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IT is now exactly a year since we launched our VISI Great Spaces tours. In each issue we try to secure two of the special spaces featured for readers to visit. The Great Spaces tours have proven to be extremely popular, as not only do they give readers the opportunity to experience places to which they would ordinarily not have access, but they also give the VISI team an opportunity to meet and interact with our readers face to face. Some readers are such fans of the tours that they have attended every one! To all our loyal readers, thank you so much for your incredible support. I hope to see you at all the Great Spaces tours we have lined up for the rest of this year, starting with…

GOLD PENDANT WITH EXTRA - LONG FILAMENT GLOBE ROBYN “These metallic pendants are available in copper, silver and gold. They look stunning in a cluster or repeated in a row. Filament globes are available in a range of sizes and shapes.” LESEGO “I love our latest quirky 30 cm filament globes. They remind me of the Star Wars light sabres. May the force be with you!” MINIMA TIMBER CONE 510 BY JACQUES CRONJE OFTIMBER DESIGN LESEGO “This is the largest pendant in the range – and in the shop. Minima lights are elegantly simple, yet confidently hold their own in a range of interior spaces. They are perfect for double-volume spaces.” ROBYN “Minima is a range of bespoke digitally crafted timber light fittings designed by timber architectural designer Jacques Cronje…

THE INIMITABLE LOUIS ARMSTRONG once said musicians don’t retire; they stop when there is no more music in them. Which, let’s face it, is really a poetic way of saying you are always on the job. Like most freelancers, especially if you are in a creative industry, it’s hard to separate work from home. In my case it is even harder, because being a writer means having homework for the rest of your life. Home and work, bound together till death do us part, which is why, three years ago, I decided to move out of home… Well, just my writing desk anyway. In trying to untangle work from home, and home from work, little did I know that my studio would become a home away from home. When I…

“EVERY HOUSE SHOULD HAVE ONE ” says Otto de Jager, standing in front of his cabinet of curiosities. He runs his fingers over a leather wallet embossed with his initials that once belonged to his father and grandfather. Chock-a-block with things like family photos, scented candles and old ribbon, the cabinet is a trophy case and a repository for memorabilia and everything else he wants to keep safe, out of the way and dust-free. CHOCK-A-BLOCK WITH THINGS LIKE FAMILY PHOTOS, THE CABINET IS A TROPHY CASE AND A REPOSITORY FOR MEMORABILIA. The cabinet sits on a landing in the double-storey Victorian semi in which Otto lives for one week every month – he is based in Johannesburg. “The idea was to not constantly live in hotels,” he says, explaining the…

What is the story behind your garden? When I bought my flat I had no access to the garden; I could only see it from my window. So I put in sliding doors to gain access to it. Back then, it was derelict and needed love and attention. I developed it and now look after all the gardens in the block. Valerie Stewart and Chris Maddams from the landscaping business Red Daffodil helped me with the planning and planting. I have a love affair with this garden. THE GARDEN HAS BECOME AN EXTENSION OF MY HOME, A CONTINUATION OF MY LIVING SPACE. What inspired you to create it? The garden has become an extension of my home, a continuation of my living space. The white iron bench was my bed…

Spice Route near Paarl is an exciting Winelands destination with a variety of retail, dining and craft offerings. This is mostly thanks to co-founder Abigail Bisogno, who ditched 35 years in retail for life on the farm. Abigail is the brain behind the creative direction and project management of the renovations at Spice Route, but The Trading Company store is her special “love” project. The store stocks a wide range of local products that express Abigail’s bold, colourful personality. “I enjoy bringing my character into the spaces I live and work in. I’m a happy person and I like my surroundings to be happy too.” While she keeps a close eye on international trends, Abigail is passionate about South African design and about encouraging local entrepreneurs. Some of her favourite…

Choosing office furniture is about more than just the aesthetic. Cleverly designed pieces impact on comfort, which in turn has an affect on productivity in the workplace. This is one of the principles behind Dauphin HumanDesign Group’s new Bryanston showroom, where customers can experience the outstanding product designs for themselves. Dauphin’s Bosse office furniture brand, an international range that is now being produced locally, takes centre stage in the new showroom. This comprehensive modular range that caters for all office requirements, large and small, is on display in the showroom, allowing customers to tailor their office layout to suit their specific needs. • Dauphin HumanDesign Group showroom, corner of Main and Payne roads, Bryanston • dauphin.co.za…

