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OKAY.. SO WHEN MY MOTHER AND I FIRST MOVED TO CAPE TOWN IN THE LATE ‘70s, she rented an apartment in the city's much-maligned but equally loved towers, Disa Park. Much-maligned because, situated at the foot of Devil's Peak, this misplaced triumvirate has loomed over the City Bowl for more than five decades; but also loved – back then for its modern design, and today for its retro-cool cred. While it's the latter that appeals to me now, in the summer of 1977 it was the tennis and squash courts, the huge swimming pool, and the covered concrete parking levels with spiralled car access that made for brilliant skateboarding. Basically, Disa Park was the perfect playground for an eight-yearold boy who, until then, had been living in a basement flat…

I LOVE TO TRAVEL to faraway places on planes love to gather my things into a suitcase days before I'm due to set off. On the day of my flight, I get such a kick from making myself small — a small packet of tissues in my small pouch in my small bag for my small nose. I give myself permission to withdraw from my everyday life and really sink into being the Silent Black Lady. The SLB has her headphones in, and she quietly nods to her Uber driver as she begins her ride to the airport. This Silent Black Lady gestures grandly to families with small children, and to older people, to move ahead of her in the queues for check-in. She also glides into the lounge and daintily sips…

THE PORT TOWN of Puerto Escondido is an escape. Travellers from all over the world retreat to its golden beaches and waves, to walk, meditate and help release turtles in local sanctuaries. On the southern tip of town, Casa TO has added an element of thoughtful luxury to this tiny utopia. Completed in August 2022, the hotel was designed by renowned architect Ludwig Godefroy. Working to a very succinct brief of “nine rooms, and lots of freedom”, he and his team have married tradition and the avant-garde in a unique structure, surrounded by a tranquil natural setting. Made largely of concrete, the materiality of the build was of the utmost importance to Ludwig. “My search for simplicity has led me to create clean and abstract architecture, composed exclusively of mass…

Overlooking a natural Mediterranean port made up of lovely private coves bathed by the crystalline sea, Sa Calma villa is part of Vista Alegre, a luxury community on the west coast of the legendary Spanish island of Ibiza. South-facing, the villa sits on a 3 600m2 plot of land at the water's edge, a short drive from the island's famous south-coast beaches Cala Jondal and Es Cubells, and unfolds over three levels. Entry is through a gate of curved oxidised steel, which reveals a driveway that's laid haphazardly with weathered railway sleepers separated by a soft covering of verdant moss. Like the gate, the recycled-wood front door was designed by architect Fernando Corominas of the IFC Group and, as it swings open, it appears to create an aperture expanding across…

x This exactingly curated selection of goods is certain to get the fanatics of very good, very refined design hot under the collar - in a very restrained manner, obviously……

THERE'S A CERTAIN MAGIC to walking through a city and spotting something surprising – a tiny garden, a hidden door, a piece of art peeking around a corner. A new project initiated by House Union Block (HUB), the commercial arm of the Spier Arts Trust, is adding some of this kind of serendipity to the Mother City. The project will see eight Cape Town-based artists work in collaboration with 15 artisans to create public artworks made from mosaic. These will be installed on the walls of various city locations by the artisans, who've all graduated from the Spier Arts Academy's three-year mosaic-making course. Artists confirmed to take part are Kilmany-Jo Liversage, Robyn Pretorius, Adolf Tafadzwa Tega, Fanie Buys, Olivié Keck, Meshack “Shakes” Tembani, Xolile Mtakatya and Wonder Marthinus. The pieces…

IT IS POSSIBLY THE ONLY TIME a lodge guest will be thrilled not to see a leopard, a lion or a buffalo on a short safari break. In fairness, there will be plenty of Big Five-spotting opportunities on twice-daily game drives - but in the newly opened art gallery at Singita's Kruger National Park concession, there's not a beast to be seen. The lack of wildlife at the gallery is a bit of a relief, in more ways than one. After all, who wants to look at another procession of dubious animal artworks aimed squarely at a largely overseas clientele? Instead, Singita's newest gallery - the second, after a similar space opened at the group's Sabi Sand lodges in 2021 - is focused on showcasing contemporary African art, introducing continental…

NWABISA MAYEMA, ENTREPRENEUR AND CONSULTANT What's the best gift you ever received? The best gift I ever received was from my former housemate, Zimkita. We were young, just starting our “real jobs”, and it was time for us to part ways for Christmas holidays with our respective families. I remember walking into my bedroom and finding this beautifully wrapped box; in it was a bedside lamp. It was my very fi rst “grown-up” gift from a friend, and it inspired me to think carefully about how I want to curate my living space. That was more than 15 years ago – and I still have that lamp! A. er many moves, the lampshade has been pretty much destroyed, but I've found ways to bring it back to life. Given the…

