Table of contents for VISI 112 in Visi

IRECENTLY READ a story about a chair. It caught my eye for a couple of reasons. Its classic mid-century aesthetic was one; the other was the fact that we’re doing a piece on designer chairs for this issue (page 24). I liked it for its thin beech legs and spindle-back design, but what I loved was the story behind the chair’s origins. It’s a story that’s relevant to the world we’re living in – a story about design in adversity. The Ercol chair – popular among design-minded homeowners in the 1960s and highly collectable now – has its roots in the austerity of post-World War II England. With much of Ercol’s manufacturing capacity taken up by the war effort, the company emerged after 1945 constrained by limited raw-materials supply and…

DESIGN IS ONE TINE IN A MANY-PRONGED FORK. A carvery. An armoury. Both contain blades and invite the age-old philosophical discussion of knife as tool or knife as weapon. Design is much the same: the very problems for which Janus-like design is currently punted as saviour were generated by the other side of its coin. Today, an architect can conceptualise a sustainable, skyscraping Smart City entirely from wood – a structural feat not possible previously – thanks to the introduction of cross-laminated timber. Yet design has also been used to modify attack drones. In short, I don’t believe design can save the world. It is not a panacea. Such sloganeering should be saved for rousing support, championing a cause. I tenuously clutch at the belief that people can beat their…

With breathtaking beaches, pristine nature reserves and adventure-packed amenities, it’s no surprise that Plettenberg Bay is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country. And it’s where architects Johan Wentzel and Grete van As of W Design Architecture Studio set out to create a private haven of tranquillity for their clients – a place where the natural beauty of the bay would be an undeniable focal point throughout the house. “WE DESIGNED THE HOUSE WITH ABSOLUTE FOCUS ON THE NATURAL WORLD OUTSIDE.” – ARCHITECT JOHAN WENTZEL “For us, architecture is not about the physical building; it’s about the spirit that creates the space,” Johan explains. “The building is just a sheltered platform from which you experience the world – space and place should be perceived by the spirit.”…

MMANUEL DE BAYSER IS LUCKY ENOUGH to divide his time between two of Europe’s great locales: Berlin and Paris. In Berlin, he runs his fashion and design store, The Corner Berlin – and when in residence in his Paris apartment, he works intensely on selecting the very best in current fashion, design and decor for The Corner. Emmanuel’s Paris pied-à-terre is situated in a building that’s typical of the neoclassical style in which Parisian dwellings were constructed during the time of Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s famous “renovation” of the city in the 19th century – even though it was actually built a number of years after the legendary city planner’s death in 1891. It’s a small space – just 70m2 in total – but it feels spacious and expansive. This is the…

“My first homeware collection is a continuation of design work inspired by my British-Nigerian heritage and childhood,” says artist Yinka Ilori. “It’s a colourful celebration of two cultures, expressed through abstract, technicolour pattern and contemporary craft.” We’ve long admired Yinka’s work – since graduating from London Metropolitan University, where he studied product and furniture design, he has created public artworks and installations around the world, and crafted many set and exhibition designs. Now, his exuberant patterns and colours can be brought right into your home with the launch of a homeware range that’s pretty much guaranteed to make you smile. This first range is “focused on tabletop and textiles”, he says, and features “a mixture of accent pieces to inject positive and vibrant colour into the home”. Although it’s not…

Constitution Hill is home to South Africa’s Constitutional Court, as well as the Flame of Democracy, which burns permanently on the site to remind all its visitors of the democratic ideals of our society. And now, it’s also the home of the Creative Uprising – a movement that will see the heritage site become a symbol of talent development through various venues and programmes. The latest element in this nascent creative mix is the space pictured on these pages: Constitution Hill’s new recording studio, Flame Studios. Here, music meets South African design, architecture and art in an inspiring showcase of local excellence. The vibrant and authentic South African aesthetic was designed and implemented by Tracy Lynch, creative director of the Nando’s design programme, and is a cool mix of original…

Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), CES is an annual showcase event that features every aspect of the tech sector. Unsurprisingly, key trends at this year’s event, held in January, included ways to fight Covid-19 – such as UV robots for disinfection; body sensors to detect flu symptoms; toilets that flush with a wave of the hand; various air filters and purifiers; touchless video doorbells; and a mask with integrated earbuds and microphone to take calls. But there was plenty more on offer. Other products showcased included rollable mobile screens, smart AR glasses (including wearable displays), pet trackers, transparent televisions and next-gen OLED screens, among others. And so, here are our top five products from CES 2021. LG INSTAVIEW FRIDGES LG updated its door-in-door InstaView fridges, which…

You can now wear a piece of Africa’s architecture with the new Anoqi line by Johannesburg-based jeweller and urban planner Anokhi Parikh – a celebration of the continent’s architectural marvels and legacy of extraordinary adornment. Anoqi’s #Antiquity range consists of a series of cast-brass rings that pay a shimmering tribute to the designers of the past in wonderfully detailed miniature: think wearable expressions of the Church of Lalibela in Ethiopia, the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali and the too-little-celebrated Pyramids of Meroe. The Anoqi brand was born when Anokhi found herself looking for a more satisfying creative outlet while doing her urban planning doctorate. “While I was working on my doctorate in London, I learnt the hard way that one of the things about writing a dissertation is that…

Sustainable, seasonal produce cooked simply is how Peter Tempelhoff describes the philosophy of his latest restaurant. That said, anyone who has experienced Peter’s sublime Japanese-fusion fare at FYN will take that with just the tiniest pinch of salt. Simpler, yes – but Beyond is more about a fresh take on tradition than “cooked simply”. “We’re going back to the roots of the restaurant,” Peter says, “and simultaneously redefining the meaning of ‘restaurant’ as a place of restauration.” That, for the linguists, is the archaic form of “restoration” – a feeling you’re likely to experience just sitting in this restaurant with glass walls that overlook Buitenverwachting’s vineyards on the slopes of the Constantiaberg. We arrived just as the sun was setting, the floor-to-ceiling glass casting a soft light over an interior…

ANNETTE KLINGER, FREELANCE WRITER & THING-MAKER What is your all-time favourite design icon? The Morris chair. As a child, I always just knew it as my dad’s chair. When I moved into my first apartment, he gave it to me. I love its understated, timeless simplicity. Annette is a longtime VISI contributor with years of experience in writing about design, and we regularly ask her to bring her appreciative eye and sharp insight to architectural features and house stories alike. In this issue, Annette talked to architects Grete van As and Johan Wentzel about the designers who influenced their work (page 36) and explored a new Robert Silke-designed hotel in Green Point (page 122). CELESTE JACOBS, CONTENT PRODUCER & PHOTOGRAPHER What is your all-time favourite design icon? The Hawa Mahal…

LE MARAIS ARRONDISSEMENT My husband booked an eclectic artist’s atelier in Le Marais on Rue de Temple as a surprise for our honeymoon, and I’ve been asked about it so many times that I want to leave a link for the Airbnb listing right here in print. The neighbourhood made all the difference to our experience with its bustling cafés, bistros and streets, and our apartment was crammed with beautiful art and furniture, silken throws, amber-coloured glasses, clamshell spoons and well-fingered books on aesthetic. When we left, our host gave us my favourite Bordallo Pinheiro frog jug, which we used all the time in the apartment, as a spontaneous wedding gift. I use it every morning to make coffee. MUSÉE D’ORSAY It’s my favourite museum, and one I always make…

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUR VOICES AND TELL BEAUTIFUL STORIES. To say Constitution Hill is a powerful and complex site would be an understatement. It is both a place where South African freedom fighters were imprisoned and the current seat of our Constitutional Court. The Old Fort, with its intimidating architecture, has heart-wrenching stories of thousands of South Africa’s brave citizens etched into its ether. In its current incarnation, however, it also holds the hopes and dreams of all South Africans in a space designed to inspire, uplift and unite the many cultures that make up our complex society. Hence it was with great excitement and care that I approached a new project, which allowed me the privilege of being part of a team that would add yet…

