design>living no.6

8/8/2019 Design>Living No.6

1/130

LIVI

NG

NO: 6


2/130

20374


3/130

Rich aroma.Refined taste.

Find your inspiration


4/130
http://www.theartistsofafrica.co.za/


5/130


6/130
http://www.dorado.co.za/


7/130

LIVING

CONTENTS7>

12 > Circa on Jellicoe

26 > Steel and nature in perfect harmony

34 > Bring it on Summer 2010 here we come!

SA Fashion Week, Summer Collection

44 > Coffee brand leads the way in Italianhousehold consumption

52 > Transcending trinkets

56 > Highlights from Design Indaba 2010

64 > Success of Decorex Cape Town bodes well

for design sector
http://www.designmagazine.co.za/http://www.designmagazine.co.za/http://issuu.com/action/page?page=12http://issuu.com/action/page?page=26http://issuu.com/action/page?page=34http://issuu.com/action/page?page=34http://issuu.com/action/page?page=44http://issuu.com/action/page?page=44http://issuu.com/action/page?page=52http://issuu.com/action/page?page=56http://issuu.com/action/page?page=64http://issuu.com/action/page?page=64http://www.designmagazine.co.za/http://issuu.com/action/page?page=64http://issuu.com/action/page?page=64http://issuu.com/action/page?page=56http://issuu.com/action/page?page=52http://issuu.com/action/page?page=44http://issuu.com/action/page?page=44http://issuu.com/action/page?page=34http://issuu.com/action/page?page=34http://issuu.com/action/page?page=26http://issuu.com/action/page?page=12


8/130

8>

LIVING

72 > REcreate: Designing a second life from the

old and discarded

81 > Glass wonders from Preciosa

88 > Retile? Why not paint?

90 > The Grand Caf & Beach opens in Table Bay

94 > A lifestyle district at the forefront of urban

design

102 > Herrondale Wildlife Eco Estate andWaterberry Haven: Making life worth living

116 > Architectural excellence live
http://www.designmagazine.co.za/http://www.designmagazine.co.za/http://issuu.com/action/page?page=72http://issuu.com/action/page?page=72http://issuu.com/action/page?page=72http://issuu.com/action/page?page=72http://issuu.com/action/page?page=81http://issuu.com/action/page?page=81http://issuu.com/action/page?page=81http://issuu.com/action/page?page=88http://issuu.com/action/page?page=88http://issuu.com/action/page?page=88http://issuu.com/action/page?page=90http://issuu.com/action/page?page=90http://issuu.com/action/page?page=90http://issuu.com/action/page?page=94http://issuu.com/action/page?page=94http://issuu.com/action/page?page=94http://issuu.com/action/page?page=94http://issuu.com/action/page?page=102http://issuu.com/action/page?page=102http://issuu.com/action/page?page=102http://issuu.com/action/page?page=102http://issuu.com/action/page?page=116http://issuu.com/action/page?page=116http://issuu.com/action/page?page=116http://www.designmagazine.co.za/http://issuu.com/action/page?page=116http://issuu.com/action/page?page=102http://issuu.com/action/page?page=102http://issuu.com/action/page?page=94http://issuu.com/action/page?page=94http://issuu.com/action/page?page=90http://issuu.com/action/page?page=88http://issuu.com/action/page?page=81http://issuu.com/action/page?page=72http://issuu.com/action/page?page=72


9/130
http://www.bowman.co.za/


10/130

MusicDance

Drama

Design

Visual Art

PO BOX 91 LADY GREY 9755 * TEL 051-603 0046 * FAX 051-603PO Box 91 Lady Grey 9755 * TEL 051 603 0046 * Fax 051 603 0480


11/130

PUBLISHER>

Cameron Bramley

[email protected]

EDITOR >

Jacques Lange

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS>

Veruska De Vita , Bev Hermanson,

Stacey Rowan, Karuna Pillay, Sidhika Sooklal,

Sun Stassen, Anri Theron, Russel Thomson

SALES TEAM>

Francois Fassler and Jeff Malan

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT>

Charl Lamprecht

ADMINISTRATION & ACCOUNTS>

Claudia Madurai & Michelle Swart

CREATIVE DIRECTOR>

Jacques Lange

DESIGN & LAYOUT>

Bluprint Design

Cover image courtesy of The Everard

Read Gallery

PUBLISHED BY>

DESIGN>INFORMATION

Tel: +27(0) 82 882 8124

Fax: +27 (0) 86 678 8448

www.designmagazine.co.za

DESIGN>LIVING is produced by DESIGN>INFORMATION. No material may be reproduced in part or whole without the

express permission of the publisher. No responsibility will be accepted for unsolicited material. The publisher accepts no

liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this publication. The publisher does not

give any warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of its contents. The views and opinions expressed in DESIGN>LIVING

are not necessarily those of the publisher, its endorsers, sponsors or contributors.

2010 DESIGN>INFORMATION

CREDITS

LIVING

11 >
http://www.designmagazine.co.za/http://www.designmagazine.co.za/http://www.designmagazine.co.za/


12/130

CIRCA ONJELLICOEBy Bev Hermanson

Its a Saturday morning and the residents of

Rosebank, one of Johannesburgs elite

northern suburbs, are ocking to the art pre-

cinct on the corner of Jellicoe and Jan Smuts

Avenues to enjoy a coffee, browse through

the book store and view the artworks on

display. This is the vision of Mark Read of

the Everard Read Gallery, whose brief to

Pierre Swanepoel of StudioMAS architec-

ture & urban design was to create a multi-

functional space on what once was a narrow

parking lot.

12>


13/130

LIVING

13>


14/130

Top row: The Circa building commands the corner

while the Everard Read Gallery forms a demure

backdrop.

Left: A walkway connects the Circa building with

the re escape.

14>


15/130

LIVING

15 >

The Everard Read Gallery was started back in 1912 in the

central business district of Johannesburg. In a bid to

escape the crime ridden inner city, the Read family choseto relocate the gallery to Jellicoe Avenue in Rosebank,

where a domestic residence was converted into a ow-

ing, bright viewing space for various artworks, sketches,

sculptures and artifacts. Then in the 80s, the Reads pur-

chased the property facing Jan Smuts Avenue, across

the road from the gallery. For the next 15 years the land

was utilised as extra parking for the gallery, however,

during this interval, the seed was sown to do something

more meaningful with the site. Mark Read set about

nding an architect that could share his vision and

eventually settled on the award winning practice of

StudioMAS. He briefed Pierre Swanepoel, the senior

partner, to come up with a concept that would become

a dynamic multi-functional building that would com-

plement the existing gallery.

It was very challenging to conceptualise a building

that would take best advantage of what was essentially

a long narrow utility area. We came up with a triple storey

building that is an elliptical shape, transparent, yet self-

contained, says architect Pierre Swanepoel. Known as

Circa, which means thereabouts or approximately at

that time, the new building occupies the north western

corner of the Rosebank precinct. It is within walking

distance of the various malls, craft market, banks and

the many hotels and restaurants in the district. With

the building of a Gautrain station in the suburb, it is

expected that this area will become a vibrant node and

an attractive destination for visitors and residents of

Gauteng to visit.


16/130

Mark had initially wanted to extend the gallery across

the street, but as the project unfolded he decided to

leave the existing gallery as it was, merely paving the

road between the two sites to create more of an art

in the street atmosphere, Swanepoel continues.

The new building is a very theatrical space that has

been split into three levels with a circular staircase

that ascends around the perimeter. Its a place where

people can meet and interact in a highly inspirational

environment.

The concrete stairs which encircles

the central structure.

The aluminium ns that clad the

exterior of the structure.

16 >

LIVING


17/130

www.forestflooring.co.zaTel: 011 466 0701 Fax: 011 466 2919

forest

flooring

forest

flooringde si gn er f l oo rs & ti mb er dec ks
http://www.forestflooring.co.za/http://www.forestflooring.co.za/http://www.forestflooring.co.za/


18/130

18 >

LIVING

It was extremely difcult to piece the building together

to achieve the elliptical shape, says Swanepoel. Much

of the structure had to be constructed virtually by

hand to achieve the uniformity desired. The central

structure is made from concrete, which is encircled by

concrete stairs. To ensure a level of privacy, this was

then clad with aluminium ns that allow natural light

to lter in during the day and articial light to splash

on to the surrounding pavement area at night. The

fins resemble the structures used for a Zulu kraal,

shielding the interiors from the bright African sun.

