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UP FRONT ED’S LETTER p6
CONTRIBUTORS p8
VISI.CO.ZA p10
VISION DESIGN DECONSTRUCTION: MAXIMALISM p16 REPORT BACK: AMBIENTE p20
INSPIRATION: PLASTIC FANTASTIC p24 TRAVEL DIARY: DOOK ON SAFARI p26
VOICES
FEATURES
KATHRYN WHITE p28 NECHAMA BRODIE p30 MOHALE MASHIGO p33
VILLA OUIDANE p36 CAPE TOWN HOME p48 BEREA HOME p58 CAPE TOWN VILLA p70 WATERBERG LODGE p82 SCARBOROUGH RETREAT p92
REASONS 1. Go organic: covetable design pieces inspired by nature p106 2. Comfort meets style in The Mill Fabrics’ Hygge range p108 3. It’s time to revisit rattan, cane, wicker and bamboo p110 4. The inside track on Bloem’s new architecture studio, X&O p112 5. Exploring an innovative apartment block in Maboneng p114 6. All about DARK – the lighting firm with a difference p116 7. An African journey: Mpho Vackier’s design trajectory at TheUrbanative p118 8. Wrap up in our pick of the most stylish, locally designed blankets p120 9. Create a functional – and fab – home office with tips from Cecil Nurse p122 10. Best advice for making the most of your home office space p124 11. Luxaflex on keeping it light and (not too) bright when working at home p126 12. Discover two personality-filled vehicles by Citroën p128 13. Mobelli’s fresh new furniture options p130 14. Where does Skinny laMinx founder Heather Moore find inspiration? p132 15. VISI’s pick of the coolest couches just launched at Coricraft p134 16. A classic porcelain design links up with iconic oven brand AGA p136 17. Local accessories maker Melvill & Moon unveils a rugged range p137 18. Take a step into tomorrow today with Miele’s smart Dialog oven p138 19. Mix it up with Mungo’s Melange collection of linen bedding p140 20. Your kitchen dreams can come true with a Schmidt Kitchens design p141 21. Stiles Tiles’ Hub range by Naxos is brilliantly bold p142
WIN p34 SMART IDEA
p144
COVER IMAGE CREDIT Nicholas Matheus
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Quite a lot has happened since the last issue of VISI. That one was made pre-lockdown. The issue that you’re holding in your hand, however, was created without any of the VISI team being in the same building. Not that you can tell, right? In terms of production, it was completely doable – and in terms of quality, I think we’ve put together an issue that would make its predecessors nod in appreciation. Which all points to one of the trends that has been on the lips (and in the tweets) of modern soothsayers: “Our enforced isolation shows that the work environment has changed forever, and that we can look forward to a future where we spend much of our time working from home.” This sentiment is often conveyed as a good thing. But not for me. I didn’t like it much. Scrolling through the news may not currently corroborate this, but we humans are a fundamentally social species, and most of us truly value spending time together. I have genuinely missed those VISI team members you see on our masthead. And it’s not only the general chatter that is woven throughout our working day that I miss, or our Friday-afternoon NikNaks-and-wine-pairing decompress; it is also our creative process, which on VISI is very much collaborative. Yes, you can do it via Zoom, but it’s not nearly as fulfilling – or as fun. Of course, there are going to be folks who enjoy working at home, and those for whom a flexible home/office arrangement will be ideal – and we have some design tips for this on page 124. But I, for one, cannot wait to get back to the office. And not just that. I want to have a delicious meal at a restaurant with my family. I want to have a beer at a bar with my mates. Granted, this will most likely involve a facemask (initially, at least) – but I want my sense of community back. I suspect most of us do.
PORTRAIT JAN RAS
STEVE SMITH, EDITOR info@visi.co.za
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What’s the newest skill you’ve learnt, and why did you learn it? I’m learning to speak French. I’m going to France for a residency, and I thought I’d learn the basics because I’ll be there for a few months (once the world is less scary). I love languages, so it’s been fun – I’m learning via an app and YouTube. An acclaimed writer whose novel The Yearning (Pan Macmillan) won the 2016 UJ Debut Prize for South African Writing, Mohale explores anxiety and lockdown living in her essay on page 33.
WARREN HEATH, FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALISING IN INTERIOR, LIFESTYLE AND FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY What’s the newest skill you’ve learnt, and why did you learn it? To play the guitar. It’s something I never thought I’d do – but I stumbled into it, and now I’m addicted. It allows me some creative freedom away from the visual space that is my job, and it constantly challenges me. Warren’s evocative pictures have appeared in just about every lifestyle magazine in South Africa, and in a wide range of titles abroad. For this issue, he photographed Liani and Jan Douglas’s Green Point home on page 48.
TRACY LYNN CHEMALY, DESIGN AND LIFESTYLE WRITER What’s the newest skill you’ve learnt, and how did you learn it? Yoga nidra is a powerful mind-body tool that I learnt through the online self-love circles at Vula Yoga (vulayoga.com). Tracy writes for VISI regularly. This month, she profiles Bloemfontein architectural studio X+O on page 112, and compiled our Design Journey piece about TheUrbanative on page 118.
EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Steve Smith Deputy Editor Robyn Alexander Editor-at-Large Annemarie Meintjes Creative Director Mark Serra Managing Editor Samantha Charles Online Editor Lindi Brownell Meiring Content Producer Michaela Stehr Contributors Adéle de Lange, Ania Rokita Taylor, Celeste Jacobs, Dook, Elsa Young, Graham Wood, Greg Cox, Heather Moore, Jan Ras, Kerryn Fischer, Lar Leslie, Laurence Dougier, Luanne Toms, Lutendo Malatji, Marc Shoul, Natalie Boruvka, Nicholas Matheus, Paris Brummer (Studio Miru), Sven Alberding, Sydelle Willow Smith, Tracy Lynn Chemaly, Warren Heath
ADVERTISING & MARKETING Key Account Manager Eva Cookson 076 662 0785 Key Account Manager Hannelie Stemmet 083 448 2074 Key Account Manager Elna Coetzer 082 971 9715
PUBLISHING Group Account Director Raiël le Roux Production Manager Shirley Quinlan
MANAGEMENT Managing Director Aileen Lamb Commercial Director Maria Tiganis Brand Strategy Director Andrew Nunneley Chief Financial Officer Venette Malone Head of HR Leoné Fouché CEO: Media24 Ishmet Davidson
DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS Distribution and print subscriptions On the Dot Call 087 353 1300 WhatsApp “VISI” to 087 353 1333 Email subs@media24.com Digital subscriptions zinio.com / magzter.com Reproduction New Media, a division of Media24 (Pty) Ltd Printing CTP Printers Cape Town Published by New Media, a division of Media24 (Pty) Ltd, New Media House, 19 Bree Street, Cape Town 8001 PO Box 440, Green Point, Cape Town 8051 021 417 1111 / newmedia.co.za / visi@visi.co.za
All rights reserved. Whereas precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of information, neither the editor, publisher nor New Media can be held liable for any inaccuracies, injury or damages that may arise. The opinions expressed in the articles may not reflect those of the publisher.
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PORTRAITS SYDELLE WILLOW SMITH (MOHALE) AND SVEN ALBERDING (WARREN)
MOHALE MASHIGO, STORYTELLER
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NEW VISI ONLINE SHOP!
IN THE FIRST OF OUR VISI COLLAB SERIES, WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL DESIGN STUDIOS SKINNY LAMINX AND PEDERSEN + LENNARD ON TWO EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS. WE’RE STARTING SMALL, WITH BIG THINGS TO COME! VISIT SHOP.VISI.CO.ZA TO BUY ONLINE NOW.
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#READERLOVE Are you a big fan of the latest issue? Let us know! Simply tag VISI on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with a snap of your copy. Afternoon tea, homemade biscotti & interior inspo
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@visi_mag design & architectural vision
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Today I picked up the newest edition of one of my favourite magazines. I can feel the inspiration already! @restored_
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Quiet afternoons in aren’t all that bad #lifeduringcovid19 @cecileweyers
INSTANT INSPIRATION Follow @visi_mag on Instagram, where we share some of the best and most beautiful designs from around the globe.
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WORDS LINDI BROWNELL MEIRING FIND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE COMPETITION ON PAGE 34.
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INTERNATIONAL DIRECTIONS AND LOCAL INSPIRATIONS
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MAXIMUM IMPACT Cape Town interior designer Andrea Graff uses elements of Maximalism to celebrate a home’s sense of history while giving it a modern, contemporary edge. Read more on page 16.
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Design Deconstruction
MAXIMALISM
Maximalists have mastered the art of layering colour, pattern and texture to create very personalised interiors. Now’s the time to embrace the bold mishmash and make home yours. W O R D S T R A C Y LY N N C H E M A LY
he importance of home has never been as apparent as in the past few months. Isolated and hibernated, we’ve been engulfed by the things that decorate our dwellings. If you’ve noticed a mark of your personality emerging in the way you brought vintage silk cushions and soft woollen throws out of storage, painted feature walls in striking hues, and mounted artworks and photos to imbue your rooms with
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some true-to-you oomph, then you’re living proof that Maximalism is back in business. The more-is-more approach – or, as US designer and ceramicist Jonathan Adler puts it, “glamour upon glamour” – is pretty much the direct opposite of Minimalism. While that Scandinavian/Japanese style advocates the bare necessities in the most neutral tones, Maximalism champions a riot of colour, multitude of textures and profusion of patterns.
THIS PAGE US designer Jonathan Adler (jonathanadler.com) is known for his playful, colourful and glamorous approach to design. OPPOSITE An example of Jonathan Adler’s bold style, with his antique glass-and-polished-brass Delphine Bar as a focal point.
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It calls for the unashamed mixing-and-matching of styles. It’s a case of “anything goes”, and is a welcome reprieve from the stringent regulations imposed on us outside our homes. While it defies any formal definition, US composer David Jaffe sees it, in musical terms, as something that “embraces heterogeneity and allows for complex systems of collision and juxtaposition”. But perhaps Maximalism isn’t meant to be theorised. London-based artist and interior designer Luke Edward Hall, a modern-day poster boy for Maximalism, calls it “a fantasy in which to lose yourself”. “The world we’re living in can be rather grim at times,” says Hall. “I think that’s partly why people are taking to this trend. Perhaps they need an escape from the everyday, as opposed to living in a white box.” Maximalism’s feel-good factor is an undeniable drawcard. Embodied in personalisation rather than perfection, this style dates back to the Memphis Group of the 1980s, another counter-movement against the purity and conventionality of design at the time. It encourages us to explore who we are by eclectically embellishing our home narratives.
Plants, books and curious collections (of glassware, magnets, mirrors or flea-market toys) enliven these interiors with a curated form of clutter that represents passions, hobbies and interests. Bold floral wallpaper, family heirlooms, Persian rugs and the latest Tonic armchair can all coexist with layer upon layer of exotic Ardmore fabric and wild animal prints. The busier, the Maximalists say, the better. Local fashion designers Marianne Fassler and Klûk CGTD have mastered this art of weaving worlds together – both in their colour-splashed, textural collections and in their boutiques – as has Cape Town interior designer Andrea Graff. “Maximalism allows you to create spaces with a sense of history, while still being current and contemporary,” says Andrea. It’s not unusual for her to place a leopard-print coffee table on a zebra-skin rug over a jute carpet – and then to throw in an electric-blue velvet sofa scattered with cerise cushions alongside an antique ceramic stool. Perhaps an attitude rather than a style, Maximalism is making home the place where the heart is once again.
ABOVE The unapologetically eclectic interior of Malcolm Kluk and Christiaan Gabriel du Toit’s Cape Town city apartment. They are the duo behind couture label Klûk CGDT (klukcgdt.com). OPPOSITE With its dynamic interplay between colour, pattern and texture, this family home’s interior by Cape Town interior designer Andrea Graff (andreagraff.co.za) epitomises Maximalist design.
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PHOTOS GREG COX/BUREAUX AND SUPPLIED
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s NEW MOODS
Held in Frankfurt every February, AMBIENTE is one of the top international trade fairs for cooking, dining and household products. VISI’s Annemarie Meintjes was there – these are her favourites from the 2020 event. W O R D S A N N E M A R I E M E I N TJ E S
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ne of the highlights of this prestigious annual trade fair is the Ambiente Trends exhibition, which this year was researched and curated by trend forecasters Stilbüro Bora Herke Palmisano for Messe Frankfurt. The Trends show is always the first stop at Ambiente for buyers, journalists and bloggers, because it provides an overview of the shapes, colours and materials that will inspire consumers around the world in the year to come. These were showcased in the form of overarching conceptual trends, using the exhibitors’ products.