What made you design a board game? I love design and it was a pleasure project that I embarked on after selling my shares in a safari company in Botswana. I totally indulged myself and made the board game that I wanted to own. Almost all the components are lovingly designed and beautifully made from scratch. Who else was involved in the design and production of the game? Everything except the egg timer was made and sourced in Cape Town. I was fortunate to be able to draw on a network of creative friends and contacts to help me execute my ideas. Sam Hendricks, the graphic designer who worked on the game, is really good at making things, so I was lucky, as she got involved with extra stuff like…

How did Wild Olive come about? Wild Olive was started in 1997 by a South African pharmacist, and we took it over in 2007 with the idea to structure it as an educational platform. Today, the people who work here are renowned master artisans. What differentiates Wild Olive from its competitors? Our mission is to demonstrate the possibilities of the African continent and the value of its human resource. We want to compete on a global level and we manufacture every single product in-house. We use the best materials and technologies available at the moment in our industry, carefully managing the economies of scale – with no compromise on quality or service. Tell us about your space at 29 Pepper Street. We wanted to build a place we can call…

• cremadesign.co.za  • lecreuset.co.za • womag.co.za  • woolworths.co.za • yuppiechef.com WIN You could win a black 24 cm Le Creuset Signature round casserole, worth R2 560. To enter, go to VISI.co.za/win.…

When photographer Kevin Mackintosh and his long-time partner, production designer Daryl McGregor, tied the knot, they held the ceremony at Mayfair Library in London. The couple felt, however, that their union would not be complete without a second celebration in South Africa, surrounded by friends and family. We were honoured to be given access to the happy event, which was held at Roodebloem Studios in Cape Town. • Roodebloem Studios offers photographic studio spaces and equipment rental • roodebloem studios.co.za…

KEVIN MACKINTOSH 1. Photographer Kevin, who recently married his long-time partner, production designer Daryl McGregor (standing in the picture), is a real citizen of the world, with homes in London, New York and South Africa. 2. London, he says, is an easy fit. New York, on the other hand, continues to be a mystery. “I often find myself wondering what on earth I’m doing there 3. His dream home is on a hill overlooking the Western Cape village of Darling, or a great little farmhouse in San Giovanni d’Asso, Tuscany. 4. Winter he equates with work, but summer is all about sea, sun and relaxation… and holidays in Italy or on the small Greek island of Paxos. 5. Kevin defines himself as a night owl, saying he cannot start his…

MINIMA TIMBER CONE 510 Pendant designed by Jacques Cronje of Timber Design (R5 550), with 12 W compact fluorescent (energy saver) butterfly-shaped globe (R195). • timberdesign.co.za GOLD PENDANT WITH EXTRA-LONG FILAMENT GLOBE Pendant from Hoi P’loy (R799), with Eurolux 30cm filament globe (R125). • hoiploy.com • eurolux.co.za ENAMEL PENDANTS WITH WOODEN ACCENTS Grey (R799) and white enamel pendant (R1 195), imported by Nolden Brothers. • noldenbros.co.za BLACK METAL CAGE PENDANT The K. Light Import version (R385) of the classic mechanic’s lead light, also available in white, chrome and polished brass, with squirrel cage vintage filament globe (R150). • klight.co.za All lights available at The Light Shed, corner of Westminster Drive and Portland Avenue, Craighall, Johannesburg, 011 325 6093, info@lightshed.co.za…

IF HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS, then suffice it to say that my heart is somewhat homeless or, at the very least, in limbo. Okay, so I’m not exactly homeless in the traditional sense of the word. I don’t live on the street; in fact, quite the opposite. I currently live in a small yet comfortable apartment in Green Point at the foot of Signal Hill. It’s quiet and my neighbours are friendly people (their cats aren’t as friendly, but we coexist just fine). From street level, I have a stunning view of Cape Town Stadium – on concert evenings I can faintly hear the music playing. I can see Green Point Lighthouse and vividly hear the droning foghorns guiding ships on misty nights. My older brother and younger…

