Table of contents for VISI 85 in Visi

We are so happy to welcome in the spring season. Here at VISI HQ things have been very, very busy. Besides securing all the exquisite spaces in this issue, I have been assisting candidate architect Juané Venter, our VISI contestant in the Win A Home Competition airing on Afternoon Express on SABC 3. For both Juané and me, this has been a huge journey of discovery, which has given me renewed respect for the work of talented interior designers. It looks so effortless, until you have to do it yourself… which is when you realise it is a specialised field that demands rare talent. The experience has also made me aware of just how kind and generous people are with their advice. I will never forget that icy Saturday morning…

“I LOVED HOW I ALWAYS FELT AT EASE AND RELAXED IN THE OPEN SPACE.” Home is where we go to relax and recuperate from the day’s work and all the pressures and worries of everyday life. There are certain key criteria to satisfactory unwinding, and a comfortable space that is both quiet and calming is one of the most significant of these. Built with innovative materials, Stand 47, Saint-Gobain’s case study home in Lanseria, is a perfect example of such an ideal environment for everyday relaxation. Using a combination of passive design and high-tech materials, Stand 47 manages the internal temperature with a fluctuation of only 3 °C, even in extreme weather, with the outside temperature fluctuating by 17 °C. Similarly, the combination of modern interiors and warm materials such…

“WE LOVE HOW THEY’RE ALWAYS BRINGING SOMETHING FRESH AND FUNKY TO THEIR DESIGNS.” “THE BUILDING IS A SHELTERED VERSION OF THE OUTSIDE.” “WE DECIDED TO TURN THE DESIGN PROCESS ON ITS HEAD.” “NATURE IS GRADUALLY TAKING OVER AND WILL EVENTUALLY HIDE THE RAW CONCRETE-AND-STEEL STRUCTURE.” Throughout the year we dream about the perfect summer holiday spot, a place where you can escape from your daily chores, unwind and have fun with the kids all day long… But why play once a year when you can do so all year round? This was the question that came up over dinner one evening when the vacant stand next to a sporty family’s home in Southdowns came onto the market. Dreams of expanding their garden with a tennis court and…

Originally designed and built by legendary architect Hans Hallen in 1984 and 1985, the BMW Group SA head office was refurbished in 2014 by architects Boogertman + Partners, and was recently awarded a 5-star Green Star As Built rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). On a visit to the building we chatted to Hans, who is now 85 years old, as well as architects Judith Paterson and Bob van Bebber from Boogertman + Partners. How do you feel about the changes? Hans: I think the building has been refurbished at the right time in its life. I am especially glad to see that the essence of the original building is still here: Its form, its shape, its relationship with the freeway, its pedestrian access… all its…

The theme of the International Architecture Exhibition 2016 at the Venice Biennale, Reporting from the Front, offers participating countries an opportunity to put their stamp on the contemporary architecture discourse by giving an account of innovative current activities dealing with real-world issues. The South African Pavilion – located in the Sale d’Armi in the Arsenale, a 13th-century building in the Venice dockyards – features the work of the 2014 Cool Capital initiative, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the rejuvenation of Pretoria’s inner city by way of art and design. Its intention? To foster a new relationship with the city by encouraging active citizenry. “The design of the pavilion had to take into account the restrictions of working in a heritage building” says curator Pieter Mathews. “The architects decided to free…

What makes Schmidt a good fit for the South African market? Schmidt Groupe is the French leader in the kitchen industry and has more than 700 stores worldwide. We are convinced our combination of German quality and French elegance is perfectly suited to the demands of South African consumers. How does the Schmidt kitchen design app work? The app, which is available on our website, allows you to experiment with a variety of kitchen units and colours until you find a combination you like. Check it in-store in the Creative Box sample area, where you will find all the door finishes, handles and worktops in the collection. Then describe your project, taste, expectations and budget, and our team of designers will create a kitchen that meets those requirements. Which kitchen…

This is more than just your regular refrigerator. It is a playful and interactive creation that goes beyond the function of a mere practical necessity to take centre stage as an icon of style. Instantly recognisable by its retro ’50s styling, the Fab28 Blackboard fridge is coated with a special scratch- and abrasion-proof slate finish that serves as a blackboard – to be written and rewritten on. Endlessly. As you would expect of any Smeg fridge, it not only looks good but is also highly energy-efficient and it self-defrosts. Complete with the latest cooling technology, a 26-litre freezer compartment, adjustable glass shelves and a chrome-plated bottle holder, the Fab28 has everything you might need in a fridge. • smeg.co.za VISI COMPETITION RULES • VISI competitions are open to all South African…

