Villa B on Sea: A Sustainable Holiday Retreat with Ocean Views
Perched on a dramatic, steep slope within the coastal Kenton Eco Estate in the Eastern Cape, Villa B on Sea is not your average beach house. It’s a thoughtfully designed, multi-generational retreat that embraces its rugged setting and turns environmental challenges into architectural opportunities.
2022, Kenton Eco Estate, Kenton-on-Sea, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Area: 610m²
Project Team: Nadine Clarke, Deandra Farinha
Villa B on Sea has a small presence on the street front, but opens up as it follows the landscape
A bold covered entrance announces the entry to the house.
The lobby makes a statement on arrival and the porthole skylight references similar windows elsewhere in the house
The living spaces open on both sides, one to the courtyard and the other to the viewing deck – this is perfect for cross ventilation, a necessity on the humid summer days
A connection between the pool courtyard and the entertainment room is essential for keeping the party going
Large aluminium sliding windows open up spaces and keep the focus on the beautiful surroundings
The sheltered pool courtyard becomes the heart of the house and allows for swimming, even on the windiest summer days
Porthole windows create a bold statement
The viewing deck grants one of the best views in the house, with a strong connection to the living space a beautiful view to the ocean below
The challenging steep slope provides an opportunity to create an interesting house that conforms to the site
The bedroom suites downstairs open up completely to the landscape and view, buffered by the provision of private porches
The pajama lounge has an access corridor to the back of the site, past a stone clad wall
The rooftop terrace is an entertainer’s dream space, with a view to the pool courtyard to the one side and a view to the ocean on the other
The lower ground floor bedrooms have the best view in the house and are equipped with private porches
Having collaborated with these clients previously, we were excited to take on the design of their holiday home. Their vision was ambitious but clear: a sustainable family home that would maximise sea views, feel light and open, and comfortably accommodate extended family or even two separate families at the same time. Add to that the steep terrain and the unpredictable coastal climate of the Eastern Cape, and we were in for an inspired design journey.
Holiday homes bring with them unique expectations. Unlike primary residences, they need to balance the feel of a getaway with the comforts of home. They must serve as a setting for relaxation and adventure, quiet evenings and bustling family holidays, sometimes all at once. The vision for this home combined the informality of beach life with the sophistication of a well-considered architectural response. We knew from the start that this wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about crafting an experience. The site, steep and wild, offered an opportunity to do something truly special, a house that feels rooted in its environment and tuned to the rhythms of the ocean and sun.
Designing Villa B on Sea: Comfort, Privacy and Togetherness
Anyone who has gone on a family holiday with relatives or friends knows the balance can be delicate. Togetherness is wonderful, but so is privacy and the ability to retreat and recharge. At Villa B on Sea, our clients wanted the best of both worlds: shared living spaces for laughter-filled dinners and games nights, paired with peaceful hideaways where individuals could unwind on their own.
This duality became a core design principle. The home had to feel cohesive while allowing multiple generations or family groups to enjoy it simultaneously, without ever feeling cramped or on top of one another. Our solution was to layer living zones and distribute them thoughtfully across three levels of the sloped site.
To support this, we introduced multiple access points, soft thresholds, and visual separations between key zones. Shared areas are expansive and open, inviting interaction, while private zones are tucked away and acoustically buffered. This allows the home to flex easily, whether it’s hosting two families over a festive season, or just a couple enjoying a peaceful long weekend.
Villa B on Sea: Turning Terrain into a Feature
One of the most remarkable aspects of this home is how it responds to its site. Rather than fighting the steep slope, we embraced it. The home is tiered, stepping down with the natural contours of the landscape. This allowed us to optimise both orientation and views, two critical components in coastal design.
We began with climate as our driver. The Eastern Cape is known for its warm sunshine, but also its powerful, sometimes relentless winds. Instead of compromising on outdoor living, we designed a protected central courtyard to house the pool. Positioned at the heart of the home, this sheltered space offers both sunlight and privacy, even when beach conditions are less than ideal.
To maintain a connection between the main living areas and the pool, we located all primary shared spaces; kitchen, lounge, dining on the upper ground floor. These areas open up to both the pool courtyard and the sea-facing side, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. Large sliding doors allow light and breeze to flow through the home, while a rooftop terrace above the living space adds yet another outdoor zone for sundowners or stargazing.
The slope also helped us modulate the scale of the building. From the road, the home appears modest and grounded, preserving the coastal aesthetic of the estate. Yet, as you move through the interior, it unfolds dramatically, revealing double-volume spaces and panoramic sea views. The connection between indoors and outdoors is never forced; it flows naturally from the way the building sits within the terrain.
Care was also taken to ensure that no one room felt like a compromise. Each suite was designed with generous proportions, ample storage, and a direct connection to nature—either through views, decks, or garden paths. Bathrooms were treated as sanctuaries, with full-height glazing, natural materials, and layouts that create a spa-like retreat.
Layered Living at Villa B on Sea: Space for Everyone
The lower ground floor is dedicated to sleeping quarters. Here, three luxurious bedroom suites open onto private decks that connect to the surrounding dune forest. These rooms are shaded, calm, and offer spectacular views of the lush Eastern Cape landscape. A pyjama lounge between them acts as a second living space, ideal for children to play or teenagers to hang out while adults enjoy some peace upstairs.
Privacy and security were also key considerations. External timber shutters on the lower level provide both security and airflow, allowing windows and doors to be left open at night, a must in this climate.
The first floor, located above the garage and gym area, houses two additional bedroom suites. One of these rooms is accessed via its own private staircase, allowing it to function as staff accommodation when needed, or simply as a self-contained guest suite for added privacy.
Care was also taken to ensure that no one room felt like a compromise. Each suite was designed with generous proportions, ample storage, and a direct connection to nature, either through views, decks, or garden paths. Bathrooms were treated as sanctuaries, with full-height glazing, natural materials, and layouts that create a spa-like retreat.
Eco at Its Core: Sustainability at Villa B on Sea
The Kenton Eco Estate has strict environmental standards, and rightly so. At Villa B on Sea, sustainability wasn’t an afterthought; it was embedded into every design decision.
The house will be entirely self-sufficient in terms of power, with a full array of photovoltaic (PV) panels cleverly concealed above the garage roofline. Water, always a concern in the Eastern Cape, will be harvested using a state-of-the-art “Water from Air” system, ensuring independence from a strained municipal supply.
As with all meik projects, the building envelope has been heavily insulated, and cross-ventilation strategies have been carefully planned to reduce the need for artificial cooling. Roof overhangs, deep-set windows, and operable shutters all contribute to passive temperature control. This means the home can stay cool in summer and warm in winter, with minimal impact on the planet.
Even the material palette was guided by eco-conscious decisions. Timber cladding was sourced from FSC-certified suppliers, and low-VOC paints were used throughout the interior. Where possible, locally produced materials were favoured to reduce the carbon footprint of transport. The design not only met but exceeded the estate’s sustainability guidelines, setting a new benchmark for future builds in the area.
Is Your Dream Home on the Horizon?
If the design of Villa B on Sea speaks to your own dream lifestyle, whether it’s a coastal retreat, a family hideaway, or a smart, sustainable home we’d love to hear from you. We’re passionate about transforming your ideas into spaces that reflect how you want to live.
Email us or give us a call to schedule a consultation. Let’s bring your vision to life beautifully, sustainably, and with joy.
Nadine: 082 809 1970 || Studio: 011 025 8318 || email us: meik architects