Table of contents for VISI 138 in Visi

SUDDENLY, FIVE MONTHS HAVE GONE BY. It was January, you're back from the festive break, blink, it's now June. There's only so long one can (or should) keep up the sprint that's become this modern life of ours; and the approaching winter is a good time to slow down a touch and reward your early year efforts with a midyear break. I did. With the keys to a new Volkswagen Touareg in my hand and a few friends in the back, we headed up the N1 on a road trip from Cape Town to the southern border of Lesotho to run the Ultra-trail Drakensberg race. The big SUV was the perfect vehicle, with space for all of us and our gear, and a punchy V6 turbodiesel that gobbled up the…

MY HUSBAND CRAIG AND I first camped at Beaverlac, high in the mountains above Porterville in the Cederberg, more than 25 years ago. We were young and poorly paid, and camping was a pocket-friendly way to explore. After a stomach-churning drive up Dasklip Pass with its tight bends and sheer drop-offs, we arrived at the campsite looking forward to silence and lungfuls of mountain air. Instead, it resembled a festival ground: bustle, a jangling tambourine, a strong whiff of a certain plant. After one sleepless night, we pulled up our tent pegs; it didn't take long, since all we had was a nylon pop-up and two camping chairs. We decided to head deeper into the Cederberg in search of quieter adventure. Once our daughters were born, we introduced them to…

THE 2025 EDITION OF ART BASEL HONG KONG, one of the world's most prestigious art shows, brought together more than 240 exhibitors - a dynamic mix of artists, galleries and immersive displays leaning boldly into cross-disciplinary innovation. With this year's fair celebrating the transformative power of art, there was one installation that really stood out as both a tech marvel and a visual meditation on the future of art: the Samsung ArtCube. With its “Borderless: Dive into the Art” concept, the Samsung ArtCube acted as a lens through which fairgoers could explore the evolving role of the screen - not just as a conduit for entertainment, but as a legitimate medium for cultural expression. Designed as a modular installation, the ArtCube immersed visitors in digital works sourced from Art Basel…

“THERE'S BEEN A SEISMIC SHIFT IN HOW WE CURATE OUR HOMES,” says Stiles CEO Stevie Joubert. “Today's design-forward generation isn't chasing status – they're chasing soul. Art is no longer confined to the frame; it's a sculptural planter, a graffitisplashed wall, a creatively tiled kitchen backsplash. The new cool? A rich design mindset.” • BRAZILIAN BOLDNESS ■ Among the most influential global design moments is Expo Revestir, Latin America's largest tile and surface fair – and a hotbed of Brazilian brilliance. (More about Revestir on page 36.) “Brazil has emerged as a leader in design and innovation,” says Stevie. “Its vibrant arts scene, fearless use of colour and texture, and strong sense of cultural identity make it a hotbed for pioneering design.” At this year's show, Stiles zeroed in on…

HOW CAN YOU NOT BE DRAWN IN by Mellaney Roberts's warmth, and her passion for her craft? She speaks of hugging her large ceramic works goodbye before they go off into the world - to collectors and collections - with a tenderness that reflects her deep connection to clay. As one of South Africa's exciting emerging voices in contemporary ceramics, this multi-award-winning artist and academic sees clay as a sacred medium - a vessel for memory and storytelling. MY SCULPTURES ARE SHAPED BY TH0DEA OF IIOYII - NOT JUST AS A PLACE, BUT AS A FEELING TIED TO MEMORY, PROTECTION AND BELONGING.” Her intuitive hand-building process begins with sketches, and unfolds through a tactile dialogue between form, feeling and place. With an MTech from Nelson Mandela University and a PhD…

PRODUCT AND FURNITURE DESIGNER Joe Paine is no stranger to VISI - with more than 15 years of experience in creating distinctive furniture, lighting and homeware under his eponymous brand, he's long been a local design favourite. But never one to rest on his laurels, Joe recently launched Ridge Forrester Utility - a brand dedicated to compact, functional and durable outdoor equipment. Perfectly suited to South Africa's climate and abundant natural beauty, this exciting new label focuses on picnic, camp, overland and safari gear. And, as the saying goes, it's all in the name: anyone of a “certain” age will recognise Ridge Forrester as a character from iconic soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. As Joe explains, “Ridge Forrester is a main character on the show. Like the show's…

