When architects go on holiday, it’s not just about the destination — it’s about the detail. The materials, the way light lands in a room, and how a space sits within its landscape. Travel becomes less about checking in and more about tuning in to how design shapes experience.
To discover what stands out to those who shape the built world for a living, we spoke to David Peerutin, founding partner of Cape Town-based firm Peerutin Karol. From timeless icons to off-the-radar lodges, his answers are part travel list, part design manifesto.
Global icons and local landmarks
Architizer/Mohamed Somji via Burohappold Engineering
“Every country will have architectural gems — both highly visible and some quite hidden,” says Peerutin.
For residential inspiration, he turns to the clean, contemporary forms of Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan, and to Oscar Niemeyer for his pioneering public spaces.
And while some may marvel at Dubai’s sky-piercing skyscrapers, Peerutin sees more than spectacle: “In Dubai, the sheer scale and innovation of some of the world’s tallest towers” is what draws his eye.
Equally captivating, but on the other end of the sensory spectrum, is Jean Nouvel’s Louvre Abu Dhabi:
“The Louvre is a masterpiece in quiet sophistication.”
Back home, he singles out one of Cape Town’s most talked-about reimaginings of space:
“In Cape Town, the building that stands out most, for me, is the Zeitz MOCAA gallery and the Silo Hotel in the V&A Waterfront — it’s our most iconic piece.”
Wild locations, dig design thinking
Picture/Angama Mara
What kind of stays turn heads in architectural circles? According to Peerutin, it’s less about high-gloss finishes and more about thoughtful integration.
“The most incredible lodges are done by a firm that we collaborate with on an ongoing basis — Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens,” Peerutin explains.
Their award-winning projects include the Angama Mara in Kenya and North Island in the Seychelles.
But they aren’t just looking from the sidelines. “Watch this space. We’re working on a new 7-star resort in the Indian Ocean with them — it’s going to be sensational.”
When asked what makes these places stand out, Peerutin is clear: “These projects integrate their environment into the architecture — they are one and the same.”
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Cape Town’s unsung stays for design lovers
Not every architecturally interesting stay is a safari lodge or museum-turned-hotel. Some are hiding in plain sight.
“It depends on what you’re looking for, obviously,” Peerutin admits.
Picture/Queen Victoria Hotel/Peerutin Karol Architects
But for those with a trained eye (or a curious one), Cape Town has layers. He suggests exploring:
- The Queen Victoria Hotel and Dockhouse Hotel are tucked into the historic Portswood Precinct.
- The playful and contemporary Radisson Red Hotel in the Silo District.
- The creative, view-drenched Dorp Hotel in Bo-Kaap.
- And the perennial classic, The Mount Nelson Hotel, “the historic Grande Dame of Cape Town”
Each space, in its own way, balances history, personality, and place.
A curated itinerary for the architecturally curious
Picture/Nima Lodge/Inside Guide
If you’re keen to build your next trip around design, Peerutin lays out a personal route that links architecture to landscape. “One must experience the outdoors and landscapes around Cape Town,” he says.
- Start at Babylonstoren to experience the farm stay
- Head next to the Oudebosch Eco Cabins in Kleinmond, where fynbos, river swims, and crisp mountain air surround you.
- Continue to Nima Lodge in Wilderness: beautiful timber cabins high up in the treetops.
- And end off at Emily Moon Lodge in Plettenberg Bay, where it overlooks the wetlands.
Whether it’s the spatial drama of a museum roofline or the way a cabin opens to sunrise, the best places to stay aren’t just built — they’re composed. For architecture lovers, this is your invitation to travel more thoughtfully — and check in with fresh eyes.
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