Table of contents for VISI 105 in Visi

HOLIDAYS… They will forever remind me of Scottburgh. And Benoni. Scottburgh, on KZN’s South Coast, was about the Blue Marlin – the quintessential South Coast family hotel, back then it was all kinds of faded ’50s glory with huge mealtime buffets and tons of organised activities for the kids. Most of these involved the big hotel pool … which was also the focal point of Decembers in Benoni. During the school holidays, I’d travel up there from Cape Town to see my dad. Like those described by our columnists this month, they were days spent at the pool, either with mates, swimming in it, or – suddenly with no mates around – cleaning it. Smith the Elder did not believe in those newfangled Kreepy Kraulies. Swimming pools, as you’ll notice,…

The smell of chlorine always brings back childhood memories of hot summer days in a city the cool local youngsters aptly dubbed “Heatermaritzburg”. Early 1990s. We are five: myself, two of my older brothers, my best friend and her sister. A fearless gang of kids swaggering down the streets of a newly racially integrated Pietermaritzburg suburb, hoping to spot a backyard with a pool and a fence that can easily be scaled for a quick dip in the water. As the youngest, I was never allowed to join them for the stolen swim – I had to be on the lookout for any approaching adults and sound the alarm. In 1995, I started big school, where there was a swimming pool and teachers enthusiastic to find the next Penny Heyns,…

IT’S LIKE A WES ANDERSON-MEETS-RETRO MIAMI film set in the heart of the desert: a 24-suite boutique on the border of the Namib Naukluft National Park that’s punctuated with unexpected shades of pink. Undeniably cheeky it may be, but Desert Grace – the latest addition to the Gondwana Collection suite of offerings – doesn’t scrimp on comfort or ignore eco-sensitivities. Bags filled with Namib desert sand were used to build the exterior walls, while the walkways that snake out from the central entrance/bar/dining hub were created from a mix of concrete and recycled glass. Inside, think terrazzo tiles, neon signs, pink umbrella stands, popcorn, pink drinks and feathers in varying shades of rose to acid pink. The message is clear: this sliver of Hollywood glamour takes itself seriously when it…

Like two halves of its pineapplesque shape, Thomas Heatherwick’s Vessel has cleaved opinion straight down the middle. Some view the towering bronze structure as a supreme waste of money, and mindless materialism sprung directly from the self-important billion-rich matrix from which it’s grown – a $200 000 000 in-joke. The other half view it as a triumph of architecture and/or form – and judging by the queues at its base, tourists adore it. Part of the reason why the Vessel is hard to pin down is that it doesn’t slot easily into an established, formal, structural typology. It’s too big to be public art; it doesn’t have the sort of normative function attached to urban architecture or infrastructure, like a bridge; and it plugs squatly into its rather inhuman Hudson…

Thankfully, 2019 ushered in a welcome body-positive movement and swimwear has stepped up to meet this reality. Beautifully bright, loud, proud and print-strong? No problem. A simple, quiet and calm single colour in a costume that works as a bodysuit? We’ve got you. In a sea of prints, shapes and sizes, here’s a roundup of the finest, freshest pool-ready kit from our very own shores. Pichulik Alegria pendant, R890, pichulik.com Pichulik’s bold rope jewellery is the perfect summer accessory. Pieces from SS 20 collection “Plenty” feature pops of coral, Pantone’s Colour of the Year. Granadilla Swim Dune Surfer Blue, R740 (sizes XS-XXL), granadillaswim.com Granadilla Swim makes the most fun, graphic shorts. This pair paints a picture that happily reminds us of a Kenesha Sneed illustration. Kimono Africa Peridot…