Revisiting LONDON for the first time in a decade, Martin Jacobs discovers some of the city's BEST-KEPT DESIGN SECRETS, and makes a pilgrimage to firm favourites. • THE DESIGN MUSEUM 224-238 Kensington High Street, Kensington ■ When I last visited The Design Museum, it was at its former location on Shad Thames. Approaching a decade in the John Pawson-designed building that's tripled its size, even at this larger scale the museum is a manageable experience. The day I visited “The World of Tim Burton” exhibition, it was Mother's Day in the UK, and the rooms were crowded with families. Extended until late May, the exhibition has proven to be the most popular in the museum's 35-year history. Be sure to check out the walls of the first-floor atrium, where PLATFORM…

WHAT YOU RE LOOKING AT HERE is the most anticipated Lexus yet to come to South Africa. Why? Four reasons: 1. We love a 4 x 4 down here; 2. We especially love a Toyota 4 x 4; 3. We even more especially love it if the words “Land Cruiser” appear next to the Toyota name plate; and 4. We really love a powerful engine. What does all this have to do with the Lexus GX 550? Well, Lexus is the luxury arm of the Toyota colossus, so this car can basically be described as a very fancy Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, with a bigger engine under that sculpted bonnet. Which makes this Lexus total catnip to South African SUV lovers. In fact, all 400 of our allocated units were…

The sensitive renovation of the WITS ANGLO AMERICAN DIGITAL DOME preserves the heritage of an icon while reinventing it for a digital future. THE PLANETARIUM - NOW THE WITS ANGLO AMERICAN DIGITAL DOME - IS A JOBURG ICON. It was completed in 1960; since then, generations of Joburgers have visited the copper-domed building on the Wits University campus during school trips to the planetarium, and felt “completely transported by this strange, amazing sky”, says architect Kate Otten, principal at Kate Otten Architects, who recently refurbished and extended the building. (The practice has won several awards for its efforts, including the Herbert Prins Colosseum Memorial Award for heritage conservation.) As Kate points out, the digital dome is one of the university's most significant public interfaces, alongside WAM, the Origins Centre and,…

YOU NEED GAME-SPOTTER EYES TO SEE AARDTS CABIN – the kind that can spot a motionless mountain zebra cloaked in a Karoo landscape. If you possess this model of eyeball, you'll see both on a koppie outside the Klein Karoo village of De Rust – although you're more likely to spot the zebra first, such is the way Abrie von Wielligh's design appears to have emerged from its rocky, scrubby surrounds. It's a design that caught Airbnb's eye in 2022 – the concept was one of 100 global winners of their $10-million “OMG!” competition. The rental disruptor chose 100 designs, each receiving $100 000 to facilitate the build, with the proviso it be rented out on Airbnb's platform for a year. “Ag, but ja,“says Abrie dryly. “We ended up a…

• A POETIC APPROACH TO AMBIENT LIGHTING Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group for Italian company Artemide, DUSK is an ambient lighting system that offers designers a sophisticated tool for shaping atmospheric environments. Inspired by the nuanced transitions of twilight, DUSK enables seamless modulation of intensity and tone, echoing the natural progression of daylight. This dynamic approach allows for immersive spatial storytelling, where light becomes an active design element rather than a backdrop. With refined technology and poetic sensibility, DUSK supports human-centric design, enhancing both visual comfort and emotional engagement. For architects and interior designers, it provides a flexible, sustainable solution that elevates the sensory quality of a space while aligning with contemporary design values. artemide.com | cubegallery.co.za DUSK ENABLES SEAMLESS MODULATION OF INTENSITY AND TONE, ECHOING THE NATURAL PROGRESSION OF DAYLIGHT.…

“We're thrilled to work with Bisazza,” said eBoy. “Pixel art has always been inspired by the timeless tradition of mosaics, so this collaboration is like a homecoming for us. It was an interesting challenge to think about pixels in terms of mosaic tiles, rather than digital elements.” bisazza.com | eboy.com…

ANIA ROKITA TAYLOR FREELANCE SUB, QUIET PYROMANIAC When I was a kid, a fire at my gran's place during the winter break meant two things: cosy warmth and delicious soup. I learnt how to make (and tend to) a fire at her side, watching her stir magic into existence over a roaring kitchen range. In summer, back in my home town, fire meant school parties, gatherings of friends, jacket potatoes buried in the ground, and someone's secret-family-recipe sausage roasting on a stick. (Marshmallows were not a defining characteristic of my upbringing in communist Poland.) To this day, I actively seek out fire-making opportunities whenever I can: log burners in pods and cabins, wood-burning hot tubs, indoor braais that double as bush TV… I'm an equal-opportunity fire aficionado. I also tend…

