designing waysdesigningways.com/issues/2019/designing ways november...of-the-art building. the key...

i dw • November 2019

DESIG

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AYSfor people in the w

orld of design

RSA R35.95(incl. VAT)

November 2019

ISSUE 225 GLASS CONFERENCE CENTRESWINDOWS TREATMENTS

designingways

AN OASIS FOR AESTHETIC REFINEMENT: WELCOME TO THE NO. 1THE SHOP FITTING & STORE DESIGN DIMENSION AT EUROSHOP 2020

www.euroshop.de/tickets

THE WORLD’S NO. 1 RETAIL TRADE FAIR 16 – 20 FEB 2020 DÜSSELDORFGERMANY

EuroShop

Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry

47 Oxford Road _ Forest Town 2193

JOHANNESBURG

P.O. Box 87078 _ Houghton 2041

Tel. +27 (0)11 486 2775 _ Fax +27 (0)86 685 3729

[email protected] _ www.germanchamber.co.za

2019-10-20 EuroShop 2020_Sudafrika_Architektur und Design _210 x 297 + 3mm_designing way_8815.indd 1 22.10.19 11:54

EuroShop 2020, The World´s No.1 Retail Trade Fair, is the hot spot for innovations and trends, a networking and discussion

platform and a creative hub especially for retail - worldwide. Four months to the event, the prospects for EuroShop 2020, the World’s No. 1 Retail Trade Fair, could not be any better.

All signs positive for 2020For its 20th edition, EuroShop is in as

high demand as ever with the Düsseldorf trade fair organisers expecting to meet (and hopefully exceed) the record figures of 2017. The previous event was attended by 2,368 exhibitors from 61 countries on 127,598 m² of net exhibition space. Around 114,000 trade visitors from all five continents came to the Rhine.

More action, more drama, more emotion and better focusing on the wishes of the customers, that is what’s necessary in retail and that is what EuroShop already does. With its eight experience dimensions it puts the focus on offerings tailored to specific visitor communities, a more flexible framework in which to operate, and gives plenty of scope for presenting forward-looking developments and innovative products. The experience dimensions are: Retail Marketing, Expo & Event Marketing, Retail Technology, Lighting, Visual Merchandising, Shop Fitting & Store Design, Food Service Equipment and Refrigeration & Energy Management.

The booking status for all eight dimensions at EuroShop 2020 is

excellent, with Retail Technology, Shopfitting:

Aichinger, Cefla, Costa, Mago, D’art Design, Eden Industries, Egger, Elea, Forbo, Grottini, HMY Group, Homapal, JosDeVries, JV Modern-Expo, Kronospan, Les Ateliers Reunis Caddie, Max Brilliant (Shanghai), Média 6, Otto Kind, Pfleiderer, Porcelanosa, Schweitzer, Tegometall, Umdasch, Vitra, Wanzl

Lighting:Bäro, RD Leuchten, Imoon, Hera, L&S

Italia, LTS, Ledxon, Lival, Molto Luce, Oktalite, Ridi Leuchten, Self Electronics, Signify Netherlands (Philips), Viabizzuno

Retail Marketing:HL Display, Jansen Display, Joalpe,

Kendu, Kürten & Lechner, Moss, M&T Reklam, Oechsle, Ores, POPAI/Shop, POS Tuning, RTC Europe, Sitour, VKF Renzel, Scanblue, Trotec, Authentica

Food Service Equipment:Bongard, Debag, DMS, Eloma, Efficold,

Gebr. Graef MHS Schneidetechnik, ITV Ice Makers, L2G - BM Productions, MIWE, Polin, Rational, Salva Industrial, Self-Pan Codoni, Ubert, Unox, Wiesheu, Venix

Supporting programmeEuroShop’s supporting programme

includes numerous specials such as the POPAI Village, Ecopark, Designers’ Village and Italian Lighting Lounge. In addition, EuroShop offers practical presentations on the following topics in top-class stages: Store Design, Retail Technology, Omnichannel, Retail

Marketing, Energy Management, Retail Designers, Start-up and Expo & Event. The current redesign of the south entrance to Messe Düsseldorf includes the new rebuild of Hall 1, which will also be occupied by EuroShop 2020. The previous smaller Halls 1 and 2 have been demolished and replaced by a new, state-of-the-art building. The key figures for the new hall: 158 metres long, 77 metres wide and 12,000 square metres big. It will be accessible via seven gates, offer suspensions from the hall ceiling and the supply of media to the stands via the hall floor.

For pedestrians, the hall is connected to the Congress Centre Düsseldorf (CCD Süd) via a bridge on the 1st floor. In addition to the connection to Halls 3 and 4, a main road leads from the south entrance directly to the rest of the exhibition centre. This means Messe Düsseldorf is considerably broadening the usage options for the new hall while also increasing the flexibility of its design.

Tickets & Opening hoursEuroShop 2020 is open to trade visitors

from Sunday 16th to Thursday 20th February daily, from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. 1-day tickets cost EUR 80 (EUR 60 purchased in advance online/e-Ticket), 2-day tickets are EUR 120 (EUR 100 purchased as e-Tickets) and season tickets are EUR 180 (EUR 150 e-Tickets). Admission tickets include a free return trip to EuroShop on all networks of the VRR transport authority.

www.euroshop.de

The 20th EuroShop in 2020Future-oriented and as dynamic as the retail industry itself

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2 November 2019 • dw

“EuroShop: the world’s largest trade show for retail investment needs, just as future oriented and dynamic as the industry itself. ”011 486 2775www.euroshop-tradefair.com

ii EUROSHOP 2020

6 EDITORIAL BOARD .

8 DESIGNER PROFILESA closer look at designers featured in this issue

12 TRADE WINDSHalogen

14 TRADE WINDSGriffiths & Griffiths

16 TRADE WINDSMiles

18 TRADE WINDSCity of Cape Town

20 WHAT’S HOTRecently launched and locally available products

22 IIDThe African Institute of The Interior Design Professions

24 KSAThe Kitchen Specialists Assocoiation

26 PRODUCT DESIGNPet Home Collection

30 COMMERCIAL INTERIORABIMIS

32 COMMERCIAL INTERIOR Europea, the most beautiful restaurant in America

36 WINDOW TREATMENTSAn Open and Shut Case.

40 WINDOW TREATMENTSCellular Perfect Fit Blind

42 CONFERENCE CENTRESBig business... and growing

45 CONFERENCE CENTRESGeoCloud

46 CONFERENCE CENTRESSA development responds to the ‘Gig Economy’

48 CONFERENCE CENTRESWhat makes this business so UNIQUE.

50 GLASSInnovative, versatile glass

53 GLASSSoundproof for Success

54 GLASSRAMUN introduces 7 STARS

CONTENTSNovember 2019 – Issue 225

26Johannesburg Cape Town l +27 (0)11 624 [email protected] l www.geocloud.co.za

1937-2019

Think global. Buy local.The Complete Work Space Solution. Locally Manufactured. Quality Guaranteed.

