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Ed’s LETTER Until then, nay world had been defined as Benoni-with-the-odd-Boksburg-adventure-to-see-my-gran — but now we were getting into my mom’s VW Beetle and going to visit The Sea. It was 1969, I was three, Janine was a young single mother, and the two of us were off on a great adventure. My mother still talks about that holiday. As the story goes, the moment we hit the Scottburgh beach, I bolted into the surf shouting, “Hello Big Water!” and, much to Janine’s horror, had to be rescued by vigilant lifeguards. We moved to Cape Town five years later, and her PTSD flared up on any subsequent beach trip. I hope that you’re reading this bumper issue of VISI on a drama-free holiday of your own, or are at least planning…

TORIES HAVE ALWAYS HELPED us make sense of the world - to order our experiences and to find beauty in the chaos. There are the sweeping narratives of a country that create a national identity, for better or worse. Then there are the everyday little recountings of a tough day, or a surprising moment that we share with our loved ones or with complete strangers in a queue. The grand and the commonplace are all stories, big and small, all valid. The stories of our childhood, fables told and retold after suppertime through generations, or Bible stories read and sometimes re-enacted with costumes made from towels on a church Stage, created the bedrock of our values and our identity. As adult women, life and work soon taught us the power…

FTER BUILDING A REPUTATION for the past eight years as the expert in the field of wallcoverings, the logical next step was taking Cara Saven Wall Design into tableware and wall hangings. With her new brand CS4D, Cara has launched a range of tablecloths, napkins and textured wall hangings that are all about making life beautiful and easy. All products bear the hallmark of the brand with their refusal-to-be-a-wallflower approach to design, and you’ll find many of the popular wallcoverings from Cara Saven Wall Design now available as what Cara calls “table murals”. × Cara Saven Wall Design has focused on wallpaper consistently for the past decade. What made you decide to expand into another product range? “The truth is, it was the result of my own needs. I was…

× THE NEW ANTIQUARIANS: AT HOME WITH YOUNG COLLECTORS by Michael Diaz-Griffith, with primary photography by Brian W Ferry and additional photography by Leon Foggitt (Phaidon, 2023) New York-based curator, designer and author Michael Diaz-Griffith is pretty much the same age as the younger generation of creative collectors of historic objects who feature in his Phaidon book, The New Antiquarians. No wonder, then, that this delightful work demonstrates so well how a new group of connoisseurs - 22 are featured in total, hailing from across the US and the UK - is engaging with antique pieces culturally, personally and aesthetically, and often in fresh, unexpected ways. Their idiosyncratic homes are assembled around eclectic collections of objects, and brilliantly blend the old with the new. Rising young fashion designer Emily Adams…

× BERLIN Dive into Berlin’s cutting-edge design scene, where you can explore innovative dining, stay in hip hotels and marvel at the city’s eclectic architecture, such as the Berlin Philharmonic. Museums and galleries offer a glimpse into Berlin’s dynamic art and history, while its shops and unique points of interest reveal its experimental spirit, making it a hub for modern design and creativity. • STAY: KPM Hotel Conveniently located and stylishly designed, KPM Hotel & Residences Berlin accommodates 117 suites. The aesthetic is clean and classic with pops of colour, encapsulating 250 years of design history in a modern way. • SHOP: VANPEY Clever, minimalist, and both functional and fun, VANPEY furniture is handcrafted and produced in limited ranges by a team of local designers. True to the city’s ethos…

VISI | JOHANNESBURG HOUSE A KEY PART OF ARCHITECT GREGORY KATZ ’S APPROACH IS HIS LOVE OF BRICK AS A BUILDING MATERIAL, AND HE HAS PLAYED AROUND WITH VARIOUS BRICKLAYING PATTERNS. You could say the same for the house. While superficially it might look like an homage to Mid-century Modernism, it’s actually a dazzlingly complex and highly original response to Johannesburg suburban life. And, like all the best Modernist design, it’s deceptively simple-looking, gregorykatz.co.za WHAT TONI TWIDALE WANTED EVEN MORE THAN A HOUSE WAS TO LIVE AMONG THE TREES. “I wanted to see green all the time,” says Toni, who owns this home with her partner Graeme. “I wanted the outside in.” And so they decided to build a house that would, more than anything, be about the site. The…