VEUVE CLICQUOT VINTAGE 2008 Dominated by its usual Pinot Noir structure (61%), Vintage 2008 also features the finesse of Chardonnay (34%), a touch of elegant Pinot Meunier (5%), and light vanilla and toasted notes from cask ageing. From R950 MOËT & CHANDON ICE IMPÉRIAL A blend of mainly Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the fruity Ice Impérial was created specifically to be enjoyed over ice. From R695 DOM PÉRIGNON ROSÉ 2006 The 2006 edition is rich, generous and textured. With its fine balance of Pinot Noir (56%) and Chardonnay (44%), the fullness of the wine is striking, as are the crisp flavours, fruit aromas and smoky accents. From R3 900 RUINART BLANC DE BLANCS Full of intense, fresh fruit notes – in particular those of ripe citrus – this Champagne…

MULLINEUX OLD VINES WHITE BLEND 2018, R305 This wine speaks to the treasure the Swartland possesses and the sagacity of its winemakers. It’s a blend of 69% Chenin Blanc, 12% Clairette Blanche, 9% Grenache Blanc, 7% Viognier and 3% Semillon Gris. Some of the vine parcels are up to 65 years old. Perfect paired with: Sesame-seared tuna poke bowl. HARTENBERG RIESLING 2017, R120 A great complement to holiday food – and an even better complement to holiday conversation. With lime and mineral notes and fine acid, this bone-dry wine still carries an inherently sweet character. Perfect paired with: Curry or seasoned chicken livers. ASHBOURNE BLANC 2019, R90 Comprised of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% unwooded Chardonnay, which give it white peach aromas and a citrus palate, this white is as…

NAFISA AKABOR, TECH JOURNALIST Describe your perfect summer’s day. “I’d be holidaying on an exclusive private island in the Philippines – listed on Airbnb – where all my meals are prepared by a cook. My morning will include short boat trips to other villages, then relaxing on a private beach with a book, followed by a late-afternoon massage.” Just in time to stream your summer soundtrack, Nafisa reviews the Beosound Stage, Bang & Olufsen’s beautifully designed all-in-one speaker system, on page 174. MARTIN JACOBS, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, STYLIST AND CONTENT CREATOR Describe your perfect summer’s day. “Nothing beats an Italian summer, so it would be a day spent on the Amalfi Coast’s photo-op island of Capri. Bliss is taking in its cove-studded, rugged coastline from a traditional wooden boat, and swimming…

STUDIO AN & CANNATA’S MORPH Price: POA Cannata’s Dialogue Room is an explorative and interactive space featuring works by local designers, architects and creatives. Currently, it is housing the terrazzo-inspired Morph range by local architecture and interior design brand Studio AN. The range was conceptualised by Jan de Wet and Jeanne Scholtz around the connection between terrazzo stone and jelly sweets. The pieces in the collection include the Morph light, stool, bench, cabinet and mirror. cannatagranite.co.za | studio-an.co.za TERRAZZO DOORSTOP R129 It may have been a while since you’ve seen a doorstop, but this terrazzo version brings a trendy element and a retro throwback to your space. The cylindrical cement base is heavy enough to keep the door steady and the rope handle means it can easily be moved to where…

With mounting excitement, I’d dip my hand into the swimming pool and fish out the thermometer. It’s a 30-something-year-old memory, but even as I type, a numbing chill runs down my arm, and the pungent aroma of chlorine mixed with the sweet scent of coconut sunscreen hits me in the face. I would will the thermometer’s little red line to touch 18. My father had deemed that the first swim of the season could take place only when the water temperature hit this magical number. For me, the first swim was my birthday multiplied by Christmas to the power of a Bar-One milkshake. As an optimist I started checking in August, and as an opportunist I presented the thermometer to my father even when it registered 14 degrees Celsius. He…

