Table of contents for VISI 134 in Visi

IT SURE AS HELL DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT ON 16 SEPTEMBER, while I'm penning this Ed's Letter, but I hope by the time you read it (about four weeks later), spring has actually arrived. To celebrate the seasonal transition, we have a strong country thread running through VISI #134, with design that reflects a new take on country style. From the Modernist-inspired aesthetic of a Rustenburg getaway to a Portuguese villa set among cork oak trees, and an exuberant, maximalist-styled country hotel in Koringberg, this issue of VISI celebrates the sun getting closer to the southern hemisphere. Continuing the theme as we embrace its warming rays, we look at decor inspired by animals and animal prints (p34), as well as interior items that take their cues from the landscape, with…

I HAVE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF SUMMER. I'm the dusk autumn girl who revels in the iciness of winter. Summer is too hot. I cannot abide the lethargy that settles in from noon, never mind after South Africa's unofficial shutdown of 16 December. There are mosquitoes and flies. Cars become unbearable, and tempers fray. Meet your summer grinch. But something has shifted since that milestone 2020 year that chasmed and cracked its way through all of us. My small consultancy got busy, busier, busiest in December. Big agencies outsourced to us, their teams run ragged. And I, in avoidance mode, have chosen repeatedly to do the one thing I'm really good at: work. WhatsApp updates pinging to clients on their annual sojourns. So this year, I am being more…

Since 2001, 18 creatives have graduated from the Artist Alliance's incubation programme. Through the programme, creatives receive guidance and mentorship from industry veterans, with continuous coaching, assistance with market access, and business support from Creative Nestlings, a platform dedicated to empowering emerging talent. Artist Alliance is now adding another layer to its support network by launching a virtual gallery that features work by graduates of the programme, as well as by established young creatives from across South Africa – a diverse collection of curated works, accessible to anyone, anywhere, at any time. “The virtual gallery is about creating a vibrant community that fosters creativity and cultural exchange,” says V&A Waterfront marketing executive Tinyiko Mageza. “Visitors can explore artworks by established and emerging artists, with pieces spanning various mediums, styles and…

Hylton Nel's name has, without a doubt, been on every fashionista and art aficionado's lips recently. Born in 1941, Hylton lives and works on the outskirts of Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo. While he has long been a respected artist, it's his most recent collaboration that has resulted in a new level of fame and “collectability”: six massive versions of the ceramicist's iconic cats transformed the runway at the Dior Men Summer 2025 show in Paris earlier this year. “Hylton Nel's giant cats on the catwalk are based on ones from my collection and Hylton's,” says Kim Jones, artistic director at Dior Men, of the collaboration. “These are the cats that spoke to me the most… they meowed to me!” Hylton is also well known for his quirky yet beautiful…

THAT'S NOT ALL: she pretty much cleaned up. Along with this prestigious award, she also won the Best Botanical Artwork prize and a Botanical Art Exhibit People's Choice Award. Not bad for a first-time exhibitor. The show, held at the Saatchi Gallery in London, requires all entrants to exhibit six top-class works on a particular theme, which are then judged by an expert panel of seven professionals. As the only South African artist, Daleen's exhibit of indigenous orchids and pollinators was hung alongside works by world-class artists from Australia, Italy, Japan, Portugal, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, the US and the UK. With the support of the Dawn Jolliffe Botanical Art Bursary and the RHS bursary committee, Daleen studied indigenous orchids over a period of three flowering seasons, observing…

CONTEMPORARY COLOUR Underpinned by subtle hues, this trend introduces colour and personality into the kitchen in a way that feels effortless and refined. Veined marble countertops in soft neutrals, pastel-toned retro-esque appliances, or a statement island in an unexpected shade can all serve as a focal point, with elements such as a backsplash in a minimalistic pattern, an artistic mosaic or muted metallics adding texture and interest without dominating the space. The beauty of this trend lies in its adaptability: it offers nuanced colour choices that elevate the overall feel of the kitchen while remaining harmonious. WHETHER IT MANIFESTS AS AN ALL - OVER HUE OR A STRATEGIC POP OF COLOUR, THIS TREND BRINGS WARMTH AND ENERGY INTO THE HEART OF THE HOME.…

GO WITH THE FLOW Centred around creating bright, effortlessly connected kitchen spaces, this setup moves beyond the conventional open-plan design to focus on the seamless integration of the cooking area with adjoining dining rooms, living spaces and even outdoor zones. Fluid transitions between spaces are key, with unobstructed sightlines, wide doorways, and continuous unifying flooring. The emphasis is on maximising natural light through large windows, skylights and airy layouts, making the kitchen feel spacious and inviting. The result is an easy-breezy environment perfect for cooking, entertaining and socialising, where flow and functionality go hand in hand with relaxed, modern living. SLIDING GLASS DOORS OR FOLDABLE PARTITIONS WILL BLUR THE LINES BETWEEN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AREAS, CREATING A FLUID TRANSITION AND A SENSE OF CONNECTION. MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE - SUCH AS KITCHEN…