As the largest, privately-owned office chair manufacturer in South Africa, Geo Cloud has been leading the ergonomic evolution in office and home work spaces since 1937. With 82 years of locally manufactured chair solutions, and 15 years of desking innovation, Geo Cloud are the experts in bringing ergonomic efficiency and functional flexibility to any work space, for optimal productivity.

The locally manufactured desking and seating ranges follow the latest European furniture trends, offering high-end quality with highly economical value. Perfectly suited for clients with specific requirements, Geo Cloud manufactures custom-made office furniture solutions in any shape, style or colour.

As a proudly South African, Level 3 B-BBEE company with over 150 local employees, Geo Cloud is invested in the upliftment of the country and its people through job creation and local manufacturing. When you support Geo Cloud, you support the local economy.

The Kind III Chair is an ergonomic chair that provides seating comfort and support, combined with maximum mobility.

The Wix Desk offers a sleek and streamlined steel-framed solution suited to any office requirements. Modern and minimalist, this desk offers more than refined aesthetics, as its high-quality materials and components ensure a highly durable piece of furniture.

4 November 2019 • dw 5 dw • November 2019

76 PROSPECT PARK APARTMENT By BAAO Architects

82 FIRM ARCHITECTS Showcasing the epitome of a good office

88 ARCHITECTS OF JUSTICECube Route Exterior

95 TAIL OF THE DOGJacaranda Mimosifolia

96 BRIGHT IDEASAlchemie T

58 ON THE TERRACEThe challenge of the tall ones

62 LIGHTING OF NOTERadiant Lighting

64 EVENTSDesign Indaba

67 EVENTS A place to meet, collaborate, inspire, learn, plan, build and play

68 AROUND AND ABOUT ALPI at the London Design Festival

72 ALL ABOUT ART A delightful art route in the heart of the Karoo

74 ALL ABOUT ART The doors of Javett-UP are open to the arts. And to you.

Advertisements submitted for publication must be high resolution PDF (PDF/X-1a or PDF/X4) and will be printed to European Bruma colour standards. DESIGNING WAYS accepts no responsibility for colour reproduction if the supplied material has been incorrectly made up.

DESIGNING WAYS reserves the right to edit, amend and/or abridge any manuscript submitted for publication.

Eleven issues of DESIGNING WAYS are published per yearPublished by Nylapix (Pty) LtdEditorial: [email protected]: Stienie Greyling • 081 846 6214 • [email protected]: Gill Butler • Mila Crewe-Brown • Adri Neuper • Wilma de BruinLayout: Christo Van Eeden • 082 442 8176 • [email protected] and Distribution: [email protected]: [email protected] by Typo (Pty) Ltd

P O Box 1248, Fontainebleau, 2032.Telephone +27 (0) 11 791 5995Facsimile +27 (0) 86 678 8448

www.designingways.com

With blinds like these it’s more than just redecorating. It’s rein-vigorating. Our venetian blinds offer a variety of stylish forms for you to choose from. Whether you prefer the contemporary styling of our aluminium blinds, the versatility and practicality of our styro wood blinds, the natural serenity of our bamboo blinds, or the timeless elegance of our wooden blinds, you’ll find an option that meets your design needs. www.taylorblinds.co.za 0861-1829-567

CONTENTSNovember 2019 – Issue 225

76

ABSOLUTE ROLLER 2.0Absolute Roller 2.0 is a modular

concept designed for great optics,

ultimate convenience and maximum

safety. Thanks to its modular design,

endless configurations can be created

with a minimum number of parts. The

Absolute Roller 2.0 concept offers a

series of manual and motorized control

options that are child safe by design.

Discover more

B E I N S P I R E D

Various control options for safe and smooth operation

CHAIN TWIN PULL CORDLESS SINGLE PULL MOTORIZED

Bracket Day & Night Semi-open cassette

Square cassette

UltimateFascia

COULISSE.COMCREATED IN THE NETHERLANDS


EDITORIALBOARD

JHB +27 (0)11 386 0000 CTN +27 (0)21 521 2500 DBN +27 (0)31 263 0096

www.radiant.co.za

For timeless sophistication and the latest lighting trends. Radiant has superior quality and functional yet stylish fittings to suit your home. We have a wide range of chandeliers, pendants, ceiling lights, wall lights,

table lamps and more. We can help create a living space you can enjoy.

Exceptionalelegance

JC16160W Aluminium650(w)mm x 13000(h)mm

PF0014WH40W Metal pendant400mm(w) x 1970mm(h)

JC0660W Metal pendant215mm(w) x 1500mm(h)

EUROSHOP 2020, The World’s No.1 Retail Trade Fair, is the hot spot for innovations and trends,

a networking and discussion platform and a creative hub especially for retail – worldwide.

Four months to the event, the prospect for EUROSHOP 2020, the World’s No. 1 Retail Trade Fair, could not be any better: more action, more drama, more emotion and better focusing on the wishes of the customers.

Homemakers expo johannesburg 27 February to 1 March 2020, TICKETPRO DOME

In 2020, the 27th Johannesburg HOMEMAKERS EXPO will connect visitors with the products and services that help them personal their own space.

It will once again give visitors the chance to see, touch, feel and compare the latest products and services.

It’s an opportunity to do more than merely occupy space.

It’s about developing a lifestyle where people truly InHabit spaces and boldly connect with those around them.

Decorex Durban – 19 to 22 March 2020, Durban Exhibition Centre.

Decorex Durban 2020 will exhibit the latest trends and finest design concepts and products, expertly curated from a collection of designers and manufacturers over a four day period at the Durban Exhibition Centre.

All signs positive for 2020 networking & discussions


JohannesburgFIND A BLIND PROFESSIONAL IN YOUR AREA:

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Namibia061 245 303

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Blinds Express:Blinds All Types:Blind Time:R&C Trading:Galaxy Blinds:Blind Rage:Curtain Club:

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Sakkies Blinders:Picture Perfect 010 040 7992

PC Agencies:

Aesthetics:

Blinds All of Them:

Milk&Honey®:

Ralph Blinds:

The Best Blind Company:Total Blind Design: 021 040 3002

Ridwaans Interiors:

Windhoek Touch of Style:Walvis Bay Touch of Syle: 064 220 238

www.windovert.co.za

www.blinddesigns.co.zaNorthern Limpopo

064 860 3079Newton and Strever

Wood Venetian Blinds

SPICE

Design Style:Bohemian

The Bohemian palette is a celebration of both the new and the

old. The eclectic collection of colour and texture is a fantastic base from

which to express your personal style.

