Flame Studios

FLAME FLAME STUDIOS STUDIOS

A vibrant African interior design treatment ignites Flame Studios at Constitutional Hill

PHOTOGRAPHS ELSA YOUNG

Wallpaper by Rennaisance Design. Beaded light by Mash. T Design. Planter by TheUrbanative. Couch by Dokter and Misses. Rug by Pinda Designs. Ottomans by Indigi Designs and yellow cabinet by Pedersen + Lennard

Pendants by Mash. T Designs. Wallpaper by Rennaisance Design. Chairs by Naturalis, with pattern by Rennaisance Design

ohannesburg’s

JConstitution Hill is the new home of the strikingly designed Flame Studios. Named for the Flame of Democracy, this worldclass music recording studio opened its doors early last year. The interior design demonstrates stellar creative direction by the Nando’s Design Programme's Tracy Lee Lynch.

It is more than just a music studio — it’s a culmination of design, architecture and art, with a distinctive and authentic South African aesthetic. Key pieces were selected from local designers such as TheUrbanative, Mash. T Design Studio, Pedersen + Lennard, Dokter and Misses, Glorinah Mabaso, Siyanda Mbele and Naturalis.

The first impression is a bold use of colour. In the rehearsal room, the corrugated wall panels and geometric ceiling panels used for soundproofing appear in a deep blue.

In another room, these same blue panels find their counterparts in lush green velvet couches. In the recording booth, black, white and grey elements are offset by striking red accents. Yellow is used only once — a modern server stands in front of a window like a glowing beacon.

After the initial rush of colour, the intricacies of the interior design begin to reveal themselves. The walls are festooned with modern interpretations of traditional African patterns in shades of blue, green, black and red. The various, eye-catching patterns hail from Glorinah, one of the winners of Clout Designers' Industry Days, which took place at 100% Design South Africa 2019. Naturalis’s vintage-inspired school chairs in plywood and steel are given an African twist by applying these same patterns to their surfaces.

A felt-covered, two-toned blue occasional chair by Casamento sits in one corner. Closer inspection reveals vibrant yellow stitching and beadwork. Ottomans covered in monochromatic shweshwe fabric are scattered throughout.

Mbele’s bright orange circular rug with a sun-inspired design cleverly mimics the roundness of the lights suspended above it.

Beaded, drum-shaped chandeliers by Thabisa Mjo of Mash. T Design Studio hang interspersed with simple industrial pendants. Thabisa is the first local designer to have her work form part of the permanent collection of the renowned Musée des Arts Décoratifs, a museum of decorative arts and design in Paris, France. She also happens to be one of the very first winners of the Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) talent search.

In all, the atmosphere reflects South Africa’s triumphant creative spirit. Amplifying this is a sensitivity to the past and the significance of Flame Studio’s location. Constitution Hill was the place where South African Struggle heroes were detained. This troubled history is acknowledged by leaving the exterior untouched and the entry passageway untreated. Within, sections of exposed brick and broken cement have been left visible between the vivid panelling and bright furniture pieces.

“Respecting the heritage and history of the spaces was a key design focus. Sections of the walls and floor in the studio area were framed and left exposed, revealing the aged walls, which were then beautifully lit to highlight the magnificent patina of the architecture and remind all of the building’s powerful history,” says Tracy.

The message is undeniable: the past has been honoured by integrating it into this space of profound change. The overall result is a celebration of South African contemporary design and proof of what can be achieved through South African vision and creativity. O

Parts of the original wall and floor are exposed and lit to reveal the building's history. Blue chair is by Casamento. Planter by TheUrbanative. Couches and coffee table by Dokter and Misses. Ottomans by Indigi Design and server by Pedersen + Lennard

‘Respecting the heritage and history of the spaces was a key design focus. Sections of the walls and floor in the studio area were framed and left exposed, revealing the aged walls, which were then beautifully lit to highlight the magnificent patina of the architecture and remind all of the building’s powerful history”

— Tracy Lee Lynch

The wallpaper in the recording studio features a pattern by Glorinah Mabaso of Rennaisance Design