The structure was conceptualised to become an integral

part of the public spaces with a coffee shop and book

store that will spill out on to the paving. The streetscape

lends itself to the showing of large sculptures and two

large glass sliding doors are the perfect answer to the

need for security, while offering transparency and a feel-

ing of openness to the space.

The ingenuity of the design has given this landmark a

triple storey structure with a top level lounge and deck

that takes in 270 degree views clear across to Northcliff

hill. The lounge, designed by Christine Read, and adjoin-

ing kitchen area is large enough to cater comfortably forgatherings of 50 or so people and the west facing deck

is perfect for sundowners. The first floor, covering

around 177m2 is a multipurpose exhibition space with

seven movable screens that can be dropped through

the oor to the level below should the need arise for

more exhibition space on the ground oor.


19/130

19 >


20/130

20 >

LIVING

Named Speke, after John Speke, the pioneer who sought the

source of the Nile, this ground oor space is ideal for dis-

playing treasures of contemporary art and artefacts, all

things passionately collected by Mark and Christine from

Africa and around the world. The top level, known as theDarwin Room, is linked to a re escape via a walkway. This

metal structure will eventually be covered by a vertical gar-

den, allowing visitors the experience of descending

through a green world of foliage, should they wish to do so.


21/130

The top level lounge,

known as the Darwin

Room, designed by

Christine Read.

The top level deck that

takes in 270 degree

views clear across to

Northcliff Hill.

21 >


22/130

Circas multipurpose

exhibition space

22 >

LIVING

In addition to displays of artworks and crafts, Circa will be used

for a variety of cultural events that will encourage gallery support-

ers to rethink the denitions of art and other cultural pursuits.

One can say that Circa is a small building with a big attitude,

says Swanepoel. One that is inspired by a new world economy,where commercial gain is tempered by a concern for urban and

natural environments.


23/130

Introducing the Lightweight Solution

Pre-Cast

Purpose Made

Paving

Lintels

Hardware

Tel: +27 12 804 8337, Fax: +27 12 804 5913PO Box 65306, Erasmusrand, 0165

747 Trans Road, Silverton, Pretoria (off Dykor road, turn at Supaquick)www.concretejungleprecast.co.za [email protected]

Concrete Jungle Pre-Cast is a well established manufacturer and supplier ofquality purpose made and standard pre-cast building products.

Allow us to turn your creativity into reality!

Don't be confined to the norm as we manufacture

your designs in high quality concrete!
http://www.concretejungleprecast.co.za/http://www.concretejungleprecast.co.za/


24/130
http://www.cobra.co.za/


25/130


26/130

26 >


27/130

LIVING

27>

Steel andnature in

perfectharmonyGone are the days when the use of steel in residential

architecture signied the minimalist industrial aesthetic

favoured by the Modernists and Structural Expressionists

of the 20th century who mainly opted to combine the

material with glass and concrete.

As a construction material, steel has unique propertiesthat allow architects to achieve innovative and incredible

structural results that few other materials can offer. Yet,

steel is still considered by many as a material that is

more suited for industrial, commercial and civil structures

rather than for residential application because of its sup-

posed clinical, dominating and masculine associations.


28/130

28 >

The image of steel as an aesthetic construction material has

lagged somewhat in this country, but there are signs that this is

changing, says Hennie de Clercq, executive director of the South-

ern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC). In recent years

SAISC, in collaboration with other local institutions, has developed

several initiatives to promote steel as an aesthetic building

material. These include a guest speaker programme and the

Steel Awards, which also incorporates a Residential Category,among others.

In an interview with Engineering News, de Clercq said that recent

Steel Award winners, such as the Gauteng-based Highveldt

House, winner of the Residential Category in 2009, have contrib-

uted signicantly to the image of steel in smaller-scale buildings,

while iconic structures, like the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johan-

nesburg and the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, are evidence

of the effectiveness of steel and the local capacity to design

and build these structures.

Highveldt House

project details:

Architect:

Van der Merwe Miszewski

Architects (Pty) Ltd

Structural Engineer:

WSP Structures Africa (Pty)

Ltd

Quantity Surveyor:

Turner & Townsend (Pty)

Ltd


29/130

LIVING

29 >

Focusing on smaller structures, the judges of the 2009 Steel

Awards highlighted the Highveldt House as a prime example

of a project that achieved outstanding results in the way in

which the architects incorporated steel as primary construction

element in a residential setting, while also integrating it fully

into a protected, natural and unspoilt environment by combin-

ing it with timber. Highveldt House is set in a typical South

African Highveld landscape, within the Cradle of Humankind,which enjoys World Heritage Status. Accordingly, say the judges,

the central design task was the integration of the structure into

this unique environment, which was accomplished in out-

standing manner.

The project site is surrounded by a remarkably diverse land-

scape, which includes an oak forest, a white stinkwood forest,

open meadows, poplar groves, a river, a lake, typical Highveld

koppies (hills) and an open, natural veld. The site is slightly

elevated and shallowly carved into one of the koppies, on

Project Manager:

Turner & Townsend (Pty)

Ltd

Main Contractor:

IQNC Imagine Construction

(Pty) Ltd

Steelwork Contractor:

Cosira International SA (Pty)

Ltd


30/130

30 >

which stand numerous white stinkwoods around which the

house has been set. The elevation and the positioning of the

building on the site enables spectacular views to distant hills

where the various elements of the diverse landscape seam-

lessly join.

The house is designed as a series of pavilions arranged be-

tween the horizontal planes of the oor and the roof. These

planes are located within a section of the stinkwood forest, on

the edge of an intrusion of veld and are elevated above natural

ground by an apparently randomly measured forest of skew

columns two legs per column to give the feel of tree trunks.

Shortlisted projects inthe Steel Awards Residential Category

Dune House (left)

Architect:Slee & Co

Architects Pty Ltd

Structural Engineer:DMS

Structures cc


31/130

31 >

LIVING

The columns, in turn, support a grid, about which the planning

and layout of the pavilions and functions are ordered, but

which together form the structures skeleton, which consists

entirely of linear steel elements partially clad in different tim-

bers, xed to concrete bases. While enclosure is transparent,

terraces project into the forest and over the adjacent veld fa-cilitating the harmonious integration of the structure into its

unique surroundings.

The Steel Award judges were particularly impressed with how

steel was used in this project, saying that despite the many

advantages of steel as a construction material, it has not been

Toulon House, Sabi Sabi (right)

Architect: Nicholas Plewman

Architects

Structural Engineer: Victor

Booth


32/130

32 >

extensively used in the South African residential sector as a

prominent construction element.

They added that in this country, steel is not popularly perceived

to be easily conducive to a warm, relaxed home atmosphere

while many are also doubtful of its aesthetic qualities in a res-

idential setting.

This project debunks these notions most emphatically. High-

veldt House demonstrates clearly how warmth can be created

with steel. Here, the juxtaposition of steel columns and rafters,

clad in timber, framed in glass and successfully integrated into

its environment, have created a warm and homely atmospherepar excellence.

The judges were, overall, in awe of this project. Over the last

few years our judging team has had the opportunity to visit

and assess some stunning houses and most cannot compare

to Highveldt House, which is not only aesthetically magnicent

Shortlisted projects in

the Steel Awards

Residential Category

Beach house, Rooi Els (left0

Architect: Slee & Co Architects

(Pty) LtdProject Architect: Guillaume

Pienaar

Structural Engineer:

Cegela Consultants


33/130

33 >

LIVING

but is also an example of exceptional attention to detail and con-

struction quality.

The judges listed the elements that stood out for them: double

sloping columns at each column position; steel I-beams with

webs in-lled with timber to give a feeling of warmth; of the

same design were the internal columns, which were so carefully

planned they did not interfere in any way with the living spaces;

perfectly proportioned cap plates to support the single rafter

beams with timber in-lled webs; the hand railing, balustrades,

steel stairs and framing of the enormous glass walls all contribute

to the enormously high standard of nishing.

This project could pave the way for showing the steel objectorsthat steel can easily be part of an excellent solution, in a vari-

ety of settings, including sensitive public spaces, in the con-

struction of warm, beautiful homes, concluded the judges.

