Table of contents for VISI 86 in Visi

Just before going to print with this issue, Team VISI’s contestant in the SABC 3 Win A Home reality show, candidate architect and photographer Juané Venter, won the Viewers’ Choice prize for her apartment at Val de Vie Estate near Paarl. She not only won R50 000 but also now knows that thousands of viewers loved her handiwork in the apartment. All of us at VISI are enormously proud of her achievement. Thank you so much for your support and a special thanks to the viewers who voted for Juané. Turn to page 112 to see how she transformed an empty shell designed by renowned architect Stefan Antoni into an exciting modern living space. We are honoured to share Stefan’s own home with you on page 82. What a treat…

MEET THE TESTER Colin Davidtz, collector and dealer extraordinaire, understands bed design. He hunts down beds daily for his customers and spends more time in – and under – beds than anyone else we know. VERSAILLES BED “Viva la France!” SPATI 4-POSTER QUEEN BED “The perfect bed to wake up in… and it’s not just for queens!” DESDEMONE BED “This bed would offer a good night’s sleep to a KGB agent.” WILLOW BED & HÄSTENS MATTRESS “This bed is a classic and a steal, and could be good for a tie-up.”…

I LIVE IN A MUD-BRICK HOUSE IN A NATURE RESERVE IN THE KLEIN KAROO, not far from where my fictional character Tannie Maria lives. The mud and thatch keep the house cool in summer and cosy in winter. It is a tiny house – 80 m2 – and my man is an enthusiastic collector of stuff, so space is tight. We both work on the big wooden table in the kitchen/dining/lounge area. Him with his pencil, and me with my pen and laptop. He is busy building a dwelling that will hold our work and guest rooms. For now, however, visitors, work, cooking and eating are all crammed into one area. The new building becomes a site of conflict between us. I am romantic when it comes to writing or…

   JUANÉ SAW THE COMPETITION AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW. “IT WAS THE PERFECT CHALLENGE FOR ME.” “I AM PROUD OF THE QUIRKY ELEMENTS I INTRODUCED TO GIVE THE PLACE LIFE AND SET IT APART.” JUANÉ VENTER MAY BE ONLY 25 YEARS OLD BUT SHE HAS A DISTINCTIVE SENSE OF STYLE AND PLACE. This is why, when she was elected as one of the three contestants to battle it out on the decor front in the Win A Home competition, she took cognisance of her surroundings and set about creating a space that reflected the mink-and-manure sense of luxury synonymous with Val de Vie Estate near Paarl and coupled it with special touches that are a clear reflection of her own design aesthetic. The only woman among the three contestants,…

KARTELL “Kartell has always been linked to childhood experiences” says company president Claudio Luti, “with concepts that revolve around the themes of exploration, research and innovation. In fact, our products are by nature fun, playful and exciting. For this reason I wanted to launch a new chapter in Kartell’s story and create a line dedicated to a market segment that we hadn’t explored yet.” Hence the launch of Kartell Kids, with designs by Ferruccio Laviani, Nendo, Piero Lissoni and Philippe Stark. CLIP CLAP TABLE BY FERRUCCIO LAVIANI Designed to be a building game, this table-cum-desk has legs consisting of blocks of coloured transparent plastic, so the height can be adjusted. DISCO VOLANTE TOY CAR AND TESTA CALDA TOY TRACTOR BY PIERO LISSONI These toy vehicles have a metal structure and…

BECAUSE This pretty little solar LED lamp is sold not only at MoMA Design Store in New York but also in informal communities in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa. Debuted at the World Economic Forum on Africa in May 2012, the Little Sun has had quite an impact thus far. Artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederik Ottesen designed and developed the Little Sun to bring affordable light to some of the estimated 1,1 billion people who live off-grid. The idea is to sell the Little Sun at the regular price in areas with electricity so it can be made available for less in off-grid areas. “We have sold 450 000 lamps worldwide, half of them in Sub-Saharan Africa,” says Little Sun founder Frederik Ottesen. “For each lamp bought in…