Growing up in Austria and moving to South Africa 35 years ago had a profound effect on artist Gina Niederhumer. A need to understand and “repair” something about her childhood found expression in her fine art master’s exhibition at Michaelis, Mend, and in Portrait of a Needlewoman, a solo exhibition that followed at Mogalakwena Gallery in Cape Town. “During the past 10 years I’ve used my family history in my art-making process – how things are connected and how it made me who I am today” says Gina. “I come from a needleworking family, so choosing needlework as a medium seemed only natural to me – it’s a way to feel closer to them.” Today, Gina lives and works in Muizenberg, where she runs Gina’s Studio in the suburb’s historical…

Special jets, a flow limiter and the addition of air make Hansgrohe water-saving showers and basin mixers the eco-friendly choice. They reduce not only water but also energy consumption in a home, because less hot water is needed for ablutions. The Croma Select E Multi hand shower and Croma Select S hand shower both employ EcoSmart technology to allow a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute, restricting the amount of water used. Thanks to the same technology, the new Rainmaker Select 460 1jet overhead shower mixes air into the water to limit water use. The Crometta 85 Green overhead shower and hand shower have a precision O-ring that reacts to pressure and adjusts the amount of water so the maximum flow rate is only 6 litres per minute,…

All kidding aside, Belgian-born craft beer Leopold7 made its way to South Africa thanks to a chance meeting in Rwanda between two entrepreneurs with a passion for brewing – and drinking – beer. Belgian Alexandre Tilmans and American Marquis Brown joined forces with two other partners to revive a traditional Belgian brewery first opened in 1866, and in 2013 established Leopold7 in Belgium. In 2014, with the Belgian brewery up and running, Alex and Marquis decided to introduce the beer in South Africa, and they’re currently in the process of establishing a local brewery and tasting room. In April, after nearly two years of hard work building the business, they took time out to celebrate Leopold7. They collaborated with creative director Tracy Lee Lynch, who invited local designers and artists…

Block & Chisel is one of the oldest names in the local hand-crafted furniture business. When its doors opened in Wynberg in 1987, it was a passion for antique furniture styles that drove master craftsman, co-founder and current Head of Design Sibley McAdam. Fast-forward 29 years, and in addition to that Wynberg store there’s now also a 1 000 m2 flagship store in Cape Town and a 2 000 m2 store in Illovo, Johannesburg. Most recently, the company opened a new 2 500 m2 factory. “We have always wanted to increase the production of our own range of high-quality local furniture, and the timing is right for that,” says Head of Manufacturing Chris Stevenson. Most exciting for us here at VISI HQ is that a consciousness of things green was…

Transitional white bathroom • Combine a variety of material to keep an all-white bathroom from looking sterile. Sleek and shiny white tiles look subtler next to a vanity. • For a striking decorative touch that is anything but fussy, opt for a vessel-style sink with a decorative design that integrates metallic details. • Complement the patterned sink with a splash of low-key Asian influences such as a bamboo-framed mirror and shojiscreen lighting. Contemporary white bathroom • Keep it vain with mirrors that span the width of the walls to maximize an all-white bathroom’s spacious feel. • Wall-mounted sinks don’t take up floor space and create the illusion of expansiveness. • Soften a modern all-white bathroom with wooden flooring in a light shade and a wooden chair. White-and-black bathroom • A…

“THE HOUSE HAS NO STRAIGHT LINES. IT IS PERFECTLY IMPERFECT, AND SO EASY TO LIVE IN.” “TO ME,A HOUSE MUST BE UNPRETENTIOUS.” KHAYELITSHE IS NDEBELE FOR “HOUSE IN STONE”. The house that Beks Ndlovu built in the Matobo Hills just outside Matobo National Park is but a short drive from Bulawayo. A former safari guide to the stars and now CEO of African Bush Camps, which runs adventure safaris in Zimbabwe and Botswana, Beks wanted to create a weekend getaway for his family in the land of his ancestors, a majestic and hilly locale hewn out of a solid granite plateau over thousands of years. This is his story. Matobo is the historical land of my ancestors King Mzilikazi and his son Lobengula. It is also originally the…

“I LIKE TO DESCRIBE THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE AS SOUTH AMERICAN HACIENDA MEETS CAPE GEORGIAN VILLA.” “I’D HELD ONTO A BROCHURE OF THE HOTEL FOR YEARS – IT SERVED AS A VISUAL REFERENCE FOR MY IDEA OF A HOME.” “IT REMINDED ME OF THE HOUSES IN OLD SAN JUAN.” Serendipity came into play when actress Philippa Berrington-Blew and her husband Craig Strydom, a freelance writer, bought their home in the Cape Town suburb Oranjezicht four years ago. “We were living in Baltimore in the US at the time” recalls Philippa, “and I happened to be visiting my parents in South Africa when a friend who is an estate agent let slip that the current owner was thinking of selling.” Both Philippa and Craig were familiar with the…

