The Pentagon in Cape Town is Africa’s most expensive and stunning villa, perched high above the Atlantic Ocean with breathtaking views. Designed by Stefan Antoni, this five-level modern home blends sleek glass walls, natural materials, and spacious living areas that open seamlessly to the outdoors. Luxurious touches like an infinity pool, private cinema, and marble steam room make it a true palace of comfort and style. More than just a house, The Pentagon is a masterpiece where art, nature, and cutting-edge design come together to create the future of African luxury living.
What makes The Pentagon in Cape Town the pinnacle of modern luxury living?
The Pentagon is Africa’s most expensive villa, blending stunning Atlantic Ocean views with innovative design. Key features include:
- Five-level modernist architecture by Stefan Antoni
- 940 sqm of seamless indoor-outdoor living space
- Infinity pool with boundless ocean vistas
- Private cinema, gym, and marble steam room
- Sustainable materials and artful South African craftsmanship
An Architectural Icon on the Atlantic Edge
Rising from the lush slopes along Cape Town’s prestigious Atlantic coastline, The Pentagon sets a new tone for South African luxury living. Nestled on Nettleton Road in the exclusive enclave of Clifton, this striking five-level villa has captured headlines and imaginations alike after commanding a record-breaking R157 million in its recent sale. Now recognized as Africa’s most expensive residential property in 2025, The Pentagon is much more than a number on a deed – it stands as a statement of vision, artistry, and a shifting landscape of wealth.
Nettleton Road has always been more than just a desirable address; it is a statement of arrival. Set between the endless blue of the Atlantic Ocean and the dramatic ridges of the Twelve Apostles, the neighborhood has long lured innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives. It’s fitting, then, that renowned architect Stefan Antoni selected this dramatic canvas for his masterpiece. Antoni, celebrated for merging the disciplined lines of Bauhaus with the ease of modernist design, created a structure that feels rooted in the earth yet effortlessly suspended above the sea.
Approaching The Pentagon, visitors immediately feel the gravity of its presence. The sharp geometry of concrete, steel, and glass form an exterior that commands attention without overpowering the landscape. Indigenous fynbos lines the entryway, blending minimalist landscaping with an appreciation for the natural environment. Antoni’s signature style becomes clear the moment you cross the threshold – inside, the boundaries between house and horizon dissolve. Seamless glass walls glide open, letting the Atlantic air sweep through spacious, light-flooded interiors.
Living Between Sky, Sea, and Art
With 940 square meters of living space artfully distributed across five tiers, The Pentagon offers a floor plan that moves elegantly between grandeur and intimacy. Antoni’s design philosophy echoes the modernist ideal of the home as a “machine for living,” yet here, function is always infused with sensuality and drama. Each level maximizes views – some spaces frame intimate vignettes of the coastline, while others reveal sweeping panoramas stretching from Lion’s Head to the distant sea.
The main living area provides a constantly shifting canvas. Sunrise paints the city below in delicate pinks while evenings ignite the horizon in gold and violet. Local tales speak of glamorous gatherings beside the 16-meter infinity pool, where guests drift as if floating between water and sky. Clad in travertine, the pool’s vanishing edge creates an effect Antoni once described as “the illusion of boundlessness” – a sentiment echoed in every facet of the villa’s design.
Private spaces receive equal attention. Five en-suite bedrooms serve as sanctuaries, each with its own balcony inviting the outdoors inside. The master suite, revered by those granted a tour, faces directly onto the ocean. With the touch of a button, automated shutters vanish, revealing uninterrupted views and allowing the sound of the surf and the scent of salt to greet each new day.
Beyond Opulence: Thoughtful Amenities and Contemporary Living
Luxury at The Pentagon goes deeper than first impressions. Entertainment seekers enjoy a private cinema engineered for acoustic perfection and equipped with cutting-edge audiovisual systems. Fitness enthusiasts find inspiration in a gym that looks out on Table Mountain, where morning workouts unfold in the shadow of natural grandeur. The marble and glass steam room nods to ancient Roman baths, merging the indulgence of a spa with modern sensibility.
The kitchen stands as both a culinary workshop and a social hub. Imported from Italy and custom-built by Assirelli, it features high-gloss cabinets and sculpted countertops in the tradition of Milanese minimalism. Here, every meal becomes a celebration, and even a morning espresso feels like a performance.
No detail escapes consideration. A transparent glass elevator links all five levels, maintaining the villa’s visual continuity and sense of openness. For remote work and enterprise, a dedicated office provides both privacy and inspiration, reflecting the new priorities of luxury buyers in a post-pandemic world. The design includes comfortable staff quarters, ensuring smooth household operation without sacrificing discretion. Parking – often a challenge in urban properties – receives generous treatment, with space for eight vehicles, including four secure garages, making both privacy and entertaining effortless.
Redefining African Luxury: Heritage Meets Innovation
The Pentagon’s record-setting sale does more than raise eyebrows; it signals the emergence of a new class of South African luxury buyer. No longer satisfied with homes that are merely grand, this generation seeks residences that balance spectacle with substance. They demand not only floor-to-ceiling glass and imported finishes, but also green technology, sustainable materials, and a sense of personal narrative woven into the architecture. Many commission art collections that reflect South Africa’s dynamic visual culture – an impulse echoed in The Pentagon’s gallery-like corridors and sculptural spaces.
