to the front, and the property’s courtyard swimming pool to the rear.

The living room, kitchen and dining room are conceived as one enormous space, while four bedrooms and a playroom fill the basement level. Cool granite floors, steel supports and a Corten fire hood contrast the texture of the exposed thatch.

Antoni Associates designed Silver Bay Villa’s textured interiors, which mix natural woods with a grey and charcoal colour palette, while oversized sofas lend the living room a feeling of cosiness.

You can rent the South African villa, which is around 1hr 45 hrs from Cape Town, directly or via Airbnb with prices starting from £397 per night.

Saint Helena Bay has pristine beaches, as well as tidal rock pools and silver-blue sea rich with dolphins, whales and birdlife.

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