C

M

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CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Spice Story board Print ready.pdf 1 10/19/18 4:54 PM

Provencher_Roy - Page 32 Provencher_Roy, a dominant player in urban architecture in Canada, is a

multidisciplinary firm offering services in architecture, urban design, urban planning and landscape architecture, interior design, industrial design and sustainable development. The firm brings together 320 professionals working in all areas of the built environment in Canada and abroad. To date, Provencher_Roy has earned more than 180 awards and distinctions.

www.provencherroy.ca/en/

DESIGNERPROFILES


From Humble beginnings, Traviata has positioned

itself to be “The Best in the Business” for over 15

years.

Our ethos is to be a reliable, professional and

specialist supplier of innovative Flooring Systems

that are of unquestionable quality, to the

Commercial and Residential markets.

To this end, Traviata in partnership with our

international suppliers and customers, continues

to be fl exible and innovative.

Traviata offers a wide range of laminate and vinyl

fl ooring options to suit all budgets. Traviata is a

Corporate Member of the Southern African Wood,

Laminate and Flooring Association, which ensures

that Traviata products conform to the highest

international safety and quality standards.

SPECIALIST FLOORING SUPPLIER

DID YOU KNOW?

TRAVIATA’S FLOORING PRODUCTS CAN BE LAID

OVER MOST TILED SURFACES.

Our product range:

- ISOCORE Click Vinyl

Patented technology, 100% waterproof

Residential and commercial

- Firmfi t Click Vinyl

100% waterproof

Residential use

- Tru-wood XL laminate

12mm long wide board

Highly water resistant

Looks and feels like real wood

- 8mm Laminate Flooring

Quality/value for money fl ooring

Made In Germany

FLO

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Traviata Flooring is an established importer and distributor of high quality laminate and vinyl fl ooring products, boasting a national network of professional installation companies offering supply and fi t services.

Tel: 011 453 0296 • Cell: 084 504 [email protected] • www.traviata.co.za

Showroom: Unit 5, Route 24, Herman Street, Meadowdale, GautengTel: 011 434 0444, Email:[email protected] Hulbert Rd Cnr Rosettenville Rd, New Centre, Johannesburg

PO Box 39799, Booysens, 2016

www.seatsahead.co.za

STRIVE

Ramun - Page 54 Rooted in a humanistic perspective, Marcel Wanders brings back humanity in the

technocratic world of design, ushering in what he calls ‘the Contemporary Renaissance of Humanism.’ Creating a reality in which designer, craftsperson and user feel welcomed and embraced. With each new project, Marcel Wanders defies design dogma, preferring to focus instead on the holistic, romantic, surreal, archetypical, rather than the technocratic. In this universe, the coldness of industrialism is replaced instead by the poetry, fantasy and romance of different ages, vividly brought to life in the contemporary moment. Marcel Wanders’ work excites, provokes and polarises, but never fails to surprise, to celebrate and entertain. Regarded by many as an anomaly in the design world, it is his mission to create an environment of love, to live with passion and make our most exciting dreams come true.

www.ramun.com

DESIGNERPROFILES


TRADEWINDS

Inspired by the mud cloth fabrics of Mali, Timbuktu is a new dual purpose collection from

Halogen International.The five designs with their subtle,

tribal influences are available in four colourways- Denim, Charcoal, Stone and Brick Red.

Two further colourways Azul blue and Charcoal on a white background designs have been added to the collection to add a fresh, bright dimension to the mix.

Well priced and double width, this collection can be used for curtains as well as scatters and throws.

[email protected]

TIMBUKTU Collection

from Halogen International

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JOHANNESBURG SHOWROOM 14A Kramer Road, Kramerville, 2090 | 011 262 0202

WWW.COREFURNITURE.CO.ZA

A proud member of the Core Holdings Group. An ISO 9001 compliant and BEE Level 2 company.

CAPE TOWN SHOWROOM 87 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, 8001 | 021 461 9078 87

INTRODUCING BOCA DO LOBOEXCLUSIVE DESIGN


Griffiths & Griffiths, the premier suppliers of solid mahogany heritage furniture in Africa,

proudly hold an international reach due to their products’ outstanding quality, rich and luxurious finishes and unmistakably grand feel. Their solid mahogany pieces are much more than furniture, and being show pieces, can transform any room into a beautiful space, radiating timeless elegance. These are fine investment pieces and the perfect antique alternative for the corporate executive environment and stylish home.

The solid mahogany furniture is hand carved with traditional tools by master craftsmen, who replicate the exact proportions and details of quality antiques commissioned centuries ago. As quality antiques become increasingly rare and overpriced, a Griffiths & Griffiths piece is uniquely suited as an antique alternative, to create a sumptuous home, which a discerning owner will be proud of.

Griffiths & Griffiths’ talented team of experts, who have many years of experience in the decorating industry, will create the ideal style for you by combining classic pieces with contemporary finishes.

We have the unique ability of combining luxury, designer furniture with fashion.

Let us help you create the perfect atmosphere of timeless elegance in your home and corporate environment with our personalised, advisory service, whilst selecting furniture with a distinctive flair and accessories of exceptional quality, flawlessly created.

Visit our showroom at Kramerville Design Corner, Kramerville, Sandton and let us show you the way to luxury living. We deliver throughout South Africa and into the rest of Africa. No order is too big and no delivery is too small.

www.griffithsandgriffiths.co.za

TRADEWINDS

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Timeless Elegance!Would you like to create something special with Africa’s

premier suppliers of heritage furniture?

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T +27 87 8202 202

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www.blockhouseshutters.com

CONTACT US

Nationwide footprint

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Extensive colour palette

Architectural Grade Aluminium (6063)

Specifications document on request

Design options

Up to 10-year guarantee


The Miles armchair is a sculpted, lyrical statement, a form that is fluid and sensual, one that defines

structure, mass and the beauty of negative space.

“I’m massively inspired by architecture, there is a genre of architecture that is at its core highly sculptural, where the structure is rooted in the expressivity of form… so you can say in a broader context that sculpture is a major influence, I love how pure form, line, and contour possess such emotive force” says Court.

MILES is available in a range of timber finishes as well as a broad selection of leathers (also COM).

Photography Niel Vosloo

www.okha.com

TRADEWINDS

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Miles Armchair


The Amdec Group, South Africa’s leading developers of New Urban lifestyles, have been buoyed by

the outcome of the Municipal Planning Tribunal meeting held on Thursday 24 October 2019, where its R14 billion Harbour Arch mixed-use precinct was approved.

