Soffiantini’s Castle

East London, South Africa, South Africa

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Soffiantini's Castle is a distinctive house nicknamed a "castle" located in the Bonnie Doon suburb of East London (now part of KuGompo City) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, situated next to the Nahoon River.

The house was built in 1951 by Jean-Baptiste Soffiantini, an Italian immigrant who worked as a hairdresser and perfumer in East London. The building features a notable architectural design with a turret and a distinctive bow-fronted curved glass frontage, along with teak counters and other distinctive furnishings.

The castle began deteriorating in 1975, and part of it was subsequently converted into various small flats. Many of the original furnishings from the house are believed to be housed in the East London museum. The property was designed in 1949 by architects Lane, Osmond and Albert, and the building has been recognized as a notable local landmark in East London's architectural heritage.