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LIGHT MY FIRE…
…with these lighters and candelabras. 1. FIREBIRD 2.0 by GUIDO VENTURINI for ALESSI: This is a reissue of Alessi’s original Firebird electric arc lighter, whose witty and playful phallic lines made it an instant icon. alessi.com 2. ROOTS by JAKOB WAGNER for MORSØ: A glamorous move up from the tealight, this flexible candleholder is a sculptural object in its own right (and is also available in chrome and brass). morsoe.com | fh-as.dk
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2 EASY PIECES Beautiful cutlery makes meals taste better. 1. SKELETON by NENDO for SERAX: Japanese designer Oki Sato, better known as Nendo, creates poetic objects with a witty twist. His Skeleton cutlery range for Serax minimises the amount of material used while still retaining functionality. serax.com 2. MINIMAL by DAVID MELLOR: David Mellor’s iconic Minimal cutlery is a master metalworker’s design for modern living – and its aesthetic purity has made it a firm favourite among design enthusiasts. davidmellordesign.co.uk
HOTTING UP A contemporary take on the traditional tea ceremony. JACQUELINE by BUGATTI: Elegant and sophisticated, with a full wardrobe of tea cosies to choose from, the high-performance Jacqueline kettle can be programmed to regulate the water temperature remotely via Bluetooth. casabugatti.com
IRONCLAD Saluting the honesty, durability and versatility of cast iron. JÄRN x SKEPPSHULT by NOTE: These innovative, hexadecagonshaped, cast-iron cooking vessels with integrated handles were designed by Note, a multidisciplinary studio in Stockholm, and are made by hand in Skeppshult, Sweden. notedesignstudio.se | skeppshult.com
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GET STACKED Here’s to combining style with function at the table. 1. MARGRETHE by ROSTI: This classic bowl, designed in 1954 and named after Queen Margrethe of Denmark, is monumentally popular – more than 25 million have been sold worldwide. rostimepal-markenshop.de | fh-as.dk 2. INNER CIRCLE by MAARTEN BAAS: Dutch designer Maarten Baas adds delightfully organic forms and wobbly lines to an otherwise-too-straight design world. valerie-objects.com
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FOOOD ON THE MOVE We’ll take our lunch to go, please…
3. DISHES TO DISHES by GLENN SESTIG: With Dishes to Dishes, Belgian architect and designer Glenn Sestig offers an award-winning range of plates and bowls that stack up elegantly. valerie-objects.com
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1. FOOOD À PORTER by ALESSI: Alessi’s collection of lunchboxes that pack together to form a handbag shape is effortlessly sleek and stylish. alessi.com 2. B BOTTLES by BUGATTI: With even the lid double-walled, these thermal bottles (in 500ml and 350ml sizes) keep drinks hot for 12 hours or cold for up to 24. casabugatti.com
CHIN-CHIN! Drink a toast to inspiring glassware.
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2. TOBIAS TIETCHEN for RITZENHOFF: Hamburg tattoo artist Tobias Tietchen reinterprets classic sailors’ tattoo designs – including anchors, lighthouses and mermaids – for Ritzenhoff’s latest range of designer beer glasses. ritzenhoff.com
PHOTOS SUPPLIED
1. GLAMOROUS by ZWIESEL GLAS: With black stems and striking lines, the Glamorous glasses celebrate the 1920s and the design forms of Art Deco. zwiesel-kristallglas.com
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EASY LOVER Vases that arrange the flowers for you. 1. SAVOY by ALVAR AALTO for IITTALA: Iittala introduced two new colourways (Moss Green and Linen) of the legendary Savoy vase, originally created by Finnish designer Alvar Aalto in 1936. The iconic design means you simply fill it with water and add the flowers – and watch them fall into place. iittala.com 2. SEVEN by JAN PADRNOS for ROSENTHAL: In this avantgarde collection by Czech product designer Jan Padrnos, each vase is made up of seven individual glass tubes, artfully joined together in opposing directions. rosenthal.de
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Dress up your drinks trolley with a decanter. 1. GLAMOROUS by ZWIESEL 1872: A crystal decanter from the Bavarian manufacturer’s Glamorous series is a supremely elegant option. zwiesel-kristallglas.com 2. GOLDEN and POISON by VISTA ALEGRE: Looking for an opulent nod to the Chinese zodiac or a dash of gothic elegance? Check out the Rat crystal decanter in the Golden series or the Poison snake-shaped porcelain bottle, both by Portuguese manufacturer Vista Alegre. vistaalegre.com
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FIBRE OPTICS Functional and sustainable kitchen tools. GREEN TOOLS by EVA SOLO: Combining minimalist Scandi lines with handles made from a sustainable composite material that includes wheat fibre, these tools are perfect for vegetable-based cooking. evasolo.com
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The next Ambiente fair will be held from 19 to 23 February 2021. For more information, visit ambiente.messefrankfurt.com.
s PLASTIC FANTASTIC
We go back to the future to celebrate one of the great design materials. COMPILED BY ROBYN ALEXANDER
ight, mouldable and inexpensive, plastic was one of the 20th century’s iconic materials, and was widely used in furniture, as designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Verner Panton and Robin Day created fabulous plastic seating. But all manner of other domestic items, from clocks (such as the gorgeous Cifra 3, designed in 1966) to storage – think the practical yet glam Componibili and the ubiquitous Tupperware container – featured the material too. In the first two decades of the current century, plastic lost some of its appeal, chiefly because of its rampant overuse in packaging and the subsequent pollution caused. But plastic pieces can still be beautiful – as a material, it remains brilliantly malleable, strong and durable. Join us in avoiding the disposable, and embracing the classic and the cool.
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1. Pastil Chair by Eero Aarnio Originals About R30 000 (excl. delivery and customs) | nest.co.uk
4. La Chaise by Charles and Ray Eames for Vitra POA | cremadesign.co.za
2. Buddy Hooks by Umbra R399 for set of 3 | yuppiechef.com
5. Watering Can by Shane Schneck for HAY POA | cremadesign.co.za
3. All Plastic Chair by Jasper Morrison for Vitra POA | cremadesign.co.za
6. Bento Lunch Box by Mepal R329 | yuppiechef.com
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7. FollowMe Colors lamp by Inma Bermúdez for Marset R5 702 | newport.co.za
10. Acrylic outdoor wine cooler R399 | woolworths.co.za
8. Chopping boards by HAY POA | cremadesign.co.za
11. Componibili storage units by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell POA | truedesign.co.za
9. Bicoca Table Lamp by Christophe Mathieu for Marset R6 268 | newport.co.za
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DOOK
“Ignore the obsession with seeing the Big Five animals,” says one of our favourite photographers, who has shot hundreds of lodges and camps over the years. “Rather go for the big five experiences – and if you’re lucky, you’ll get both.” PHOTOS AND WORDS DOOK
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GET GUIDANCE In some areas, you may feel like part of the food chain – or find yourself facing down a nosy elephant, rambling with a rhino, or doing a dance with a dung beetle on your knees, trying to get a photo of its ball-rolling skills. A well-trained guide will provide insight into the ecosystem and point out the small things you wouldn’t usually notice. WALK… OR FLOAT It’s far more rewarding to immerse yourself in the quiet experience of an area than to chug around in a noisy car. For me, the ultimate is canoeing down the Zambezi or gliding along Okavango or Linyanti channels in a mokoro.
IT’S FAR MORE REWARDING TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE QUIET EXPERIENCE OF AN AREA THAN TO CHUG AROUND IN A NOISY CAR.
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LOOK UP It’s incredibly rare to be able to go to bed while gazing up at the mystical, magical fairy dust that fills the limitless night sky with glittering wonder. From see-through tents (Linyanti expeditions) to sleeping decks (Tswalu and Samara reserves) and treehouses (Lion Sands and Ngala), there’s plenty to choose from when it comes to accommodation if you want to feel small and insignificant. OPEN YOUR MOUTH! From wholesome meals made over the coals of a campfire to gourmet concoctions that resemble
art on a plate, you’re likely to find yourself waddling away from a safari completely satisfied – and promising not to eat for a month. One of the best food experiences is offered by Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen – our very own Michelinstarred chef is the creative palate behind the menu at Tswalu, and has opened a restaurant there, Klein Jan. You’ll also find gastronomic delights at Cheetah Plains, MORE Hotels’ Ivory Lodge and &Beyond’s Tengile River Lodge in Sabi Sands, as well as Singita in South Africa and Tanzania.
1. Views of the Maasai Mara from Angama Mara lodge in Kenya. 2. A bedroom under a blanket of stars at Chalkley Treehouse, Lion Sands. 3. On the Zambezi at Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe (African Bush Camps). 4. Feet up on a mokoro: explore the Okavango Delta or Linyanti in Botswana with &Beyond, African Bush Camps and Great Plains Conservation. 5. Meeting a calm, curious local at Mana Pools National Park. 6. Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge offers guests a chance to join the chefs in the kitchen. 7. Gemsbok saunter past Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia. (See Natural Selection for camps on the Skeleton Coast.)
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The Spark of Life
Unless your partner already lives with you, lockdown relationships are instantly transformed into long-distance liaisons. KATHRYN WHITE considers the odds.
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don’t know where you are right now,or where you were when I wrote this.I’m not going to spin platitudes on the new normal, motivate you to embrace your altered state, or say it’s okay to hate it. I don’t know how your life has changed, or if it has. Instead, I am going to tell you a story: one that has no ending. T’was the Ides of March. My 40th birthday. We danced on a stoep at a house in Kommetjie; the best playlist, my favourite friends,all the laughter.It was perfect. Almost.Three of us – including me – are specifically immunocompromised. We didn’t know if Covid-19 was at the party or not. A year before, I had created a List for Life (yes, that’s an Iggy reference). I had achieved two of the three items. On the Sunday I drove home, happy and grateful. As I came around the corner of De Waal, my phone rang. “Lion’s Head is on fire.” I live on Lion’s Head. (Item one on list: new home.) I did not sleep; 200 metres from me, sirens, and burning trees.
The next day I went to my new job (item two). Go home, work hard, stay safe, this too will pass. After a month, I was back in the lifestyle I thought I’d left: working from home. Before lockdown, I go to meet someone for an ice cream and a coffee on the Sea Point prom. There’s an immediate connection. A spark I haven’t felt in years. We greet with elbows. We think this is funny. He looks like no-one I’ve ever dated. I try not to stare at him too much. He is so nice. We can’t stop smiling. A few days later, we go for a walk in green fields ringed by mountains. We say: what next? The president announces his decision that evening. That’s what. Working from home is good. I have felt physically pummelled by the last few years; now, I work and rest. I miss horse riding, Publik, the Clarke’s cheeseburger. My art director and I figure out how to brainstorm over the Internet. I get stuck into editing the first draft of my next novel. I feel freer than I have felt in years. I have no kids, no lover, not even a cat. I am financially stable. I miss hugs, arms around friends. I miss physicality. H-- and I text. Then phone. Then video. Every night, for an hour or so, we laugh, chat, whisper, discuss, reveal. He seems so warm; he is so funny. I start to despair: I have been through this before. The non-physical intimacy, the long phone calls, the sweet nothings and the big somethings. He says: how, possibly? Long-distance. I tell him what happened, and what happened after that. He says, this isn’t the same.We are building a foundation. He is at the start of his own new life. He tells me what happened, and what happened after that. One night, I start sobbing. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. My new life had just started. He is kind, but he is also chuckling a bit: this is your new life, he says. But what happens next, I cry. We’ll just take it day by day. KATHRYN lives in Cape Town, and is a published author, copywriter and general-person-of-strong-opinions.
PORTRAIT SUPPLIED
I am going to tell you A STORY: one that has NO ENDING.
OUT OF
AN AFRICA INSPIRED TILE COLLECTION
Bringing the splendour of African-inspired designs into your home, the Out of Africa Tile Collection includes recognisable names such as Lesotho, Satara and Kariba. Part of the ethos of this offering is that each collection offers a selection of products, ensuring a cohesive look for your space. Visit www.tileafrica.co.za to see more of the Out of Africa Tile Collection.