Arrive at this house for the first time, and it is difficult not to have your curiosity piqued by the monolithic façade of clay brick pavers set behind a pink right-angled triangle. Bold and unapologetic of its avant-garde grandeur, it provides an inkling of an entrance. “We’ve nicknamed this house the ‘shape-sorter house’,” says architect Gregory Katz. “Our conceptual journey began with the idea of a cube as an envelope.” Behind this elaborate geometric structure sits an unassuming constricted stretch of entryway leading to an understated front door. Step through it and you’re welcomed into a bright, spacious and airy home flooded with natural light. Gregory describes the play of light created by the asymmetric windows as the gift that keeps on giving. The space is open and barrier-free, with…

Cape Town is one of those places where, if you’re lucky, you can find a property in the suburbs that’s surrounded by nature, has sea views and is located minutes from the city. Camissa House is just that: named after the Khoena word for “the place of sweet waters”, the eight-bedroom boutique hotel is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac neighbouring a green belt. On the fringes of the City Bowl – the residential areas within the amphitheatre created by the mountain range – its back garden is Table Mountain National Park, and you have to tilt your head right back to see the famous eponymous mountain’s summit. Owner David Ryan, founder and CEO of safari company Rhino Africa, is adept at finding and developing sites that give Mother City visitors…

2007 HEARTBEAT LAMP The Heartbeat lamp epitomises our first collection, Series A, which focused on strong, two-dimensional silhouettes. Adriaan began by drawing a scale version of the lamp in tape on the wall. Thereafter, the idea was to bring it into the third dimension, creating a series of line-drawing lighting sculptures, tables and our first graphically embellished cabinet. 2011 HINGE UNIT We wanted to design a utilitarian piece that had the potential to become a staple in every home. The first Hinge unit launched in 2011, and remains one of our most popular products, largely due to its versatility and subtle detailing. What started out as a simple four-door cabinet with a unique door detail has been adapted to include taller versions, a lower TV unit, a bedside table and…

Tokara Cap Classique The family-owned Stellenbosch wine estate known for elegant wines with understated flair has released the second vintage of its ultra-stylish Tokara Méthode Cap Classique. This 100% Chardonnay is crafted from cool-climate grapes grown on Tokara’s prized Elgin property. The 2012 vintage is a Blanc de Blancs Gold medallist at the 2019 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge and boasts a 94/100 rating from the highly respected British Master of Wine, Tim Atkin. Spending more than five years on the yeast lees before disgorgement has resulted in an extraordinary depth of flavour, elegance and complexity. The fine, consistent mousse interplays with aromas of freshly baked brioche, fresh apples and a hint of lemon blossom typical of Chardonnay. Delicate bubbles explode in your mouth, leaving you with flavours of toasted almonds,…

I learnt to swim in my great-uncle Wally’s pool. Uncle Wally had a Cape Dutch house of handsome proportions, filled with large, splendid antique pieces. (He was an antiques dealer and master builder with impeccable taste and style.) Best of all, for the kiddies, there was the pool. Not many Coloured people had pools in the 1970s, so this freedom to visit and have the pool all to ourselves (not squished and splashed in the municipal swimming baths) was utter luxury. The pool itself was not big. It was surrounded by the ubiquitous slasto paving of the time that got deliciously hot, puddles dissipating rapidly in the scorching summer sun. There was a shallow end and a deep end. I learnt this after a brave “wingless” (inflated armband) excursion that…

POLISH-BORN ARCHITECT FRANK JARRETT LEFT A RATHER ECLECTIC collection of landmarks across the city of Johannesburg, his works ranging from the offices of Chancellor House – the original home of Mandela and Tambo Attorneys – to the slightly less discreet Gold Reef City theme park development, funded by the billionaire Krok twin brothers. In 1951, Jarrett was commissioned to build a private residence on the Linksfield Ridge for Greek timber merchant Manoussos Broulidakis, who clad the interior of the modern stone, brick and terrazzo home in glowing floor-to-ceiling wood. Thankfully, many of these features remain today. The front door is Burmese teak, the floors are covered in gleaming parquet. But perhaps most breathtaking of all are the richly varnished panels of sandblasted pine that line the eastern wall between the living…