What attracted you to wire art? I am interested in creating new aesthetic forms, and the wire toys made throughout Africa have always appealed to me. What inspired you to add electronic components to the models? I have a background in art and electronics, so I’m interested in both disciplines. In 2013 I had the idea of combining the skills of wire crafters on the streets of South Africa and Zimbabwe with the informal networks for cellphone repairs in the same areas, imagining that you could combine discarded cellphone parts with wire art to make animatronic devices. Why starlings? Starlings are clever little urban birds that share the same pavements as informal traders, and move between different zones in the city. My first attempt, Starling 1.0, was made with the…

The idea to celebrate Garden Day, says master gardener Gundula Deutschlander, came from a need to share the passion and excitement she experiences every day in her work on the farm Babylonstoren near Paarl. The intention is for garden enthusiasts to put down their rakes and shovels for one day and enjoy the fruits of their daily toil. Gundula would like to see a garden movement take off, for young and old to appreciate the mental and physical benefits that come from gardening by cultivating their own piece of happiness. Whether you have a balcony with pot plants, a patch of vegetables or a landscaped hectare of love, Garden Day is your opportunity to share it with others. Everyone is encouraged to gather with loved ones in activities such as…

• 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…

CHERI MORRIS, final-year journalism student, VISI intern After a long week, how do you relax? I spend time being horizontal with my cat, which strangely enjoys sleeping on my throat. What’s your favourite outdoor pastime? Downhill skateboarding. Most refreshing summer drink? Double Bacardi Oakheart and ginger ale with fresh lime. Where would you spend the summer if money weren’t an issue? In the land of fine tequila and quesadillas: Mexico. Describe your personality in three words. Unique, passionate and enjoyably abrasive. Okay, so that’s four words. Who is your favourite South African designer? Fashion designer Lara Blevi. What do you hate most about having to answer questions like these? That I cannot be totally honest, because people will think I’m weird. ASHRAF BOOLEY, writer, poet, content manager (not necessarily in…

SPATI 4-POSTER QUEEN BED Made of American oak, this bed (R10 995) is also available in single, three-quarter, double and king sizes (standard length 2 004 mm and extra-length 2 104 mm) at Weylandts. • weylandts.co.za WILLOW BED & HÄSTENS MATTRESS This steel-framed double bed (R2 872) from MySpace comes flat-packed for ease of delivery. The double mattress (R89 000), handmade in Sweden, is available from Hästens stores in Green Point and Kramerville. • myspace.co.za • hastens.com DESDEMONE BED Designed by Nasrallah & Horner for Ligne Roset, the fully upholstered Desdemone is available in queen (R92 714) and king (R95 418) sizes at A La Maison in Kramerville. • ligne-roset.com • alamaisonsa.co.za VERSAILLES BED Crafted out of mango wood and upholstered with linen and plush padding for comfort and support, the Versailles is available in…

IN 1992, A FEW MONTHS AFTER ARRIVING IN CAPE TOWN, MY TWO OLDER BROTHERS, MY PARENTS AND I MOVED INTO 75 WETTON ROAD. The external walls of the house were painted purple. An estate agent would call it lilac, but more straight-talking folk referred to our new home as The Purple House. It sat at the end of a cul-de-sac, in front of a major bridge, across from a military base, walking distance from what was then Forest Den and later became 7-Eleven. The house had seven rooms, including a study and TV room. Before the big move from Nigeria my father had been peripatetic for some years due to the difficult situation in Nigeria, particularly for him and a book he’d written called Just Before Dawn, which laid bare…

     MOST OF THE FISHERMAN’S COTTAGES AROUND HERE HAVE SHELTERED AREAS.   THE EFFECT IS STUNNING, HYPNOTIC AND MEDITATIVE. HORIZONS THAT STRETCH BEYOND THE PICTURE FRAME… THE GREATNESS OF THE OUTDOORS. THERE IS A DISCOURSE IN FINE ART THEORY THAT POSTULATES A PARTICULAR NOTION OF THE SUBLIME. From what I understand, in this academic sense, the sublime is achieved when a work of art conveys the transcendental, infinite vastness of nature or the cosmos. Horizons that stretch beyond the picture frame. Valleys and vistas that seem to widen into the distance. The greatness of the outdoors. Angel song. I was reminded of this as I stood on the edge of this beach house with the Atlantic Ocean roiling below. The house is internally terraced in such a way that…