Stepping through the majestic double doors into “the heart of the house”, as architect Thomas Honiball describes the spacious entrance hall, it takes one look to realise there is indeed a lot of heart hidden inside the Modernist exterior of this Pretoria family home. Perched on the rocky slopes of Waterkloof Ridge, the crisp white structure sits cool and aloof against the bright blue African sky, but inside the space is characterised by soft hues and subtle shades of warm light that reflect from clerestory windows into the generous spaces below. THE MINIMALIST DETAILING IS REMINISCENT OF THE EARLY MODERNIST ARCHITECTURAL MASTERS. Thomas looked towards the exceptional qualities of the site, the family’s lifestyle and his own design style to shape the concept of the house: “Since the family and…

WHEN YOU THINK OF SEASHELLS IN HOME DECOR, THE IMAGE OF SHABBY CHIC BEACH HOUSES IS LIKELY TO SPRING TO MIND. Not so in the case of the intricate artworks created by Swiss-born artist Thomas Boog, a great number of which adorn the walls of the holiday home he and his wife, renowned French stylist Elizabeth Leriche, bought in Cape Town three years ago. “SOUTH AFRICA IS DYNAMIC AND THE ART IS FANTASTIC.” Thomas has been fascinated by seashells since he was a child. They are, he says, one of nature’s gifts, a noble raw material that cannot be appreciated in the murky depths of the sea and that he brings to life with lacquer and polish before arranging them in artful displays. Thomas’s work in found objects from the…

There’s no denying just how drastically the global festival scene has been transformed in the past two decades. The most popular among them are no longer just about watching live bands perform in the dust. They are getaways designed with a range of activities in mind, a way of checking out of the mundane and banal for a weekend. The LITTLEGIG 24H Festival, held on Valentine’s weekend, was a thoroughly modern curated event that offered some 750 guests an immersive, multi-sensory experience, with no detail left to chance. “I WANTED THE FESTIVAL TO INSPIRE PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT “I started out putting on curated everything-included concerts in Cape Town for about 300 people,” says festival organiser Georgia Black. “They were a great success among a slightly older crowd looking for an…

STEVEN GRAHAM How would you describe your design aesthetic? My personal style is eclectic. I love to borrow from different styles and layer them. However, when it comes to my clients, I adapt to their space and their style. What are your favourite colours? I side with neutrals for their longevity. I try not to use more than three colours in a room. My must-have tones are peppercorn, white, grey and linen, to which I add navy, yellow, black or gold. Your favourite materials? I love fabrics: the movement, the touch, the colours and how they change with light. Wood is my next best material. Tips for those who want to update their interior on a tight budget? Decide on a look and take the time to plan before you…

For the first time ever, an African has been chosen to design the packaging for the prestigious global brand Chivas Regal’s limited-edition 18-year-old Scotch whisky. The collaboration sees local fashion star Laduma Ngxokolo joining the likes of Christian Lacroix in designing Chivas packaging. It is an affirmation of the calibre of design coming out of South Africa. Laduma is a textile and knitwear designer who is best known for his knitwear brand MaXhosa by Laduma, which is inspired by traditional Xhosa beadwork and uses only local mohair and wool. “Laduma’s art has raised the profile of South African talent to that of Alexander McQueen, Ashish N Soni and Vivienne Westwood, all internationally esteemed artists who have previously designed for Chivas Regal, and we are proud that a home-grown talent has…

THE ILLUSTRATOR Ishaarah Arnold Describe your work in three words. Emotive graphic drawings. What do you love about design? Design tells us how to feel, act and react. This means we can use design to shape people’s experiences. I love that design has the power to transform how someone feels for the better. What does being an Emerging Creative mean to you? Every time I’ve attended the Design Indaba Festival I have been inspired by the Emerging Creatives. To be part of that group of young designers this year is an absolute honour. Ishaarah is based in Cape Town. She recently graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with a BA (Visual Arts) in Visual Communication Design. • behance.net/ishaarah THE FURNITURE DESIGNER Siyanda Mazibuko What do you love about design? I…