James Wilson, CEO of the Amdec Group, said immediately after the meeting, “This is a big day for Cape Town and a big day for the Amdec Group. We are overjoyed at the City of Cape Town’s decision to support Harbour Arch, and we have no doubt that this project holds tremendous promise for the Mother City. Harbour Arch will create jobs and opportunities, boost investor confidence both locally and abroad, bolster our city’s economy and benefit the Western Cape province as a whole.”

Within the context of the burgeoning Cape Town CBD, Harbour Arch occupies a strategic position at the convergence of major access roads, with easy entry points to and from the N1 and N2 highways.

Harbour Arch is set to be built on a 5.8-hectare site, with 198 000m2 of usable space and six individual towers. The site will also be home to two new hotels, to be operated by Marriott International, long-

standing partners of the Amdec Group and the world’s largest hospitality group.

Harbour Arch will create a world-class New Urban precinct, delivering multiple lifestyle benefits and creating a highly sought-after place to live, work and relax for residents and visitors to Cape Town. It will further entrench its position as one of the world’s great cities, regularly voted one of the most desirable places to visit and live.

Harbour Arch represents a massive private sector investment into the city, estimated to create at least 13,000 construction jobs. Its credentials are further strengthened by the involvement of a reputable and committed developer.

The Amdec Group are experts at

mixed-use developments. They have the vision, capital and expertise to develop on this scale. Their 30-year track record in the industry has built a reputation as the pre-eminent developers of mixed-use precincts in South Africa. They are the majority shareholder and operators of the award-winning Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, a world-class development that is a blueprint for mixed-use precincts.

The Amdec Group retains majority ownership and management control of its large-scale developments. They are known for appointing professional teams of exceptional individuals and world-class building contractors.

Work at Harbour Arch is set to get underway imminently.

TRADEWINDS

City of Cape Town approves R14 billion

Harbour Arch mixed-use precinct in CBD

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15 Hulbert Street, Genop House, New Centre, JohannesburgTel: (011) 499 0155

Email: [email protected]

At Ditto Designs we focus on locally manufactured office seating with international flair whatever your requirements, we have a wide range of options to suit your customer’s requirements for

ergonomic & affordable office chairs.

www.dittodesigns.co.za

“Local Manufacture – International Flair”


WHAT’SHOT

Power Your Sleep, Enjoy the benefits of an adjustable bed every night.Vencasa, The World Leaders in Sleep, and the home of Tempur and Magniflex, prides itself on being the trusted source of information and suppliers of brands that are trailblazers and at the forefront of the sleep industry.

We all cherish a deep, good and rejuvenating sleep – yet so many of us are sleep deprived for a variety of reasons. Did you know that driving deprived of sleep is equivalent to driving drunk – in terms of mental alertness?

Vencasa provides a customised sleep solution to help you benefit the most from your sleep time. Their range of Motorised Adjustable Sleep Systems promises to make sleeping a healthy and restorative experience! They are designed to accommodate different positions as they recline and incline in two parts, the upper and lower body.

www.vencasa.co.za

Giano, the two ‘faces’ of an exclusive accessory Depicted with two faces, Janus looks in opposite directions:

towards the past and towards the future.Just like the new “Giano” (Janus) chest of drawers in Alivar’s

Home Project collection, which not only takes its name from this ancient Roman god, but also draws upon his strong symbolism.

Designed by Giuseppe Bavuso, Giano is a bedroom accessory that’s inspired by the past, with its neo-vintage charm being defined by contemporary style.

This piece features drawers of two different sizes, designed to store clothing, and side compartments with inner shelves for small daily objects, as well as hooks to keep belts and ties well organised. Just like Janus’s two faces, two large, full-length mirrors open up and close to the sides, revealing or concealing as necessary, the two side compartments with their lacquered finish and delicate linen colour.

Yet more space is created with the central mirror, which is fixed and always visible, giving the chest top greater depth.

Measuring 163 cm high and 65 cm wide, Giano has an important presence and is made entirely from heat-treated oak, black oak and Italian walnut, upholstered with elegant leather, as are the drawers and the handles with their visible stitching and satin nickel inserts.

www.cavalleri.com

All Riquadra’s shapesMyHome presents Riquadra, a new chair collection designed by

Alessandro Stabile, who is collaborating with the brand under Giulio Iacchetti’s artistic direction.

Riquadra is the study of shapes; it is the exploration of new and exclusive configurations created through different compositions. There are three different versions, each one with a lacquered solid ash wooden structure, a soft polyurethane foam seat and polyester fibre lining which share the same design concept.

In the “purest” version, the seat becomes a perfect circle which intersects with the squared and slightly bent backrest; in the Comfort variant, Riquadra is embellished with armrests which reproduce rectangles with smoothed edges.

Completing the collection is the Relax model, a lounge armchair without armrests; this model is wider than the other two versions. The circular body is wide and it oozes comfort, just like the backrest, which is spacious and welcoming.

No matter which model you opt for based on your requirements, the end result is a formal juxtaposition in which one geometrical figure dominates the other according to the perspective from which you look at it. Riquadra collection wins you over thanks to the versatility of its design and the chance to personalise the chair fabric cover with an infinite range of colours.

www.cavalleri.com

It’s hot, it’s happening, it’s CITY!Bring the outside in with the plain

texture surface. City offers a slick edge and practicality to any quality interior, be

it Office, Hospitality or Home.

www.themillfabrics.co.za


IID

Her first significant project, unknown to her at the time, was her very own home. Ermie

spotted a run-down old house in a sleepy suburb in East London and it ignited a spark within. It was a serious fixer-upper but all she knew at the time, being a considerate mother, was that this house was livable and big enough to sleep their bustling young family of six. The rest she could work on later, and oh that she did!

Ermie’s love of renovation and décor came to life as she started to work on her new abode. She found she had an eye for potential and the creative flair to see this vision through into the beautiful reality it would one day become. There was much underlying historical beauty to the house - the old floorboards spoke to her, begging to remain a part of the household’s journey, and the beautiful bay windows longed to bear witness to the remarkable changes that were to come, inside and out. She retained and celebrated many of the original classical features, such as the grand fireplace in the formal lounge, while managing to modernize it into a contemporary, comfortable dream home that showed off her unique taste.

She was a full-time mother while also working hard to climb the beauty ranks at Avroy Shlain Cosmetics. She didn’t have much free time, but whenever she had a minute, it would be spent flicking through décor magazines. She had a

somewhat hidden talent and felt the urge to start sharing it. Stepping into a brand new industry at the age of 45 is incredibly daunting, and a challenge most people choose to avoid, but with her experience, a desire to innovate and an inspired attitude that had been building up for decades; she took the leap and her decorating career took flight. “Simple Lines” was born.

