9. A first look at The Pencil Club, Umhlanga’s elegant private members’ club

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HIGH DRAMA

A new private members’ club soaks up the vistas of Umhlanga in KZN from the vantage point of the area’s newest high-rise building –and makes a cohesive statement about contemporary luxury.

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rom the outset, The Pencil Club was a groundbreaking project – a members’ only space laid out across the two top floors of the Umhlanga Arch mixed-use building. Inside, from the Carrara marble floors and decorative brass details to dramatic fluted-glass privacy screens and extravagant chandeliers, the glamorous venue is all about customised design, seamless elegance and innovative use of space.

The brainchild of Renzo Scribante and Marc Rosenberg, The Pencil Club was designed by Craft of Architecture in collaboration with the Umhlanga Arch development, with interiors by Mobius Interior Architecture. The client’s intention was to create a luxurious, comfortable and exciting leisure and dining destination that doubled as a cutting-edge business and networking hub for its members.

THIS PAGE The decor at Rosewood Lounge, Bar and Restaurant – the flagship entertainment space at The Pencil Club – includes bespoke details, such as emerald-green tiles that hug the bar, and custom seating. OPPOSITE The thoroughfare from the reception area to the Rosewood features plantation-style arches that lead into the Terrace Café – a nod to architecture of days gone by.

BIDDI RORKE WORDS PHOTOS ELSA YOUNG/COURTESY OF MOBIUS

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Key considerations? That fluid and distinct spaces would easily work both day and night, and incorporate meeting pockets, larger rooms, and surprise pause and think-tank areas for individuals and groups. The owners also wanted “spaces to be seen” for socialites; discreet nodes where industry leaders could congregate; indoor and outdoor gathering areas; plus a gym, a library, a coffee bar and a fine-dining restaurant. And most importantly – timeless, five-star appeal.

Spearheaded by Victoria Wood, Mobius Interior Architecture succeeded in not only meeting the brief, but in exceeding its requirements. “The site itself is magnificent, with 360-degree views over sugar-cane fields, the undulating coastline, the Indian Ocean and the city lights of Durban,” Victoria says. “It was only fitting for us to create something that reflected the diversity and uniqueness of its position.”

The starting point was choosing a colour palette that would mirror the tropical aspects of the surrounding landscape, without resorting to the predictable ice-cream shades associated with cities such as Miami. “I was inspired by the coral pinks of the setting Durban sun, and shades of

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The ribbon reception desk was designed by the Mobius Interior Architecture team and manufactured from mahogany and leather; the buzzing Arts Bar and Ballroom transform into an elegant function space at night; the mahogany-clad library wall is indicative of the Mobius team’s focus on handcrafted detailing; the screen between the Arts Bar and Ballroom easily pivots to create one large space – or ensure privacy. OPPOSITE, FROM TOP A collection of iconic Assouline books is housed in the members-only library; the Exec Desk area offers a quiet space to work or host an informal meeting.

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emerald and sage from the surrounding sugar-cane fields – there is a distinct sense of Africa in those hues,” says Victoria. “And while we wanted to reach back to the timeless glamour of the Art Deco gentleman’s club, The Pencil Club required a completely fresh, contemporary egalitarian feel.”

Creating a private club in a new building, without the patina of time and traditions, meant finding subtle but impactful ways to convey authenticity. “We were influenced by classic finishes like marble and terrazzo floors, brass inlays, leather cladding, velvet upholstery, polished hardwoods and stucco – but then we played with modern techniques and a specific palette of colours to complement the finishes we chose,” Victoria explains. Overall, though, it was all about “creating distinct moods and evoking an emotional response”, she adds.

This ethos is clear in the details of The Pencil Club. To demarcate the many different spaces within the 1 800m2 venue, the design team used contrasting flooring, including terrazzo in the passages, marble slabs in the bar areas and herringbone timber floors in the private lounges. To assist with the transition between the various spaces, generous timber-lined architraves are used to introduce new thresholds, allowing guests to acknowledge the narrative of the room they are entering.

The pièce de résistance is undoubtedly the Rosewood Bar, which occupies part of the entertainment space on the 23rd floor. The horseshoe-shaped bar – complete with its Carrara-marble top, custom brass-and-leather lamps and solid-brass gantry-type light – serves as a magnetic central point between the fine-dining restaurant and the Rosewood Lounge.

In marked contrast to the Rosewood Bar’s feel of a classic Parisian café, the Ladies’ Powder Room is a fine example of a vintage glamazon’s lair. Here, it’s all about wall sconces with parchment shades, brass detailing and a palette of pinks. And these are just two of the more than 20 spaces at The Pencil Club, each outfitted with bespoke details and finishes befitting a high-status venue. This is one of those special places that needs to be experienced in person, so that every aspect of its sleek and sophisticated design can be appreciated. mobiusstudio.co.za | thepencilclub.com

THIS PAGE Mobius used a variety of finishes, fabrics and custom furniture to define different “zones” in the Rosewood, with the venue’s position overlooking Durban and the ocean a constant consideration. OPPOSITE, FROM TOP Open only to members, the intimate Ladies’ Powder Room is dressed in a subtle palette of berry tones, marble and brass finishes; the pool terrace offers a nod to classic ’50s Miami style, with terrazzo, bespoke tiles and seating in melon shades adding a delightfully nostalgic touch.