THERE’S HISTORY HERE.  In 1984, just starting his practice as an architect, Jo Noero designed his first large house in Johannesburg for a client by the name of Val. Some 35 years later, he received a phone call from Val’s son Ryan – whom Jo remembers as a little child playing at the building site – asking him to look at transforming a house that he and his wife Samantha had bought. “This was a project I had to take up,” says Jo, “and it turned out to be a real pleasure, working for a very nice family. Perhaps if I live long enough, I might be fortunate to be able to create a house for Ryan and Samantha’s daughter or son – who knows?” From the outside, it isn’t…

Gillian Fuller’s bright, instantly arresting work is largely geometric, and inspired by man-made structures. “Nevertheless,” she says, “inspiration is also to be found in microscopic components of nature, as seen when magnified. At a cellular level, there are endless ideas for design.” Gillian’s signature style translates well into a range of expressions, including beadwork, fabrics and wallpaper. In fact, she says, “Most of my surface designs emanate from beadwork designs. Repeats are easy to create, with some adjustments.” The scale of use of the designs also plays a big part in their boldness, whether it be one repeat enlarged to the width of a fabric, or several repeats to create an entirely different effect, explains Gillian. “In other words, my beadwork designs are interchangeable as fabric, wallpaper and one-off prints,…

Painter and performance artist Cassi Namoda was born in Mozambique, and now splits her time between Los Angeles and New York. She was raised in Benin, Uganda, Haiti, her native Mozambique and the US, so it’s not surprising that her work explores the intricacies of social dynamics and mixed cultural and racial identity. In April 2020, Goodman Gallery announced that Namoda had been newly signed to the gallery, and in late November unveiled her debut exhibition, “To Live Long Is To See Much”, under their representation. This also marked her first show on the African continent. The characters depicted in “To Live Long Is To See Much” bring together a blend of the artist’s personal experiences with broader fictional narratives, exploring themes such as the origin of life, the nature…

1. RADICAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE FUTURE by Beatrice Galilee Phaidon | R949 Architecture isn’t about mere buildings any more, as this compilation of boundary-breaking projects amply demonstrates. From the surprising to the outrageous and even the slightly scary, this is a great overview of contemporary spatial design at its most radical and intriguing. An essential read for everyone interested in the avant-garde. 2. EVERYTHING: A MAXIMALIST STYLE GUIDE by Abigail Ahern Pavilion | R712 If you think of yourself as forever a Scandi-inspired minimalist, this book might just change your mind. Abigail Ahern’s moody, layered, “more is more” aesthetic has brought her huge success as an interior designer and retailer, and her use of bold colour palettes, luxurious textiles, patterns and embellishment is shown off here to brilliant effect. 3.…

Combining work and leisure travel is one of those long-term trends that has led to a myriad new accommodation offerings springing up around the globe. Whether heading off to Bali for a few months of combined remote work and surfing lessons, or adding a week onto the end of a trip to a conference in Berlin, people around the world tend to look for something other than a regular hotel room in which to stay. Enter the Locke Group – a hospitality brand that combines the practicality of a rental apartment with the hotel amenities that add ease and convenience to the travel experience. “Locke aims to liberate guests from the confines of a typical hotel room by creating beautiful apartments that are designed to be lived in,” says Stephen…

Established in England in 1852, Reed Family Linen has a long-standing reputation for creating luxurious linen products. And, unusually these days, this family business – now a global brand – is still owned and managed by the descendants of the original founder, John Moorby Reed. Reed’s chief claim to fame is the remarkable quality of their sheeting fabrics. As the brand explains, a high-quality fabric is measured not only in “thread count” or the number of threads used, but “by the number of intersections between the warp and weft threads. Each intersection creates friction that holds the fabric together, so the more intersections, the more durable the fabric.” Reed Family Linen’s plain-weave cotton “has equal numbers of warp and weft threads woven in each direction, producing the maximum number of…