Serene. Sleek. Classic: Words that come to mind when walking into a space newly refurbished by Simple Lines. Her personal style is simplistic classic. She always incorporates varying textures, uses naturally inspired paints and tries to include pops of colour to brighten up a space. Carefully selected lamps and big rugs are a must in most rooms she decorates. Ermie feels the small tweaks

are what seem to make the most impact – a lick of fresh paint, changing the flooring, incorporating special lighting and adding accent walls make a world of difference to a tired, old space.

One of the first official jobs undertaken, shortly after Ermie qualified as a decorator, was an overhaul of Tau Game Lodge in the world renowned Madikwe Game Reserve. She took on the role gallantly, but remembers feeling nervous. She didn’t want to disappoint, being so new to the game. She learnt fast and started building up suppliers quickly. The job took ten months to complete but the end result was better than she’d ever imagined. The reaction from the client was so positive and since then, her confidence and client base has skyrocketed. She’s since gone on to work on many residential and commercial spaces and has loved working with such a diverse array of interesting people. She treasures all her relationships that have stemmed from the job, both clients and suppliers.

Ermie says: “I have been at this for eighteen and a half years and am not ready to step away from this life just yet.” She found her passion and bravely chose to make a career out of it later in life. This career now brings her immense fulfillment. The leap was worth it. Feeling inspired?

www.iidprofessions.org.za

Simple Lines by Lauren Walding

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The IID recently facilitated THE NEXT STEP workshop was hosted by their Corporate members

Belgotex and Cube Gallery, and fabulous lunches were served by Chefs in the Kitchen. Starting a business in the creative industry can be daunting. The workshop captured the essence for sound business practices, implementing viable business strategies in the interior field, knowing where to find typical legal information regarding the built environment and how to interpret the content. The purpose of the workshop was to direct new and existing entrepreneurs to ultimately implement long-term successful entrepreneurs. The course was broken down into three components:

The Design Thinking Process (DTP) facilitated by The IDEA Collective guided attendees in a practical hands-on approach to the DTP and how they can take their client’s through this process, not only to be sure that they understand the client’s wants needs and dreams but to relate in an empathetic way that builds longstanding relationships and a platform for ongoing business.

The legal component of the course was written to assist those in the built environment who needed to gain an understanding of the key legal documents pertinent to the built environment and where to find them. The intention was to familiarize attendees with the key legal role players and the key legal criteria required to practise in the built environment in South Africa.

Whilst it has become content that the

educational institutions have started to teach, not everyone was taught this aspect of professional practice in the past and the course was intended to bridge the gap. The legal changes that have taken place in the industry of the built environment need to be understood by both the registered practitioners as well as the public. To a large extent the legal structures and protocols that have been put in place are to protect the public. The IID has been working with SACAP to find solutions to the appropriate inclusion of the Interior Practitioners in the built environment.

The business component: even though people are exposed to basic business principles at design schools, students are seldom taught how to apply these skills. With the Next Step Workshop, we accentuated the most crucial aspects of managing a viable business. We focused on the identification of the ‘essence’ of a design enterprise. People needed to understand ‘what’ they really sell. We think we sell a design service but in reality we

sell an ‘experience’. The workshop focused on how to ‘sell’ a ‘design experience’ to the market in a sensible way.

The enjoyment of designing will not be enduring if the hours a designer spends working is not profitable. The secret to the success of a design business is balanced on the designer’s ability to plan his/her own ‘time’ and ‘money’. This could be achieved by establishing what your break-even point is and using this ‘secret tool’ to align your business accordingly.

In conclusion, the Next Step Workshop is structured to equip the designer/ architect/ interior designer with skills to identify his core business and align business strategies accordingly. We focus on sound financial tools to implement viable business ideas and how to design a long-term marketing plan. The IID is hoping to next facilitate this workshop in Cape Town and there will be a The Next Step workshop No 2 early next year in JHB.

[email protected]

The Next Step workshop

East London IID Ambassador Ermie Pascoe


KSA

Two big events have been on the KSA calendar recently - our Gauteng golf day and the last

networking evening in the Western Cape for 2019.

The 19th of September saw our Gauteng members gather at the Dainfern golf club for their annual golf day. We had a full field of golfers all eager to take advantage of a day out of the office, enjoying the fine weather and socialising with their industry colleagues. The event was MC’d by cricketing legend Fanie de Villiers whose services were sponsored by Sonae Arauco.

The event was a huge success and this was hugely due to the support of our hole and prize sponsors: PG Bison, Hansgrohe, Austro, Caesarstone, Easylife Kitchens, Totai Gas, National Edging, Maxima Software, Grass, Whirlpool / KIC, Optima Kitchens, Cosentino, Upper Edge Products, Morrells, Niemann SA, Sonae Arauco, Halewood, Boardmart, Dezign a Door, Whitley Hall and Just Stone.

Our winners for the day were:• Nearest the pin on the 4th – Layton• Nearest the pin on the 6th – Guy

Jenkins

• Nearest the pin on the 16th – Gareth Vermaak

• Longest drive on the 9th – Gareth Vermaak

• 5th place – team PG Bison• 4th place – Team Upper Edge• 3rd place – Team Whirlpool• 2nd place – Team Cosentino• 1st place – Team Hansgrohe

We also had an amazing response to our auction and barrel of booze raffle. Our huge thanks to Darrin and Delia and their team at Dainfern for all their efforts in helping to make this a top-class event. We look forward to next year’s event.

October saw KSA Cape Town hold their last product networking event for 2019. This was hosted by Caesarstone and Natural Stone Warehouse at Natural Stone Warehouse’s newly renovated premises. The big news of the event was the announcement that Natural Stone Warehouse would be rebranding themselves and changing their name to Continua. It was very exciting to see the unveiling of the new logo and look and feel for the company and we were proud to update their branding on the KSA website shortly after the event.

With over 180 industry people in attendance from interior designers, kitchen industry and architects, the event

was a huge success. The hosts went all out with the food and drink, spoiling their guests with a sushi and gin bar. Each guest also received a goodie bag to thank them for their support of the event before they headed home.

The 2020 KSA Consumer Guide is now well under way. Our team is busy finishing off the advertising space and the articles for the booklet, and we are making the final decisions as to which lucky kitchen member will have their kitchen grace the cover of the booklet. The KSA Consumer Guide if a popular booklet with consumers and industry professionals alike as it contains volumes of valuable information. The 2020 book will be released in print and online at the end of January 2020.

The KSA team are also hard at work preparing their social media platforms for 2020. We are excited to announce that we will be launching an Instagram

account in January 2020 and we hope to connect with consumers and industry professionals alike on this platform.