   “WE PUMPED UP THE RED, OF COURSE, WHICH WORKED REALLY WELL WITH THE BLACK TIMBER.”   THIS PLAYFULNESS IS CARRIED THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR.   EVERYTHING WAS DESIGNED FROM SCRATCH. Johannesburg’s No 1 Fox Street Precinct has a history that goes back the late 19th century,, when it sprung up as one of the first mining camps. The first of its sheds were built between 1906 and 1907. Today, 1 Fox is a cultural hub and home to dynamic young businesses, including Mad Giant, itself home to several elements, among them a craft beer brewery, an Asian street food restaurant, a main bar, three beer-tasting pods and a beer garden. As its name suggests, Mad Giant is a project that is as big as it is ambitious. The brand…

The Ring is a practical, space-saving umbrella stand that does not compromise on style. It consists of a wall-mounted ring and a free-standing tray. The ring holds umbrellas upright and inside it is a hook for hanging up a small umbrella. The open structure makes for quick drying, and the tray is easy to empty and clean. Designed by Teun Fleskens for Rizz, The Ring is available in three finishes: white, stainless steel and anthracite. Choose the option that suits your space at Handles Inc. • R2 500 excl VAT • handlesinc.co.za FAST FACT The word umbrella comes from the Latin word umbro, meaning shade or shadow.…

LUKHANYO MDINGI Driven by a desire for a contemporary interpretation of our African heritage, Lukhanyo Mdingi looked to celebrate symbols. “With every collection I feel more connected to my roots, not just the Eastern Cape but also Africa as a whole” says Lukhanyo. “With the Purgation collection I looked to different African iconography. I looked to the South African flag as well as the repetitive geometric patterns typical of Islamic architecture, such as you would find in Morocco. I researched the meanings and history behind both, which in turn informed the print design and the colours.” RICH MNISI AND THEBE MAGUGU Troubled by narrow definitions of the African experience, these two designers and best friends presented an unfiltered interpretation of their own African experiences: “When we started this collection, the…

When it came to prints for the Khumalo Mini collection, Sindiso first looked at KwaZulu-Natal’s indigenous palm trees, specifically the ilala palm. “I wanted to celebrate a palm that’s indigenous to KwaZulu-Natal that not many people know about but is used for creating some of the most exquisite baskets” says Sindiso. “I was trying to celebrate something African, but not in an obvious way. The ilala print on my bombers and leggings is an abstracted pattern made from the fruit of the ilala tree.” Durban’s city centre didn’t escape her keen eye either. “Whenever I walk through areas that have modernist architecture, I see lots of amazing patterns. The Durban CBD is my go-to place to find inspiration for my prints. In this case I looked at window frames and…

Oggie specialises in wide-plank oak flooring, which still tops the popularity charts thanks to the authentic natural grain, warmth and hygienic properties of real wood. The planks come in various lengths and widths and finishes, and choices include hand-scraped, hand-chiselled and many WOCA Denmark colour oil options. Oggie oak floors are easy to clean if treated properly and will last a lifetime. • oggie-sa.co.za WOMAG stocks high-quality wood-look porcelain tiles imported from Spain and Italy. The image of wood grain is printed onto the tiles using the latest in 3D ink-jet technology in an ultra-fine resolution. The tiles come in a wide range of wood looks and shades. They are easy to wipe down and less expensive than authentic wood flooring. • womag.co.za FloorworX offers luxury vinyl planks with a 20-year warranty…

EVOLUTION PRODUCT Swerving Savannahs, a range that celebrates all 847 plant species in the southern African grasslands, is one of two ranges shown in Paris by Amanda du Plessis and her company Evolution Product. This blue botanical print art panel (150 x 300 cm) is made of 100 % linen. • evolutionproduct.co.za MINIMA Jacques Cronje, founder and product designer at bespoke timber lighting and furniture company minima, is known for his sophisticated Scandi-style designs. The products are lightweight and come flat-packed, and they clip together like puzzle pieces. The minima 2016/17 range of timber-ribbed ceiling lights, including the Lucent light featured here, were launched at Maison&Objet Paris. • minima.co.za INDIGI DESIGNS Designer Natalie du Toit’s Facet glass-topped coffee table, part of Indigi Designs’ Geometric Facet range, is made of epoxy-coated mild steel…