This article was adapted from a feature published inSteel

Construction, Vol. 33 No. 6.Living No.6

34/130

34 >

By Karuna Pillay

Nabeela

Top: ColleenSoda


35/130

LIVING

35 >

A nation of outdoor lovers gasped a sigh of relief as the on again,

off again, yes its happening, SA Fashion Week Summer 2010

show nally took root. Not only did the loss of the previous chief

sponsor present many hurdles in staging the SA Fashion Week,

but, understandably, this years Summer showing did not live up

to its predecessors. The x factors so to speak, were missing.

The one saving grace, for me, was the new format adopted this

year, where buyers and the media got an opportunity to inter-

act with the designers and examine the garments up close. This

endeavour proved to be the highlight of many seasoned Fash-

ion Week attendees.

The one thing on everyones lips was: So whats new? The ex-

pectation was greater then the delivery this year, this being the

time of the Soccer World Cup where the worlds eyes focus on

South Africa. We should have seen local designers pull out all

the stops, showing collections that made one gasp with sur-

prise, admiration and pride to be part of the SA fashion industry.

But, its not all negative as the collections that were shown were

good ... Although, they were just good nothing outstanding,

nothing brilliant and nothing we have not yet seen before. Yes,

fashions and fads come and go and with a year gone by here

was a chance to make things special and to stand out from therest of the crowd.

Lets look at what SA Fashion Weeks Summer collections indi-

cated as what would be fashionable this year after an exception-

ally cold Winter and post-World Cup.

TRENDS OBSERVEDSome trends for Summer 2010 include the layering of light-

weight fabrics to give the illusion of water cascading off the

body and a mix of sheer and heavy weight fabrics to show off a

style choice. Men be prepared for the unveiling of the reach for

the heavens legs - smooth, glowing legs uncovered by shorts.

The reach for the heaven legs, paired with ladies shorts are

making a big appearance together, not forgetting long pants for

both casual and evening wear.

The mens wear selection did not disappoint as they showed

both casual and immaculately tailored suits, shirts, shorts

and underwear.

Top: Darkie. Above: Mantsho.

zen. Middle: Ephymol. Above: DM Classics.


36/130

36 >

AMANDA LAIRD CHERRY(in partnership with DAC, worked with crafters

from Gauteng)

An overwhelming fresh breeze of light, sheer

fabrics created a sense of ease and comfort.

The use of fabrics lent itself to the uidity in

the design of fresh, simple, ready-to-wear

garments. Her colour palette of pale blues,

white, creams and khaki added to the almost

cloud-9 relaxed look. This collection is sure

to be a hit with the trendy earthy naturalwomen.

GUILLOTINE

Guillotine showed us the simple beauty of

black and white. The collection started with

the entrance of models with glow sticks and

a lamp shade. The black and white showed

off the garments design, the fabrics unique

textures, with vinyl and leather being thrown

into the mix. Again, layering played a huge

part of this collection.


37/130

LIVING

37>

NIGHT SHOWS DAY ONE

SUPERELLA

Bring the big top to SA Fashion Week was a sure hit

with all the attendees. This collection was funky,

quirky and, lets just say, for the young at heart. A

clown walking down the runway with a bunch of

gold/yellow balloons certainly said this was not

going to be an ordinary collection it was going to

be fun, fun, fun. Dresses, skirts and pants, both

long and short, matched with loose owing tops

made of geometric shapes. All very comfortable

and funky. As to how many people will be seen in

it, is another question.


38/130

38 >

TWO

Keep it simple is the best description for this col-lection. The fabrics were comfortable and stretchy,

allowing the body to form curves that would in-

dicate a unique cut to each garment, therefore

unique garment to each model. The colours of the

collection brought out the contrasts between

beige and cream, a dark secret-bearing grey and

a light baby pink. This is a comfortable collection

that many will be seen in. Hold your breath,

count to 10 and be overcome by calmness thisis what this collection is going to give you.

RJKAY CREATIONS

The dot is used in every culture around the globe

to symbolise the life energy given off by the sun. In

saying that, this collection had a life of its own.

An inspired mix of solids and patterns, in the form

of skirts dresses and pants, all showed immacu-

late tailoring. The use of blue, my favourite co-

lour, next to black was indeed eye opening,

bright, fun and spoke of a summer lost in the

deep blue relaxed ocean.


39/130

LIVING

39 >

NIGHT SHOWS DAY TWO

CHIMERA

The clothing presented in the collection was

loose and comfortable, with the designer

using belts to emphasise the waist and

shape of the garments. She even showed us

that it is okay to wear more then one best

item at a time. Jackets, waistcoats, dresses,

skirts, pants and even hoodies made an ap-

pearance, showing us that fashion is what

you make of it.


40/130

40 >

KAREN MONK KLIJNSTRA

A feel good summer of fun is what thiscollection portrays. It has a certain rain-

bow nation feel where colours, cultures

and expressions are rolled into one,

making a unique garment that not only

appeals to locals but people all over

the world. As the saying goes lekker

awesome.

LOXION KULCA BY OL LEDIMO

If you have ever wanted to see mens fashion take

centre stage, this was the time. Loxion Kulca pre-

sented a challenging, yet confident, collection

that told every man its never too late to bring your

African roots to life. This range had attitude, and

its casual appearance embodied the funky hip

street-smart attitude of today.


41/130

LIVING

41>

NIGHT SHOWS DAY TWO

GUGULAM

A sexy earthy soulful collection greeted the audience.

The full range of womens wear ranged from owing

dresses to the, oh so hot, gure-hugging shirts, to

pants matched with tailored blouses. This collec-

tion brought back the days gone by of an older

styled collection, yet it still had major appeal to

todays fashion conscience women.


42/130

42>

SYLVESTER FALATA

This was a fitting conclusion to SAFashion Week. The designer, a first

timer, was bold and exciting, making

use of colours never used in mens

fashion before. The candy/pastel co-

lours certainly gave the collection an

edge and appeal for those hot sum-

mer days. The use of one-piece jump

suits, that were knee length, was in-

spiring and the safari styled openingcreation,was, for me, the best I have

seen in years. The use of lightweight

fabrics namely raw silk gave the

clothes an easy feel on the skin, yet

never lost its masculine look. All in all,

a job well done.

Images courtesy of SAFW. Photographs by Ivan Naude,

Clarisse Pieterson and SDR Photo.


43/130

LIVING

43>

NIGHT SHOWS DAY TWO


44/130

44 >

Cover of the 2010 Lavazzo calendar

by Miles Aldridge. Model: Lydia Hearst.

44 >


45/130

Coffee is coffee is coffee. Yeah, right. Most

South African coffee drinkers will know thedifference between their favoured brand ver-

sus another, and the milk and two sugars

wont mask any inconsistencies. In Italy

where the art of roasting and blending was

perfected, the scenario is even more appar-

ent. But what sets one coffee brand apart

from the others? Flavour and roast alonewont get consumers to reach for it amongst

the crowdedness of the coffee aisle, nor will

the pull of caffeine. So what does?

Historically, many suppliers got onto the coffee band-

wagon either as roasters or vendors; coffee became

popular in the United States after tea drinking became

politically incorrect. Coffee is drunk the world over. InAfrica coffee preparation is a daily ceremony; tea and

the Taj Mahal arent the only things big in India and

LIVING

45>

By Veruska De Vita


46/130

the Nepalese drink coffee like its water. The same goes for the

Italians. Cue Francesca Lavazza Corporate Image Director of

Lavazza. She comes from a line of coffee marketers and

knows that to make her brand stand out she has to keep it

rmly entrenched in the lifestyle and habits of her target mar-

ket. Since 1993, Lavazza has produced an annual collectors

calendar as part of the companys worldwide marketing cam-

paign. This years calendar is all about music, Italian music,

says Francesca. Just making good coffee is not enough any-

more, its about turning a brand into a lifestyle, one that con-

sumers cannot live without. The annual launch of the Lavazza

calendar is a glittering and pricey affair, one that is well worth

the budget. The 2010 calendar, which was launched in Octo-

ber 2009, has music at its epicentre, with a splattering of lm,

nesse, fashion and irony.

Like coffee, music inspires, it ignites creativity and this is

what we wanted to bring across. Each picture in the calendar

tells a story with a sense of humour and a sense of time, an

indication that something happened before and will happen

after, there is continuity. There is also a sense of irony, like the

image has two souls, two interpretations says Francesca.