We are still working closely with SAFI and their work to create an industry master plan in the hope of overnment support for the kitchen and furniture manufacturing industry. The consulting firm putting the master plan together has begun engaging with our members to ensure comprehensive input from the kitchen industry is included in the plan.

With the industry silly season well under way, our members are all very busy preparing for year-end. The KSA office will be open till 20 December. The last date we will be able to process disputes that require a site inspection is 6 December. Any site inspections required after this date will be handled in the new year.

Despite year-end coming closer we still have several events coming up. KSA KZN will be holding their final event of the year in November. This will be a dinner at the 9th Avenue Waterside yacht club with Patrick Walker (chairman of KZNIA) as guest speaker. KSA CT will be acknowledging their members receiving industry awards at a brunch also to be held in November. We also have our last industry visit to the Eastern Cape and Garden Route where Kerryn Bailey will be checking in on our member and other industry players in the region.

www.ksa.co.za

KSA update October 2019

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Pierangelo Brandolisio, the project leader of the winning work Pet Home Collection explains: Pet

Home Collection is an ergonomic line, made by Italian master craftsmen. It is particular for the degree of research, quality of design, and constructive natural materials that ensure exclusivity of every object. Solidity, function, and beauty are the relevant elements of each product. Every object of the collection has pleasing features for animal habits and instincts, and meets the aesthetic needs of interior design.

PRODUCT DESIGN

Design is a culture of living with pets. Each product originates from an inspiration, an emotion, from travel annotations, from the desire to create products dedicated to animal attitudes, and at the same time to satisfy the concept of beauty, and then to be expressed in a finished object. The main inspirations are born from the natural world, that is reflected in the product names, as well as the historical-cultural references, indigenous cultures, the design of the 60s.

Pet Home Collection is an ergonomic line, made by Italian master craftsmen. It is noteworthy for the degree of research, quality of design, and constructive natural materials that ensure exclusivity of every object. Solidity, function, and beauty are the relevant elements of each product.

The interactive ease between animal and object arouses unique emotions thanks to their intrinsic characteristics. The products have their own autonomy, so they easily fit different environments and styles of our homes.

Pet Home Collection

By Pierangelo Brandolisio

Tunnel: Width 270 mm x Depth 880mm x Height 940 mm

Cat60: Width 240 mm x Depth 630 mm x Height 940 mm


PRODUCT DESIGN

Twenty years of experience in the world of architecture and love for detail have lead the architect. Pierangelo Brandolisio to give life to new experiments. A continuous and constant research has allowed him to develop completely innovative products for the specific needs of our four-legged friends, based on the concept of ergonomics and beauty. A fundamental research tool is the constant observation of animal behaviour, which comes from everyday life with the cat and the dog.

The Bronze A’ Design Award is a prestigious award given to top 10% percentile designs that has exhibited an exemplary level of greatness in design. The designs are judged by a panel of three different judges which is composed of Academic, Professional and Focus Group Members. The designs are evaluated with score normalization to remove any biases and are voted on aspects such as

functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, fun details, technology, and any other specific points that could be considered, each of these points are further weighted for different jury groups.

Pet Home Collection was realized by Architect: Alessandro Da Rold

Photography / Elia Falaschi / Paul Croes and Inge Nelis / Lisa Tramontina

www.brandodesign.it

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Dune small: Width 950 mm x Depth 530 mm x Height 130 mm

Baco: Width 400 mm x Depth 830 mm x Height 960 mm

Kanak: Width 830 mm x Depth 150 mm x Height 640 mm


COMMERCIAL INTERIOR

design of the two elements making up the ego system, whose sinuous silhouettes accentuate the soft and sophisticated feel of the entire setting.

Opposite the kitchen block stands a generously-sized wooden table, complete with chairs that are the perfect match - in terms of “rust” hue and texture - with the ceiling lamp, the kitchen model tap, and also the padded parts of the delightful sofa set up in the corner with a view of the window.

A blend of tradition and modernity distinguishes the kitchen in this apartment, where the owners did not want to forego the functional aspects. They therefore included the very best and finest technical, styling and functionality levels in their home.

Photo credit: Matteo Cirenei

In an apartment in the centre of Stockholm, the Servabote architects practice decided to include an Ego

kitchen to further enhance the value of the aesthetic styling that distinguishes the interiors of this particular project. The surface area spans 290 square metres which were refurbished directly by the owners, who also own the architects’ studio practice and who divide their time between Stockholm and their residence in Spain. For their Swedish apartment, they picked a style that teams contemporary taste with more traditional and natural features, such as the use of wood for the

flooring and the large table placed right at the centre of the space. The bold, modern personality of the premises can be found in the choice of a stainless steel kitchen, which made it possible to include the excellence, technology and reliability of ABIMIS solutions within the project.

In the dining area of the home, all the elegance of the Ego kitchen immediately stands out, with its characteristic rounded edges that lend the surroundings a sophisticated yet at the same time bold personality. The Ego kitchen in this case consists of a single stainless steel block that supports the tops which are

incorporated directly into the module. The module is also completed with two vertical refrigerated tall units which, in order to accommodate the special requirements due to space restrictions, were custom-made to fill a corner while at the same time ensuring they remained fully functional.

These tall units are equipped with the Cold Control System, the technological innovation by ABIMIS comprising refrigerated tall units that can be fully customised. The appeal of the composition therefore stems from the use of the stainless steel finish, from the

The elegance and functionality of the Ego kitchen by ABIMIS in Stockholm

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Provencher_Roy designed the new quarters of Jérôme Ferrer’s Europea restaurant, located in the

effervescent heart of the city’s downtown. The restaurant moved to its new address in late 2018, and has distinguished itself internationally by winning at the prestigious Restaurant & Bar Design Awards in the “Americas Restaurant” category, and at the 2019 Best of Canada Awards Competition, organized by Canadian Interiors magazine. It has stood out thanks to its discreet sophistication, the richness of its materials, its remarkable cuisine and its well-thought-out circulations.

Harbouring a keen desire to refresh his menu and surprise his customers,

Relais & Châteaux star chef Jérôme Ferrer began to envision his next restaurant as a vast stage. “From these reflections would emerge the premise for the new Europea location: a grandiose space where customers could participate in an intense and moving experience revolving around food, enhanced by a stylish, timeless decor,” explains Paul-William Francoeur, designer and partner at Provencher_Roy.

Europea’s open layout facilitates orientation and getting one’s bearings. It is subdivided into different zones that lead into one another, conducive to discovery, with monumental wooden arches that delineate these spaces and their different functions. Upon entering the establishment’s hotel-like lobby, the

Europea wins the award for the most beautiful restaurant in America at the

prestigious Restaurant & Bar Design Awards

COMMERCIAL INTERIOR


client is at once immersed in the chef ’s bold and grandiose universe.