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Collectibles
Lockdown has shown DR NECHAMA BRODIE that, in a world where Marie Kondo sparks joy for some, there is eternal worth in collecting things of uncertain value. hese are some of the things I bought online during lockdown, “for delivery later”: a vintage sequinned jacket with high shoulders; a bronze signet etched with a pincushion protea flower; an antique men’s ring with an onyx face and a large gold “B” on the front. Who was I buying them for? What after-lockdown life was I imagining that would require wearing sequins and a pinky ring? What was the sudden importance of shoulder pads in a post-pandemic world? After the great wars – well, not “great” but Great – of the 20th century,fashion and society made deliberate transitions from utility to frivolity, even levity. The overdressed fantasy of the 1920s, the beads, gauze, fringe, shimmer and dazzle, were a marked response, a middle finger, to the melancholy of men lost at Verdun and at the Somme. Dior’s lavishly structured New Look that premiered in 1947 was modern and indulgent, a beautiful and extravagant response to the austerity and fabric shortages of the war years. So, at a time when what was “permitted” was reduced to the essentials – food, plumbing, electricity, loo roll – it was, as it has always been, the non-essentials that drew me, promising a world outside this current sombre window. I discovered, too, that almost all the tzatzkes I had accumulated and never successfully re-gifted took on a new potential life. The reams of shweshwe cloth purchased during a series of craft and inner-city shopping binges in 2010 could be used to make masks. Old books were appropriated to prop up my laptop during endless Zoom meetings, so that my colleagues could see me at eye rather than nostril level. Two ugly children’s T-shirts were converted into strips and, from there, into chew ropes for my unwalked dog. Other unwanted clothes were donated. Yes, the well-stocked nooks and crannies of my house collected perhaps a little more fluff and pet hair than I would have liked, and proved far more difficult to vacuum than a minimalist metal-and-concrete loft with only a MacBook, a NutriBullet and a yoga mat. And sure, I had enough pairs of cheapie sunglasses to turn myself into a human fly for Instagram selfies. But I also had enough pairs of sunglasses to turn myself into a human fly for Instagram selfies.There was a Pharaoh hat (purchased for a previous Purim costume), a bag full of genuine New Orleans carnival beads, and even my old wedding dress, which I used (together with a couch and several pot plants) to dress up like Ophelia in John Everett Millais’s beautiful oil-on-canvas. While I was slightly ashamed and frustrated by my own messiness, I was also grateful that I hadn’t yet managed to bring in the clean-up-your-life expert I had been promising myself I would call before “all of this”. Because while their mass made some of I discovered, too, that almost all the day-to-day aspects of managing lockdown the I had accumulated a little more challenging, the very unjustified point of their existence also created a few and never successfully frayed edges and secret hidey-holes where my took on a new imagination could still exist. potential life. Cleanliness might be next to godliness – but sometimes to be a collector is divine.
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NECHAMA is an author and academic. Her novel Three Bodies is out now. nechamabrodie.com | t brodiegal
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RE-GIFTED
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Zoom and Zeal
In the midst of an extremely anxious time, reveals MOHALE MASHIGO, moments of pure joy can be found. my name is Mohale and I am anxious. I am here because… well, you know why. There has been a lot of talk about being okay with not being okay. Fair enough. I live with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, so that’s how I’ve been navigating the world for most of my life. People are saying “things will never be the same again”, and we are heading into a “new world”. In the pre-lockdown world, I spent a lot of time working: to pay bills, on maintaining relationships, on improving my mental health (therapy, boxing, medication, journalling). My days were planned down to the “random” messages organising drinks with friends on Fridays. I was, as Twitter folk say, booked and blessed. When the president announced that the whole country would go into lockdown, I didn’t think much of it. I’m a writer, so my home is also my office – how bad could 21 days be? This is the part where you throw your head back and laugh at my pre-lockdown naivety. Booked and Blessed quickly morphed into Zoom and Zeal. I (unsuccessfully) tried to teach my father how to video call. Deadlines were met ahead of time, bookshelves were rearranged, joint Netflix viewing parties were organised, all emails became Zoom meetings, nails were painted (the spirit was strong), new recipes were lined up. Overzealous energy is not sustainable – but somewhere between anxiety and boredom, I found pleasure.The introduction came in the form of a bonsai kit a friend had sent me before lockdown. My mother has a green thumb and I have something similar to Zombie Thumb – none of my plants survive. I had never planted anything,but curiosity encouraged me to read the instructions, and prepare and plant the seeds. Seeing something break through the soil gave me a tiny bit of joy. My little plant is growing. Will it survive? Find out on the next episode of “Something Is Growing In My House”! A small group of writers, from all over the continent, invited me to a weekly Friday-night Zoom party. There is no pressure to dress up,
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PORTRAIT SYDELLE WILLOW SMITH
PLEASURE just for the sake of PLEASURE, that’s what LOCKDOWN has given me. drink, think or even entertain one another. I dance until my body is ready for sleep. My body! This squishy sack of bones is so beautiful, and it is another source of pleasure (yes, that kind). This is the longest I’ve gone without a bra or trousers. Pleasure just for the sake of pleasure, that’s what lockdown has given me. I sing and play my crappy keyboard for fun, and when it’s over, I sit in silence and allow myself to nap. I have abandoned stressful video calls with my father’s forehead; we have switched back to our long calls about everything and nothing. For joy, nje. It would be disingenuous to overlook my privilege. I have a roof over my head and money for food. Loneliness is not a problem, and there is enough silence in my home for me to push through it and indulge my curiosity. Lockdown hasn’t given me huge life lessons yet, but I’m allowing pointless pleasure to heal me from scheduled living. MOHALE is an award-winning bestselling author, whose debut novel won the UJ 2016 Debut Prize for South African Writing in English. Her latest offering is Intruders, a collection of short stories (published by Picador Africa).
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WIN a Limited-edition Lounger! One lucky reader will win a WAZ Outdoor lounger that celebrates the collaboration between Pongrácz and South African designer Sir Abner, worth R20 000.
outh African Cap Classique producer Pongrácz recently collaborated with local designer Seboni Abner Makgamatha (aka Sir Abner) on three prints unique to the brand – including the winning Bold Print of the Year 2020. The winning design, entitled Populist, is inspired by both the bold spirit of Desiderius Pongrácz, who was instrumental in introducing Champagne varietals to the Cape Winelands, and mail art – an artistic movement that sends small-scale works via post. Sir Abner designed
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a code to be used throughout the black-and-white design: EOIC 3ULD, which translates to BOLD when folded upwards. Outdoor furniture brand WAZ Outdoor decided to apply Sir Abner’s Populist design to a limited-edition version of its European lounger – a luxurious accessory that can be used in the pool or on the patio. Measuring 120cm x 100cm x 70cm, the lounger provides extra legroom for maximum comfort. Go to VISI.co.za/win to enter. This competition closes on 23 August 2020. wazoutdoor.com | pongracz.co.za
MORE AMAZING GIVEAWAYS IN THIS ISSUE… n An Obbligato indoor planter. R7 800 | page 10 n Two five-packs of masks by The Mill Fabrics. R500 each | page 108 n Three online courses from Skinny laMinx. R450 each | page 133 n A Melvill & Moon African Ranch Bag from the Guti range. R2 400 | page 137 VISI COMPETITION RULES
• These competitions close at midnight on 23 August 2020. • The winner will be the first correct entry drawn after the closing date. • If a selected winner cannot be reached at the contact details supplied, an alternative winner will be selected. • The prize will be delivered to the winner, unless otherwise specified. • The winner will be required to provide their ID number as per the new Consumer Protection Act guidelines. • The winner is required to accept the prize as described in the magazine.
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WIN! Go to VISI.co.za/win to enter these competitions. Entries close on 23 August 2020.
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| Villa Ouidane
WO R D S & PRODUCTION
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A FEW KILOMETRES FROM MARRAKECH, THIS COUNTRYSIDE HOUSE OFFERS A WELCOMING AND UNIQUE TAKE ON THE TRADITIONAL MOROCCAN RIAD.
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In the lounge, two armchairs by Pierre Paulin combine with a colourful carpet from Soufiane Zarib in Marrakech and craft wooden stools. Corinne Bensimon Maison sofas are complemented by bright cushions and navy linen curtains. The painting is from a flea market in Casablanca.
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| Villa Ouidane this two-hectare estate offers a welcome respite from the tumult of the “Red City” – a nickname Marrakech has earned thanks to its red sandstone buildings and city walls. Villa Ouidane is a short drive east from Morocco’s fourth-largest city, and offers views of the Atlas Mountains in the distance. Through a field of olive trees, you get the first view of this rather unique interpretation of a riad – a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden or courtyard – and a glimpse of its distinctive design. Rather than the colourful, geometrically patterned tiles, ornate metalwork and arches that are the usual hallmarks of a riad, this four-bedroom home mixes in more Modernist inspiration in both architecture and decor. Designed by Belgian architect Quentin Wilbaux, the building’s geometry is based on a division into four symmetrical parts, clustered around a large central courtyard that’s pleasantly shaded by pepper trees. “I have stayed in many riads in the Marrakech medina (historical district),” says Gabriel, the owner of this haven. “For mine, I wanted a home that’s open and spacious, with an easy flowthrough to the outdoors, far from noise and crowds.” The result is an entirely dual-aspect house, with the large lounge-dining room and the bedrooms on the ground floor all having direct access to the courtyard and the garden. Approaching past a slender swimming pool, you encounter an outdoor lounge that has been kitted out with benches and coffee tables found at Bab El Khemis, a flea market in Marrakech. Step inside through the large bespoke French window designed by the architect, and you’ll find yourself in a colour-blocked interior lounge that combines both local and French furniture and fabrics. Bathed in light thanks to another huge window, the more muted dining area features a custom steel-clad fireplace for colder winter evenings. In summer, though, a geometrically tiled patio topped by a wood-beam ceiling made by local craftsmen is another outdoor space to enjoy an evening meal. With the guest bedrooms all on the ground floor, the master is on the level above, and features an en-suite bathroom that pays homage to the great Dutch painter and theoretician Piet Mondrian. A great lover of his work, Gabriel commissioned ceramist Charlotte Barkowski to design a bathroom directly inspired by the artist’s iconic “Compositions” series. Also upstairs is a reading lounge; both it and the master bedroom connect to a huge terrace that overlooks an olive grove and the swimming pool lined with palm trees, pepper trees and cacti. By calling on local maâlems – master masons who still use time-honoured construction methods – Quentin has created a wonderful holiday getaway that combines traditional aspects of Moroccan design OPPOSITE Bathed in light from the French with a multi-hued Modernist aesthetic. “With my window, the dining area features a carpet from Anitan in Marrakech, and a vintage friend, decorator Corinne Bensimon, we chose table and chairs by Charlotte Perriand, several bright colours that tint the walls of each room, which were sourced in Belgium. The bone and mingle with the furniture and the light fixtures mirror was made to measure, and the from the 1950s and ’60s to create a singular soul,” fireplace was custom-designed and says the architect. “For me, it is like no other riad.” clad in steel. Jean Prouvé’s classic Potence lamp completes the space. Villa Ouidane can be rented at villanovo.fr.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The cement-tiled outdoor dining room features a custom wooden table with steel feet; a Mathieu MathĂŠgot table and chairs from Bab El Khemis provide respite near the pool, with vintage armchairs from a St Ouen market in the background; the benches, coffee tables and wooden sculpture in the outdoor lounge are from Bab El Khemis, while the terracotta pig is from a merchant on the road to Ourika; the pool provides an escape from the heat. OPPOSITE The patio furniture is by Eero Saarinen for Knoll.
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THIS PAGE A corner office next to the lounge features wooden shelves sourced at souks. Mathieu MathÊgot’s perforated metal table is complemented by a chair from Bab El Khemis. The Glo-Ball pendant lights are by Jasper Morrison for Flos. OPPOSITE Throughout the home, tall French windows add to the airy atmosphere, while custom shutters mute the harshness of the sun during the day.
BRIGHT COLOURS TINT THE WALLS OF EACH ROOM, AND MINGLE WITH THE FURNITURE AND THE LIGHT FIXTURES FROM THE 1950s AND ’60s.
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UPSTAIRS, A READING LOUNGE AND MASTER BEDROOM CONNECT TO A HUGE TERRACE THAT OVERLOOKS THE GARDEN AND POOL.
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| Villa Ouidane
THIS PAGE On the ground floor, guest rooms are finished in cheerful colours. OPPOSITE In the reading lounge, vintage perforatedmetal DĂŠdal shelves by Mathieu MathĂŠgot provide contrast against the yellow wall. The ceramic candleholders and carpet were sourced at Soufiane Zarib in Marrakech, and the blue ceramic stool was found at a merchant on the road to Essaouira.
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THIS PAGE Gabriel commissioned ceramist Charlotte Barkowski to design his bathroom according to the works of Piet Mondrian. The bathtub and floors are tadelakt. One of the guest rooms features Corinne Bensimon Maison cushions, a wooden bedside table from a souk in Marrakech and an abstract work by Alexandra Guido. OPPOSITE The bejmat floor of the master bedroom is covered by Corinne Bensimon Maison cowhide rugs. The rattan armchairs and wooden coffee table are from Bab El Khemis. Parentesi pendants by Achille Castiglioni for Flos and Serge Mouille Flamme wall lamps provide lighting at night. A dressing room is hidden behind the headboard.
THE EN-SUITE BATHROOM PAYS HOMAGE TO THE GREAT DUTCH PAINTER AND THEORETICIAN PIET MONDRIAN.
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| Cape Town Home
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BY COMBINING RESPECT FOR THE CHARMS OF A HERITAGE BUILDING WITH A CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURAL APPROACH, AN AWARD -WINNING RENOVATION BROUGHT THIS HOME BEAUTIFULLY UP TO DATE.
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Liani and Jan Douglas in the main living area. The steel twist of the staircase is powder-coated in black, drawing the eye upwards. The black Armchair 26 by Alvar Aalto is from Artek, and the beechwood HAY J110 chair is from Créma. The coffee table – The Stonekeeper-MMXVI – was created by Douglas & Company for Southern Guild.