In this, its 13th year, KAMERS has introduced a number of new initiatives designed to promote entrepreneurship and offer young crafters a supportive platform from which to launch their retail operations. A programme for young entrepreneurs called Incub8, launched in association with ABSA, will see about a dozen hand-picked crafters (under the age of 28 and who’ve been in business for a year or less) given the opportunity to trade at KAMERS large-scale pop-up spaces across the country. They will also be mentored by experts to help them to grow their businesses. “The creativity and self-starting energy that is out there, in the most unlikely of places and all over South Africa, is extraordinarily encouraging!” says KAMERS Creative Director Wanda du Toit. KAMERS Johannesburg 2016 will be held at St…

What is trending in the lighting industry? LEDs are all the rage in the lighting world at the moment. As a result we are seeing small yet powerful luminaires as light sources. Pendants and shades in natural materials such as wood and even cardboard have become very popular. Designs that cause interplay between light and shadows, creating a dynamic effect, are in high demand from local interior designers. How do you source lighting for your collection? I attend the major lighting and furniture exhibitions all over the world, including Euroluce and Salone del Mobile in Milan, Light + Building in Frankfurt and the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair. I look for products that are in line with South Africa’s eclectic design world. The local market consists predominantly of people looking…

Why did you write this book? SIMON There is a huge lack of resources out there that can provide people with a holistic understanding of the environmental issues affecting our world. Many of the available resources are either highly technical or too specific to a particular topic. We wanted to provide an alternative that is both visually appealing and intellectually stimulating. Who are your readers? DEVAN The most gratifying experience I’ve had that sums up the answer to this question is when a woman who bought a copy for herself then bought two more shortly thereafter for her 12-year-old son and her 70-year-old mother. She said she fervently believed this book would be of great value to all generations. How does intelligent design foster sustainability? SIMON Design is fundamentally about…

The trend of all-white kitchens has reigned supreme for a long time, but Lando designer Enzo Berti believes such sleek, sterile environments are more suited to surgical rooms than the heart of the home. At Lando, materials that age gracefully, such as solid wood, steel and marble, add to the personality of the space. This philosophy is beautifully embodied in the Forgia kitchen, which forms part of Lando’s Convivio system of freestanding modular kitchen elements. The Forgia worktop is made of flat sheets of stainless steel, moulded and brushed by hand by Italian artisans to give the stainless steel a vintage, worn look. This is combined with the warmth of Austrian larch wood that is sandblasted and undergoes a process of heating to bring out its character. Through the use…

There’s a semi-tongue-in-cheek theory called Parkinson’s Law, which states, “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, we will accomplish a 5-minute task in 5 hours if we are given 5 hours to do it. Kitchens are a bit like that. They adhere to a sort of spatial Parkinson’s Law: No matter how much space you are given, you will fill it. It’s no wonder, then, that the two biggest trends in kitchen design in 2016 are space saving and technology. Modern living spaces have become a lot more compact, but designers are learning to work within these constraints to create intelligent storage and utilities. In South Africa, Easylife Kitchens recently unveiled its Evolution branding, a product range that includes new drawer configurations…

Treat yourself to a VISI subscription and you could be the lucky winner of three 15cm chef’s knives from Le Creuset: • Stainless steel blade with a stainless steel handle. • Damascus steel blade with a black phenolic resin handle. • Damascus steel blade with an olive wood handle. The chef’s knife is a versatile, all-purpose knife with a curved blade for precise chopping and dicing. Le Creuset chef’s knives are expertly crafted in Solingen, Germany, and come with a two-year guarantee. • lecreuset.co.za WANT THE PRINT MAGAZINE? Subscribe to VISI now and receive a 30 % discount off your one-year print subscription. You’ll pay just R210 for six issues delivered directly to your post box — that’s a saving of almost R100. Use any of these methods to subscribe or…

• VISI competitions are open to all South African residents excluding employees of New Media Publishing, employees of the companies supplying the prizes, associated companies and advertising and promotion agencies, and their immediate family members. • The winner will be chosen at the sole discretion of the judges, whose decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into. • Winners will not be eligible for other prizes for three months after winning a competition. • The prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. • Neither New Media Publishing nor any of its partners can be held responsible for disputes in connection with prizes or for any loss, damage or injury that may be suffered or incurred by prize winners. • Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these…