Industry whispers suggest that the villa’s new owner is a passionate art collector, with interests ranging from contemporary African works to European photography. This move toward artful curation reflects a broader shift: for today’s elite, a home is not just about square footage or imported amenities, but a space that reflects identity and fosters creativity.
The tradition of merging architecture and landscape has long shaped South Africa’s most renowned homes. From the gabled Cape Dutch estates of the 1600s to the bold statements of mid-century modernism, the country’s finest architects have always drawn from their surroundings. Antoni honors this lineage while updating it with a cosmopolitan flair. The Pentagon’s transparent lines and crisp forms feel at home on any global stage, yet the orientation of every room affirms its connection to the Atlantic and Table Mountain. Materials like limestone, timber, and glass echo both Cape geology and contemporary trends.
A New Chapter for Nettleton Road and Beyond
The interiors of The Pentagon, curated by leading Cape Town designers, exemplify a fusion of global luxury with South African artistry. Italian sofas and designer lighting share space with woven baskets crafted by local artists and notable sculptures, such as a bronze Nguni bull anchoring the foyer. Even the signature scent – a custom blend of mountain fynbos and cedar – evokes the villa’s unique setting.
Nettleton Road itself carries a reputation for discretion and creativity, home to diplomats, filmmakers, and tech innovators. Stories abound: a renowned director once hosted open-air cinema nights on a rooftop terrace, and rumors linger about a philanthropist who imported a marble bathtub from Italy by crane. The arrival of The Pentagon only adds to the neighborhood’s mystique, encapsulating both the exuberance and restraint that define Clifton’s lifestyle.
While the R157 million price tag captures attention, the real value of The Pentagon lies in its realization of a new vision for African luxury. It transcends the traditional boundaries between architecture and landscape, showmanship and sanctuary. The villa stands as a place where beauty, innovation, and heritage converge at the continent’s edge.
Beneath the shifting Cape skies, The Pentagon exists as both home and artwork. Its shimmering glass and stone surfaces reflect not just the Atlantic’s waves, but the ambitions and identities of a city – and a nation – on the rise. Here, on this storied slope, the future of African luxury finds its defining form.
What is The Pentagon and where is it located?
The Pentagon is Africa’s most expensive and stunning modern luxury villa, located in Cape Town, South Africa. Perched on the prestigious Nettleton Road in Clifton, it overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and offers breathtaking views of landmarks such as Lion’s Head and Table Mountain. This five-level architectural masterpiece combines cutting-edge design with natural surroundings, making it a crown jewel of African luxury living.
Who designed The Pentagon and what architectural style does it feature?
The villa was designed by renowned South African architect Stefan Antoni, celebrated for blending Bauhaus discipline with modernist ease. The Pentagon features sleek glass walls, sharp geometric forms of concrete, steel, and glass, and uses indigenous natural materials like limestone and timber. It exemplifies modernist architecture with seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces that maximize ocean and mountain views.
What are the key luxury features and amenities of The Pentagon?
The Pentagon boasts 940 square meters of exquisitely designed living space across five levels, including:
- A 16-meter infinity pool with uninterrupted ocean vistas
- Private cinema with state-of-the-art audiovisual systems
- Gym overlooking Table Mountain
- Marble and glass steam room inspired by ancient Roman baths
- Custom-built Italian kitchen by Assirelli with high-gloss cabinets
- Transparent glass elevator linking all five floors
- Five en-suite bedrooms with private balconies, including a master suite facing the ocean
- Dedicated office space for remote work
- Spacious staff quarters and parking for eight vehicles, including four secure garages
How does The Pentagon reflect sustainable and local South African craftsmanship?
Beyond opulence, The Pentagon integrates sustainable design principles and celebrates South African artistry. Local indigenous fynbos landscaping complements minimalist outdoor design, while materials like limestone and timber echo the Cape’s geology. The villa’s interiors incorporate handcrafted woven baskets and sculptures by local artists, blending global luxury with authentic African heritage. Green technologies and environmentally conscious choices align with the evolving expectations of modern luxury homeowners.
Why is The Pentagon significant in the context of African luxury real estate?
With a record-breaking sale price of R157 million in 2025, The Pentagon sets a new benchmark for luxury real estate in Africa. It symbolizes a shift toward homes that are not just grand, but culturally rich, environmentally mindful, and artfully curated. The villa exemplifies a new generation of luxury buyers who value identity, creativity, and heritage as much as spectacular amenities and views. It is both a private sanctuary and a public statement of wealth and vision.
What makes Nettleton Road and Clifton special as a location for The Pentagon?
Nettleton Road in Clifton is one of Cape Town’s most exclusive and creative enclaves, known for its privacy, spectacular natural surroundings, and a community of innovators, artists, diplomats, and entrepreneurs. The location between the Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Apostles mountain range offers dramatic landscapes that inspire architectural innovation. The Pentagon’s presence on Nettleton Road enhances the neighborhood’s mystique and reputation as a premier destination for luxury living, creativity, and sophisticated lifestyle.