“PASAPORTE, POR FAVOR,” says the impassive immigration official. “Bienvenido a Argentina,” he adds as he stamps my passport with a heavyhanded spank. I'm half-Calabrese, half-Croatian; he looks like me. Most people in Argentina look like me — the country is more-than-half-Italian. There are a lotta Talottas, too; my nonno's brothers moved to Buenos Aires in the 1930s, back when Argentina was the “Plan A” destination for economic migrants leaving Italy and, quite often, the first choice ahead of the United States. Italian villagers used to say the land was so fertile, you could plant a stick in the ground and it would grow. I can't help but adore Buenos Aires, the “Paris of South America”. Its cosmopolitan population is decidedly quirky — everyone is in therapy; it's said to have…

THE WORLD OF THE V&A WATERFRONT will transform into an enchanting holiday wonderland, a celebration of colour, creativity and fun fuelled by imagination and built to honour heritage and hope in the neighbourhood where all things are possible. In this precinct of possibilities, visitors will be able to marvel and wonder at decor installations throughout the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre and other locations across the districts (including the Watershed, Makers Landing and the Silo District). They will be encouraged to scan the QR codes at every installation to explore each art piece, gaining access to behind-the-scenes content that tells the story of the makers of each handcrafted work. If visitors are unable to visit the V&A District, they'll have an opportunity to explore the installations via an interactive digital Magic…

AS THE OWNERS AND FOUNDERS OF HOPE DISTILLERY, one of the first small-batch distillers of craft gin in South Africa, Leigh Lisk and Lucy Beard had grown tired of living on-site at their distillery in Cape Town, and wanted a bolthole to which they could escape every weekend. “Both Leigh and I are keen cyclists and runners who love the outdoors, and so the natural beauty of Scarborough and its proximity to the city made it an obvious choice for us,” says Lucy. Initially, they had bought an old, abandoned tennis court in the coastal village with a view to building on that, but the prospect of a two-year brick-and-mortar build saw them buy an old one-bedroom, prefab home in the village as a stopgap. “We initially saw it as…

AS IN MOST COASTAL LOCATIONS, THE EVER-CHANGING WEATHER governs most activity here. When the VISI team visited to photograph this Pringle Bay house, our shoot began in peaceful sunshine at low tide, with the sea calm, and breathtakingly clear visibility right across False Bay. Then, as the tide came in and waves began crashing onto the rocks, a rainstorm crossed the bay, washing the crisp vista clean away and instead creating a dramatic, moody outlook. Accordingly, this home is designed to suit all of these possibilities: it's equipped with everything that might be required for indoor cocooning, as well as a glazed sea-facing facade that maximises the views no matter the weather conditions. The north-facing glass facade also opens up onto a generous deck, with a new all-natural swimming pool…

x What do you give the person who has everything? Might we suggest… more? Here's a treasure trove of items for someone who's giddy about colour, pattern, layers, and lots and lots of stuff!…

ONE NIGHT AT AN OBSERVATORY DIVE BAR, back in the late 1990s when I was still an architecture student, an old queen in latex trousers suggested that the architects of “those tampon towers” should be run out of Cape Town by a mob armed with torches and pitchforks. It's a rather Catholic vision of what may yet be in store for me as an architect of equally above-average (sized) buildings… THE BASICS As architects to the Archdiocese of Cape Town in the 1960s and ‘70s, Bergamasco, Duncan & James designed most of the Cape's modern Catholic churches. Perhaps their most accomplished work was the fabulously rotund St Charles Borromeo (the “lemon squeezer”) in Johannesburg, but the fortunes of the firm reached a crescendo in the late 1960s with their appointment…

WINDHOEK-BASED BELLHAUS ATELIER & GALERIE and Swakopmund-based Karakulia Weavers have come together to create a bespoke carpet collection. Called “Interwoven”, the Bellhaus/ Karakulia project features carpets designed by Namibian artists Marcii Magson, Tina Basson and Elisia Nghidishange, and Cape Town's Michael Chandler, and is a celebration of art, design and the 50-year-old karakul weaving trade. The idea was triggered by Bellhaus co-founder Andrea Behnsen's inspiring encounter with Karakulia co-founder Moses Helao - and although the project harnesses a heritage craft, the result is thoroughly contemporary. The collection was launched in an exhibition at Bellhaus Atelier & Galerie in mid-2022. “The carpets were presented as art, hanging on the walls of the gallery,” says Andrea. “Made from Swakara wool, these carpets have both an aesthetic and a functional aspect, and can…

MAIRA KOUTSOUDAKIS AND HER TEAM AT LIFE have worked in 23 countries over 23 years since 1999, and have amassed 68 awards, including several for “best in the world”. LIFE specialises in island escapes (and is currently working on two new private island projects), but has created all manner of spaces and experiences for a variety of clients, from rockstars to environmentalists. Maira served as CEO of the LIFE group of companies, is the co-founder of the LIFE Grand Cafes and international studio LIFE Interiors Architecture Strategic Design, and was recently given the green light to film a Netflix show about the group's work in wild places, life.za.com x ISLAS SECAS Panama, 2018-2020 From seaplane landings in this archipelago of 14 private islands in the UNESCO-protected marine area of Coiba…

