Light Space Life: Houses by SAOTA

Excelente libro

Coffee table inspiration book - good style and material usage - talent shows in the projects photographed

The book showcased all the beautiful and creative homes created by SAOTA! AMAZING SPACES. I just wished that the packaging was better. Even though it didn't diminish the context of the book, just a bit annoyed that I got "damaged goods"... well worth the wait and great Architecture. Hats off to the builders to have been able to create the Architect's vision

The book features twenty-three houses produced by the international architectural company SAOTA (Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects) based in Cape Town. The five hundred illustrations reveal some truly sumptuous homes built around the world, with a common element of letting the outside light inside. All the houses cover several pages starting with an essay about the location, description of the structure and materials used. This is followed by photos over a spread, a whole page or two on a page. Each house has a page devoted to a site and floor plans (unfortunately I thought these were really too small to give an indication of the interior design). A really interesting feature is a spread of seven close-up photos of interior detail combined with elevation graphics. Eight pages at the back of the book have an illustrated company Timeline, which really should have been on the front pages so the reader would know something about the company before looking at the houses. A common element throughout the pages is the beautiful photography that reveals the splendor of each home. Staff photographer Adam Letch is responsible for many of these shots. My only regret, after looking through the book several times, is that I don't live in any of these beautiful homes. You can look inside the book at Westread Book Reviews then click 2022 and February.

SAOTA's design are unique in that they strike a balance of modernism with an natural, organic aesthetic. Too often modern homes feels like a museum, office space, or jarring juxtaposition of minimalism with modern art. SAOTA's designs seemingly avoid this deficiency with creative ease. I would have wished they included more examples of their home designs in Nettleton, which are available on their website (not enough details, which I had hoped this book would have included). Perhaps a followup of another book that do more of an deep-dive into couple complete homes, materials and thought process behind their design decisions.

This is a monograph documenting the output of this particular South African architectural office that happens to make the highest-end houses on the planet. The locales are spectacular, the houses have bottomless budgets and are equally spectacular. We are talking about one percent of one percent, as mere mortals need not apply. But as an illustration of what is possible in domestic architecture if a mid-century "high modernism" paradigm is bushed into extreme luxury - that's where this book certainly succeeds.

O livro e lindo, mesmo que esperava mas conteúdo, vai ficar pra a mesa de café . Então SAOTA pra mim e grande referência, achei que ia encontrar mas essência e detalhes. Aguardaremos ao próximo

So very nice and gorgeous contemporain house <3 I recommande

Being a South African Architect I have been following SAOTA for years. This book is beautiful on the coffee table as well as offering some wonderful insights into South African modernism, the development of SAOTA as a practice plus the development of the individual recognizable design houses (interiors and furniture) which have spun off from their brand. The book is full of beautiful images and offers plans, sections and a materials pallet for each featured project. It would have been amazing if they had included a couple of key details and hopefully, this will happen in future iterations. Would recommend to anyone who loves this type of architecture.