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Robert Thornton published an ambitious work that paid homage to Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus. For Part III, “The Temple of Flora”, coloured plates were engraved by various artists to capture exotic flowers against dramatic backdrops. It would turn out to be an enduring treasure of botanical illustrations. Tony Meintjes, founder of the digital printing bureau Southern Editions, plans to reproduce the prints from “The Temple of Flora”. Why the interest in botanical prints? I like prints made before the 20th century. Although not guaranteed, they usually provide qualities and textures that are the byproduct of the printing techniques of that time. Which of the illustrations in “The Temple of Flora” is your favourite?…

Obie Oberholzer is a storyteller – with his lens and with words. In this book he writes about his life, his travels and the photographs he selected from his considerable archive. You describe yourself as “a visual thug”. What does that say about your photographic style? It is a tongue-in-cheek term I coined when trying to explain that so much is written rather than done. My photographic style is about doing rather than talking. Is there a particular story in the book that is your favourite? I often get asked about what my favourite picture would be. I am not the type of guy to cling to my pictures and my writing. I would rather look forward than back; I give my full effort to every project and then I…

We’re familiar with machines that create sparkling water at home, but BIBO is bringing something inventive to the table: The compact BIBO Fizz Bar carbonates any liquid. You can use this sleek appliance to revive flat beer, create sparkling wine or make fizzy cooldrink. Choose your fizz preference with the fizz infuser, which controls the amount of pressure released into your favourite drink. This nifty appliance does not require batteries or electricity. And if you’re on the road a lot, the lightweight hand-held BIBO Fizz Go will ensure you never have to be sparkle-less again. • BIBO Fizz Bar R1 232 and BIBO Fizz Go R656 • bibo.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…

Vintage wedding dresses, complete with fitted bodice and a swing skirt, are back in fashion. The secret beneath that kick-out dome-shaped skirt is a tulle petticoat with hoops. The petticoat makes a romantic shade to conceal a suspended naked light bulb. Just pull it over the bulb and pull the waistline strings tight to secure the fit. • Most towns have a wedding dress shop or Chinese shop that sells wedding-style petticoats. We bought ours for R100 at China Mall on Rifle Range Road, Johannesburg.…

@VISI_Mag #vintagegold #volvowatch @volvo – @TianTaak #Visi #Fly #Holiday – Wilhelm Deveroux August Cold rainy mornings perfect for snuggling up on the couch #visimagazine #wevegotitcovered #grannyblanket #rainbow #crotchet #artteacher #holidays #capetownwinter #winter2016 – @keziahhellen Greetings @visi_mag from The Savoy London. #visimagazine #designmagazine #savoyhotel – @vix_her A perfect fit wherever I go #visimagazine #winterinspiration #beautifulmagazine #inmygarden – @duwikus Saturday morning #metime #visimagazine #coffee #cookies #journal #sharpie #metallics – @sonjamckaiser Magical outdoor #fire #shower @VISI_Mag Love it! – @Attaboela_Ink Morning earl grey @toniglasstea reading @visi_mag and admiring @mhondoro_game_lodge on the cover. #judithbelleadventurestories – @judith_belle WIN WITH ILOVANI One lucky reader will win two wooden love seats, made of used red wine oak barrels by local design studio Ilovani, worth R5 800. Go to VISI.co.za/win to enter.…

WHEN I SIGNED UP TO STAY IN A CAMPUS RESIDENCE, I WAS LOOKING FOR A SIMPLE ROOF OVER MY HEAD. I must have been too modest in my expectation, for the human experience at House Tswelopele was worth more than the building itself. House Tswelopele is one of the residences on the Bloemfontein campus of the University of the Free State. It prides itself on brotherhood, and challenges its residents to pursue excellence. As residents, sometimes our understanding of brotherhood was slightly perverted. In the name of brotherhood, a house member could assemble a full breakfast by collecting components of the meal from different rooms: two eggs from a roommate, four slices of bread from a homeboy, two spoons of sugar from a home-cell member, a teabag or coffee from…