The Lavazza marketing committee chose Miles Aldridge, an

English photographer, to capture the images. We liked Miles

style, his innate sense of aesthetic, his appreciation of all that

is Italian. We shot the calendar in Italy in a lm studio, spe-

cically because we have a history of motion pictures and we

wanted to capture this also, says Francesca.

The calendar launch was set in Torino, a city in the north of

Italy known as the capital of coffee, and journalists from all

over the world were invited to attend.

46 >

LIVING


47/130

Nessun Dormafrom

Puccinis Turandot.

Model: Georgia Frost.

Con Te Partir(With

you I will leave/Time tosay goodbye).Model:

Daisy Lowe.

47>


48/130

Guarda Che Luna(Look,

what a beautiful moon).

Model: Alexandra

Tomlinson.

O Sole Mio(Oh, my

sun). Model: Bianca Balti.

48 >


49/130

We wanted to include the city, the coffee bars, the history,

the vibe and then launch into the rest of Italy, and then world-

wide. The marketing campaign in Italy is different to the vari-

ous campaigns we apply in the rest of the world. The cam-

paign in Italy called Campagna Paradiso was launched in 1993

and has made Lavazza the preferred coffee brand in Italian

households, says Francesca.

The day after the 2010 calendar was launched, every bar in

Torino, where Lavazza is served, had a Lavazza hostess stand-

ing at the door, clad in slinky black, handing out postcards ofthe calendar images. Around her neck and on her wrists, cos-

tume jewellery tiny espresso cups and saucers and minia-

ture teaspoons the attention to detail noteworthy. The host-

ess also handed out cellphone accessories to patrons, so that

they too could have dangling miniatures of cups, saucers and

spoons.

On the sides of the buildings, giant posters of pictures from

the previous calendar were replaced with the new ones, over-

night. These posters were placed strategically in piazzas, with

high foot trafc, and outside the Lavazza Headquarters.

Lavazza started in Torino so for this reason also we thought

it apt to have the launch in the city. Lavazza started as a gro-

cery store in 1895 in the historic district. The shop specialised

in roasting and selling coffee. What set it aside is that it was

the rst company to vacuum pack ground coffee. This helped

the brand win over Italian consumers, as you can imagine,

says Francesca.

It was during the 60s that Lavazza started its communication

and TV campaigns using well-known actors as brand ambassa-

dors. One of the actors, Nino Manfredi, would utter the slogan

49 >

LIVING


50/130

Lavazza Coffee: the more of it you down, the more it picks you

up which would prove to be unforgettable in the mind of the

Italian consumer.

In the eighties we expanded into other European markets,

opening subsidiaries in France, Germany, Austria and the UK. We

also opened in the United States. Then in Spain and Portugal. We

entered two emerging markets a few years ago Brazil and In-

dia, says Francesca.

With the expansion into other territories, a larger advertising and

marketing campaign was necessary and so in 2002 the rst La-

vazza calendar in colour was launched. We decided from the

start to collaborate with well-known photographers. To date,

weve worked with the likes of David LaChapelle, Jean-Baptiste

Mondino, Ellen Von Unwerth, Finlay MacKay, Annie Leibovitz and

Miles Aldridge, says Francesca.

Other Italian brands doing the calendar rounds are Campari and

Pirelli, with Pirelli, a tyre brand, bringing the sexy back to the

months of the year. Amongst these brands the calendar has be-

come art, or rather, collectible art. What better way of keeping a

brand top of mind than with a calendar that hangs behind the

kitchen door or in the ofce, a point of reference that is also an

object of beauty.

Lavazza is spirited. If the brand were a person, she would enjoy

the irony of life and have a positive outlook. Shed be someone

who wouldnt take herself too seriously, thats the kind of hu-

mour shed have, says Francesca.


51/130

Baciami Piccina

(Kiss me, little one).

Model: Lydia Hearst.

Va Pensiero(Thought

goes, aka Chorus of theHebrew slaves) from

Verdis Nabucco.

Model: Alek Alexeyeva.

LIVING

51 >


52/130

52 >

Top row (left to right): Heart; Steel owers; Snow pet; Snow petand Steel owers.

Second row (left to right): Bird of prey; Growable cog; Lily family; Lily familyand Time Immemorial.

Third row (left to right): Takbok; Takbokand Heart.


53/130

53 >

LIVING

TranscendingTrinketsBy Sidhika Sooklal


54/130

54 >

During the last few decades, communication de-

sign has become a eld wherein designers have

started to cross-pollinate and transcend into other

design elds in order to stay ahead of the rest.

This transition has produced a hybrid breed of

new designers who are readily able to morph with

the dexterity of a chameleon and produce innova-

tive work and new product ranges. Elske Nel is a

prime example of this transition. At the tender age

of 23, she has already received industry accolades

that would make designers twice her age envious.

Holding a degree in Information Design, Nels most

recent achievement, Trinket, launched in 2009,

has proved to be an instant success.

Nel, who has always enjoyed making things with

her hands, fondly reminisces over her university

sense of enjoyment that it brought her. During one

such project, Nel produced a range of brooches,

which she aptly named Trinket. The idea lay dor-

mant for a year, until Nel resigned from her job in

advertising to pursue her freelance ambitions.

Nel started manufacturing Trinket products in July

2009. The range of designer brooches is made of

a combination of steel, Perspex and wood and. Nel

has paid special attention to every hand-crafted

brooch by giving each a unique name such as Ysbeer,

Hymns for a small bird, Snow Petand Night Owl.

The collection includes animals, owers, fruit, clocks

and crowns. Nel explains that the world around

her, music and good design all serve her as sources

of inspiration. Indicatively the latest addition to

Trinket is a collection of rockets that came about

as she was listening to the new Goldfrapp album,Head First.

Trinket is stocked throughout South Africa at ex-

clusive boutique stores as well as South African

singer, songwriter and entertainer, Natanils

Kaalkop Studio stores. However, Nels ambitions

have not ceased there. She works as a freelance

communication designer and has also branched out

into wallpaper design and is currently in the pro-

cess of producing packaging for Kaalkop Studio.

The rapid success of Trinket has seen it being ex-

hibited at Design Indaba 2010 as well as the upcoming

African Fashion Week (30 June 3 July 2010). Nels

aspirations for Trinket have grown as well, and in June,

she will be travelling to England and France to meet

with prospective stores that have shown interest

in the Trinket range.


55/130

LIVING

55 >

Top row (left to right): King of hearts; Growable cogand Tassel & spikelet.

Second row (left to right): Oh Dear; Oh Dear; Bunny rosetteand Bunny rosette.

Third row (left to right): Hymns of a small bird; Ysbeerand Ysbeer.

All images courtesy of Elske Nel.


56/130

H

IGHLIG

HTSFROM

56 >


57/130

A highlight of the South African design industry calendar is

surely the annual Design Indaba Conference and Expo. Design

Indaba has grown in stature to become a highly-regarded

event on the world design stage, from humble beginningsin 1995 to a jam-packed conference and expo that exposes

design trends, design thinking, design the profession, design

contributions to mankinds development, and not to forget,

design education. As the Design Indaba institution has

grown, it has taken a leadership position in South Africa and

has driven advocacy programmes to promote the creative

industries among business, government, academia and civilsociety.

Running from 24 to 26 February 2010 at the Cape Town Inter-

national Convention Centre, over 40 speakers addressed

more than 2 400 delegates over three days. The main plenary

sold out for the sixth year running. This year also saw the

introduction of a new registration option, which allowedprofessionals and the design curious to also benet from

the Young Designers Simulcast. The simulcast, which was

also sold out, offered additional delegates a live feed to

the auditorium to view proceedings at a cheaper rate and

beneting from the pearls of wisdom and insights shared

by the lineup of speakers, that ranged from design super-

stars to the rising stars.

Conference topics ranged from puppetry to social solutions,

from traditional design disciplines to radically new design

genres, turning the Design Indaba into an elixir of creativity

and innovation. Adding a curveball to the mix, Design Indaba

introduced a mystery speaker, genomic researcher, Dr J.

Craig Venter, who spoke about the possibilities of designing

life via a live satellite link to La Jolla in the USA.

57>

LIVING


58/130

Adding some additional spice, the Friday mornings

lineup of power-women included uber trend fore-

caster, Li Edelkoort, who spoke about the redeni-

tion of families and radically concluded with a future

vision of the bordello. Following her were Han Fengand Christien Meindertsma, and then, blockbuster

homemaker, Martha Stewart. Stewarts presentation

goes down as the most talked-about session at De-

sign Indaba in the 15 years of its existence, when

large numbers of delegates mockingly walked out in

deance of her gross display of self-promotion and

insular points of view.