WE CAN ALL APPLY A LITTLE DESIGN THINKING TO WHAT WE DO. One of the things that continues to drive my work is the firm belief that design can, has and will continue to change the world. I am in constant awe of the far-reaching tendrils of design, of its ability to influence ways of living, working, playing, loving, interacting and being. And while all modern mainstream design affects us, it is human-centred design that will change the world. A good example of this is how the smartphone – and ultimately the design thereof – continues to influence the way we interact with the world around us. I believe that the more people can learn about one another, the closer they can get to a place of mutual respect and…

THE SCENC R62 ROUTE to the Klein Karoo unfolds into vivid pictures of rolling rocky mountains and lush vineyards, followed by a slow ascent as you head into the historic town of Montagu, as well-known for its beautifully preserved buildings as it is for its hiking trails. The old town might seem an unusual location for this modern and minimalist home, but it turns out to be ideal for a hideaway in which time stands still. “Hendre transformed the design into something we love,”says homeowner Martly Calitz of the interior designer who pieced together the significant details that make this home unique – including the decision to paint it mostly white with touches of black, which sets off the warm, earthy terracotta floors beautifully. Hendre Bloem is known for his…

A“SENSE OF ARRIVAL” IS THE FEELING YOU GET WHEN YOU STEP INSIDE PERIVOLI LAGOON HOUSE, says architect Gregg Goddard about this contemporary villa. Designed as an exclusive retreat available for rent, the villa features four double suites with private bathrooms and individual terraces, connected by large living spaces. “The approach route was carefully selected and cut through the forest, and very much intended to add to the mystique and expectancy associated with a winding narrow road that leads to an unfamiliar destination,” Gregg explains. “Breaking out of the imposing forest, and being confronted by the splendour of the building against a dramatic backdrop of mountains and wide expanse of inland water, heightens that exhilarating sense of arrival.” As the structure is set in 140 hectares of indigenous fynbos, maintaining a…

“Hotels are tricky things to design; trickier still to design beautifully.” It’s one of the first things Robert Silke of Robert Silke & Partners says when talking about his latest creation. “When you build a hotel, you’re essentially making it out of Lego blocks – and those blocks are rectangular rooms.” In the case of Vib,a brand extension of the international hotel group Best Western aimed at young, urban travellers, Robert lucked out. The parameters were set, but because Vib was still a relatively new brand, there was a bit of give. It also didn’t hurt that Robert’s clients Muslim and Shafina Jaffer, a property-development power couple from Tanzania, had a sense of adventure – not to mention a flair for the dramatic. For Vīb, which also has hotels in…

1. JACK DANIEL’S TENNESSEE HONEY Combining Jack Daniel’s whiskey with the unique honey liqueur also made by the Tennessee distillery, this smooth, honey-infused blend is at its best served simply, on the rocks. It’s the ideal post-dinner tipple for Jack fans. From R280 | jackdaniels.com 2. SUNCAMINO FLORAL RUM Suncamino means “journey to the sun”, and was the inspiration for three South African friends who worked with a Barbados distiller to develop this eight-year-old rum blend. Back in Cape Town, a bouquet of floral botanicals was added. R319 | suncaminorum.com 3. ELEPHANTOM AFRICAN DARK RUM It’s named after the fabled bull elephant of the Knysna Forest, known to appear to those who seek the last remaining elephants (and then magically disappear again). Just as magically, Elephantom’s initial caramel notes fade…

Mash. T Design Studio, founded by Thabisa Mjo, recently launched its first line of ceramics, taking the brand into the world of smaller (and, we predict, hugely collectable) home goods. The colourful Presents From Joburg range of vases, planters, platters, fruit bowls, shakers, side plates, dip bowls and candleholders has been spun, in true Thabisa fashion, in a contemporary language that showcases the designer’s expressive use of colour, pattern and shape. Presents From Joburg came about at a quiet time for the studio, while operating during the pandemic, and now stands as another testament to Mash. T’s ongoing collaborative approach to design. After initial design work on the range, Mash. T began a partnership with Cape Town-based ceramic artist Aleri Odendaal, who worked from her home studio during the lockdown.…