WE here at VISI are driven by a need to celebrate and champion local design. To this end, we’ve put together an A – Z of the names that come to mind when we think of local product design. Some have been around for a while, and others are new businesses that have made us sit up and take notice. This is in no way an exhaustive list; to cover the wealth of local design would take much more than a couple of pages. Keep an eye on VISI.co.za for our upcoming longer and more inclusive list. We had lots of fun with this one as we sat around the VISI table, shouting out the first name that came to mind for each letter of the alphabet, and more often…

WATCH ONLINE From acclaimed short films to clips of VISI Great Spaces tours, we aim to round up the best design, art and architecture videos from around the world every week on VISI.co.za. WIN WITH HANDLES INC Want to give your decor a quick update? Changing door or cupboard handles is an easy and effective way to creatively transform a space. Enter our exclusive online competition at VISI.co.za to stand a chance to win one of four Handles›Inc vouchers, worth R2 500 each, to get you started. # READER LOVE Loving the new issue? It brightens our day when you let us know. Simply take a pic and tag us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. It’s time to fly with my favourite @visi_mag to keep me company. Adios Cape Town.…

SOME BUILDINGS REMAIN WITH US long after we’ve set foot in them for the last time. One such building for me is Fort Tierkloof in the Tankwa Karoo. The fort of my memories is quite different from the structure of today. I doubt whether it has changed much architecturally, and the surrounding veld is almost certainly unchanged. But the human side has changed – the people who own it and occupy it, who fill it with their things, their dreams, their lives. I visited Fort Tierkloof perhaps a dozen times in the early 2000s. In those years, it was owned and run as a guest house by John Rudd, a lively and eccentric man who turned 80 during the time that I knew him. I have a photograph of the…

THEY SAY MOVING HOUSE is one of the most stressful things a person can do. It requires excessive amounts of cardboard, packaging tape and patience. Things are never in the box you expect them to be in, and far fewer things than is fair are rectangular or square. Still, there is something about moving often that helps you to take account of what matters. When I was about eleven, I convinced my eight-year-old sister, Fiona, that we should swap rooms. We duly began packing all of my things into her room, making sure that nothing, not even the bed, was left behind. The room was a jumble of Sweet Valley High books and Spice Girls CDs, bedcovers and clothes. Afterwards, as per normal, we argued. Possibly because I promptly locked…

SHE OFTEN ENTERS THE CONVERSATION,THIS HOUSE OF THEIRS. They speak of her as if she were a friend. A gentle but strong, dignified woman. One who has experienced much and is deserving of respect. “They” are Jacques Erasmus, designer, curator of beauty, chef and restaurant owner of popular Cape Town restaurant Hemelhuijs, and Hein Liebenberg, who works in the financial services industry. “IT MAY BE PRECIOUS, BUT IT IS NOT UNTOUCHABLE. WE DO NOT LIVE IN A MUSEUM.” When the couple bought the 1854 Cape Dutch house in Montagu, they knew only that it was the second-oldest house in town (the oldest being the museum building) and that they would have to do major renovations. THE LIBRARY, WHICH HE REFERS TO AS THE ROOM OF CURIOSITIES, IS HEIN’S FAVOURITE SPACE.…

The Suzaan Heyns fashion label has long had a link with architecture and sculpture. The eponymous designer’s Autumn Winter 2013 range took its inspiration from the Indian-style doors and labyrinthian alleyways of Zanzibar’s Stone Town. In 2012, her Re-imagine Concrete collaboration with cement manufacturer PPC revealed a marriage of fashion and sculpture that had the country’s most fashionable tongues wagging. So, when it came to wedding her partner of 14 years, this bride’s penchant for art and architecture took centre stage. The venue was the 135-year-old Prynnsberg Estate in Clocolan in the Eastern Free State. Established in 1881, a century before both Willem and Suzaan’s birth year, the estate was the brainchild of Kimberley diamond magnate Charles Newberry, built in pursuit of creating an English country estate in Africa. It…

“Every story has a beginning. Mine started at the tables of my mother and grandmother, where the notion of true South African hospitality seeped into my consciousness to become the foundation on which I would later build JAN. It is here that I learnt the humble art of serving and creating a warm, welcoming space where people would feel special and escape the humdrum of everyday life, to enjoy the singular pleasures of good company and delicious food.” So begins the first chapter of Jan’s book: a dedication to food and family and living your dream. This is his story. You are clearly proud of your South African heritage. How did you end up in Nice? I worked in Paris for a while before cooking for a Swedish family on…