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| Cape Town Home
Architecture is the thoughtful making of space,” declared the legendary American architect Louis Kahn. In other words, it’s not always so much the “look” of the exterior of a building that is important, but how it organises space: the manner in which a house separates domestic life from the rest of the world, for example. Perhaps even more vital are the ways in which the area inside the walls of that house is used by its occupants; in short, it’s all about how it makes them feel. A case in point is this recently renovated home in a densely developed part of Green Point in Cape Town. The original building – a semi-detached cottage dating back to the late 1800s – had some heritage features and the sort of charm that attracts many buyers. The new owners of this particular cottage, however, had highly original ideas about how to better organise its space. Liani and Jan Douglas are both architects, and in the last eight years Douglas & Company, their architecture and design studio, has produced bespoke furniture and collectible design pieces as well as working on a number of architectural projects. (Jan is also a director at Cape Town firm KLG Architects.) Their work blends a rigorous design sensibility with touches of unique wit – and, always, careful attention to detail in terms of the materials with which they work. When it came to renovating their own home, these combined strengths produced awardwinning results. Arklow Villa III, as their house is named (it’s on the end of a row of three cottages built in 1895), was the recipient of a Cape Institute for Architecture award in 2019. Douglas & Company’s work on the building, said the judging panel, transformed “an insular single-storey Victorian-style row house into a new delight”. Invoking the idea of “delight” is a good way of describing how the rethought spaces inside this modest building feel. Liani and Jan’s carefully considered interventions began with lifting the angle of the back part of the original roof, creating a first floor that has dormer windows facing the street in the front, and a glazed rear elevation that allows natural light to filter through the entire house. Further design decisions flowed from this key alteration, and the house now includes a spacious main bedroom on the first floor, with a bathroom and a private lounge/library space adjacent to this. On the ground floor is another petite bathroom, plus a further two rooms that can be used as bedrooms. One is currently a work-from-home studio and the other is set up to accommodate occasional overnight guests. The latter leads out onto an enclosed rear courtyard, onto which the kitchen also opens. The ground-floor kitchen-dining-living area is open-plan. As a result of the exposed wooden roof trusses, plus the consistent use of South African pine to create new solid-wood floors and ceilings throughout the space, it feels far more expansive than it actually is. Light pours in from the south-facing glazed façade on the first floor, and the wood scents the air with its distinctive fragrance, adding a further dimension of sensuous ease. As a demonstration of a sophisticated architectural sensibility – a particular take on the making and organising of space – this house is exemplary. But it’s also more than that because of the way it feels: light, bright and inspiring. This is a home to fuel creativity as much as it is a place to sleep, eat and relax; it’s an abode in which fresh new ideas will be generated in tandem with the comfort and delight in which its designerowners will be able to live here. douglasandco.co.za
THIS IS A HOME TO FUEL CREATIVITY AS MUCH AS IT IS A PLACE TO SLEEP, EAT AND RELAX.
OPPOSITE Old ceiling beams were reused to build the screen that encloses the staircase to the first floor. The wooden entrance doors were also a feature of the existing house, and were moved to the front from their original position at the rear of the building. The dog cushion on the Alvar Aalto chair is by Aaron Stewart, part of his contribution to the “Design a Pet” project for Hornet Toys. The terracotta vase on the coffee table is from Country Road.
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| Cape Town Home
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Liani and Jan at the front of their renovated house; a monkey bowl, a Tivoli radio and a terracotta planter adorn the E.1027 Credenza server by Douglas & Company, while the artwork above is by South African artist Anton Kannemeyer; the compact kitchen features a central island topped with a slab of Verde Guatemala marble, integrated cupboards and appliances, and taps by Still Bathrooms; an enclosed courtyard off the kitchen is painted in Plascon’s “Orange You Glad”. OPPOSITE The wood-and-steel dining table with a Formica top is a Douglas & Company design. The small artwork on the left is by South African artist Michael Taylor.
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| Cape Town Home
The chairs in the dining area are a mix of vintage pieces (including an Eames Eiffel chair and an Arne Jacobsen Series 7 chair) as well as a prototype piece made from slatted plywood, and a steel Quaker bench by South African designer and furniture maker Gregor Jenkin. In the corner is one of Douglas & Company’s best-known pieces, McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon; the hanging Diskus light fitting was also created by Douglas & Company.
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| Cape Town Home
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Liani and Jan’s Welsh terrier, Frank; the upstairs bathroom includes a built-in vanity counter and storage unit by Douglas & Company, a basin by Cotto and taps from Isca; another signature Douglas & Company furniture design – the Professor Seagull bench/coat stand – is tucked neatly under the eaves; the slatted plywood bench, covered by a Woodheads sheepskin and a Renée Rossouw cushion, is a prototype Jan created for a collaboration range with MRP Home. OPPOSITE The minimalist main bedroom has a fully glazed rear façade with glass sliders. The suspended track lighting is from Spazio, and the table lamps are from MRP Home.
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LIGHT POURS IN FROM THE SOUTH-FACING GLAZED FAÇADE ON THE FIRST FLOOR, AND THE WOOD SCENTS THE AIR WITH ITS DISTINCTIVE FRAGRANCE.
| Berea Home
PHOTOS
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The home’s architect Hans Hallen saw architecture as art. He believed that, for buildings to have universal and timeless validity, their design should be informed by site, social context and appropriate construction methods. It was exactly the ubiquity of these values that ensured mid-century modernism’s place in the architectural lexicon.
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| Berea Home hen architect Lisa Rorich and her partner, Garth Robinson, bought their iconic home on Durban’s Berea four years ago, it was the realisation of a long-held dream. “I’d put the word out that we were looking for a mid-century modern home,” says Lisa, who felt they had outgrown the Victorian semi-detached they’d lived in for years. Now, standing in the spectacular courtyard of her Hans Hallen-designed home, she recalls the old adage, “be careful what you wish for”. “It’s powerful stuff, as not long afterwards I got a call from interior architect Mario Rodrigues, who had heard this house was on the market.” By a stroke of serendipity, Lisa realised that she not only knew the owners but had been into the house – and had loved it. “It was the childhood home of architect Janina Masojada, in whose architectural practice I’d worked, and at whose invitation I had attended a party at the house a few years ago,” she says. “I remember walking into the courtyard and being totally blown away. The entire house is cantilevered off a slab and a staircase – a feat of engineering no less impressive now that I am its owner.” The house was commissioned in 1960 by original owner Shirley Masojada, a Mauritian remedial educationalist. Her husband Milek was the structural engineer on the project, and their good friend Hans Hallen, the architect. “They were all mates and hung out together, so it was really more of a collaboration between engineer and architect than any formal arrangement,” recalls Janina, Shirley and Milek’s daughter – herself a successful architect, whose practice won the design and build of South Africa’s Constitutional Court. “But my mother was most definitely the client!” Fast-forward to 2016, and Lisa and Garth bought what was very much a well-loved, lived-in family home. Situated high up on the Berea on a 1 000m2 narrow plot, the house is laid out over two floors in a T-shape, with the living areas running lengthways down the plot, while the upstairs bedrooms form the stem of the T. This section is supported at the protruding end by a reinforced concrete wall, embellished with a contemporary relief-moulded sculpture that Lisa likes to call “the fossil”. The house was built in two stages, with the living areas and tiny kitchen on the lower level, while the three bedrooms on the upper level were cantilevered off a slab-like support of relief finish to provide a veranda and link to the staircase. “The first phase was built at the time of Durban’s Ocean Terminal, a project on which my father was the chief designer,” explains Janina. “And so the house was very much a laboratory for the structural systems and integrated artworks that he was working on then, and much inspired by the Ocean Terminal. Of course, he and Hans were also influenced by trips they took to international expos during that emerging modernist period.” A second phase of the house became necessary in the late ’60s as the Masojada family grew – they had five children – and an L-shaped wing was added to the courtyard at the back. “There is something in this modernist design that, combined with the authenticity of the materials used and the extreme level of detail found here, surpasses anything I’ve encountered to date,” says Lisa, who runs her own architectural practice. But for her, the most extraordinary feature of the house is the constant play of light throughout the day. “There are several textures of glass in the windows that look out to the courtyard, and there is an exact rhythm to the way the light falls here during the course of the day,” she says. “It is the best quality of this house – and what I find is most lacking in architecture today.” It’s clear she feels a responsibility to honour the original principles of the design while modernising the home to suit her and Garth’s needs. lisaroricharchitects.co.za
OPPOSITE Owner Lisa Rorich stands in front of the original circular built-in seat that looks out onto the courtyard. The two vintage mid-century modern chairs were her partner Garth’s grandfather’s. The central marble table is from Cécile & Boyd, the circular sea grass mat was a gift, and the wicker mirror in the shape of an eye was bought on a trip to Morocco.
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THE HOUSE WAS COMMISSIONED IN 1960 BY SHIRLEY MASOJADA. HER HUSBAND MILEK WAS THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, AND THEIR GOOD FRIEND HANS HALLEN, THE ARCHITECT.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The custom-made sofa sits on an Otto Hoffmann wool rug that gives warmth to the terrazzo slabs underfoot; a black metal card table, designed by Lisa, is flanked by leather and metal chairs from Cécile & Boyd. The LRNCE wall rug is a Moroccan find; the home’s living room is a light-filled pod that engages with the lush garden beyond; the cane “S” chair was sourced at the Singita Boutique, while the terracotta side table is from Tusker Trading. OPPOSITE A wall of river stones, dominated by a Richard Hart artwork, grounds the all-glass space of the living room. The“knotted” pouffe is from Tusker Trading, and the white Atollo table lamp is by Oluce.
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| Berea Home
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ABOVE AND OPPOSITE According to Lisa, the area that has changed the most is the garden. “It’s Garth’s domain. He spends so much time in it, he’s earned himself the nickname ‘The Constant Gardener’.” Combined with Durban’s humid, subtropical climate, this ensures a lush garden all year round – the perfect environment for Garth’s collection of orchids, staghorn ferns and much-loved Traveller’s Palms. BELOW Central to the courtyard is a reinforced concrete wall embellished with a contemporary relief-moulded sculpture that Lisa likes to call “the fossil”. The table – another of Lisa’s custom designs – is crafted from Verde Guatemala marble.
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THERE IS AN EXACT RHYTHM TO THE WAY THE LIGHT FALLS HERE DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The lower level links the courtyard to the living, dining and kitchen areas; the kitchen remains largely unchanged, although Lisa has given it a contemporary edge by painting most of the walls white, and keeping the space clean and simple. The red accent wall behind the oven is part of the original design; the detail of pulled-out wall bricks is common to the period during which the house was built. OPPOSITE The leafy courtyard acts as a lung for the home.
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THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE “Six decades of wear and tear called for a revamp of some of the interior spaces, like the bathrooms,� says Lisa. The decision to turn one of the rooms upstairs into a shared bathroom for the two front bedrooms is good news for house guests. Wall-to-wall carpets on the upper level were replaced with slabs of white terrazzo to match the black terrazzo floors downstairs. And bar a few accent walls where colour has been employed to great effect, Lisa painted the rest of the house pure white, inside and out.
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| Berea Home
THE HOUSE IS LAID OUT OVER TWO FLOORS IN A T-SHAPE, WITH THE LIVING AREAS RUNNING LENGTHWAYS DOWN THE PLOT, WHILE THE UPSTAIRS BEDROOMS FORM THE STEM OF THE T.
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P H O T O S K A R L RO G E R S / V I G N E T T E
W O R D S & P R O D U C T I O N N ATA L I E B O RU V K A
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| Cape Town Villa
A HERITAGE VILLA HAS BEEN BOTH RESPECTFULLY RESTORED AND MODIFIED TO RETAIN THE HOME’S PERIOD CHARACTER AND GIVE IT A SOPHISTICATED CONTEMPORARY FEEL.
A Modo chandelier from Roll & Hill establishes a contemporary juxtaposition with heirloom candle wall sconces that were originally fixtures of an antique Rococo chandelier.