“IT DOESN'T GET MORE '70s THAN A SALMON MOUSSE MADE IN A FISH-SHAPED COPPER MOULD. I'VE REINVENTED THIS AS A DESSERT OF STRAWBERRY JELLY AND VANILLA PANNA COTTA, INSPIRED BY THE ICONIC ‘SWEDISH FISH’ CHEWY CANDY, WHICH HAS BEEN ENJOYED AROUND THE WORLD SINCE THE LATE 1950s.” ✖ Created by Malaco – a confectionery brand based in Sweden – Swedish Fish sweets were designed as a tasty tribute to the local fishing industry. They became a cult favourite in the 1960s and '70s, especially in the US market. “INSPIRED BY THE NURSERY RHYME ‘ORANGES AND LEMONS’, WHICH REFERENCES THE SOUNDS OF SOME OF LONDON'S CHURCH BELLS – FROM ST CLEMENT DANES IN WESTMINSTER TO ‘THE GREAT BELL AT BOW’ – THESE WOBBLY JELLIES ARE PACKED WITH SHERBETTY CITRUS FLAVOURS.” ✖…

What is your guilty pleasure? ✖ ABIGAIL DONNELLY Food editor, stylist, and doyenne of the South African food scene I love dropping into KFC for a so -serve cone, and watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on the plane. I love Weet-Bix a er dinner, which I soak in milk so it goes all “porridgy”. Eeek, I eat in bed and leave crumbs! When I can find the time, I love reading a Danielle Steel novel, particularly in December on the beach – but I fold back the cover so no-one can see… And while at the beach, I like to sit on a rock away from the prying eyes of others and devour a ripe mango – which I eat by pulling the skin off with my teeth.…

IT WAS JUNE 2018. I was reeling from the death of my godmother, Lynn. She was my true north. Because she was confined to a wheelchair all her life, we didn't travel much – but she taught me to dream, and our dreams were boundless. So much of the life we'd deferred to “one day” did not come to pass. So when the opportunity to go abroad for the first time presented itself, I grasped it. I arrived at the Fosshotel Reykjavik, where I was surprised to be welcomed in Zulu by the only other South African I was to encounter on the trip. She was working at the front desk, and was awaiting my arrival after recognising my name as being South African. She was from KwaZulu-Natal and had…

✖ A GARDEN EDEN: MASTERPIECES OF BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION (40TH ED.) By H Walter Lack (Taschen, 2023) This exquisitely produced book will be coveted by both artists and gardeners: it's an updated edition of a Taschen classic that is a glorious celebration of botanical artworks from the archives of the Austrian National Library in Vienna. Covering a broad swathe of historical time – the full-colour reproductions are taken from sources ranging from sixth-century manuscripts to 19th-century masterpieces – A Garden Eden is aptly titled, celebrating both the skill of botanical artists and the beauty of the plants themselves. It will be especially appreciated by flower-lovers, as it includes breathtakingly lovely illustrations of floral superstars such as peonies, callas and chrysanthemums. taschen.com ✖ GARDEN: EXPLORING THE HORTICULTURAL WORLD By Phaidon editors, with…

BEETROOT KVASS “Traditionally, this simple Slavic lacto-fermented beverage (a type of fermentation that turns sugars into lactic acid) is semi-sweet, fruity and packed with good bacteria.” WHAT EXACTLY ARE FERMENTED FOODS? Fermentation involves breaking down sugars and starches in food using micro-organisms such as yeast and bacteria. These micro-organisms transform the sugars and starches into lactic acid or alcohol, which helps to preserve the food – lactic acid stops the growth of other microbes that could rot the food. When it comes to fermented foods, the “four Ks” are becoming increasingly popular around the world: kombucha is a fermented tea drink; kimchi is Korea's famous spicy fermented cabbage; kefir is a fermented milk drink; and sauerKraut is the familiar, less spicy fermented cabbage of Germany. WHAT ARE THEIR BENEFITS? HEALTH…

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR VISI'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER? Receive a curated selection of local architecture, design, decor and art news in your inbox every Monday. Visit visi.co.za WE ASKED YOU ONLINE: WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL WINTER GETAWAY? 530 of you took our poll to let us know. Here are the results: 38% A cosy mountain cabin 30% Tranquil beach getaway, to escape the cold 25% Secluded country retreat 7% Vibrant city break #READERLOVE If you're enjoying the latest issue, we'd love for you to take a pic of your mag and share it with us. Simply tag VISI on Instagram, Facebook or X with your snap. “The secret of life is to waste time in ways that you like.” Thanks, Seinfeld. @visi_mag @nelettloubser Details. @_mfundoo A coffee a day keeps…