× SAFARI CHIC The Safari chair by Kaare Klint, first shown in 1933 at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition, is still in production by Danish furniture company Carl Hansen & Son. Inspired by the Roorkhee campaign chairs once used by the British military, Klint’s sophisticated, lightweight wood-frame version is defined by fine craftsmanship, well conceived proportions and sophisticated materials, and has become a blueprint for today’s safari chair designs. carlhansen.com PAST ICONS CELEBRATED Max Mara’s creative director Ian Griffiths paid homage to the glamorous, iconic women of the 1930s in his spring/summer 2023 collection, capturing the casual elegance and charm of the French Riviera. Inspired by model Renée Perle’s flamboyant style and architect Eileen Gray’s feminine take on Modernism (best seen in the villa she designed for herself and her…

PIPPA DE BRUYN TRAVEL AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST What do you usually pack when you go on holiday, and why? Aside from the usual tech - computer, phone, Kindle - a beloved pashmina shawl is like a teddy bear for grown-ups: reassuring, familiar and comforting. Softer and finer than cashmere, it is both sensuous and practical; it’s said to be eight times warmer than wool, yet it takes up almost no space in your luggage. The way it drapes can effortlessly transform the ordinary into chic. I also pack the maximum amount of wine and gin allowed. Not quite so chic - but equally comforting! Pippa, the South Africa destination expert for The Telearaph in the UK, is the author of our cover feature about Duke’s camps in the Okavango Delta…

HAD A GENUINELY MIND-BLOWING epiphany recently, while attending a series of design talks presented by young designers in the industry. Engaging with these young designers made me feel like I was embracing my inner child. I was truly inspired by the creative energy of our cutting-edge, contemporary creatives, and the ways in which they are revolutionising the industry by harnessing technology to access their market and create inclusive, online, socialmedia communities. One of the key aspects that stood out for me was their focus on collaboration, networking and knowledgesharing. They believe in building up and growing one another, rather than focusing on individual success. It is about community and upskilling others; about sharing and collaborating. This approach not only benefits them but also strengthens the entire design community. The entrepreneurial…

× 1. SCULPTURAL STYLE Liquid - product designer extraordinaire Tom Dixon’s first-ever bathroom range includes this solid, church font-like basin. The range was created in collaboration with VitrA, and features what the Tom Dixon brand describes as his “signature roundedged aesthetics and soft forms”. While many bathroom designers are currently obsessed with reduced volumes, Liquid incorporates “fatter, softer lines that are inherently more generous, strong and long-lasting”. vitra.co.uk × 2. FEEL THE FLOW “Flow is not a normal sink,” says Andrea Lupi, CEO of Italian manufacturer Antonio Lupi. “It is an experimental object.” Designed by Paolo Ulian, the Flow basin is the result of his observation of the water jet machines used to cut stone. This process can create irregular, curvilinear waves in relief on the surface of marble that…

× MUKANYA CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT Mukanya was started by Zimbabwean Marlvin Gwese, who stands by the mantra that “Bubbles are always a good idea”. Made from Franschhoek grapes, this Brut dances on the palate with flavours of green apple, citrus, caramel and brioche - pleasing flavours that combine effortlessly with its richness and finely balanced acidity. R225 | mukanyawine.com × DE GRENDEL CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT This beautifully balanced Cap Classique, with its pale lemon colour and fine mousse, has won a multitude of awards. It exudes freshness and pure fruit on the nose, with notes of apple, white blossom and candied lemon rind. A beverage for any occasion, it pairs well with a wide array of delicious treats, including smoked salmon and cream cheese, as well as a freshly baked…

ELEGANT AND DURABLE, the pool-to-patio European Collection by WAZ Outdoor is the ultimate in stylish pool relaxation. The internationally inspired, high-end collection is made using flotation beads that conform to the body for optimal comfort, ensuring you glide effortlessly across the water. The European Collection includes a standard lounger, an extra-length lounger and a sofabed, each customisable to your decor palette. WAZ Outdoor also offers a luxurious collection of daybeds and modular units, wazoutdoor.com wazoutdoor TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY. The choice of WAZ Outdoor signature fabric can be decided by the winner, but will depend on fabric availability. Should stock of the desired fabric be unavailable, WAZ Outdoor will supply an alternative from the collection. If the winner is located in a main centre, the entire cost of delivery will…

WHEN TALK TURNS TO RALPH BOUSFIELD, “ROCK STAR” is the phrase that often crops up. Tall and rangy, with tousled long hair, wrist cuffed in bracelets, and talisman beads in an antelope scrotum hanging from his neck, this is the mien of a man who knows how to annex attention. Born into a long line of explorers and adventurers, Ralph’s father Jack — holder of the dolorous record for the most crocodiles killed in Africa — started guiding photographic safaris in the 1960s. With a lifetime spent in the bush, augmented by a degree in conservation, Ralph’s skills as a wilderness guide are uncontested: the first choice of Oscar-winning actors, film-makers and former US presidents, he was recognised as Tatler Travel Guide’s Best Safari Guide in Africa in 2023. But…