Yswara is a producer and retailer of high-quality African tea and accessories. Fans include actress Lupita Nyong’o. Founder Swaady Martin notes South Africans’ loyalty to rooibos: “In Southern Africa, our rooibos blends are the most popular, whereas in West and Central Africa hibiscus blends fly off the shelves.” • yswara.com Jessica Bonin, the founder of Lady Bonin’s Teas, likes her oolong “steeped for 2 to 3 minutes in 80 ºC water in a cast-iron teapot. She first sold tea from a caravan before she launched the successful Lady Bonin’s Tea Bar on Long Street in Cape Town, and plans on launching more such bars around the country. • ladyboninstea.com “Our teas are grown above the sea of clouds, surrounded by large trees and beautiful fresh breezes”says Mingwei Tsai of Nigiro Tea…

What began as a year of practical design at high school creating jewellery progressed to a project in which Bernhardt Meyer opted to create a few items of furniture. This has lead to an inspired collection of furniture pieces and the debut of an exciting new design brand, Vernier. Bernhardt ascribes his inspiration to the world around him; his upbringing in a creative, stimulating environment; and design greats such as the late Zaha Hadid and Mies van der Rohe. His furniture and lighting reflect Danish design influences. He shows a mature technicality in his understanding of materials and production, which he attributes to his fascination with design books and being fortunate to have an award-winning designer, Laurie Wiid van Heerden of Wiid Designs, as a mentor. As for the future,…

Changes to a home’s physical structures are some of the most expensive you can make, and you will likely have to live with these changes for years. To take the pressure off that kind of decision-making, French building material and glass manufacturer Saint-Gobain has created a range of apps that allow you to preview the changes virtually before you make a choice. Best Finish Drywall finishes don’t exactly have us chatting around the water cooler, but we do know that if you get it wrong, drywall joints will be clearly visible when sunlight hits the wall, even under a coat of paint. Best Finish lets you preview how visible the joints might be under different lighting conditions so you can choose the right finish. Glass Vision Looking for glass for…

“THE OWNERS’ BRIEF WAS SIMPLE: THEY WANTED UNCLUTTERED AND AFRICAN, BUT IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY.” IT IS A HOME THAT IS CLEARLY “MADE IN SOUTH AFRICA”. THIS IS A HOUSE DESIGNED AND DECORATED TO BE IN HARMONY WITH ITS SURROUNDS. The Waterberg region in the north of Limpopo is a geographical wonder that spans some 15 000 km2 , with mountain ranges rising up to 1 400 m above sea level. It was the first region in northern South Africa to be named a biosphere reserve by Unesco. It is also home to Mabote Lodge, a Parisian family’s idyllic private escape built by Nicholas Plewman Architects and decorated by Fox Browne Creative, with co-owners Chris Browne and Debra Fox at the helm. Even before you step through the…

“HE FELL IN LOVE WITH A SLIGHTLY NEGLECTED AND EVER-SO-CONSERVATIVE LITTLE VICTORIAN.” “IT BECAME A MASCULINE SPACE, A REFLECTION OF ME.” “IT IS SMOKY AND DARK, BUT THERE IS ALSO A LIGHTNESS TO IT.” “A MOOD EVOLVES AS YOU FILL A SPACE WITH OBJECTS THAT TELL SPECIFIC STORIES.” THE STOEP IS THE HEART OF THE HOUSE; IT’S WHERE ETIENNE AND HIS HOUSE GUESTS CONGREGATE. Imagine what can happen when one incredibly talented interior designer who really likes to get his own way but who has mastered the art of listening to what his clients want finally gets to renovate his own home. When there are no limits to the imagination and the only constraints are those he puts on himself. Among his friends and select group…

This year’s Salone del Mobile was bursting at the seams with new and reloaded designs and ideas. Fieramilano, the official fairground on the outskirts of Milan, was crowded and energised by the kitchen and bathroom events, but the rest of Milan opened up to show new venues and zones. “Two highlights were a visit to Fondazione Prada and discovering a brand-new zone, 5 VIE, complete with medieval pathways, right behind our hotel” says Annemarie. ANNEMARIE’S TIP “If it is your first time at Salone del Mobile, go to Fieramilano on the first day; spend the next two days enjoying the city with its numerous events and installations in the showrooms, courtyards and palaces; then go back to Fieramilano to catch what you missed on the first day.” If design is…