The conference was overall a huge success and was

enlightening to many seasoned and new design pro-

fessionals, as well as avid followers of design.

The Design Indaba Expo opened with much pomp

and pageantry on the third evening. The Expo fea-

tured more than 280 exhibitors, including 80 rst-

time exhibitors and 40 emerging creatives. The core

Design Indaba Expo show drew well over 35 000

visitors, including 379 journalists and 427 buyers

one third of which were international.

DESIGN>LIVING selected its top-ve exhibits at the

2010 Design Indaba Expo based on innovative design

thinking, clever use of materials and application of

design principles that go beyond the obvious. These

ve featured exhibits represent the ethos of what

many Design Indaba speakers alluded to as innova-tive approaches that elevate the common and cur-

rent perception of design beyond mere aesthetics.

RAW Studios: KLiK furniture

The KLiK system grew naturally from an ofce furni-

ture design that RAW Studio did for the Tribeca Cof-

fee Company. At its root is a large slotted panel ingrid formation. Into this panel, the user can slot an

58 >


59/130

Views of the Tribeca Coffee

Companys ofces using the KLiK

furniture system. Images

courtesy of RAW Studio.

59 >

LIVING


60/130

Construction of the Cibitoke

School, Burundi, using the

EarthBag Construction System.

60 >


61/130

array of modular elements such as shelving, work-

tops, cupboards, drawers and storage boxes. The

panels are xed and spaced from the wall so that the

plywood clipping system can do its work. KLiK af-

fords the opportunity to fit offices or homes in aunique, yet modular, way which can be modied as

requirements change.

EarthBag Construction System

The EarthBag Construction System blends the an-

cient technique of building with earth and modernmaterials, combining the benets of both. The com-

bination resulted in a custom-designed and patented

polypropylene bag, developed and manufactured in

Cape Town.

The system allows for the bags to be lled by almost

any earth ll material to construct sustainable build-

ings with multiple dimensions. The benets of Earth-

Bag include using local labour and materials, recy-clable by-products and reducing the carbon footprint

by 70%, compared with standard materials. The

EarthBag building system reduces the use of timber

and water and provides exceptional thermal insula-

tion while also damping acoustics. Further benets

include its structural durability, termite and corrosion

proong, and non-toxic and re resistant properties.

The nal factors that make this a superior designed

product worthy of mention is that it is inexpensive,

that it allows for free-owing design applications,

that it is user-friendly, and that it is easy to build.

UMCEBO Trust

Umcebo is an isiZulu word meaning treasure. The

Umcebo Trust, established by Robin Opperman, wasborn out of his work as a special needs art teacher.

Examples of Umcebo Trusts

range of beautifully beaded

chandeliers and dcor items.

61 >

LIVING


62/130

Umcebo has a primary goal of empowering young

crafters, particularly people with special needs and

other community members to use and develop their

artistic talents as a means of personal and creative

development, as well as to generate income. Umcebobelieves that personal empowerment and improved

self-awareness is brought about through art, craft,

creativity, exposure to business, learning and teach-

ing. Umcebo takes this philosophy further and offers

it more broadly, through its dynamic workspace and

retail outlet at uShaka Marine World, Durban. Here,

individuals and organisations throughout the region

collaborate in the development of unique arts, crafts

and other projects.

On show at the 2010 Design Indaba stand was Um-

cebos signature range of beautifully beaded chande-

liers inspired by nature and its bright unique colour-

ful sparkle. What caught our eye, as visitors walking

into the expo, was the Eco-Tree, a 6m-high structure,

clad in recycled material plastic bottle caps, beads

made from plastic bottles and corks.

Fundi Light and Living

Fundi Light & Living is passionate about designing

and manufacturing high-quality lighting and dcor

products with a unique South African aesthetic. Its

product range and manufacturing capabilities are

diverse because it strives for constant innovation.

Products include lamp shades, wooden and metal

lamp bases, pendant ttings, woven products, tex-

tiles, cushions, runners, wall art and more. Their

work ranges from one-off sculptural pieces to high-

volume production.A selection of Fundi Light

and Livings lamp shades

and lamp bases.

62 >


63/130

While we resisted featuring design for designs sake,

we cannot ignore the 2010 Design Indaba Most

Beautiful Object in South Africa initiative.

Most beautiful object in SA

An award scheme where everybody has the opportu-

nity to vote for their personal favourite is priceless.

So what is beautiful to you? The simplistic, minimal-

ist and denable or the unexplainable, the breath

taking and indescribable? asks the Design Indaba

website. The nalist included the W-Table by FrankBohm, Polyhedra Modular Coffee Table System by

Haldane Martin, Twi-light Table Lamp by Snapp De-

sign, Fibre in Motion by ALPACAFelt, Emotive Series:

Love Table by 1010 Creative, Luhle!by Khumbulani

Craft, Flow Ring by Emma Anne Jewellery, Hand-

spring Puppet Companyby David Krut Publishing,

Ostrich Barstool by Tsai Design Studio, The Tulip by

Urban Africa and Wooden Chandelier by David

Krynauw.

But there can only be one. Votes were cast via SMS

and South Africa has chosen what is beautiful to

them. The Design Indaba Most Beautiful Object in

South Africa 2010 is Anatomy Designs Lab Light.

Anatomy Design describes their product as: Created

out of a fascination with utilitarian equipment, theLab

Lightexists on the borders of engineering and design,

using the functionality of laboratory equipment and

harnessing the beauty within it. Constructed out of

black steel and solid spun brass, this object portrays

functional aesthetic with a touch of nostalgia.

The Lab Lightby

Anatomy Design,

winner of the 2010

Design Indaba Most

Beautiful Object inSouth Africa.


64/130

64 >


65/130

LIVING

65 >


66/130

66 >

Patriotic fabrics, wind pumps on scatter cush-

ions, bathrobes of bamboo, bedding from corn

husks, birds everywhere and contemporary

cuckoo clocks had home interiors ying high at

Decorex Cape Town 2010.

With 35 220 visitors ocking through its doors

10% more than in 2009 Decorex Cape Town

conrmed that the Western Capes decor and

design industry is alive and well.

This performance is a hat-trick for Decorex SA,

being the third Decorex exhibition in a row to

show an increase in visitor numbers, despite

the attened economy. (Decorex Joburg showed25% growth on the previous year, while visitor

numbers for Decorex Durban increased by 7%).

Sponsored by Plascon, with DStv as media

partner, Decorex Cape Town celebrated its 12th

exhibition at the Cape Town International Con-

vention Centre from 23 to 27 April with the

show theme Breath of Fresh Air, living up to its

promise. More than 340 local and internationalexhibitors, including 69 rst-time exhibitors,

showcased their products and services.

Says Melanie Robinson, director Decorex SA:

Visitors expected something special, cost-

saving and trend-driven, which our exhibitors

delivered in true form. We were optimistic from

the onset that the exhibition will contribute to

the regions decor industry from design andmanufacturing to retail and the positive feed-

back from exhibitors conrmed that there are

marked signs of economic improvement.

Robinson mentions that it is noticeable that

consumers retain their shopping habits ac-

quired during the economic downswing:

Theres less impulse buying as consumers are

much more discerning and tend to shop aroundbefore making the nal purchasing decision.

Having so many options under one roof made

Luxurious nishes.


67/130

LIVING

67>

Decorex Cape Town the ideal spot for compara-

tive shopping, ranging from high-ticket items

and investment purchases to small appliances

and affordable decor items.

Cairey Slater, general manager exhibitions,

cites the shows continuous reinvention as one

of the main reasons for Decorex Cape Towns

success. It is key to stay on top of local and

international industry trends and interpret

these new directions in a novel, yet accessible,

manner for trade and consumer visitors alike.

Special projects and fresh initiatives such as

the MAKE Theatre dedicated to home improve-

ment; the Home Tweet Home design challengeaimed at charity, as well as the industry confer-

ence Conversations on Architecture reecting

on the built environment, added to the allure of

the exhibition. Building strong business part-

nerships with sponsors and exhibitors are also

vital to our success.

