I 30 House by GSQUARED Architects, A Contemporary Family Home Framing Table Mountain

Date of Publishing: January 1, 2026

Architecture Design of I 30 House

Description About The Project

I 30 House by GSQUARED Architects is a refined modern family residence in Higgovale, Cape Town, designed to frame panoramic views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, and the city skyline through clean lines and a natural material palette.

The Project “I 30 House” Information:

Project Name: I 30 House
Location: Higgovale, Cape Town, South Africa
Project Year: 2018
Area: 590 sq/m
Designed by: GSQUARED Architects

A Privileged Site Above Cape Town

Perched at the top of Higgovale, one of Cape Town’s most prestigious hillside suburbs, I 30 House occupies a remarkable position backing directly onto the Table Mountain Nature Reserve. From this elevated vantage point, the residence commands uninterrupted views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, and the city below—views that evolve throughout the day and culminate in dramatic sunrises over the urban skyline.

I 30 House by GSQUARED Architects, A Contemporary Family Home Framing Table Mountain

For GSQUARED Architects, the site itself became the primary design generator. Every spatial decision, axis, and opening was meticulously orchestrated to capture, frame, and celebrate the surrounding landscape.

“The architecture is fundamentally shaped by its views,” an architect at GSQUARED Architects explains to Luxury Houses Magazine. “Rather than treating the scenery as a backdrop, we designed the house as a series of frames that constantly engage with the mountains and the city.”

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A Modern Brief Rooted in Context

The clients’ brief called for a modern, stylish family home defined by clarity of form and a strong connection to nature. Clean architectural lines, open interiors, and a restrained, natural material palette were essential to ensure the house blended seamlessly with its sensitive natural surroundings.

Despite its contemporary expression, I 30 House avoids visual excess. Instead, GSQUARED Architects focused on proportion, material honesty, and spatial flow—allowing the architecture to feel calm and enduring rather than overtly monumental.

“We wanted the home to feel timeless,” notes the architect. “The materials and forms were chosen to age gracefully while remaining unmistakably contemporary.”

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Architecture Designed Around the View

At I 30 House, views are not incidental—they are architectural elements. Living spaces are carefully aligned along key sightlines toward Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, while expansive glazing opens the interior toward the city and the rising sun.

Floor-to-ceiling glass panels dissolve the boundary between inside and outside, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the home throughout the day. These openings also create a constant visual dialogue between the interior spaces and the ever-changing Cape Town landscape.

Luxury Houses Magazine recognizes this approach as emblematic of GSQUARED Architects’ broader design philosophy: architecture that responds directly to place, rather than imposing a predetermined aesthetic.

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Clean Lines and Natural Materials

The architectural language of I 30 House is defined by clean, horizontal lines and a carefully curated palette of natural materials. Stone, timber, and muted finishes ground the home within its mountain setting, while crisp detailing reinforces its modern identity.

These materials are used consistently across both interior and exterior spaces, strengthening the sense of continuity and visual calm. The result is a residence that feels cohesive and refined, yet deeply connected to the rugged landscape beyond its walls.

“Natural materials help soften the architecture,” explains GSQUARED Architects. “They allow the house to sit comfortably within the reserve edge while still maintaining a strong contemporary presence.”

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Light, Space, and Family Living

Designed as a family-oriented residence, I 30 House balances openness with comfort and privacy. The layout encourages effortless movement between shared living spaces, while private areas are carefully positioned to maintain tranquility without sacrificing views.

Morning light becomes a defining feature of daily life, as the city-facing aspects of the house capture the sunrise and fill the interiors with warmth. As the day progresses, the mountain backdrop provides a sense of permanence and calm—an architectural counterpoint to the dynamic urban panorama below.

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A Contemporary Home in Dialogue With Nature

Backed by a protected nature reserve and oriented toward one of the world’s most iconic mountain landscapes, I 30 House exemplifies a sensitive yet confident architectural response to its setting. The design neither competes with nor retreats from its surroundings; instead, it engages in a quiet dialogue with them.

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“This project is about respect—for the site, the views, and the way a family lives,” the architect reflects. “The house is a lens through which the landscape is experienced.”

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GSQUARED Architects’ Vision of Modern Living

With I 30 House, GSQUARED Architects deliver a contemporary family home that captures the essence of Cape Town living—where mountains, city, and light converge. It stands as a refined example of how modern architecture can be both visually striking and contextually grounded, offering a lifestyle shaped by place, perspective, and permanence.

As featured by Luxury Houses Magazine, I 30 House is not merely a home with a view—it is a home designed entirely around the act of seeing.

Photo credit: | Source: GSQUARED Architects

For more information about this project; please contact the Architecture firm :
– Add: Unit G8, Victoria Junction, 57 Prestwich St, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
– Tel: +27 (0)21 419 7760
– Email: studio@gsquared.co.za