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| Cape Town Villa
“OUR AIM WAS TO REDEEM THE ORIGINAL DETAILS AND CREATE CONTRAST WITH CONTEMPORARY ELEGANCE.” – ALEXANDER YAZDI, OWNER
bove the front door to Stefan Rupperti and Alexander Yazdi’s Victorian villa in Cape Town is an inconspicuous brass plaque that reads, “At this site in 1860 nothing happened.” This declaration is as comforting as it is intriguing. In the 160 years that have passed, much has happened. For one thing, the surrounds have wholly transformed. Once farmland bordering the edge of town, today this area is the vibrant suburb of Gardens, and the house is set amid properties that neighbour Orange Street. A busy artery that lies under the shadow of Table Mountain, the road courses into the City Bowl, bustling with trendy bars and eateries. “Because our stays were getting longer, we wanted a second home in an environment that would make us feel integrated rather than transient,” says Stefan, speaking of the sojourns they had been making to Cape Town from Berlin for the past 10 years. When they bought the house in 2018 it had seen significant changes, but its core features retained integrity. Key to the property’s authenticity is the façade, featuring a stoep that escaped any enclosures over the years. “Coming from a city that was virtually demolished during World War II, the idea of living in a historic home filled with the richness of the past was alluring,” Alexander explains. “Our aim was to redeem the original details and create contrast with contemporary elegance.” The undertaking involved removing existing features that had not met with approval from the National Heritage Council – a roof terrace, and a spa and yoga studio that had been created by demarcating areas of the interior with drywalling. The commercial spaces were reconfigured as a self-contained apartment and, for the windowless main bedroom, an inspired solution was created – a narrow perimeter garden that functions as an atrium, drawing plentiful sunlight into the bedroom and adjacent dining space via metal frame windows. Practical as well as decorative, the openings offer a subtle, contemporary reference to the house’s Victorian cottage pane windows. The main bedroom is a glamorous yet composed affair: echoing the curve of the dropped bulkhead, a low built-in wall clad in wood veneer ensconces the headboard. Recessed curtain tracks allow the bed to be shrouded by sheer white drapes, creating what Alexander describes as “a sense of floating in a silk cocoon”. With the design of new fittings, Stefan and Alexander’s choices were driven by an intention to elevate the house’s period character. Rather than beg for attention, elements work together to create a look of understated sophistication. In the kitchen – against a backdrop of herringbone-laid hardwood floors, cornices and wall panelling – seamless cabinetry offsets an engineered-stone island to create a slick, minimal ensemble with which the grand sash window melds effortlessly. “We enjoy the ambiguity of the space. It would hold its own just as confidently in the reception of an ad agency or an upmarket boutique,” says Stefan. Furniture is a handsome showcase of mostly local design, punctuated by a handful of iconic pieces. A Doctor Sonderbar chair by Philippe Starck lends a corner an arresting sculptural quality, as does a quartet of Panton chairs in the conservatory-like dining room. On the veranda, Malawi cane chairs and Bamileke and Senufo stools are favoured. “We spend the better part of most days out here, in view of the magnificent 80-year-old frangipani tree,” says Alexander with a smile. “It produces the most beautiful carpet of sweet-scented flowers… pure luxury.” Villa/apartment rental: sasa@curatos.com
THIS PAGE In the living area, an Eero Aarnio Pastil chair, a Zanotta Servomuto 360 side table, and a painted Bamileke stool from Weylandts make for a surprising and engaging mix. OPPOSITE Owners Stefan Rupperti and Alexander Yazdi.
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In keeping with the period character of the house, decorative mouldings bring interest to the expansive walls and ceilings while complementing the sleek kitchen. A Branching Bubble chandelier by Lindsey Adelman offsets the orderly aesthetic with an organic, sculptural quality.
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| Cape Town Villa
“WE ENJOY THE AMBIGUITY OF THIS SPACE. IT WOULD HOLD IT S OWN JUST AS CONFIDENTLY IN THE RECEPTION OF AN AD AGENCY OR AN UPMARKET BOUTIQUE.” – STEFAN RUPPERTI, OWNER
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| Cape Town Villa
FROM TOP Imposing cottage pane doors between the dining and open-plan living area accentuate the lofty ceilings; the façade features a veranda added in 1900 and original ornaments, including ashlar pointing, plaster banding and bracketed eaves below the hipped roof. OPPOSITE A Gothic-font Volksbühne poster lends a vibrant, quirky counterpoint to the dining room – a conservatory-inspired space with an “afdak” roof.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The spacious open-plan apartment is accessed via a private courtyard; the proportions of one of the guest bedrooms are amplified by a custom-made canopy bed; in the apartment, a sliding door constructed from wooden slats functions as a partition between the bedroom and living area; wallpaper inspired by an Old Masters landscape forms a backdrop for a Distrikt bed by La Grange Interiors. OPPOSITE An exotic themed wallpaper by Robin Sprong animates a wall in one of the guest bedrooms.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The apartment’s bathroom is clad in porcelain stoneware tiles from Mirage; the dramatic black-and-white scheme is taken through all the spaces; a window designed with a mirror panel draws light from the main bedroom into the bathroom; glass panels and reflective surfaces create depth. OPPOSITE The dominant linearity in the house gives way to gentle curves in the main bedroom, where drapes swathe the sleeping area in intimacy.
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| Cape Town Villa A NARROW PERIMETER GARDEN FUNCTIONS AS AN ATRIUM, DRAWING PLENTIFUL SUNLIGHT INTO THE BEDROOM.
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THE OWNERS OF FIFTY SEVEN WATERBERG IN THE HEART OF THE WATERBERG BIOSPHERE HAD A SPECIFIC VISION IN MIND FOR THE EXPANSION OF THEIR PRIVATE GAME LODGE.
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| Waterberg Lodge
P H OTO S D O O K
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Sleek horizontal planes blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, offering visitors a discreet, up-close-and-personal haven in the heart of the bushveld.
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NCE YOU’VE HAD THE ELEPHANTS COME OVER TO SIP FROM YOUR private splash pool, going out on safari will never be quite the same. “We wanted to give our visitors something they hadn’t experienced before,” says Quintin Wiehahn of the property he co-owns in the greater Welgevonden Game Reserve. “We wanted to bring untamed Africa to them; to let them become a part of nature rather than being spectators from a distance.” Having worked with several award-winning architects in the past, the Wiehahns knew that Johan Wentzel and Greté van As of W Design Architecture Studio would be the right team to realise their vision. “Greté and Johan’s signature ‘Love living in Africa’ style was the perfect match for the immersive experience we had in mind,” says Quintin. Following this concept through to the design of the guest suites, the architectural style breaks away from traditional stoneand-thatch game lodge architecture with sleek structures of steel, glass and concrete that blend into the indigenous landscape. “When surrounded by so much natural beauty, the design is not about the building, but about what you can see from inside the building,” says Johan. “We wanted visitors to make a personal and emotional connection with nature, with the building being simply a ‘sheltered viewing platform’ from which to experience the ever-changing elements and the surrounding wildlife.” The sensory immersion starts the minute you leave the main lodge, with a guided nature walk to your suite along a meandering concrete path that floats lightly over indigenous shrubbery. It leads towards an unassuming stone structure in the distance, a refined version of the rock-strewn outcroppings scattered along the way. “We spent days scouting the most scenic routes to find the perfect spot for each suite,” Johan recalls. As you enter the suite, the seemingly solid mass turns into a lightweight floating structure of steel, glass and wood, allowing nature to take centre stage and fill the space from floor to ceiling, with breathtaking views all around. “Apart from the remoteness of the location, our biggest challenge was the short construction period we had to deliver by,” Johan says. Inspired by the layered composition of the Waterberg Mountains in the distance, the architects designed the suites to be constructed in a similar layered fashion. “This way, the bulk of the manufacturing could happen off-site to enable speedy assembly on site to save us time.” Simplifying the process even further, materials were left in their natural, “unfinished” state. “We wanted to celebrate the variety of textures, and the subtle monochrome hues created by their raw tones,” says Greté. Renowned for their attention to detail, trademark precision planning and a very hands-on approach, the architects steered the entire project team unerringly towards their common goal. “Even when an elephant herd blocked the access road for half a day, our incredible contractors took things in their stride,” Johan says, recalling fondly the experience of working with the father-and-son team at Frans Smith Building Services. W Design Architecture Studio has been invited to submit the project for the International Property Awards 2019-2020, which will be held later this year.
“WHEN SURROUNDED BY SO MUCH NATURAL BEAUTY, THE DESIGN IS NOT ABOUT THE BUILDING, BUT ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM INSIDE THE BUILDING.” - JOHAN WENTZEL, ARCHITECT
wdas.co.za | 57waterberg.com
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| Waterberg Lodge
ABOVE With meticulous attention given to the overall master plan, the position for each new guest suite was carefully selected for its unique natural beauty. BELOW Recast in perfect built form, the natural stone structure echoes the scattered boulders that surround it. OPPOSITE Architects GretĂŠ van As and Johan Wentzel of W Design Architecture Studio.
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The bespoke bed unit, designed by W Design and manufactured by HanrĂŠ Truter of Next Level Concepts, can be disassembled and reassembled on site to allow for alternate interior configurations. The fireplace was custom-made by Formquip.
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| Waterberg Lodge
THE SEEMINGLY SOLID MASS TURNS INTO A LIGHTWEIGHT FLOATING STRUCTURE OF STEEL, GLASS AND WOOD, ALLOWING NATURE TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE.
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| Waterberg Lodge
ABOVE A laid-back sofa from Klooftique and sumptuous Lemba rug from Voke Rugs create a cosy spot from which to watch the sunset, snuggled beside the fireplace. BELOW Natural wood and stone interior finishes take their cue from the exterior palette, melting away the boundaries between inside and outside. OPPOSITE The striking black concrete-and-steel vanity units by Lumar Fourie of The Concrete Corporation were assembled in a “plug-and-play� fashion on site.
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The installation of splash pools was a stroke of genius – and the new amenities are clearly enjoyed by the locals as much as by the guests.
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| Waterberg Lodge
“WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE THE VARIETY OF TEXTURES, AND THE SUBTLE MONOCHROME HUES CREATED BY THE RAW TONES OF THE MATERIALS.” – GRETÉ VAN AS, ARCHITECT
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| Scarborough Retreat
L UA N N E T O M S / F R A N K F E A T U R E S
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COMFORT AND THE COMMUNITY OF FAMILY WERE CENTRAL TO THE RENOVATION OF CELEBREATED DESIGN DUO GEORDI DE SOUSA COSTA AND BOYD FERGUSON’S MULTI-GENERATIONAL WEEKEND HOME.
PHOTOS G R E G C OX / F R A N K F E AT U R E S
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A view from the upstairs veranda into the living area, where the hand-hewn floorboards were sourced from Oggie. The cane chairs, grass stools and coffee table are from CĂŠcile & Boyd, while the painting on the wall is by Mary Visser.
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covered verandas (which are all fully furnished, as though they were interiors) that he created off the upstairs living area, the lower-level bedrooms and the kitchen. “It was important to create spaces that offered further privacy for those in search of a retreat and quiet time,” he says. Boyd’s brother-in-law Anton, who is a stonemasonry specialist, project-managed the building work. Anton’s innate sense of style, combined with his technical and practical knowledge, would prove a critical asset as My vision was to create a place of happiness, love and wellbeing for our the family strived to respect and reuse what extended family,” says co-owner Boyd Ferguson, founder of Cécile & Boyd, was there rather than replace the old with the design studio that single-handedly revolutionised the safari-lodge aesthetic the new. 25 years ago. Located in Scarborough, a seaside hamlet near Cape Point, his For the interiors, Boyd sought inspiration creation is a multi-generational retreat for himself, his sister Geordi De Sousa from the surrounding landscape as well as Costa, and their families. Named Abraça – the Portuguese word for an embrace the home’s existing farmhouse-meets-beach or hug – it’s a weekend home where equal consideration has been given to cottage architectural style. He also ensured everyone, from tweens, teens and singletons to family groups and oldies. that each and every family member – ranging The family bought the property in 2018 for its generous double plot and in age from 8 to 80 – was considered in the inherent potential. Despite its awkward flow, an inelegant subterranean interior vision. “I added pigmented colour and lower level with little light, and an enormous main en-suite – the only contemporary art for the young ones, edgy cane room with sweeping views of the wetlands, reserve and beach – Boyd furniture and lighting for Geordi (who wanted saw enormous potential. modernity), and soulful Indian country antiques for His major consideration in reconfiguring the spaces was Mom and Dad,” he says. “My aesthetic came in the form to open the house to the garden while accommodating of the stripped, pared-down colour palette with monastic the family’s three generations and catering for the stone floors, whitewashed walls and exposed beams.” various activities they prefer. This called for plenty Boyd’s partner Athol McLaggan, a landscaper and head gardener of reading and fireside spaces, work desks, and at Stellenberg Gardens in Kenilworth, was responsible for a garden that garden and outdoor spaces for relaxation thoroughly connects to the living spaces, mirroring the L-shaped home in a and entertaining. With this in mind, Boyd series of outdoor rooms. Unlike most properties in Scarborough, the garden is set out to create two distinct areas in completely walled, so Athol’s inclination the home. Laid out over three floors towards an inward-looking space that that stagger over one another, the allowed for a green sanctuary was inspired. house has been split up into three “For me, one of the most beautiful views of private zones: the bottom level the house is from the pedestrian gate, looking for Geordi, her husband Anton across the garden towards the courtyard,” says and their three children; Boyd’s Athol. “From this angle, the two wings of wing on the upper loft level the house are seen on the diagonal, and with the living area providing a look like two outstretched arms ready to buffer of privacy between them; embrace you.” and their parents’ wing, which Abraça is available for rental through runs parallel to the downstairs Perfect Hideaways. kitchen and entertaining areas. Making sure that every room had access to the outdoors was a critical factor in this plan. To this end, Boyd made sure that all the back bedrooms had decks leading off them, in addition to three generous cecileandboyds.com | elemstonemasonry.com | perfecthideaways.co.za
“IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CREATE SPACES THAT OFFERED FURTHER PRIVACY FOR THOSE IN SEARCH OF A RETREAT.” – BOYD FERGUSON
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An ancient Buddha sculpture that Boyd bought in India sits atop a custom-made plinth. The metal candle wall sconces were also sourced in India. The sandstone slabs underfoot are from Mazista.
