When Marc-Ludolf von Schmarsow and James Jayasunder first saw the house, known today as 7 Koppies, for sale in the Franschhoek valley while they were visiting South Africa on holiday, ownership seemed like a wild dream. In fact, neither of them spoke of it for a long while after returning home – that is, until a chance conversation sparked the decision of a lifetime.
‘Neither of us realised just how much the other was thinking about this property and its potential,’ says Marc. ‘Then one day it came up, and we knew it was something we both really wanted to invest in.’ But for all its manifold charms, the property also had a few challenges. The main house was dated and in need of attention, and the land was neglected. The vision was clear from the start: to create a small sanctuary they could call home one day.
Now, several years (and countless hours of construction and landscaping) later, the property is almost unrecognisable, having been transformed under the careful eye of Marc and the team at his Munich-based design practice, Lumisol.
The renovations took more than two years to complete, with Marc flying to South Africa every six weeks to assist local architect Jan Desseyn on the project. Today the house has five bedrooms, a spacious kitchen and large, open-plan living areas. ‘and, of course,’ adds Marc, ‘we had to open up and enlarge the windows to allow for the breath-taking views that just beg to be admired.’
While the house underwent a complete reconfiguration, there is no lingering sense of the overhaul. rather, it exudes the quiet grandeur and character of a home that was built – and lived in – over many generations. This is in large part due to Marc’s considered approach to the decor and finishes. While several pieces were sourced from Lumisol, including fabrics and light fixtures, Marc and James filled the house with heirlooms and other treasures collected during their world travels.
Arguably the real magic lies in the magnificent site and its uninterrupted views of the Simonsberg. For Marc and James, the 50-hectare grounds were every bit as important as the house. ‘Initially, we had no idea just how special the land was. We had thought of turning it all into farmland until we discovered wild, rare fynbos growing everywhere.
We knew it had to be protected and enjoyed.’ Thanks to the talents of botanist Fiona Powrie and landscape designer Franchesca Watson, the gardens are not only majestic in their own right but meet the house in a way that allows for it to be truly experienced. And it really is an experience.
Marc and James drew on the work of late Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, renowned for creating seamless indoor-outdoor living areas. James is Sri Lankan, and he and Marc spend a lot of time there. This brought to life the exterior, ‘barn-like structures’, which also serve a practical purpose. ‘The wind can be quite harsh here,’ says Marc, ‘but these structures offer shelter so that you can enjoy the outdoors in peace.’ The 25-metre pool is ideal (and, often, essential) for the sweltering cape Winelands’ summers.
‘From the beginning, we wanted to create something reminiscent of our childhoods,’ says Marc – both he and James had spent time in Italy as young boys. ‘A place that is not only home right now, but will evolve, as will we, and will one day become a home for us to grow old in.’
To shop the look purchase the March April House & Garden issue available at selected newsstands and digitally.