WANDEBELE, Mpumalanga — my hometown and place of birth -is a name that evokes the beauty of South Africa’s landscapes. In the heart of my hometown lies a meadow that captures the essence of nature’s tapestry, where the sun ascends over the horizon to create a beautiful, scenic view. I spent most of my school holidays back home, playing indigenous games like “skop die bal” or “diketo” with my friends. It was a time when I felt I could be myself; when I didn’t have a care in the world. And it was during these holidays that I learnt the value of time. My granny would say, “Come back before it’s dark,” which for me meant after the sun had completely disappeared from the sky. There are no streetlights in…

× THE IDEA “The first item to feature our sliding tambour doors was the credenza and, after developing that product, we fell in love with how beautifully simple the mechanism of a tambour door is. It’s a perfect match for our accurate machining capability and desire to use materials sensibly. When asking the question, ‘What else could we do with this clever sliding door?’, a drinks cabinet came to mind.” × THE AESTHETICS “The tambour style was quite popular in the Mid-century furniture movement, and we have put our own contemporary twist on this classic. The rest of the range shares the visual language of the drinks cabinet but has very different functions, such as a TV unit or home-office storage space. We have thrown some ideas around to add…

× THE BASICS Like so many derelict industrial sites, the Johannesburg Gas Works buildings have outlived the purpose for which they were constructed. The Gas Works was conceived and designed to meet the ever-growing energy demands of Johannesburg. The site plan of 1927 shows the original plant consisting of 20 buildings, but not all were constructed at that time because of the Great Depression, which hit in 1929. Retorts 1 and 2 are regarded as the most important historical buildings in the complex. These housed the machinery that processed coal into a gas form, which would later be purified, cooled, stored and distributed to consumers. In addition to the technical and functional use of the retorts, the very design of the buildings, and their execution - like the design and…

KRAMERVILLE HAS LONG BEEN THE GO-TO DESTINATION for interior design fundis. From fabrics to homeware and even bathroom and kitchen fixtures, this corner of the city has it all. Established as a design district in the early 2000s, this once-industrial area on the outskirts of Sandton is now home to a bevy of furniture stores, design showrooms and fabric houses. One of the best things about this neck of the woods is that you can easily walk between most of its offerings. Here’s VISI’s highlights package of some of the neighbourhood’s many excellent spots. × HANGING BY A THREAD Kramerville is undeniably the best place to pick out smooth velvets, lush linens and everything in between. In the mix of several fabric houses, you’ll find iconic St Leger & Viney…

LUXE × TREAT THE HEDONIST IN YOUR LIFE TO THE BEST OF THE BEST. COUNTRYCORE × EMBRACE NATURAL COLOURS, ORGANIC TEXTURES AND FLORAL PATTERNS. MINIMALIST × THINK STRIKING DESIGN, CLEAN LINES AND MINIMAL FUSS. × CELEBRATE LOCAL DESIGN, BOLD PATTERNS AND STRONG COLOURS. AFROMODERN…

× CAPE TOWN Cape Town’s design scene continues to evolve, with new creative endeavours constantly emerging. From repurposed industrial spaces to historic landmarks that have been transformed into design-led destinations, the city is a haven for those who appreciate innovation and elegance. Whether you’re interested in architecture, art or history, or simply want to enjoy a well-designed meal, the Mother City delivers. • STAY: Silo Hotel Perched above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art (Zeitz MOCAA), the Silo Hotel is a masterpiece of contemporary architecture and design. The structure is a marvel of repurposing, having once served as a grain silo. The hotel’s interiors exude luxury, with plush furnishings, unique artworks and breathtaking views of Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront. • DINE: Salon Award-winning chef and restaurateur Luke…

INTERMS OF WINDSWEPT coastal beauty, it doesn’t get much better than this 7 300-hectare dune field in Noord-Holland – one of the largest nature reserves in the Netherlands. And it’s here that Harmen Lodewijk and Julia Fagel chose to build their home, on a slightly elevated location where dunes merge into polder landscape, with the house and its garden forming a connection between the village of Schoorl and the dunes. Given the landscape, the choice of architect was a key consideration for the couple — they needed a discerning design that would accommodate their need for tranquillity, space and functionality along with a sensitivity to the surroundings. Paul de Ruiter of Paul de Ruiter Architects in Amsterdam was commissioned — and the result is a home with an elongated black…