Timeless by Design
A Cape Legacy since 1928
From a visionary’s private estate to a distinguished boutique hotel, The Claremont carries the grandeur of a bygone era into the present day.Claremont Through the Years
From its origins as fertile farmland to its rise as one of Cape Town’s most distinguished suburbs, Claremont has evolved through centuries of change.
A Vision Ahead
of Her Time
Magda Sauer was one of South Africa’s first and most remarkable female architects
Magdalene Gertrude Sauer, known as Magda, was born in 1890 in Kenilworth. Raised between the city and her family’s Stellenbosch farm, Magda developed a deep appreciation for place and context. After apprenticing in Cape Town, she studied at the Architectural Association in London, returning in 1927 to begin her career in a male-dominated field. She quickly earned recognition for her sensitive use of local materials and her elegant reinterpretation of Cape Dutch Revival style. From grand homes like Frederick Man’s “Andros” estate to modest renovations, her work always honoured craftsmanship and continuity. One of her final commissions, converting the Old Supreme Court into a museum, reflected her enduring dedication to heritage. Even in retirement, she remained a champion of architectural legacy, her contributions recognised by the Cape Provincial Institute of Architects.
A Family Legacy
Magda Sauer was born into a family whose influence stretched across wine and Cape Heritage.
Her Parents
Born on 6 May 1890 in Kenilworth, Cape Town, she was the second child of politician and cabinet minister Jacobus Wilhelmus Sauer and Mary Cloete.
Cloete Lineage
On her mother’s side, Magda was a descendant of the Cloete family, early owners of Groot Constantia – the country’s oldest wine estate.
Winelands Upbringing
Raised between Cape Town and her family’s farm, Uitkyk, in Stellenbosch – one of South Africa’s most historic wine estates. This setting immersed her in the Winelands culture from an early age.
Private Life
Married briefly to Trygve Strömsöe, a Norwegian engineer responsible for building the Table Mountain Cableway.
Wine Pioneers
Magda’s family played a significant role in shaping South Africa’s wine legacy. Her brother, Paul Sauer, is regarded as the father of the South African Bordeaux Blend, and founded Kanonkop Wine Estate.
Restoration Work
In the 1940s, Magda Sauer spearheaded the restoration of several historic buildings in Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap.
Memory Lane
Historic images and archival moments from one of Claremont’s most iconic residences