THERE ARE TWO MAIN CAMPS OF PEOPLE: the campers, and the never-campers. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, we were ordered to stay indoors – so, naturally, we did the opposite. A collective need to escape took hold, and many discovered camping and overlanding for the first time, or returned to it after years away. But camping is more than just an escape. It's a quiet ceremony composed of small, intentional actions that yield personal rewards. From planning your trip to opening your first drink as the sun rises over the waking bush, each task becomes meaningful in a way that's rarely experienced in the frantic pace of modern life and all its “what-whats”. These seemingly simple rituals invite us to slow down, to be fully present, and to immerse ourselves in…

AFRO-MODERNISM • TEEPEE SHADE Who doesn't love an Afro-modern vibe? Inspired by local design studio Mash. T's eye-catching Teepee shade, this aesthetic brings some serious style. Think natural materials, earthy-meets-vibrant tones, bold prints, and a fab mix of old and new - all wrapped up in a sleek, contemporary package. mashtdesignstudio.com MEMPHIS DESIGN • TAHITI LAMP Bold Memphis Design is back, and it's making zero apologies. Inspired by Ettore Sottsass's playful, zoomorphic Tahiti lamp (1981), this electric aesthetic is all about colour, geometry and flair. Born in the ‘80s yet louder than ever, it'll turn any space into a statement. memphis.it BAUHAUS • WA 24 TABLE LAMP Minimalism, but make it genius… The Bauhaus aesthetic is all clean lines, clever function and timeless form - just like Wilhelm Wagenfeld's iconic…

IN 2022, THE INAUGURAL FUTURE HEIRLOOMS PROJECT made a sizeable impact on the local scene when retail brand Always Welcome and the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) joined forces to facilitate an art-meets-furniture design collection created by seven South African designers. This time around, AHEC and award-winning furniture manufacturer Houtlander teamed up in the second Future Heirlooms challenge, to explore the future of sustainable collectable design in South Africa. It kicked off last year when five local cross-disciplinary design studios from our interior design and architecture communities were invited to create collectable furniture pieces that are worth treasuring. Those five were interior architect Juliet Kavishe; costume designer and creative director Bandile Mbuli and architect Ndabo Langa's collab Isa-MBU-LA; architect and academic Andre Eksteen; Cassandra Twala and Johanna von Stein of…

WOMEN HAVE TRANSFORMED THE SOUTH AFRICAN WINE INDUSTRY, fostering innovation and sustainability, and bringing fresh perspectives to the art of winemaking. Among those leading the charge is Michelle Erasmus, head sommelier at Eat Out 3-star restaurant, La Colombe. A sommelier for more than a decade, she's spent seven of those years with the La Colombe Group, where she now heads up the biggest wine team of any South African fine-dining restaurant. We asked Michelle to recommend four reds that were, first and foremost, of the highest quality - and which all happened to be made by women. These are the wines and their winemakers… lacolombe.restaurant • SIJNN CAPE VINTAGE by Charla Bosman ■ “In the capable hands of Charla Bosman, the Malgas Touriga Nacional varietal makes for a stylish Cape…

• MONDAY TO SUNDAY ATHENS by Seda Domaniç and Yannis Zaras (Monday to Sunday, 2025) ■ This evocative travel guide sets out the details of spending a full week exploring almost every aspect of a single city - Athens - and its surroundings, as well as the adjacent islands of Hydra, Aegina and Agistri. “We chose Athens as our next destination as it is a city with a new story to share. Many travellers expect Athens to be defined by its ancient ruins, with the Acropolis looming over the city. Yet Athens is a place where past and present coexist, sometimes in tension, but always in a way that sparks curiosity,” say the book's authors. Their unique guide - which looks at culture, history, art, design, gastronomy and entertainment -…

2. The origami-inspired Oru kayak folds out from box to boat in minutes, no tools (or roof racks!) required. Made from tough, lightweight and foldable polypropylene, it's built to handle real adventures – and over 20 000 folds. If you're living in a cosy flat or hitting the road in a compact car, this clever craft proves that big fun can come in a surprisingly small package. orukayak.com 3. Okay, we may have officially found every Millennial's dream foldable… Still in the prototype stage, the exciting Samsung Flex gaming console was just unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2025. This retroinspired handheld folds in half around a 7.2-inch display, with joysticks that tuck neatly into dedicated indentations. Drenched in acid green, bright blue and bold yellow, it's giving serious ‘90s energy…