IT WAS ALWAYS THE SAME TEACHER WHO DID THE SCHOOL TRIPS. You only got him for the first time in Standard 3, but he was famous throughout the school because of this thing he did in class: He’d take a gadget out of his pocket and click a button on it – and, you watched it from the windows, a garage door would roll up in a house-wall a few streets down in the valley. Probably the only remote-controlled garage door you knew about in Grahamstown in the ’80s. You adored him. And then this trick, two or three times a year, whenever the class went to Bathurst: a chocolate bar for whoever spotted the Big Pineapple first. It made you mad in the back of the bus, all of…

  “I WAS DRAWN TO THE SPACIOUS YET INTIMATE LAYOUT OF THE HOUSE.”   MIRRORS THROUGHOUT T THE HOUSE AFFORD A SENSE OF SPACE. HER INSTINCTIVE FEELING FOR COLOUR IS EVIDENT IN EVERYTHING FROM HER ART TO HER DRESS SENSE. When artist Lisa Swanepoel bought her Southern Suburbs home in Cape Town late last year, she was looking for a homely yet manageable space to share with her two sons, Francois (15) and Stefan (13). “I was in the throes of a divorce”she says, “so I wanted a place in which I could start anew without any preconceived ideas or rules to guide me. I was immediately drawn to the spacious yet intimate layout of this house with its open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas and the fact that the…

100 % Design is more than a celebration of objects. It is also a salute to the tenacity it takes to spend long hours creating something that is worthy of the resources used in its production. The showstoppers at this year’s 100 % Design SA exhibition at Gallagher Estate were three curated exhibits: Picture Africa, 100 % Colour and 100 Beautiful Things. 100 BEAUTIFUL THINGS The 100 Beautiful Things exhibit, curated by programmes director Cathy O’Clery in association with VISI and Rebtex, evoked renewed enthusiasm for locally designed and manufactured products. The carefully selected objects were displayed in a row of six categorised exhibition boxes, and visitors walked down a luxurious grey sisal carpet supplied by Rebtex to do their window-shopping. 1. URBAN celebrated the linear minimalist design of the…

Blind Designs has a comprehensive range of blinds. Block-out fabrics allow you to control how much light comes in, thus keeping a lid on early summer sunrises and ensuring naptime stays naptime. If you opt for a cord control mechanism, you can specify cord and chain heights that end out of a child’s reach for safety. • blinddesigns.co.za Luxaflex manufactures Duette Architella shades, which have a double honeycomb design. The air layer in the cells works like an insulating blanket, helping to keep a kiddies’ room cool in summer and balmy in winter. The Luxaflex child-safe LiteRise cordless operating system lets you raise and lower Duette shades with a touch of the handle and the SmartCord system has a retractable cord mechanism. • luxaflex.co.za Plantation Shutters offers easily adjustable louvred shutters that…

FAST FACT The delicious monster (Monstera deliciosa), common to so many South African gardens, is native to Mexico and Central America.…

Imagine wrapping yourself in a chair, like a woven blanket you can place around your shoulders. This feeling is the inspiration behind product designer Sebastian Herkner’s MBRACE outdoor lounge chairs for DEDON. He designed the seating with an extra-wide backrest so it would provide comfortable support and create a feeling of being cocooned. The collection comprises a wingback chair, a lounger, a rocker and a footstool. The design approach, says Herkner, has brought a new attitude to the DEDON brand with the addition of a solid teak base to the finely crafted woven fibre seating and the incorporation of three colourways, Atlantic, Spice and Pepper, which allow for mixing and matching across the range. Developed over three years from concept to final product, the MBRACE collection had just been launched…

WALLPAPER* CITY GUIDE: CAPE TOWN Phaidon Wallpaper* is a magazine turned internationally renowned brand that focuses on design, architecture, art, fashion and travel. One of the monthly magazine’s offshoots is a series of city guide books published by Phaidon. These pocket-sized guides cover more than 100 destinations already, offering “a tightly edited, discreetly packaged selection of city highlights for the design-conscious visitor”. The Mother City highlights include must-visit restaurants and bars, edgy galleries, quirky shops and exclusive accommodation options. One point of criticism is that more Cape Town spots could have been included in this slim booklet if the author hadn’t listed a number of places that are more than 50 km from the city centre. The section “Escapes – Where to go if you want to leave town” suggests…