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| Scarborough Retreat
Boyd cleverly divided the generous living space into two distinct areas by placing two identical CĂŠcile & Boyd sofas (upholstered in Romo fabric) back to back. The internal shutters were custom-made by Anton De Sousa Costa. The painting above the fireplace is by Nicolaas Maritz, the cane armchair is from CĂŠcile & Boyd, and the sculptures of the sacred Nandi cow and her calf were sourced in India by Boyd. The light fitting is from Eight Degrees South.
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THIS PAGE The kitchen is very much the heart of the home. “We wanted a simple, utilitarian space where everything could be found at a glance,” says Boyd. All counters are built in, with sandblasted wooden shelves and customised steel brackets; the floors are screeded concrete. A cane chair next to the fireplace (above right) is a cosy corner in which to sit. OPPOSITE An antique wooden island with brass handles, sourced in India, features shelves filled with copper bowls and wooden servers. All lampshades are from Cécile & Boyd, as are the dining chairs. The dining table is an Indian country antique. The painting on the stone fireplace (built by Anton) is by Nicolaas Maritz.
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| Scarborough Retreat
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The entrance hall, which connects the kitchen, dining and outdoor areas with the bedrooms and lounge, is dominated by an antique Indian country chest and a Leanne Boulter painting on the far wall; the lounge opens to the outside veranda, where Cécile & Boyd S-chairs take pride of place; the home’s wetland setting inspired the colours and textures that were used on the exterior. “We wanted the house to disappear into nature,” explains Boyd.
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE A cosy, colourful bedroom on the lower level features jute flooring by Rowley & Hughes, cane headboards by Cécile & Boyd and cushions by Coral Stephens in Swaziland; in the guest bedroom, the feature wall forms the backdrop for a four-poster Cécile & Boyd bed and a Tom Cullberg painting. The lampshade is from Eight Degrees South, the flooring is heavy boucle jute from Rowley & Hughes and the grass mat is by Madwa; the Naga tribe coffee table on the upstairs veranda is overlooked by a Cécile & Boyd tub chair.
THIS PAGE Wooden accents in the bathroom include a Japanese hand basin, and a cupboard and chairs that Boyd sourced in India. The painting above the bath is by Tracy Payne. OPPOSITE The raw pine floors in Boyd’s light-filled loft bedroom are complemented by woven Madwa mats and a light fixture from Eight Degrees South. The beanbag chair is from Cielo, and the wicker chair is from Weylandts. The Anglepoise lamps are from CÊcile & Boyd.
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| Scarborough Retreat IT’S A WEEKEND HOME WHERE EQUAL CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO EVERYONE, FROM TWEENS AND SINGLETONS TO FAMILY GROUPS AND OLDIES.
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Haliocyano Fingiagigantea (Giant mushroom coral standing chandelier) by Stanislaw Trzebinski Bronze, granite, LED, silicone, graphite, polyester resin (Edition of 5) southernguild.co.za
PHOTO HAYDEN PHIPPS (COURTESY OF SOUTHERN GUILD)
GREAT DESIGN...
“…blends aesthetics, FUNCTIONALITY, creativity and ABSTRACT IDEAS to create objects that don’t just serve a purpose but that TELL A STORY.” – Stanislaw Trzebinski, sculptor and artist (see page 106)
DESIGN, ART, ARCHITECTURE, TECH, TEXTILES AND HOME-OFFICE KIT
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Organic Dynamic
Mirroring the organic shapes found in nature, these pieces bring a comforting element to any space – an ideal contrast to bold and angular contemporary designs.
FANTASIA MIRRO Y DOKTER AND MISSE R10 40
amed after the fanta land in the film T everending Story, th LILY PATINATED FOR SOUTHERN
These unique, h made using tra southernguild.co
UFO COFFEE TABLE BY DOKTER AND M R8 500
The way in which pierces through t gives this piece a yet sculptural fee dokterandmisses.c
LAB LIVE EDGE DINING ABLE BY EGG DESIGNS, 71 800
g g inspired by the form and presence of artist and fashion designer Rich Mnisi’s late great-grandmother.
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HOURGLASS GLASSES BY DOKTER AND MISSES, R195 EACH
Handmade by expert glassblowers at Ngwenya Glass in Eswatini using recycled glass, these covetable vessels are all reversible. dokterandmisses.com
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AMBASSADOR TABLE BY DOKTER AND MISSES, R28 000
A solid timber tabletop appears to levitate above two concrete forms. We recommended this piece as a statement boardroom table. dokterandmisses.com
PHOTOS SUPPLIED WORDS MICHAELA STEHR
ach Slab table created y Durban-based Egg esigns comes with a ne-of-a-kind African mahogany top and olid cast-brass legs.
KTER 500
cent witty that odle
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S (G HE “ GHT TRZ GU
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Stan ique light s patinated crystal ball, and LEDs.
SUNNYSIDE MIRROR BY DOKTER AND MIS
MCHAIR BY MURRMURR, ding fabric)
Forming part of th sculptural Bahla ch wood, and stained
This wall mirror co grid with an amorp dokterandmisses.co
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this chair was inspired by the full s fabric options are available – or ed or supplied. murrmurr.co.za
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Get in Touch
The Mill Fabrics’ latest collection, Hygge, is a sensory treat that combines luxurious comfort with tactile appeal.
WIN
A FIVE-PACK OF MASKS Page 34
plush new range from The Mill Fabrics, Hygge is a versatile upholstery collection with casual yet sophisticated elegance. It features a natural-cotton base weave contrasted with a tightly constructed chenille, and a textured slub yarn that further adds to its charm by creating a textured linen look down the length of the fabric. Whether you’re dressing up a slick Scandi piece or a deep-buttoned antique, you’ll love the versatility Hygge has to offer. The range is available in an array of 39 delicious colours that take their names from popular alcoholic beverages, so you can set your imagination free as you drink in Hygge’s irresistible shades. There’s everything from Martini and Prosecco to Double Jeopardy and Mimosa – and at just R491/m (excluding VAT), they’re budget-friendly too. themillfabrics.co.za/hygge
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PHOTOS SUPPLIED WORDS CELESTE JACOBS
HYGGE Pronounced “hoo-gah”, this Danish word describes an atmosphere of warmth, wellbeing and cosiness.
TERRA by Laurie Wiid van Heerden
B H AC A by Andile Dyalvane
TUBER by Haldane Martin
SOMA by Laurie Wiid van Heerden
HOME IS SANCTUARY Home has returned to the centre of our lives. We believe beauty and nature nourish the soul. www.indigenus.co.za
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The Return of Rattan
Rattan, cane, bamboo, wicker… We just can’t get enough of texture at home right now. Here is VISI’s selection of some of the loveliest pieces.
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1. Rattan diamond pendant light, R1 995 | weylandts.co.za 2. Lesotho suede pendant light, R1 795 | weylandts.co.za 3. Mappe dining chair, R2 995 | weylandts.co.za 4. Rattan bell pendant light, R1 995 | weylandts.co.za 5. Bamboo thermos flasks, R990 each | pezulainteriors.co.za 6. Curved rattan bedside table, R6 500 | meuble.store 7. Freestanding rattan cupboard, R32 500 | meuble.store
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PHOTOS SUPPLIED COMPILED BY ANNEMARIE MEINTJES
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Try to keep rattan, cane and wicker furniture out of direct sunlight. If they have to be in a sunny spot, rotate pieces regularly to ensure they are exposed to the sun equally on all sides.
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Clean these natural fibres every few weeks: wipe down with a damp (not soaking-wet!) cloth to gently remove dust, then air-dry.
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Tackle mould or mildew as soon as it appears, using a diluted bleach solution applied with a damp cloth.
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8. Carlo bar table in Natural (also available in Antique or Black), R5 490 | pezulainteriors.co.za 9. Malawi chair in Natural, R1 080 | amatuli.co.za 10. Caroline interior sofa in Natural, R13 990 | pezulainteriors.co.za 11. Rossini chairs in Natural, R3 400 each | pezulainteriors.co.za 12. Caroline interior armchair in Black, R5 990 (excluding cushion) | pezulainteriors.co.za 13. Supernova occasional chair, R19 999 (excluding cushion) | lagrangeinteriors.co.za 14. Curved rattan bed, R15 000 | meuble.store
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X+ O + Bloem
By combining their studios, two Bloemfontein architects are finding unity in their diversity.
ree State architecture is getting a shake-up with two of its independent architects joining forces. Bloemfontein-based Sergio Nunes and Paula Gutter last year established XO Architects, combining their offices to expand their practices and take on larger projects. “It’s more of a studio environment, increasing our resources, creativity and output,” says Paula, who won a 2019 South African Institute of Architects award for a home she designed on Bloem’s Naval Hill. Sergio won the same award in 2015 for his design of Bloemfontein’s popular art space and coffee shop Gallery on Leviseur. “Our design and personal philosophies are different but complementary,” says Sergio, who cites Critical Regionalism, Alvar Aalto and Álvaro Siza as inspirations. “There are influences in my work drawn from Modernism, but adapted to take into account each project’s unique characteristics. My goal is to design buildings that reflect and reinforce their sense of place while simultaneously being ‘place-making’ in and of themselves.”
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Paula views architecture as an emotional and physical connection to one’s surroundings. “For me, it’s a field where various tools can be used and experimented with to shape our environment, and to continually improve our way of living, working and socialising,” she says. Her various renovation projects, particularly on old Free State farmhouses, point to this interest in bettering lives through a responsive approach to the environment and an honest use of materials. She says the new studio name is indicative of their diversity: “Sergio and I are opposites in many ways – he’s English, I’m Afrikaans; he’s a man, I’m a woman – so the X and O are symbols and lines that refer to our differences, similarities and the industry we work in.” The duo are currently working on student housing, mixed-use developments and a comprehensive aesthetic revamp of a prominent shopping centre in Bloemfontein, as well as residential projects in George and Knysna. xoarchitects.co.za
PHOTOS INA OOSTHUIZEN AND REINIER BRÖNN WORDS TRACY LYNN CHEMALY
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“THE X AND O ARE SYMBOLS AND LINES THAT REFER TO OUR DIFFERENCES, SIMILARITIES AND THE INDUSTRY WE WORK IN.” 2
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2 1. Gallery on Leviseur, a combined art space/coffee shop by Sergio Nunes, was the winner of a South African Institute of Architects award in 2015. 2. The residential home on the edge of Naval Hill in Bloemfontein that won Paula Gutter a South African Institute of Architects Award last year.
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Foxy Number
A new block of apartments in Maboneng, Johannesburg combines thoughtful, occupant-centred design with a modern African aesthetic.
s this what modern African architecture should look like? It certainly is a modern African design in a modern African city – Johannesburg’s eastern CBD, on the peripheries of Maboneng – shaped according to the real needs of real people. The building is a block of flats called Corner Fox (it’s on the corner of Fox and Commissioner streets), and was designed by Gregory Katz Architecture. Gregory has taken a bunch of ordinary requirements and constraints, including a tight budget, and created something quite extraordinary. His design is full of ingenious little departures from the standard template for a high-density
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residential building, all of which make a big difference. And refreshingly, it looks like nothing else around it. The eye-catching façade is achieved with nothing more than painted stock bricks, and a sprinkling of facebricks turned at right angles to create that pixelated-looking pattern. The building takes up a full city block and follows a classic courtyard layout, with the flats on the outside forming a protective outer wall, and looking in over a central courtyard with parking, a lawn and a swimming pool. “We were working with the idea of a sanctuary,” says Gregory. It’s not cut off from its surroundings, though. The edges along the sidewalk are home to shops that face the street
PHOTOS MARC SHOUL WORDS GRAHAM WOOD
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“WE WERE WORKING WITH THE IDEA OF A SANCTUARY.”
to keep the pavements around the building active, busy and safe. The arrangement of the apartments and the corridors inside is also designed to be busy and active. “We wanted to recreate the micro-context of the street and foster a sense of community,” says Gregory. He has brought the common areas – such as corridors – to life with clever tweaks. For example, there are bulges and undulations along the corridor edges where people can stop and chat. “Typically, there are no breakout spaces
in the CBD, so people tend to leave their buildings, which are then largely deserted during the day,” he says. He has also built in multipurpose spaces with laundry basins, going so far as to hope that residents might use the balustrades to dry their washing. “It can be quite beautiful,” he says. Speaking of which, the pattern on the façade was inspired by shweshwe fabric. The fusion of patterns hints at a modern African aesthetic, opening up a sense of possibility for the future of inner-city life. gregorykatz.co.za
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Bulges and undulations along corridor edges encourage residents to interact; each storey has a unique floorplate and colour, creating a sense of identity; oxide floors and lustrous finishes add to the feeling of space, while polycarbonate screen walls bring in natural light. OPPOSITE Facebricks turned at right angles create a pattern inspired by shweshwe fabric.