TRENDSAlthough the pace of new trends introduced to

the design arena shows signs of slowing down,

innovation and new product lines are vital to

keeping consumers interested and satisfying

their search for the novel and the fresh.

AFRICA THE CREATIVE HUBThe new design direction on everybodys lips is

the way the African continent has become a

major source of inspiration for the design

world. The African inuence was most evident

in the Plascon 2010 Colour Forecast stand.

Using the Plascon 2010 Colour Forecast as her

design inspiration, Yolande Wieners from d

Interiors in Durban created a stand to match

these colour trends. Expressing the 32 new

Stylish bedrooms to help relax and refresh.

Africa on display with Plascons colour forecast.


68/130

68 >

colours in the four diverse palettes through

different textures, moods and hues, the stand

reected Plascons eco-consciousness and cur-

rent philosophy about recycling and re-using.

The stand conveyed its message so effectively

that Wieners won an excellence award for herinterpretation of this new love affair with all

things African.

According to Anne Roselt, Plascon colour man-

ager and colour forecaster, one of the reasons

for the global interest in Africa include South

Africas selection as host nation for the 2010

FIFA World Cup.

The public response on the 2010 African Fine

Arts Stadium Collection also pointed towards

the immense interest and pride in new South

African icons. The Stadium collection consists of

a series of iconic ne art photographic images

of the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums in South

Africas Host Cities, captured through the lens

of local ne art photographer Dennis Guichard.

PATRIOTIC DESIGN

Local designers nd inspiration on their own

doorstep. Natural materials ourish and prod-

ucts are woven, plaited knitted and whittled

from bres ranging from wood, rafa, cork,

rattan, leather and feathers. Recycled materi-

als, ranging from plastics to porcelain, shells

and cardboard, to rusted and corroded surfaces

have an undeniably South African feel.

African cotton prints, nave black and white pat-

terns, folklore and traditional and spiritual

motifs are used in earthy colours brightened up

with yellows, blue and greens. Detailed embroi-

dery and beadwork, seen on handmade craft-inspired objects, also nd their way to sophis-

ticated upmarket fabrics and nishes.

Bring fresh spaces to life.


69/130

69 >

LIVING

As a motif, the Protea is still very popular and

can be seen in fabric prints as well as wall tat-

toos and vinyl stickers to adorn fridges and

other kitchen appliances. Fast becoming the it

symbol of the year is the wind pump. This iconic

image of the Karoo landscape nds its way toscatter cushions in tints of fashionable grey and

muted browns. Consumers are also investing

in home-grown craft aimed at upliftment and

job creation.

Brisk sales and trade interest at the stand of

the DTIs South African Handmade Collection

Pavilion, as well as the CCDIs craft shop, indi-

cate that the excesses and style-rst approachof the past have been replaced by the era of

emotion-in-design. What people want now is

to make emotional connections to be sur-

rounded by things that mean something. More

than ever we want to be comforted by beauty,

quality, great craftsmanship and eco-conscious

design, says Robinson.

GOING, GOING GREEN

Green buzz words abound from salvage chic,

to re-use, retrieve and re-process. The greening

of the exhibition was a major draw card, tap-

ping in on the immense consumer need for

guidance towards more conscious living. New

attractions such as the Pick n Pay Living Green

Pavilion with its eco-caring house supplied byGreenstuff.co.za set a new benchmark in green-

minded product displays. It focused on sustain-

ability, mindful green living and eco-solutions,

illustrating that green living can be both beauti-

ful and affordable. Pick n Pays Fresh Living

kitchen also proved to be hugely popular, con-

rming that culinary cocooning is the stay-at-

home-for trend of the moment.

Decorex Cape Town sponsored the planting of 55

trees to help offset its carbon footprint, which

A sense of texture and life.

Engaging spaces to interact with.


70/130

70>

is part of its drive at making the show a zero

waste event from reducing and recycling, pack-

aging and re-use of materials such as banners to

eco-friendly printing and green breathing spac-

es throughout the exhibition. This process also

entails the types of show lighting used; the au-tomatic switching off of lights outside show

hours; using recyclable material for stands,

and educating exhibitors on waste prevention.

MADE IT MYSELF

DIY is clearly no longer the poor cousin of the

decor world. The mantra made by my own

hands elevated its status in design circles, es-

pecially contemporary designs with a modern

sensibility. This renewed interest in DIY sprout-

ed a variety of activities to hone visitors cre-

ative talents and DIY-know-how. Experts at the

Make Theatre, hosted by Aidan Bennetts, en-

ticed visitors to tackle home makeovers on a

shoe string budget and tackle do-it-yourself-

decor with condence. The topics, ranging from

modern mosaic work, to easy-to-do wall tat-

toos and contemporary paint techniques, re-

ected the upsurge in edgy DIY.

THINGS WITH WINGS

All things avian rule the roost as one of the

years hottest trends from pufns and peacocks

on tea towels, to weaver birds on wall paperand antique birdcages housing delicate pot

plants. This winged trend also inspired the cre-

ative Home Tweet Home fundraiser. For this do-

good design challenge Decorex SA put out a

bird call to decorators, fabric houses and decor

magazines, in support of Little Angels, whose

aim it is to provide a place of safety for babies

and children.

Taking part were well-known personalities from

the Capes interior design scene including John

Salome Gunters winning decor stand.

Modern Kitchens to inspire.


71/130

LIVING

71 >

Autard of Autard de Bragard Design & Decora-

tion; David Strauss of David Strauss Interiors;

Esther Schumacher of mywalltattoos.com,

Katie Thompson of REcreate; Maarten Peutz of

Professional Home Services,Cond Nast House

& Garden, Elle Decoration and VISI.

Birds natural nest-building artistry got the

creative juices owing. Using off-cuts from

the studio oor or recyclable material from the

bin, the designs also tread as light as a feather

on Mother Earth.

A birdhouse parading as a golf cart, designed

by John Autard, was chosen as the winning en-

try by judges John Soo Los Angeles based

architect and designer, Aidan Bennetts. Au-

tards blend of sharp design with humour and

fantasy was a step outside the box. Covered in

faux-grass to resemble a mini golf course, the

bird house came equipped with wheels, while

a handle (made from a recycled golf club) could

also be used as a perch for the birdie to rest on.

First runner-up Katie Thompson from REcreate

used dustbin nds such as discarded crockery

and cutlery to turn the blank birdhouse into an

orchestral masterpiece. Thompsons philoso-

phy is repurposing items in the home to create

renewed interest and a new talking point.

Taking third place, the team at Elle Decoration

opted for an ultra modern birdhouse design

featuring black line drawings on a crisp white

background. The key words are young, contem-

porary, urban and graphic. We love the bird

theme and find our inspiration in the bower

bird the male goes out and collects things like

buttons and pink ribbons to attract a female.

The Home Tweet Home initiative raised R15 000

for Little Angels. Decorex Joburg will be held

from 5 9 August 2010 at Gallagher Convention

Centre, Midrand.Living No.6

72/130

72 >


73/130

LIVING

73 >

REcreate:Designing

a second lifefrom the oldand discardedKatie Thompson is a South African designer with a special passion: She loves

designing original and collectable furniture, lighting and interior accessoriesby repurposing objects that others might consider junk. For Katie, found old

objects like milk and booze bottles, oil containers, typewriters, suitcases,

medical trolleys, scales and baking trays are pure inspiration. With these she

creates contemporary dcor pieces that ooze character and tell stories of the

past and the current.


74/130

74>

Here enters REcreate, the company that Katie

Thompson founded in 2009 as a means to channel

her passion for retro materials and repurposing

those to create contemporary applications for high-

end dcor and interior design. Under the REcreate

label, Katie has transformed the ordinary to the ex-

traordinary and converting junk into desirable col-

lectables, tapping into her past experiences work-

ing in the interior, furniture and fabric industries in

London and Cape Town for several years.

Katie never works within established stylistic

boundaries. She creates an eclectic combination of

styles, materials and nishes. This approach and

design sensibility highlights her passion and her

ability to nd the beauty and hidden purposes in

old and discarded items. A hoarder of all things

useless, impractical, broken, colourful and shiny,Katies eclectic product collection tells tales of her

Surrealist and Dadaist passions.

Describing her design philosophy, Katie says: Not

throw anything away and creating new functions or

use is my core philosophy. I love junk! The more in-

valuable something is to someone else, the more

valuable it is to me. It is amongst these found, raw

items that I nd inspiration and each found object

dictates what purpose the new product should

have. A found old Hoover tells me that it wants to

be a standing lamp. An old scale simply, but quite

obviously, wants to be a new clock. I listen intently

to what the source materials ask me to do with

them and then respond with a design solution.