The competition brief was to design an African-inspired pendant light with a contemporary edge. Each of the winners received an order to produce 50 lights that will be installed in Nando’s restaurants across the globe. Seven finalists received mentorship from top designers during the process of planning and assembling their lights, which were launched at Design Indaba. All the lights can now be ordered from the designers. • nandos.co.za/art-design THE JOINT WINNERS Thabisa Mjo (28), Tutu 2.0 Light (R6 680 for 71 cm x 70 cm light) Mentors: Megan Hesse and Andrea Kleinloog of Anatomy Design. Thabisa is the owner of Mash T Design Studio in Johannesburg. • thabisa@mashtdesignstudio.com Samantha Foaden (23), Buhle Bulb (R2 000 for 45 cm and R2 400 for 65 cm light) Mentors: Greg and Roché Dry of…

Mark Attwood’s father Bruce was a printer who worked with, among others, the artists Walter Battiss and Norman Catherine, but he paid the bills by printing commercial products such as books and posters. Mark decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. After completing his apprenticeship, though, he chose to focus on the fine art side of lithography and printing. This year, Mark’s The Artists’ Press celebrates its 25th anniversary. It’s a small printing business that employs only four people, but this suits the artistic process, because it is such a highly iterative one. Artists spend an average of two weeks drawing on stones or plates and creating a series of proofs that they will hone until they are satisfied with the final product. Once that is done, a series of…

February 2016 saw the third South African Menswear Week hosted at Cape Town Stadium. We were right there in the front row. A number of designers impressed us, but four stood out. The labels Chulaap, Mdingi Coutts, Rich Mnisi and AKJP can hold their own on the international fashion scene; in fact, two of the collections had just come from being shown at one of the world’s most highly regarded menswear platforms, Pitti Uomo in Florence. CHULAAP Chu Suwannapha’s showed his second collection since wowing audiences at the launch of his label at SA Menswear Week the year before. As is his signature, Chu reminded audiences why he is the reigning Prince of Prints with an Afro-futuristic collection inspired by the travels of the popular photography trio I See a…

The beautiful Cape Dutch homestead Stellenberg in Kenilworth is renowned for its gardens. The owners, Sandy and Andrew Ovenstone, whose family have lived here since the early 1950s, have cultivated 16 distinct gardens on the estate, each with a different mood. Inspired by the heady fragrances emitted by the plants, Malu Ovenstone, Andrew and Sandy’s daughter, and her partner Roberto Cristobal have developed a range of scented candles so visitors can take something of these sensory pleasures home with them. At present there are three EcoSoya soya wax candles in the range: Stellenberg No I combines fynbos and ylang-ylang to capture the fragrance of Stellenberg’s Wild Garden on a spring evening; Stellenberg No II combines rose geranium, African wormwood and lavender, evoking the Herb Garden on a summer evening; and…

Guests were understandably distracted at the launch of No. 3 Silo, a high-end residential development located in the same Silo District that is set to house the future Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA). And who can blame them? It’s not every day you see someone building a tower of waffles – held together with a mortar of toffee, caramel popcorn and peanut butter, and plastered with meringue icing – only to demolish it dramatically with the swing of a panga. The architect of this destruction? None other than Eat Design’s Caro de Waal, the conceptual food artist whose name has become synonymous with boundary-pushing edible installations. Suspended above the hacking action was a simple bushel of wheat. “I picked the wheat myself,” says Caro. “I wanted to honour…

If they’re not tethered to the bath or basin, plugs tend to go missing with surprising regularity. Modern pop-up plugs aren’t much better; over time they tend to stick or lose their watertight seal. The Japanese don’t have these problems, because they opt for a ball instead of a conventional plug, which seals better and is way easier to unplug for the water to run out. So how do you choose the right ball? Golf balls are a good size, but the dimples prevent them from being watertight, and squash balls are so light they float. The solution is to use one of a pair of Baoding balls – also known as meditation balls. They’re heavy enough, they come in different sizes, and they’re usually decorated with pretty symbols. You’ll…