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The Dark Side
Driven by the belief that light has the power to challenge and change a point of view, DARK is one of SA’s most innovative lighting specialists.
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reat lighting design has the ability not only to uplift an environment, but also to inspire all those who are present in it. Which is why local lighting company DARK has a mission guided by a single-minded assertion: give light the room to shine, and life is instantly made better. Innovative by nature as well as by name, DARK offers a wide range of lighting solutions, each with its own creative potential. Whether a room is large or small, the company is able to illuminate it with worldclass lighting created specifically to meet any project requirement, no matter the size or complexity. Able to collaborate on commercial, residential or retail projects with the aim of creating spaces filled with possibility, DARK’s dedicated team are masters of light. getdark.co.za
1. Citrus pendant light, from R2 204 2. Halo light, from R10 600 (800mm) 3. Outline pendant light in Chrome, from R4 030 (small)
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PHOTOS SUPPLIED WORDS ROBYN ALEXANDER
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Design Journey
In the four years since launching, TheUrbanative has developed a distinctive visual language that makes it instantly recognisable. Founder and designer Mpho Vackier explains the evolution of the furniture. Made with bamboo and powder-coated mild steel, the Thulani loveseat for two is a multifunctional seat with integrated side tables. I always design with function in mind, and never let the aesthetics dictate such function. This seat was a marriage of my technical background with the fact that I was still learning what kind of a designer I was. I realised then that I really like symmetry – it’s calming, and offers a certain balance and mood.
I used to work as an engineer, but I left my career in mining several years ago to study design. I had always wanted to do product and furniture design. I launched my first collection of four pieces on my birthday in September 2016. The Thandeka server was one of these – it was manufactured by my husband, who is a mechanical engineer; he made all our prototypes, and even filled some of the orders in the beginning. From the start, I was inspired by the graphic artworks of the Ndebele culture, and the meaning behind the shapes and colours.
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PHOTOS APRICOT STUDIO AND THEURBANATIVE PORTRAIT LUTENDO MALATJI WORDS TRACY LYNN CHEMALY
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In 2018, we moved into a workshop space, and outsourced all our steelwork to someone who shares the space with us. It’s a studio of sorts. The African Crowns collection debuted that year, and the Oromo (below centre) became our most popular chair. This range was inspired by traditional African hairstyles of the Oromo people in Ethiopia in the late 1800s, and was launched at a time when conversations around braiding were in the spotlight. The Oromo is a celebratory piece whose weaving, texture and sculptural form reference the beauty of natural African braids and hair. The Nasara screen (below right) is part of the same collection – acting as a multipurpose room divider, it’s proof of my great love for plants.
The Nenzima server pays homage to Queen Nenzima of the Mangbetu tribe of Congo. In this tribe, women of high social status had elongated heads due to the lipombo practice of skull elongation – and the server’s long form takes its cue from this tradition. The terrazzo doors and laser-cut steel sides reference the decorative and attractive hairstyles worn by these women.
The Fulani dining chair was released at the beginning of this year, and is in keeping with the circular silhouette of the Oromo. But this is TheUrbanative in minimalist form. There’s no pattern, no weaving – just lines to echo those that occur on most of the pieces we’ve designed so far. It’s covered in a velvet from Home Fabrics’ FibreGuard range, which I’m obsessed with because it’s stainresistant and easy to maintain. All the materials we use are very considered – a client should be able to enjoy the way in which the piece is going to age. theurbanative.com
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Cover Version
Stay warm in style this winter with gorgeous blankets that range from instantly recognisable South African icons to the latest creations by up-and-coming local designers and makers.
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1 & 2. Something Good Studio collaborates on limited-edition 100%-cotton blankets with up-and-coming female creatives. The Ludo design is named both for artist Maja Malević’s affection for the board game of the same name, and for her Serbian ancestry – “ludo” means “crazy” in Serbian. The graphic Americanah was conceptualised by illustrator and branding guru Mariana Lancastre. Ludo by Maja Malević (1), R3 800; Americanah by Mariana Lancastre (2), R3 800 | somethinggoodstudio.com
3 & 4. The Plett-based weaving maestros at Mungo added the Vrou-Vrou blanket to their range last year, and we absolutely love it. Vrou-Vrou in Tamarind (3) and Magenta (4), from R3 315 each | mungo.co.za
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PHOTOS STUDIO MIRU, MAIKE MCNEILL, JEANNE VAN HEERDEN, MARIANA LANCASTRE AND SUPPLIED COMPILED BY ANNEMARIE MEINTJES
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5 & 7. Traditional Basotho-style blankets from Aranda feature some of the most iconic textile designs – plus they’re exceptionally warm and cosy. Seanamarena in Poone (5) and Chromatic (7), from R949 each | clubaranda.co.za 6. This classic 100%-acrylic checked blanket is ideal for picnics – and for the couch. Nino, R179 | pepstores.com (Blanket strap, stylist’s own) 8 & 9. Hand-made from wool, Madwa’s blankets are pure luxury. Bhutan (8) and Thembile (9) by Madwa, from R6 350 | pezulainteriors.co.za 10. Inspired by desert sunsets, the Endless Summer blanket is a collab between Something Good Studio and ceramicist Janet Lightbody. Endless Summer by Janet Lightbody, R3 800 | somethinggoodstudio.com
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Home Office 101
With many of us currently setting up a home office for full-time work, it’s essential we get it right, and keep our at-home productivity high. These tips from leading office furniture supplier Cecil Nurse will help.
1. Location, location Consider your working style, and the needs of the people you live with. How much storage do you require? How much time do you spend in Zoom meetings? If you can’t dedicate an entire room to your office, answering these questions will tell you whether you could set up in the living room or repurpose a corner of the bedroom. 2. Furniture fix Cecil Nurse has sitting and standing desks to suit a variety of styles and budgets. If you need storage, mount shelves or document holders above the desk. And having an ergonomic office chair or a wobble stool is very important – it really is best not to use a dining chair. 3. Light fantastic Position your desk so you benefit from as much daylight as possible, and choose window treatments that control the amount of light coming in. If natural light is not an option, side lamps will work better than harsh, direct overhead lighting (which can cause headaches). 4. Minimal wins Keep your workspace clear of any clutter that could distract you and reduce your productivity. Some decoration (such as a stationery tray or a small plant) can help organise and inspire – but keep it simple. cecilnurse.co.za
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PHOTOS SUPPLIED WORDS ROBYN ALEXANDER
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Work It Out
We asked top designers and architects for their tips to creating the most productive home-office space.
1. CREATE A HUB “People tend to gravitate towards the centre of the house, and children don’t like to feel left out – so we’ve constructed dedicated ‘creative hubs’ in which mom, dad and kids can all work together,” says architect Wynand Wilsenach. “A hub such as this would have plenty of charging and plug points, with drawers for stationery and project material – and it would normally be close to the kitchen or the family room.” w2.co.za 2. REPURPOSE AND REIMAGINE “Update an old desk or tabletop by painting it – or cover it with a print or an attractive upholstery fabric and a thick pane of glass,” says architect Ernst Frame-Tolmie. “With wireless connectivity being the standard these days, printers and other devices can live remotely if space is a concern.” frameworkdesign.co 3. PLAN AHEAD If a home renovation is already on the cards for you, shift your plans to accommodate a home office in the design (if it wasn’t there previously), says Ernst. “Instead of using the dining table, create a dedicated space for your laptop, stationery and library – and avoid clutter by designing a bespoke joinery piece for all your needs.” frameworkdesign.co
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4. GET INSPIRED BY WHAT’S LOCAL Always support local creativity, says designer Tracy Lee Lynch, including in your home-office space. “Add a striking painting, and source a desk or office chair crafted by one of our incredible South African designers,” she says. “When I designed Central Kitchen – the Nando’s head office – I focused on using only local design to complement the company’s large collection of South African art. Art is an investment that can continue to bring you joy throughout your life – so choose wisely, and buy the works of emerging artists if your budget is limited.” leelynch.co.za 5. KEEP IT TOGETHER It will suit some home workers to create an office space adjacent to their living space. “In many homes today, the office occupies a transitory space – a hidden nook off the dining room, for example, or a floating desk in a passage,” says Nicola Orpen from Bone Interior Design Studio. “As work becomes a more fluid part of our daily life, and as life in general moves on from the typical 9-to-5 scenario to a 24/7 pace, it will be even more convenient for the office space to ‘live’ within another area.” bonestudio.co.za
PHOTOS SUPPLIED WORDS MICHAELA STEHR
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“UPDATE AN OLD DESK OR TABLETOP BY PAINTING IT.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A transitory space can work well; add local art, such as this piece by Dayfeels (dayfeels.co.za); a desk lamp will help prevent eye strain; if you can, choose an area with good natural light. OPPOSITE, FROM LEFT Avoid clutter with good storage; a comfortable chair is an absolute essential.
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Some Light Relief
Create a home office that’s both comfortable and inspiring with the help of the specialist team at Luxaflex.
s working from home becomes a key part of “the new normal”, Luxaflex has been giving some thought to getting the most out of the space in which we do so. Now, the masters of stylish window treatments share their best advice for making your home office fantastic. 1. CLEAR AIR, CLEAR THOUGHTS Your ability to focus depends on being comfortable and alert, so position your desk close to a window for natural light. If the space is confined, consider investing in a compact air-con unit to eliminate stuffiness; and if you suffer from seasonal allergies, get an air purifier. 2. LIGHT LIVING Blinds can keep excess light and warmth out of your office – and they’ll keep you cosy in winter too.
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Duette Shades by Luxaflex are perfect for this task as they deflect excess glare, and prevent the room from becoming too warm during the day or excessively chilly in the evenings. If you need flexibility, Form Wood slatted Venetian blinds allow you to constantly adjust the amount of light coming into your space. If glare is still a problem (for example, on your computer screen), look into installing a blackout blind. 3. PLANT PERFECTION Last but not least, the Luxaflex experts suggest adding some greenery to your home office. Not only do indoor plants look good, many of them also help to purify the air – and can, apparently, even improve your productivity. luxaflex.co.za
PHOTOS SUPPLIED WORDS ROBYN ALEXANDER
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Personality Driven
Citroen’s return to South Africa has given us two C3 models, which are packed full of character, quirky Gallic design features and impressive functionality.
tanding out in a crowd is easy for the Kardashians, but can be difficult for modern cars. Save for variations in the grille/headlamp combo, modern vehicles in each segment tend to have a similar silhouette. And it’s not because automotive designers lack imagination – it’s more about the aerodynamic and safety parameters they have to work within. Occasionally, though, despite the constraints, a car brand comes up with a strand of design DNA that has a distinct personality. I’d argue that Lexus is one. Another is that flag-bearer for Gallic idiosyncrasy, Citroën. A stroll through its history shows a timeline punctuated by bold, innovative, outright maverick designs that have become bona fide automotive classics: the Traction Avant, the “Deux Chevaux” 2CV, the stately DS and the futuristic SM. Of late, the C4 range has carried on this proud tradition with the ultra-thin headlights on the 2013 C4 Picasso and the Airbump protection panels on the 2014 C4 Cactus. Now back in South Africa, Citroën is a breath of brightly fresh air in segments that often favour pragmatism over personality.
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CITROËN C3 (from R255 900) With the trademark high-standing front end, two-tier front lights, flowing curves, trapezoid accents and Airbump panels, the C3 offers a different proposition to this segment’s top dog, the conservatively styled VW Polo. Freedom of expression is the C3’s vibe, so you can create a car to match your personality. There’s a two-tone option of a red roof with a choice of three body colours (Polar White, Sand and Platinum Grey). The customisable interior is similarly playful, drawing inspiration from architecture, furniture design and decor as much as from traditional automotive aesthetics. On the road, you’ll find that Citroën’s whitecoats have focused more on comfort than on sporty dynamics. You can choose between two variants of a three-cylinder, 1.2-litre engine – 81kW in its turbocharged guise or 60kW in the naturally aspirated version – with each offering smooth, cosseting progress.