75/130

LIVING

75 >


76/130

76>

Dadaism and Surrealism have been major inu-

ences on my work. I studied Art and Art History at

school and remember being quite disinterestedmost of the time until the day we learnt about the

absurdities of Surrealism and Dadaism. These

movements continue to inuence much of my cur-

rent work in profound manner. The most inuential

artist I have come across is Marcel Duchamp who

signed a urinal and declared it to be an artwork. I

love the questioning behind this! Why should an

artwork be on canvas with a brush and paint? Whodetermines what form a chair should be?

The REcreate product range also has another con-

scious dimension sustainability. The fact that my

products are helping to eliminate a negative impact

on the environment is just another exciting aspect

to my business. To source my raw materials, I often

go to garage clearances, do junk shop hunting as

well as picking up things that others are throwing

away.

The buyers of REcreate products come from diverse

backgrounds and generational demographics. My

clients include anyone with a sense of humour and

an eye for design. Most people can identify with my

products as they or their grandmother used to

have one of those. Each of my products has a certain

sentimentality connected to it that most people

can relate to. I feel that it makes even the most

ungreen person want to recycle. I get a lot of

comments, I had one of those, but it broke and I

threw it out years ago. I never thought about con-

verting it into a light! says Katie.


77/130

LIVING

77 >


78/130

78>

LIVING

What makes the REcreate range even more special

is that every product and product part is custom

made. All the products are one-off pieces and

therefore I am constantly looking for new materials

and processes to add new ingredients to the prod-

ucts. All manufacturing is outsourced to Cape Towns

best trades and craftsmen. Although the raw mate-

rials that we work with are discarded or broken

junk items, I am in fact a perfectionist. This combi-

nation, as well as having great working relation-

ships with all my suppliers, result in high quality

nished products.

Working with old and discarded artifacts as core

materials for constructing contemporary furniture

obviously poses some unique challenges. Katie ex-

plains: Because much of our raw material is old junk,

we often battle with skew angles, rusty edges,

broken handles and wobbly parts that all need to

be repaired and dealt with before production be-

gins. One has to be sharp and involved in all the

aspects of production to foresee these problems.

The challenges from a manufacturing and process-

ing side are that each item is outsourced to at least

three or four different suppliers. It is extremely time-

consuming since every product passes through

the hands of several specialist craftsmen. However,

the technical input of all these trades people is

what makes such a unique and perfectly nished

product.


79/130

SYMMETROPHOBIA~ The fear of symmetrical things.

www.afi.co.za Tel: 0860 111 234 Your World is our World

There are lots of things to be scared of. Insurance neednt be one of them.

At Alexander Forbes, weve learnt a thing or two over the years about putting motor and household

insurance-related fears to rest. We provide the widest cover with the least exclusions, and we give

you the option of an up-front discount on your premium when you sign up with us, which puts money

back into your pocket immediately. We also give each of our clients their own personal consultant

who deals exclusively with their policy and all matters pertaining to it. Simply, we make insuring aseffortless and as comprehensive as possible. Because we believe that while some fears in life might

need to be accepted, insurance-related fears are just irrational.

Terms and Conditions Apply.

tbsp

///beyond

theline

33126

an

Authorised

FinancialServicesProviderFAISLicence

no.30414
http://www.afi.co.za/http://www.afi.co.za/


80/130

PRECIOSA GULF, FZCO

Jebel Ali Free Zone

P. O. Box 18185 Dubai

United Arab Emirates

P + 971 4 883 8473

F + 971 4 883 7913

e [email protected]

PRECIOSA

CUstOmer Centre

Opletalova 3197

466 67 Jablonec nad Nisou

Czech Republic

P + 420 488 115 555

F + 420 488 115 665

e [email protected]

www.preciosa.com

w E R E E y , N N O A E D E g N

B O R N O U O F E C R A F A N P

O F w O E g E N E R A O N O F g A A k E R
http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/http://www.preciosa.com/


81/130

Glass

wondersfrom

Preciosa

Lighting xture with bre

optics, The Yas Hotel, Abu

Dhabi, UAE.

LIVING

81 >


82/130

Lighting xture of contemporary

design made of mouth-blown glass

components, The Yas Hotel, Yas

Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

82 >


83/130

The Czech Republic, a small nation located in the very heart of

Europe, has always been particularly famous for a unique hand-

craft handworked glass. The origins of this craft, which ranks

among the oldest in human history, date back to 3000 B.C.

Here in Bohemia, glassmaking has been a major industry since

the 13th Century, and in 1724 the rst chandelier workshop

was established in the region of Kamenick enov. Kamenick

enov has acquired its world-wide fame as a glass producer,

thanks to the delicacy of its forms and the purity of its hand

cut crystal. Magnicent chandeliers have become an insepa-

rable xture of royal palaces, noble manor houses and other

splendid buildings.

The tradition of this renowned craft of glassmaking continues in

the production of PRECIOSA LUSTRY, a.s. (joint-stock company),

which is a xed star in the eld of glass light xtures. The com-

pany, based in northern Bohemia, in the region of Kamenick

enov, has been operating in the market for decades and, there-

fore, it can boast of a great deal of experience, acquired thanks

to the long-term history of its activity. Today, it is spread across

the world with ofces in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Moscow,

Madrid and New York.

Nowadays, PRECIOSAs core activity lies in the design and

production of decorative lightings on a wide scale, consisting

largely of decorative lighting xtures of various styles and sizes,

wall lamps, table and oor lamps, delivered as complete lighting

projects or as a catalogue assortment. Besides lighting xtures,

83 >

LIVING


84/130

lighting sculptures and decorative artistic objects

form another part of their production.

The main activity of PRECIOSA is the creation of

the so-called lighting projects. These are individu-

al solutions, composed on the basis of specic re-

quirements of the client. It comprises a compre-

hensive service, ranging from design, production

and installation to the subsequent maintenance

and repair. Extensive projects usually represent

luxurious interior decorations for various spaces

of a prestigious nature, such as luxurious hotels,

palaces, religious and governmental buildings, res-

taurants and theatres.

These unique concepts originate in PRECIOSAs

own studio on the basis of a close collaboration

with top architects and designers from all over the

world. In the design phase, traditional methods of

hand sketching are used side by side with up-to-

date software, which presents a faithful simulation

of the light xture in its future environment. The

designers draw their inspiration for the shaping of

glass objects from various sources: nature pro-

vides a permanent and almost endless source of

inspiration; folklore and legend provides another.

New views can also be applied to well known clas-

sical works of art.

As mentioned above, PRECIOSAs product portfo-

lio is quite extensive. The rst product group con-

sists of luxurious classical lighting xtures, char-

acterised by the classical shapes of their arms

and trimmings, often decorated with rich etching.

84 >


85/130

Lighting xture made of

glass components

inspired by nature,

One&Only Cape Town,South Africa.

LIVING

85 >


86/130

86 >

The other self-contained group consists of fashion-

able lighting objects made up of hand-blown glass

components. Over the last few years, the so-called

free sets, created by hanging differently shaped

objects in clusters in an open space, have been

popular. They range from minimalistic pure shapes

to complex organic motifs. Glass sintering and fusing

technology adds a further dimension, where a glass

powder of various colours is fused into one piece,

which can then be bent and shaped in various ways.

These objects are often oodlit by modern light

sources such as LEDs or optical bres. The use of

bres, especially, can lead to the creation of mag-

nicent pieces. Their light sources can be pr0gram-

med to be able to change their intensity or colour.

Aside from an impressive decorative effect, the place-

ment of the light source gives them a major advan-

tage in simple maintenance.Living No.6

87/130
http://www.spi.sanlam.com/


88/130

88 >

Retile?Why not

paint?By Russel Thomson

Retiling is arguably one of the most gruelling parts of

any renovation; the effort alone to remove the tiles is

enough to make most people run for the hills. Reno-

vators have their own horror stories of continuous

hammering and the resultant shards and dust in

their to-be-renovated bathrooms and kitchens.

Furthermore, retiling is undoubtedly expensive and

time consuming; apart from the labour costs. Replac-

ing it can send any budget spiralling. So, what to do

if you simply dont have the time, budget or the incli-

nation to retile your bathroom or kitchen?