SOM E OF THE MAIN FEATURES Show gardens There will be more than 20 gardens designed by some of South Africa’s top landscape architects and designers, including award-winning landscaper Megan Mackenzie. Water-wise gardening This section will showcase water-saving techniques. Floristry Workshops and demonstrations will take place in the Floral Theatre, coupled with a MasterFlorist competition where the contestants will create daily themed arrangements. Eliminations will take place, culminating in the announcement of the overall MasterFlorist winner on the last day of the show. Flowers in Art An exhibition of paintings, ceramics, etchings and other artworks depicting flowers. Workshops and demos The topics include vertical vegetable gardening, floral arrangements, biomimicry and orchid care. Horticultural exhibits, nurseries and seeds Various retailers will sell garden-related products, plants and seeds, and will be on…

BULTHAUP B1 The design focus for the bulthaup b1 range is simplicity. The latest b1 design is characterised by a flexible modular system designed around a countertop with selectable functions. The buyer decides which elements will go into the freestanding counter – stove, kitchen sink, worktop… whatever works best for them. The counter can also be fitted with additional elements for waste or under-counter storage. All this while looking sleek in materials such as wood, stone or stainless steel. BULTHAUP B3 The shape-shifting b3 range has always been about extending the limits of functional design. For the latest b3 system, bulthaup looks at the kitchen as the new living space rather than a merely functional space. Different levels are attached to the wall at different depths where functional panels are…

“The mere presence of a freestanding bath in a room creates a sense of tranquillity and calm, self-indulgence and anticipated pleasure” says Margaret Goodale. And she should know. Margaret and her husband Lance’s Victorian Bathrooms offers customers everything bathroom-related, right down to gowns and slippers, but they specialise in custom-made baths, all individually crafted. “Metals bring a warmth to the bathroom,” says Margaret. “The look of the moment is very much copper and brass – but a different brass: a raw, aged brass.” Choose from a selection of freestanding baths wrapped in metal sheets. The metal – lead, copper or brass – is hand-pressed onto the contours of the skirt, riveted in place and treated to accelerate the ageing process. The natural character and tone of the metal further develops…

Coricraft is known for designing and manufacturing all its couches – 100 % genuine leather, fully upholstered and with slipcovers – right here in South Africa and is able to keep prices low, offering unbeatable value on more than 40 ranges and styles. You can choose the leather or fabric (all the swatches are in each of the stores for you to touch and compare) and Coricraft will make you a couch exactly the way you want it. Coricraft recently introduced four new couch ranges, Sahara, Morton, Terry and Dune. So, whether you’re looking for a stylish leather couch or a comfortable corner unit, you’re sure to find something you love at Coricraft. • coricraft.co.za WIN You could win a Coricraft Terry leather couch, worth R8 000. Go to VISI.co.za/win to…

MUSGRAVE GIN We love Musgrave Pink Gin’s salmon tint. It’s a celebration of the rose, creator Simone Musgrave’s favourite scent. Signature botanicals: Cardamom, African ginger, grains of paradise, rose hips, juniper and rosewater. • R459 • musgrave gin.co.za HOPE ON HOPKINS We love that this distillery produces three gins: Salt River, London Dry and Mediterranean. Signature botanicals: Buchu, kapokbos and Table Mountain spring water (Salt River Gin); citrus, rosemary and juniper (London Dry Gin); olives, rosemary, thyme, basil, cardamom, citrus and juniper (Mediterranean Gin). • R419 • hopeonhopkins.co.za CAPE TOWN GIN & SPIRITS COMPANY We love both the Classic Dry Gin and the Rooibos Red Gin, but we are really impressed with the rooibos variant because of its uniquely South African spin. Signature botanicals: Juniper, orange peel, cinnamon and, of course, earthy rooibos. • R349 • capetowngincompany.com…

THE LOOKS Aesthetics is a matter of personal taste, but for us the BMW i3 is a stunner in its size range. It got a quite a few heads turning and the occasional discreet cellphone snap. PERFORMANCE Statistics aside, did its performance match our expectations? The answer is yes. First, the lack of a fuel engine means the car is super quiet, which can take getting used to. Put your foot down and the car immediately goes. BMW puts the numbers at 0 to 100 km in 7,2 seconds. As for road handling, it is as smooth and responsive as you would expect of a BMW in its class. Another thing that might take getting used to is how redundant the brake pedal becomes in your daily commute: Just take…