“VIBRANT” WOULD BEST DESCRIBE DZOMBO LODGE. In this wildlife sanctuary – the Black Rhino Game Reserve at the Pilanesberg National Park – you'll find a yellow giraffe amid green leaves under a blue sky, with an orange sun as a backdrop. The giraffe is a life-sized metal sculpture at the lodge's entrance, painted so brightly that it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face. It's a testament to the whimsical approach of owners Hendri and Liezel Van Dyk. He is an urbanite brought up around bustling kitchens; she's a third-generation bushvelder, who grew up with the Kruger National Park as her backyard. Also driving Dzombo's design approach is the fact that it's not the couple's primary source of income – so their goal here is not to fill lots…

RECEIVE A CURATED SELECTION OF LOCAL ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, DECOR AND ART NEWS IN YOUR INBOX EVERY MONDAY. VISIT VISI.CO.ZA WE ASKED YOU ONLINE: Which BATHROOM trend piques your interest? 271 of you took our poll to let us know. Here are the results: 54% Earthy & neutral tones: warm colours and soft greens for a natural feel Spa-like retreats: all about luxurious features that offer ultimate relaxation 15% Bold tile designs: eye-catching geometric patterns and mosaic tiles for a statement look 6% Smart technology: bringing a hi-tech experience to the bathroom #READERLOVE If you're enjoying the latest issue, we'd love for you to take a pic of your mag and share it with us. Simply tag VISI on Instagram, Facebook or X with your snap. Our dreamy stay at the…

I FOUND A LOVE OF CAMPING amid gravel plains and cracked earth in the Tankwa Karoo – a four-hour drive from Cape Town, for the last hour of which I was only aware of my teeth chattering as our vehicle endlessly clattered along the desert road. Anything not tightly held on to soon became unmoored. The road led into a bleached lunar landscape where the wind rose in brief, unpredictable gusts, lifting fine Sand into spirals, and leaving a film of dust on everything it touched. For a short spell each year, this endless sandscape is home to AfrikaBurn, and something unique blossoms. Ironic that this harsh setting is one in which the most unusual things flourish: freedom, grace, generosity – almost as if in defiance. Ahead was a sea…

BRAZIL HAS LONG BEEN CELEBRATED for its rich design heritage and innovative spirit - and this was on full display at Expo Revestir, South America's largest trade fair for tiles, surfaces and sanitaryware. Held in São Paulo, the event brought together the country's top brands alongside leading international names to showcase fresh collections. Returning for our second year, we were once again inspired by the creative energy and thoughtful design on show. From architecturally inspired textures to unexpected material combinations, here are some of the standout trends. •SCULPTED ELEMENTS ■ Textures and sculpted surfaces took centre stage, inviting touch with their multidimensional architectural allure. From the earthy, softly rippled finishes spotted at Castelatto to the bold, angular forms seen at Portinari and Portobello, these designs brought a sense of movement…

Google's interactive installation in collaboration with Chromasonic at Milan Design Week 2024 demonstrated how colour influences our perception of the world. STYLE IS OFTEN SEEN AS A BAROMETER of the global mood. Its connection to our inner worlds runs deeper still. Design does not simply reflect our emotions: it offers a glimpse into how we relate to feeling itself. The objects and interiors we choose help us to access, express or soften the parts of ourselves that lie beneath the surface. Across different periods in history, this has manifested in varying ways, depending on whether restraint or expression was the spirit of the time. Today, we're seeing a distinct resurgence of emotive design. ONE OF THE CLEAREST SHIFTS IS THE MOVE AWAY FROM HYPER-REFINED AESTHETICS TOWARDS SPACES THAT FEEL PERSONAL,…

LIGHTING ISN'T JUST A PERFUNCTORY BULB AND SWITCH - and Martin Döller knows it. The local lighting visionary is on a mission to help you “experience more - with light”. And he's clearly succeeding: the designer was recently appointed to the jury of the LIT Lighting Design Awards, a global platform that honours excellence in lighting design and innovation. Adjudicated by a distinguished panel of industry leaders, the awards spotlight the best in the business. “Light has the power to shape how we live, feel and function. It's not just about illumination - it's about emotional impact,” Martin explains. “Experiential lighting can improve your sleep, lift your mood, and transform your experience of a space.” With that ethos in mind, Martin shares his passion for beautiful light, along with a…