A woman ambles over to our table to say hi, then wanders off again. She s wearing her pyjamas and still looks a little sleepy. “She arrived to stay for a few days and never left,” confides a smiling Gail Behr, owner and proprietor of Dorp hotel. It’s a little vignette that’s entirely fitting given the establishment’s character. It doesn’t feel like a hotel… You walk in through the front door, pass a small entrance hall, and enter a large drawing room. There’s a New Orleansy feel to it. Muted avocado walls, big dusty-pink sofas, old brown tables piled with books, large green plants and soft 1920s jazz occupy the large double-volume space. It looks established. Venerable. Comfortable. “It’s the funniest place. I don’t know what Dorp is,” observes Gail…

Having worked as a graphic designer and art director for more than a decade, Romano Cardinal has branched out into interior and product design. The Swahili Collection, his first, features mirrors and a coffee table, and was launched at 100% Design South Africa earlier this year. “A well-chosen mirror can transform a room by reflecting space and light,” says the Capetonian of his handcrafted works, which are priced between R13 000 and R18 000, and which he makes to order. “I have combined my love of the Art Deco aesthetic with elements of African art and high-end materials to create arresting pieces.” To achieve the desired effect, Romano uses various tinted mirrors and manipulates coloured glass to create a functional art piece. Brushed brass and leather elements add texture and…

Over three days, the Latitudes Art Fair welcomed a diverse crowd of curious explorers and loyal art lovers to Nelson Mandela Square in Joburg. It was launched as an annual edition with one of the standouts being a collaboration between printers Jillian Ross and Roxy Kaczmarek and various artists with the David Krut Workshop. The 2019 edition resulted in five original silkscreens by artists Adejoke Tugbiyele, Sthenjwa Luthuli, Pebofatso Mokoena, Clint Strydom and Mbali Tshabalala. The curated section, “Essay”, gave fair visitors access to the work of struggle veteran, artist, poet and academic Pitika Ntuli and Durban-based artist Sthenjwa Luthuli; while “Independent”, presented by the South African Mint, provided a platform for artists who work independently, without traditional gallery representation. There was also a daily kids’ programme packed with aspiring…

TREND: PANTONE’S COLOUR OF THE YEAR “LIVING CORAL” Chanel Exclusive Creation Rouge Allure Rouge Splendide, R835, woolworths.co.za For summer, splash on Chanel’s limited-edition luminous lip colour in Pink Coral. TREND: CBD Dr Kerklan Natural Skin Cream, R995, goodleaf.co.za Legalised for trade in South Africa in 2019, cannabidiol (CBD), which is derived from the cannabis plant, has become a trending ingredient globally. While it won’t get you high, it’s favoured in natural skincare for its anti-inflammatory properties. TREND: REUSABILITY Eva Solo Urban Travel Mug, R449, yuppiechef.com Single-use products are seriously maligned, and switching to a reusable coffee cup is an easy environmental save. This one’s got double insulating vacuum walls to keep drinks hot or cold. TREND: PLANT PARENTING Lechuza Yula Self-Watering Plant Bag, R409,…

STAN SMITH: SOME PEOPLE THINK I’M A SHOE! By Stan Smith with Richard Evans Rizzoli New York, R1 009 A visual compendium that chronicles the beloved adidas sneaker and its innumerable iterations based on the original 1960s template designed by American tennis champ Stan Smith. Peppered with big-name quotes and a foreword by Pharrell Williams, the book is a beautiful piece of design, with imagery of some of the iconic collaborations, celebrity fans, vintage advertisements, personal anecdotes and archival photos. THE ›ORLD ›CCORDING TO ROGER BALLEN By Roger Ballen and Colin Rhodes Thames & Hudson, R949 American-born Joburg-based artist and photographer Roger Ballen’s unsettling subject matter continues to explore the human psyche. As well as photographs spanning his 50-year career, the book features installations created for an exhibition at Halle…

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