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PHOTOS SUPPLIED WORDS STEVE SMITH
CITROËN C3 AIRCROSS (from R355 900) Making its mark in the motoring world’s hippest segment – small SUV crossovers – the C3 Aircross has some popular competition. Again, VW will be its main rival with the top-selling T-Cross, but it’s also up against the good-looking Mazda CX-3 and Hyundai Kona. Yet even among this confident posse, the Citroën stands out. Along with the de rigueur crossover cladding on the front and rear bumpers, styling director Alexandre Malval and his team created a compact design that appears appropriately robust and SUV-like – but also downright cheerful. In a segment often used by small families to find their first vehicle, the C3 Aircross has a spacious and adjustable interior, with a 60/40 split-folding rear bench that sees its two independent rear seats slide through 150mm. This modularity means plenty of storage space – the already sizeable 410-litre boot can be increased to 520 litres. The model shares a 1.2-litre 81kW engine with the C3. citroen.co.za
THIS PAGE The C3 Aircross’s driver assistance systems include Driver Attention Alert, Rear Parking sensors and Hill Start Assist. OPPOSITE Side-on, the first detail you notice about the C3 is the floating roof held up by black windscreen pillars, and the taut roof curves that accentuate its dynamic outline.
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New and Now
Combining contemporary lines with plush upholstery details, the latest furniture pieces from Mobelli are all about everyday luxury.
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esigned to complement a diverse range of interiors, Mobelli’s latest furniture offerings are both cool and colourful. 1. The Carnegie extendable dining table transforms from a four-seater to a six-seater in moments, and is ideal in compact spaces. R16 995 (Montrose dining chairs R2 695 each) 2. Add a pop of colour to any room with the Alva swivel chair and daybed, available in mustard, lime green, scarlet and charcoal. R9 495 3. Upholstered in leather, the Danbury occasional chair brings laid-back masculinity to a living room or home office. Available in grey and tan. R21 995 4. Bang on trend with its scalloped design, the Addison swivel chair is available in terracotta, navy, mustard and grey. R5 995
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PHOTOS SUPPLIED WORDS ROBYN ALEXANDER
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These locally woven grass planters are exclusive to Woolworths. Made from the natural fibres of African palm leaves, they are multifunctional and can be used as a storage utility, decor design or art. *Available at selected Woolworths stores, online and on the app from 1 September 2020.
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Pattern Perfect
Ever wonder how a designer finds inspiration? For Skinny laMinx founder Heather Moore, the visual ideas behind a recent range of fabrics came from a 2016 trip to Lisbon. Here, she describes her process.
n his essay On Confinement, Alain de Botton writes about how the ability to revisit and savour past travels can be a source of great pleasure – especially now that cheap and easy travel is a thing of the past. So I revisited my memories of a 2016 trip to Lisbon as I designed Lisbon Square, my fifth collection for US company Cloud9 Fabrics. I’d arrived in Portugal in summer to work as a teacher with travel company Ace Camps. My brief was to teach an introductory course about pattern; and, of course, I used Lisbon’s spectacular tile heritage as my teaching tool. But I fell in love with more than the tiles – which is what inspired the Lisbon Square collection. PARK CULTURE I spent hours sitting at the ubiquitous steel café tables in parks across the city, sketching and taking sneaky snaps of older women in elegant outfits. IRONWORK Beautiful shadows are cast during long summer afternoons and early evenings. I took almost as many photos of ornate ironwork as I did of tiles.
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PHOTOS, SKETCHES AND WORDS HEATHER MOORE
RETAIL SIGNAGE I fell in love with the city’s mid-century shop signage, spotting some beautiful steel and ceramic examples on shoe shops. This inspired me to create Andy Warhol-style shoe sketches back at my studio. SWALLOWS After the trip, I made a linocut of a bird that I’d spotted in a large ceramic mural. Although my little bird is not quite as sleek, it does remind me of the swallows that fill the summer skies of Lisbon. Cloud9 Fabrics is based in New York. Fabrics are available through various online stores. cloud9fabrics.com | skinnylaminx.com
WIN: HOW PATTERN WORKS
Heather’s travels continue to be a source of pattern inspiration. Most recently, she used the tiles of Lisbon as a basis for an online course called “How Pattern Works” – find out more at skinnylaminx.com. And, together with VISI, Skinny laMinx is giving away three online courses worth R450 each. To enter, go to VISI.co.za/win. The competition closes on 23 August 2020.
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Easy Pieces
Having recently added new couch styles to its range, Coricraft now has a lounging option for every interior.
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1. THE SAMI Held up by tapered wooden legs (as seen above) or sturdy metal ones, the Sami boasts sink-into foam cushions. From R7 999; available as a 2- or 3-seater and as a “slouch couch” in a range of fabrics and genuine leather
2. THE SKYLAR With down cushions and low-slung arms (perfect for naps!), the Skylar combines sleek lines with comfort. From R12 999; available as a 2- or 3-seater and as a “slouch couch” in a range of fabrics
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Blue Mood
Recognised as one of the world’s most admired porcelain designs, Spode Blue Italian now also adorns the latest range of luxurious ovenware by AGA.
n AGA oven is iconic, acting as the centrepiece of luxurious kitchens around the world. But did you know that the brand also makes beautiful ovenware? And the latest addition to the exclusive Portmeirion range for AGA is this gorgeous Spode Blue Italian design. With its floral chinoiserie-style border in shades of cobalt blue, Spode Blue Italian is recognised as one of the most admired British designs of all time. Porcelain maker
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Spode has been manufacturing exquisite tableware collections since 1816, and in the past 200 years, the pieces have instilled tranquillity and wonder in equal measure into countless homes. Now it’s available as part of AGA’s range of ovenware – a new way of bringing this special blue-andwhite design to your table. The Spode Blue Italian range by Portmeirion is available through AGA South Africa. agaliving.co.za
PHOTO SUPPLIED WORDS ROBYN ALEXANDER
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Safari Style
Melvill & Moon’s latest range of handmade luggage includes pieces perfect for travellers who are inspired by the romance of a bygone era.
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1. Fully lined and with interior pockets, the Bulawayo Bag won’t look out of place in refined surroundings. R6 300 2. With brass zips and tough leather straps, the Rift Valley Day Bag can serve as an overnighter – if you travel light. R5 000 3. 3. As at home on the farm as it is in the office, the Bladsak can fit all sorts of useful daily paraphernalia. R1 900 4. Handsome enough for the boot of a Rolls but unpretentious enough to be strapped to a roof rack, the soft Safari Duffel makes weekend-away packing easy. R3 500
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he Latin phrase Laudator temporis acti refers to a person who holds up the past as a golden age. But the romance of a time gone by is more than just a motto for Melvill & Moon – it is the guiding compass for everything this local safari-inspired luggage, furniture and accessories brand does, and has deep resonance for all lovers of the classic, the handmade and the retro. And the company is still run and owned by the Melvill family, and proudly backed by an African heritage that goes back eight generations.
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Guti, Melvill & Moon’s latest range, takes its name from the Shona word for misty weather. Made of waxed, 100% Egyptian cotton canvas, the range sports solid brass buckles and fittings,and brass YKK zips. The maroon colour of the lining is the same as the wine-red in the ribbon of the Victoria Cross – the medal awarded to Lieutenant Teignmouth Melvill for his bravery at the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879. The core collection includes the Safari Duffel and the Rift Valley Day Bag – but the Guti colouring can be applied to any of Melvill & Moon’s bespoke products. melvillandmoon.com
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Open Dialog
The revolutionary new Dialog oven by Miele uses state-of-the-art technology to “communicate” with your food as it cooks it to perfection.
iele’s Dialog oven is like no other smart kitchen appliance on the market,” says Mercia de Jager of Miele. “Using it gives you an idea of what it must’ve been like to use the microwave oven for the first time back in the 1950s.” Featuring the sleek and sophisticated design of a modern oven, the Dialog is equipped with regular baking and convection methods – but it pushes kitchen technology a step further with a radio-frequency cooking method in its repertoire. “Similarly to a microwave oven, the Dialog uses radio waves to heat up the food,” explains Mercia. “However, unlike a microwave, it also has sensors to monitor how much energy the food absorbs – and it responds by adjusting the waves’ frequency, amplitude and phase accordingly. In essence, as its name implies, it both talks and listens to your food, ensuring that it is cooked evenly and quickly.” Miele’s M Chef technology allows the perfect cooking of various meals simultaneously, which means you can prepare a multi-course menu in a fraction of the time you’d usually need. Loaded with more than 100 pre-programmed recipes, the oven combines all three cooking methods to help you produce restaurant-quality food in your own kitchen.
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R179 999 | miele.co.za
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BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED PLANTERS
Concept & Design Bespoke Creations | Installations Plantscaping | Maintenance www.plantr.co.za Info@plantr.co.za 084 677 7666
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In the Mix
Melange is the latest addition to Plett-based textile company Mungo’s covetable Kamma Linen bedding collection.
here’s nothing quite like the feeling of fresh bed linen from local textile company Mungo – one of the few remaining linen weavers in South Africa. Their European-grown linen can be traced from seed to spun yarn, before making its way to Plettenberg Bay, where it is woven at the Mungo Mill on the edge of the Tsitsikamma forest (hence the name “Kamma Linen”). The newest addition to Mungo’s bedding range is Melange. In keeping with the word’s origins (melange is French for “mix”), the fabric’s flecks of colour result in a beautiful textured look that is reminiscent of materials created by nature. The effect is attained through a unique dyeing process, in which differently coloured fibres are mixed together before being spun. As a bonus, the more this heirloom-quality linen is laundered and lived with, the softer and lovelier it becomes. mungo.co.za
Kamma Linen Melange pillowcases from R900; flat sheets from R1 850; fitted sheets from R1 900; duvet covers from R3 100
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Baking News
PHOTO SUPPLIED WORDS CELESTE JACOBS
With more than 80 years of experience, Schmidt Kitchens can give you the personalised, made-to-measure kitchen of your dreams.
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he kitchen has a way of drawing a family together – and our recent experience of lockdown has shown us some of the ways in which the space could work better for us. To put it another way, being confined to our home has made many of us realise what a good investment a personalised kitchen could be. Each family is different, and their home and kitchen should reflect that. Schmidt will work with you to find out exactly what you want, and design a kitchen that is uniquely yours.
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With factories located in France and Germany, Schmidt is already fully operational from a manufacturing point of view, and able to produce materials – which means that your new kitchen could be designed, ordered and installed, hassle-free, soon after the lockdown is lifted. Schmidt can fully customise your space to best suit your needs. There’s never been a better time to get their help, and inject the heart of your home with new vigour and warmth. schmidt-sa.co.za | 021 510 2404 | 021 510 2406
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On the Tiles
Welcome vibrance back into your home this winter with Hub, a bold new tiling option from Naxos.
ub – a new tile range by Italian brand Naxos – is all about original graphic elements, natural inspiration and eclectic visual impressions, combined in clean, sometimes asymmetrical patterns. With Hub, Naxos has created a versatile collection that reflects the bold colours of the modern age as well as our desire to create spaces that reflect our individuality. The range is ideal for anyone wanting to move beyond the whims of fashion to create new trends. Hub is available to order countrywide from Stiles – email info@stiles.co.za to find out more. stiles.co.za
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1. Wall: Brume 312mm x 797mm, R713/m2; backsplash: Geometry Emerald 312mm x 797mm, R713/m2. 2. Wall: Jade 312mm x 797mm, R713/m2; feature wall: Comp Jungle 624mm x 797mm, R2 070 per set (2 tiles); shower: Mos.Decò Jade, R575 per 300mm x 300mm sheet. 3. Wall: Chili 312mm x 797mm, R713/m2; backsplash: Fascia Logic, R2 070 per set (2 tiles). 4. Walls: Brume and Coral 312mm x 797mm, R713/m2; feature wall: Fascia Color 312mm x 797mm, R2 070 per set (2 tiles). 5. Walls: Brume and Coral 312mm x 797mm, R713/m2; feature wall: Decor Coral 312mm x 797mm, R713/m2. 6. Wall: White 312mm x 797mm, R713/m2; shower: Jade 312mm x 797mm, R713/m2; feature wall: Bubble 312mm x 797mm, R713/m2. (Prices include VAT.)
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PHOTOS SUPPLIED WORDS CELESTE JACOBS
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dea DECANTATHON
If, like us, you have plenty of empty wine, gin and whisky bottles lying around (thanks, lockdown), here’s a stylish way to use them.
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ith many of the recycling depots not functioning during lockdown, we found a way to repurpose interesting bottle shapes – by removing the branding, creating new labels and reinventing the corks. Mobilising the steady collection of empty bottles piling up, we used copper couplings to glamourise the corks and a Formica sample to label the contents. No need to go out and shop for decanters… The ice bucket is from Tusker Trading, and the Diesel Meteorite glasses are from Julia Day.
PHOTO STUDIO MIRU WORDS AND PRODUCTION ANNEMARIE MEINTJES
tuskertrading.co.za | juliaday.co.za
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5810 Black Tempal (20mm)
*Shade, movement and graining of actual product may vary from sample or image. We recommend that you select your preferred slabs at the distributor nearest you.
Metropolitan Collection
Designed to Inspire Let this be your year of design excellence with our exquisite new colour palette.
caesarstone.co.za | +27 (0)83 608 5810