Paint it. Yes, paint will do the trick and give you a

quick makeover without breaking your back, or the

bank. Todays paint technology and techniques are

sophisticated and comprise most surfaces, including

tiles. The most effort is really the surface preparation

and priming which will in turn ensure that your new-

ly painted tiles do stand the test of time.

The right paint for the right job

Firstly, and quite obviously, choose your paint colour

and ensure that it is steam resistant and therefore

suitable for areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.

The label will clearly indicate what the indoor paint

can be used for, be it water or oil-based. The key is to

read the label properly to ensure it can handle condi-tions that are less ventilated and more humid.

Clean equals success

Secondly, and importantly, is preparing the surface.

Ensure the surrounding area is protected from any

dust or paint.


89/130

89 >

LIVING

Next, take a suitable detergent and wash down the

tiles to remove all dust and grease. For the grouted

areas use a nailbrush, or similar, to get right into the

joins. If there are any cracked or chipped tiles these

will have to be repaired or replaced in order to

achieve the best possible result and a uniform nish.

Once you are sure the tiles are clean, wash it down

again with clean water and allow it to dry.

Most importantly

The next step is the most important as it forms an

integral part of achieving a high-quality nal product.

Priming is critical as it seals, binds and ensures good

inter-coat adhesion; so choose your primer accord-

ingly. Again, the packaging is straightforward; you

can choose primer that has been designed for tiles or

universal applications.

Dont cut corners; an inferior and low-priced product

or primer that you used as part of an exterior paint

job a year ago will put some serious cracks in your

tile painting efforts. As with any foundation, your

priming efforts must be solid.

Ultimately, primer extends the lifetime of the paint

it can withstand elements such as rising damp as it

offers better alkaline properties.

Applying the primer is relatively straightforward;

once the area is clean and dry use a synthetic bristle

brush and coat the tiled area evenly - smooth vertical

paint strokes are the key to achieving an even coat.

Once you have coated the entire area you will need

to leave the primer to dry, normally for several hours

as indicated by the label instructions. Again, adhere

to the drying time as it will contribute to the success

of the nal product.

After the primer is dry, rub down the entire surface

with ne sandpaper and remove the dust with a lint-

free cloth. Now apply the second coat of primer in

the same way, and again, rub down with some ne

sandpaper and clean off with a lint-free cloth.

The end is near

The next and nal step is the most fun as all the prep-

aration will start showing some results and give you

a very real idea of what the nished product will look

like.

Take your natural bristle brush, or a synthetic brush

if using a water-based paint, and apply the paint in

much the same way as you did the primer, although

it may give a better nish if you paint the grout rst.

Once you have covered the entire area, leave the

paint to dry according to the manufacturers instruc-

tions. After the paint has dried, continue with the

second coat using the same technique as before and

leave to dry thoroughly.

The above steps are undoubtedly time consumingbut not half as painful as retiling, plus it is substan-

tially cheaper and will allow you to change your bath-

room or kitchen as often as you want without the

resultant dust, shards and backaches.

Russel Thomson is brand marketing manager at

Prominent Paints South Africa, a fully integrated

member of PPG


90/130

90 >

The GrandCaf & Beach

opens inTable Bay

By Sun Stassen

From within a once-abandoned warehouse at Granger Bay

adjacent to Cape Towns V&A Waterfront, the Grand Caf &

Beach has been created on the lip of fashioned white sand

in Table Bay. Following on from the runaway success of the

Grand Caf and Rooms in Plettenberg Bay and the Grand

Cafin Camps Bay, the Grand Caf & Beach is an eclectic

fusion of international and local cultures, caf ambiance

and fun beach elegance.


91/130

LIVING

91 >

Although it had been a neglected feature of the

Waterfront area for many years, most of the faade

of the old warehouse has been retained while a

sundeck and sea sand beach have been extended

to the waters edge, ensuring that the ground-

breaking new Grand Caf & Beach promises to be

the place to lay down your sun hat this summer.

The design inspiration was Cape Town meets St

Tropez a freespirited, eclectic, beach caf cul-

ture, says Sue Main, CEO of Grand, who designed

the interiors with Morne Christian Smith from M.

Christian Smith Design.

Along with beach caf culture, the natural ele-

ments of the location, landscape and existing

structures, proximity to the ocean, magnificent

new Cape Town Stadium and Table Mountain cre-

ate the perfect setting adds Smith.

Natural textures with contemporary and timeless

antique furnishings complete the trendsetting

design of the new Grand concept with singular

elements including oversized chandeliers, antique

Indian rugs, Parisian caf chairs and open win-

dows to the sea as well as large screens for multi-

faceted use.

http://greenpointstadium-and-capetown.blogspot.com


92/130

92 >

Sue bought two chandeliers on one of her travels

to France. Both used to hang in her house, but the

one found a home in Grand Camps Bay and the

other had to join Grand Cafe & Beach.

I also went looking for a gift for Sue for her birth-

day and stumbled upon some amazing pieces at

The Railway House in Kalk Bay. I knew we had togo back. Sue and I went back later in the week and

found the most incredible mixture of old pieces,

from tables and chairs to an old 60/70s surfboard,

old Dunhill cigarette display case, old Germanic

beach chair, a church prayer chair and a mirror. We

also found a travel light at The Railway House,

loved it but did not think it was working. Not giving

it another thought, we bought it, had it connectedand then had the great surprise that it lit up in pink

neon, says Smith.

Entering beneath a wooden-covered oppy hat

along a wooden deck anked by tall palms, guests

arrive to a space of discreet escapism. Take in the

15m-long pure white bar with cherub detail and

subtle lighting which adds to the ambience of the

main dining area, backed by an exhibition kitchen

which has a pizza oven as its centre feature.

Furthermore, the existing timber beams were left

exposed to create a natural setting for the new

Grand lifestyle gallery and private VIP dining room.

Smith continues: In the middle of this huge spaceyou will nd a dinner table designed by Gregor

Jenkin, called the Blue Wale. Jenkin is truly a great

example of home-grown talent. The table is 6200

x 2400mm in size and weighs about 1 1/2 tons.

Around 14 people are needed to move the table. It

is made from steel and has only ve legs, and in-

credible feat given the size.

The Grands signature theme of grey and pink were

introduced by using textured eco-friendly paint,

while natural textures with contemporary and an-

tique furnishings complete the trendsetting design

of the new Grand concept. Dark stained interior fur-

niture combined with fresh white furnishings and

the Grand signature velvets create an eclectic mix.


93/130

LIVING

93 >

Outdoors, the Grands deck spills out onto the

main beach where sun-seekers can laze on Indian

day beds, ordering from the pink outside beach

bar. Additional feature include two round sea wa-

ter pools along with outdoor fresh water showers.

I had to consider the number of people the deck

had to carry and had to ensure that the substruc-ture would be able to withstand the load. Sue also

wanted the entrance deck to be able to accommo-

date a vehicle driving in for special launches, so I

had to make this substructure even stronger. Due

to the close proximity to the ocean and the long

length of the deck, the timber had to be properly

kiln dried to prevent warping, says Smith.

During construction, all efforts were made to en-

sure a green approach. Notable aspects include

the selection of sustainable timber for the outside

deck, use of textured eco-friendly paint, enhance-

ment of the original buildings look and feel and

even using harvested beach sand from surround-

ing areas cleared by the Cape Town City Council to

create the new beach.

Scattered outside on the beach sand you will nd

ceramic balls that are a by-product of fuel produc-

tion. It is a 100% eco-friendly product used to re-

move metal particles from fuel. The ceramic balls

attract the little particles, which then cling to the

ceramic balls resulting in much cleaner fuel prod-

uct, says Smith.

The Grand Caf & Beach also offers a chic, bistro-

styled menu for both lunch and dinner, serving up

dishes of robust avours and sensory tastes, with

old and new classics combined in a new-world fu-

sion of beach caf cuisine.

The Grand approach is to blend worldly charm

with top cuisine, service and style in astonishingdestinations, all of which reect uniqueness and

imagination. The Grand Caf & Beach is an excit-

ing new sun-drenched beach boy, says proud

owner, Sue Main.


94/130

94 >


95/130

LIVING

95 >

A lifestyle

districtat the

forefrontof urban

designBy Sun Stassen

8/8/2019 Desi

design>living no.6

Documents