The patron then moves to the bistro: lively café by day and intimate lounge by evening, it is a sober, muted space that evokes the gentleman’s clubs of the bygone century. Next, the anteroom: a transitional space between the bistro and the dining room, it houses a cellar that is deployed over two floors and a circular

staircase leading to the mezzanine. The patron finally penetrates into the

impressive 160-seater dining room. A two-level mezzanine covers half the floor area, with five-metre high ceilings, walls entirely in wood, ornate mouldings, enormous glass windows, and, as a showpiece, a singular carpet inspired by a work by American photographer Ashley Woodson Bailey. The heart of the dining

room consists of an open kitchen, amply fenestrated, that enlivens the space and Everything had to be delivered on a very tight deadline. Indeed, between the initial meeting with the client and the delivery date, a mere 10 months elapsed. The space chosen, at 1065 de la Montagne, formerly housed a small, two-storey restaurant and a large vacant space. It was necessary to merge these two sections into a cohesive whole. The designers took the time to carefully study the circulation patterns of wait staff and patrons in order to fully leverage the space and optimize its functionality.

Provencher_Roy, working with various artists, created several one-of-a-kind custom pieces for the project, including furniture, lighting fixtures, wooden elements and the oversize floral carpet. In addition, the choice of noble materials, such as walnut and marble, dovetailed with the project’s initial aim: to emphasize refinement and elegance through the definition of the interior volumes, and to anchor the restaurant into its context. With their timelessness, Europea’s interiors provide a perfect setting for the pleasures of fine dining as a performance!

“A space that masterfully plays on its scale and offers the ‘quietness’ required to fully appreciate the immaculate use of materials and detailing from walls to floors to stairwell, balustrade to screens. It is both ultra classic and modern, its cool, uncluttered corners and passages giving off an air of cool, confident grandeur,” said Leigh Robertson, Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Decoration Magazine (South Africa) and judge at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, when rewarding Provencher_Roy on October 3rd.

Technical sheet• Location: 1065 de la Montagne,

Montréal, Québec, Canada • Client: Jérôme Ferrer / Groupe Europea • Year: 2018 • Carpet: Shaw Hospitality • Lighting: Lumenpulse and Absolux

Lighting • Natural marble, natural stone and

ceramic: Ciot • Wooden floors: Mirage • Photography: Laurent Guérin

www.provencherroy.ca/en/

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COMMERCIAL INTERIOR

Window Treatments


Often overlooked, window treatments can have a huge impact on the way we read a

room. They have the ability to frame a view or cosset the person within the home. Thankfully, the range of options available is ever expanding. Once reserved for practicality and used only for privacy or ventilation, contemporary window coverings can block harsh UV rays and glare, protecting furniture and floors, they can offer both views and privacy in one, as well as comprehensive security.

Gaining in popularity, roller blinds are a clean and contemporary option for shading since they’re inconspicuous and their neat profile suit the clean lined aesthetic of modern homes. Their ability to block sun (protecting furniture) as well as offer views in the case of sheer styles is impressive and the range of colours and opacities suits a vast number of applications.

Thankfully, sustainability has a growing place in the window coverings industry today. Multiple award winner Eco Essence by Coulisse is leagues ahead thanks to the brand’s ground-breaking use of 100% recycled PET bottles. It’ll help to know that for every square meter of Eco Essence roller blind woven fabric that

is manufactured, 11 plastic bottles have been recycled and used.

This year’s Product of the Year at the WCMA (Window Covering Manufacturers Association) awards was given to Rollerfold by Hartmann & Forbes. With the blind’s dual focus that suits those wanting traditional folding

Roman blinds as well as those after the seamless operation of modern roller systems with a bead-chain, Hartmann & Forbes is certainly moving with the times. We love that the brand uses renewable natural woven fabrics with low to no VOC’s for their luxurious, organic look as well as their sustainability benefits.

WINDOW TREATMENTS

An Open and Shut Case.

by Mila Crewe Brown


WINDOW TREATMENTS

Always revolutionizing the industry, Hunter Douglas recently launched their Track Glide shades to much acclaim, winning themselves Best New Technical Innovation prize at WCMA. Ever tried opening a set of French doors with shade blinds above them? Designed specifically for doors and windows that swing, or tilt-and-turn in the case of European fenestration, this is a genius honeycomb shade system that is fixed to the frame itself and thus will not obstruct the opening and closing process.

Timber shutters remain the mark of the Mediterranean. Originating from countries like France and Italy, they have been celebrated for their ability to offer ventilation, shade and privacy interchangeably in one package. Moreover, they channel a relaxed and traditional aesthetic, one that spells beach house or Tuscan villa. Even the shutter stoppers available these days, particularly the cast iron versions, nod to the simplicity and craftsmanship of past eras.

Modern shutters take this offering one step further with none of the maintenance of timber. Made from aluminium, these

shutters are a fantastic bridge between the look and the durability. Engineered wood versions are an even closer cousin of traditional shutters for those wanting the wood look. There are a vast number of companies in South Africa who specialise in these window treatments, such as American Shutters and Plantation Shutters to name a few.

And then there’s the game changer: security shutters, which have done away with the need to forgo beauty for safety. Consumers, particularly here in South Africa, are able to sleep easier at night thanks to the sturdy bolt locking mechanisms and solid aluminium construction that these shutters offer.

Last, but certainly not least, curtains cannot be overlooked. They’ve taken their fair share of judgement as the dated option, but the best decorators and designers know that a well-made curtain in a beautiful fabric brings a dose of softness to a room that no other window treatment has been able to achieve. The more generous, interlined and fuller versions will bring a sense of luxury and warmth to the home while sheer fabrics have a breezy romanticism to them. A combination of the two can also be achieved by using a double rail, where a heavier curtain is hung separately in front of a sheer one, allowing the user to open or close whichever is desired. dw


Perfect Fit® is a revolutionary system that enables window blinds to be fitted perfectly onto most double

glazed windows and doors, with no holes drilled into your uPVC frame.

Blind Designs’ has also developed a magnetic system to allow Perfect Fit to be fitted to even more types of windows, including aluminium and wooden frames.

(The magnetic frame is secure and easily removable to allow for cleaning.) Perfect Fit Konnect uses magnetic strips that, when fitted to the window, secure the blind into position

The unique Perfect Fit blind fits neatly onto the window and enhances your privacy because there are no gaps down the side of the blind.

The Cellular fabric is available in light filtering and blackout fabric options,

the Perfect Fit frames and headrails are available in three colours; White, Silver and Anthracite

The incredibly efficient cellular blinds not only look great but also help keep energy costs down. Their unique honeycomb structure creates a thermal barrier between the room and window to provide additional insulation.