PEOPLE SAY I TRAVEL A LOT, which I do -but it's mostly for work, so does it really count? I suppose it does but, in all honesty, it's been two years since I took a proper holiday. And by “proper” I mean a long, lazy, goingnowhere-slowly kind of trip. That's the best kind. Sure, work visits allow me to see new places, but I find myself overwhelmed by the pressure of going somewhere in a rush. I don't like to rush. In the past year, I have visited Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Namibia and Dubai. There was also a time when I took 13 local flights in 10 days. Yes, 13! That's a lot of flying, and certainly no holiday. The one blessing is that I can sleep anywhere… With…

SITUATED IN THE HEART OF JOHANNESBURG, Qbar epitomises an experience destination, offering wine, food, signature drinks and a great atmosphere in a space designed by professional architect Yuliya Gaiduk. “Quoin Rock Wine Farm has decided to open an exquisite wine lounge and restaurant in Johannesburg to bring an authentic Winelands experience to Gauteng,” says Ewaldt Verster, Quoin Rock's brand and marketing manager. “We offer a variety of exceptional wines from Quoin Rock and Knorhoek, as well as grappa, gin and Cap Classique, all presented and shared by three professional sommeliers who relocated from Stellenbosch to pursue the grand vision of expressing the Winelands in Gauteng.” THE INSPIRATION It is the essence and beauty of the Cape Winelands, and the rich heritage of wine production in the Western Cape, that are…

x ACE HOTEL Ridiculously cool, this hotel taps groovily into its Australian heritage, from the dusty desert-red tones of the sweeping marble staircase taking pride of place in the lobby, to the ‘70s-era scorched-orange-and-tan sunken lounge and abundant greenery. Its location has historical significance – it was the site of the country's first kiln before becoming the factory and store of an old-school chemist. The restaurants all play with this past: fine-dining Kiln has opened on the hotel's rooftop, 18 storeys above the Surry Hills view, while Good Chemistry is the all-day bar and café. Ace Hotels might be known for their conversation-starting public areas, but the rooms here provide even more to talk about, with individual vinyl collections, guitars and curated playlists. acehotelsydney x W SYDNEY Sydney's Darling Harbour…

THE BARN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A GFEEENHOUSE. Located next to homeowners Jochem and Evi Eisner's primary residence in Yzerfontein, the initial idea was to construct Evi's dream of a next-door greenhouse, veggie garden and chicken coop alongside their home. “When the plot became available, we immediately thought, ‘Let's buy it and build, before someone else does, and builds something ugly next door to us’,” says Evi. Originally from Germany but having lived in South Africa for more than 20 years, Jochem and Evi's prior address was in Somerset West. “We loved living there, but over the years it became too busy and built up,” Evi explains. “About seven years ago, we decided we wanted to move somewhere else, and Yzerfontein was the place to be. We had it on…

x Lovers of all things mid-century, devotees of days gone by, fondue party revivalists and dedicated fans of orange are bound to want to pile their conversation pits sky-high with these prezzies.…

IT WAS A BIG 2022 for KZN-based multidisciplinary designer and director of uMugqa Studio, Siviwe Jali. In June, he was a recipient of the Best New Talent award at Decorex Cape Town, and just prior to that, he was named the frontrunner in a competition to design a bench for the Kwena Square mall development in Little Falls, Roodepoort. In 2020, he had been selected as a fi nalist in the Nando's Hot Young Designer Talent Search, and that immediately put him on the industry's “one to watch” list. Now, through his design consultancy uMugqa, which means “line”, he showcases clear-cut methods of design-focused problem-solving. His unique point of view and attention to detail make his approach to design captivating. ✖ Depending on the day, I could be doing anything…

✖ BIO | SIYANDA MAZIBUKO Siyanda Mazibuko is a South African Joburg-based furniture designer who completed a wood furniture course through Furntech, where he did his training and incubation. He established his design practice Kumsuka in 2016. Most recently, he was named one of the top 15 creatives by Business and Arts South Africa. His work is inspired by a combination of culture and nature. _kumsuka_ IN OCTOBER, JOBURG'S ALWAYS WELCOME and the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) joined forces to release a first-of-its-kind collection created by seven South African designers. The collection, aptly named Future Heirlooms, asked designers to think freely in order to create an object or a piece of furniture that encapsulates the themes of sustainability, longevity and quality. The lineup of notable South African talent invited…

WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED that plastic is used in the making of so much - from the obvious, like packaging, to its less-apparent use in textiles. Really, it's difficult to imagine a time before the “plastic revolution”. Staggeringly, though, until 1862, when the first man-made plastic was invented and marketed as an alternative to popular ivory and horn products, our ancestors lived sans the stuff. It wasn't until 1907 that the first completely synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was produced. Its advent marked the beginning of the modern plastics industry. From the 1920s, it became a popular material in machine parts and household items. Today, Bakelite pieces - brightly coloured costume jewellery and vintage radios especially - are a highly sought-after collectable. World War II saw a huge number of plastic…