FOUNDED BY HANNERIE VISSER and best known for producing the FOOD XX Awards, a platform that celebrates women in food across Africa, Studio.H was tasked with employing bold flavours and mindful storytelling to create a food installation that explored corn as a symbol of connection across North America, including Canada and Mexico. Commissioned by Novità Communications as part of Milan Design Week's North America Night gathering at Teatro Litta, Studio.H's installation complemented the evening's theme of “Not Lost in Translation” - a reflection on design as a universal language. Responding to this idea, all menu items and signage were presented in three languages: Italian (honouring the host city), English and Spanish. STUDIO.H'S INSTALLATION COMPLEMENTED THE EVENING'S THEME OF “NOT LOST IN TRANSLATION” - A REFLECTION ON DESIGN AS A UNIVERSAL…

THAT EYE-CATCHING LABEL ON YOUR FAVOURITE WINE? An illustrator made that. The giant billboard you zoomed past on your way home? Yep, that too. illustrators are everywhere, quietly (or not so quietly) shaping what we see, love and buy. Their art sneaks into our lives, and lingers. We caught up with six local artists to dive into their colourful, quirky digital worlds. ■ NDUMISO NYONI is an illustrator and animator focused on African identity, culture and expression. A fan of comic books and cartoons, his latest work includes reimagining the classic The Powerpuff Girls in his own Ndebele style for Cartoon Network. “My illustrative style combines clean geometry, bold patterns and vibrant, rich colours,” he says. “My creative process starts with research: I'm addicted to Pinterest, so I create reference…

LEAVING THE FAMILIAR LANDSCAPES OF MY HOMETOWN IN TZANEEN for the rigours of architectural studies, I arrived with a fresh perspective, knowing little of the discipline. My introduction came through a gift: a book called Paul Rudolph: The Florida Houses by Christopher Domin. It was given to me by a senior architecture student who recognised a spatial sensibility in my early designs that reminded him of Paul Rudolph's work. To this day, this book remains my starting point when working on a new design, with the Milam Residence in particular being a foundational study in layered facades and dynamic volumes. From an early internship in 1941 to his partnership with Ralph Twitchell ending in 1951, Paul Rudolph's career began amid a pivotal transition in architecture: a move away from the…

REQUIRING ABOUT THREE KILOMETRES OF OFF-ROADING AFTER TURNING OFF THE MEANDERING BAINSKLOOF PASS, THE ROCKY SITE COULDN'T BE MORE OFF-THE-GRID IF IT TRIED. ARCHITECTURAL SALVAGE – the practice of sourcing materials from demolitions and repurposing them for new builds – can be many things. Sustainable? Certainly: it diverts waste from landfill and contributes to a circular economy. Trendy? Indubitably: adaptive reuse is front and centre in a host of recent award-winning builds. Affordable? Not necessarily – at least not in the case of Skaam Cabin, a little sandstone-and-timber bungalow situated on a rocky ledge on the Limietberg mountain. Requiring about three kilometres of off-roading after turning off the meandering Bainskloof Pass, the rocky site couldn't be more off-the-grid if it tried. This remoteness was both a blessing and a curse…

IN THE VERY NORTH OF SCOTLAND, before the mainland crumbles off into the Orkney archipelago and Shetland Islands, lies the Highlands county of Sutherland. And in its northern reaches, at the tip of the Kyle of Tongue between the mighty peaks of Ben Loyal and Ben Hope, is Kyle House. Sitting on an elevated site with uninterrupted views dominated by Ben Loyal - often called the Queen of Scottish Peaks – the original structure dates back to the mid-19th century, and was built using stone taken from the nearby Dun Mhaigh broch. Unlived-in for two decades, and little more than a stone shell with an asbestos roof, it was taken over by Anne and Anders Holch Povlsen as part of their ambitious 200-year conservation project called Wildland. Their aim has…

● DANCING GLASS Designed by Bulgarian-born Victor Vasilev for Italian brand Oluce, the Dancing Glass series (above) is an exploration of balance and lightness. Inspired by suspended movement, each pendant features layered glass elements, both clear and opaline, creating an interplay of transparency and diffusion. With sleek metal accents and architectural precision, the series is ideal for cluster or solo use, offering poetic, sculptural lighting with a contemporary yet timeless aesthetic. oluce.com | eldc.co.za ● ATLAS A minimalist, versatile spotlight that emphasises form through function, the Atlas (top) by Spanish industrial designer Joan Gaspar for Barcelona-based brand Marset has a clear polycarbonate body and an aluminium reflector, exposing its technical beauty while offering precise directional lighting. Originally created for ceilings and walls, it blends transparency with industrial design, making it ideal…