OUR FIRST TRIP TO JAPAN is now a surreal and dreamlike memory, a frail and ephemeral record of events, subtly evermore corrupted by fantasy each time I should dream of Tokyo. Our brain is a far-from-reliable storage medium, and studies indicate that we are constantly rewriting our own memories, compressing multiple characters into one, and casting ourselves as heroes in our own narratives. Six years on, our Japanese trip seems to have been a dreamworld of ¥7 000 outsized cherries, petting cafés stocked with Valium-drugged cats, iris-enlarging contact lenses, and spindly, futuristic micro-towers with only one fire escape. Out of a haze of cherry-blossom and matcha ice-cream cones, flickering neon lights, and obsessively gridded bathroom wall tiles, my most abiding memories are the onsen (traditional hot-water-spring baths), super-sento (theme park…

FOR KELLY WEARSTLER, luxury is more of a feeling than a specific tangible quality. It requires good storytelling and considered curation, while honouring history, location and architecture. Celebrated for her boldness in mixing vintage items and antiques with contemporary pieces, the American designer is all about creating inimitable spaces. “I am obsessed with nuance, and I view design as boundless and undefined,” she says. Her distinctive eye for design was inspired by her mother – an antiques dealer whom Kelly described as a big thrifter. As a young girl, she found herself at yard sales, antique shows and thrift stores, unaware at the time that she was training her eye and developing a design language. Her interests in graphic design, architecture and fashion were also sparked by her love for…

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT A PAIR OF JOBURG BUILDINGS designed by Norman Hanson – one since demolished, the other altered beyond recognition. Both continue to exist as ideas recorded in drawings and memories, and captured in photographs. Had they been built today, they might appear unexceptional – but if we look at the photographs, the cars, the neighbours, the clothing and the horse-drawn cart, we can try to imagine just how strange they must have seemed almost 90 years ago. We still think of buildings like this as “modern”. At the ground level was a CAR PARK – unheard of at the time – a FILLING STATION to fuel the cars, and a RESTAURANT to feed the inhabitants. While the language of modern architecture has been shared among…

ADD PIZZAZZ TO YOUR NEXT GET-TOGETHER by serving cocktails made with the finest bubbles – a true Champagne from the Champagne region in northern France, Spanish Cava, Italian Prosecco, or South Africa's very own premium sparkling wine Cap Classique. Well-known cocktail options include our brunch favourite, the Mimosa, made with Champagne and freshly squeezed orange juice; the popular French classic Kir Royale, with crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) and Champagne; and the Bellini, which combines Prosecco with peach purée and vodka. We spoke to Blessing Maphosa, mixologist and head bartender at Marble restaurant in Rosebank, to get his top tips for the best fizzed-up cocktail. Marble itself does a few options, including two Prosecco-based versions (the Passion Fruit Martini and Bellini Breeze), and the Moët & Chandon Rosé-laced Italian Rose…

THERE ARE CERAMICS EVERYWHERE. On one wall, colourful plates feature designs by quirky South African artist Walter Battiss; on another, a mosaic of plates plays home to a school of koi; next to that, on fi ve shelves, a collection of vases shows a range of colour from earth tones to turquoise. And that's just the main living area. It's hardly surprising – the apartment does, after all, belong to Mervyn Gers, whose company Mervyn Gers Ceramics is renowned for dinnerware ranges that are much loved by high-end restaurants, luxury lodges and private homes, both here and abroad. Despite his obvious talent, you may be surprised to know that Mervyn only began working as a ceramicist in 2008 after a successful radio career as the station manager for KFM –…

“THE NEXT TIME YOU ROAST VEGGIES, CUT THEM INTO BLOCKS, AND ARRANGE IN COLOURFUL PATTERNS. HERE WE USED ROASTED BEETROOT, ALONG WITH RAW RED ONION AND DAIKON.” ✖ LUCIENNE DAY Credited with pioneering contemporary textile design in post-war Britain, Lucienne Day drew on the English tradition of using flowers, grasses and seeds in her designs, transforming them into abstract repeated patterns. Her best-known textile, Calyx, was launched at the Festival of Britain in 1951. Like her Arts and Crafts predecessors, Lucienne believed printed textiles could be “art for the people”. “AS PART OF A TAPAS - STYLE MENU, ARRANGE TWO VARIETIES OF ANCHOVIES IN A CONCEPTUAL PATTERN.” ✖ MARY WHITE Another iconic English textile print designer of the 1950s, Mary White was also heavily inspired by nature. She created hundreds…