The blind is operated by hand and has no cords or chains that make it child and pet safe, it can be configured as a top down or bottom up application. The Cellular Perfect Fit can also be adapted for skylight applications.

www.blinddesigns.co.za

Cellular Perfect Fit Blind

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WINDOW TREATMENTS

Conference Centres


Business meetings and conferences in South Africa are big business – and the Meetings, Incentives,

Conferences and Exhibitions (Mice) industry is growing at a rapid pace. High-level conferences covering just about every industry, issue and cause are all the rave, luring a growing number of delegates from all over Africa as well as from the rest of the world.

This was acknowledged by former Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom earlier this year when he pointed out that “all signs are that the industry is growing rapidly. One of the most reliable tests of this statement is the fact that new conference centres are constantly opening and that there is plenty of money being invested in the industry.”

Recent research commissioned by the South African National Convention Bureau shows that the country hosts about 1 million business-events delegates every year, and that this tourism sub-sector alone supports some 250 000 jobs directly and indirectly. The Meetings Africa 2018 conference furthermore revealed that business tourism has already contributed

a hefty R115bn to the South African economy.

To further boost growth in the industry and maintain South Africa’s status as a preferred conference and business events destination, it is vital that planners and venues stay abreast of industry trends in every conferencing area, pundits agree.

Floor plans, capacityWithout a proper floor plan/layout, a

conference or any other business event may simply end in disaster. On the other hand, when designing a conference floor, there’s really no need to reinvent the wheel; you can look at a few of the most common, most popular and most successful plans and layouts of similar events in the recent

past and incorporate them in your own, according to some seasoned planners.

Before even thinking about a venue, an exact needs list should be drawn up. First and foremost you need to determine the amount of space that the event will in fact require, the number of delegates, including keynote speakers, that are likely to attend

CONFERENCE CENTRES

and the most appropriate and practical seating arrangements.

The movement of attendees and staff during the course of a conference, for example to breakaway rooms or to view exhibitions, etc. is another important consideration. Other set-up requirements such as banqueting stations, staging and audio visual, which may reduce the overall space, also need to be considered carefully.

If you lack even one of the above, there’s a good chance your conference is going to wind up saddled with an inefficient floor plan.

Technology, equipmentGone are the days when simply meeting

customer expectations was acceptable; going forward, technologically speaking, it will be critical to completely ‘wow’ attendees, delegates and guests.

As an ever-growing number of attendees use social media to live-tweet or post interesting insights online as they’re heard, excellent cellphone reception and the fastest possible Wi-Fi connection are absolutely essential. While a number of global operators have already started launching their fifth generation (5G) wireless networking technology services, South Africa is lagging behind in this regard. Only when more spectrum is licensed to them by the communications

regulator ICASA, will the more established mobile operators in the country be able to launch 5G services.

Besides online event registration - which is quite common practice these days - it is expected that on-site registration providers will increasingly start using smart technology such as Facial Recognition (FR) to reduce event check-in times.

Features offered by dedicated apps and software, for example chatbots enabling live polling, Q&A functions, online surveys,

virtual suggestion boxes, networking (delegates getting to know each other), matchmaking (pairing attendees with like-minded individuals), analysis of content sharing and interaction patterns, and gamification are also continually being expanded and set to become mainstream due to their wide-ranging functionality. (https://congrex.com/blog/conference-technology-magnify-impact/)

Likewise, virtual or augmented reality (VR/AR) technology is increasingly being used to offer interactive experiences such as sneak-peek style venue tours, step-by-step venue directions, delivery of remote speeches or even virtual attendance.

Wearable technology, such as smart watches, wristbands and badges, is also expected to further evolve, aiding enhanced interaction. A prime example highlighted by Swedish meetings expert Bibi Rydbacken was the device used by Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election when audience reactions and emotions to her nomination were monitored and measured via their bracelets.

Furniture:Lightweight, ergonomic stacking

chairs that promote good posture and enhance focus and concentration as well as freedom of movement during meetings and conferences, are increasingly the preferred conference seating option. Likewise, conference tables should be lightweight so that they can easily and quickly

Big business... and growingby Wilma de Bruin

Above - The Mill Fabrics’ Retro range. This 40 colourway collection is suited for conference, auditorium and theatre seating; hospitality, corporate and residential purposes. Retro is inspired from Scandinavian design to emphasize clean and pure lines. Its Soil & Water Repellent treatment and 75% Recycled content will put your Conference Centre on a global standard!www.themillfabrics.co.za


be assembled and stored. But they should also be comfortable and steady to enhance the use of mobile equipment, notebooks, etc.

In the past, all too often conference centre furniture was of dubious quality and primarily designed simply to fold away with ease. Not these days! Besides ergonomic design and aesthetic appeal, conference tables and chairs of the highest quality and durability are available to cater to all the needs of even the most fastidious conference delegate.

Food & beverage

In an increasingly health-conscious consumer environment, special dietary requests are the new norm, while the focus is firmly aimed at ensuring that all attendees’ and delegates’ dietary requests are well catered for. Moreover, specially prepared meals must be just as nourishing and appealing as all other menu options. In fact, many venues offer vegan, gluten- and dairy-free menu choices as standard. Specially prepared meals must also be appealing as well as nourishing.

Likewise, beverage options should cater for all tastes and health preferences. In fact, it is expected that tomorrow’s customers will want an even larger variety of healthy and green food and beverage choices for breakfast, lunch, dinner and breaks. (http://www.iacconline.org/iacc-blog/conference-trends-2019-what-you-need-to-know)

In the final analysis: as the conference industry continues to evolve and grow, conference organisers, planners and venues will need to adapt accordingly and deliver – or miss the bus.

LightingAn elegant indoor design with

appropriate lighting will set the right tone for any conference or meeting.

As different activities such as making presentations, taking notes and chatting take place in meeting and conference rooms, you will need a control system and a control panel to change the lighting according to the different lightning needs.

Dimmable (brightness changeable) lighting is a good option for conference halls, so that you can reduce the brightness of the lighting during a presentation and draw attention to the speaker, while also providing enough lighting for the attendees/delegates to take notes. During video presentations, you can simply switch off the lights, which will increase the visibility of the screen and attract attention.

FlooringLike in other heavy-use areas, the

flooring material installed in a conference centre needs three things above all else: durability, beauty and ease of maintenance.

Because of their aesthetic appeal, required durability as well as environmental credentials, carpet tiles, for example, are a popular choice.

Other options when it comes to high-traffic flooring are concrete, vinyl and hardwood flooring, all of which have their unique advantages for different types of business and conference environments.

Air conditioningWhether you need a cool breeze on

summer days or warmth during winter, conference venues at comfortable temperatures make it easier for everyone to focus, therefore sufficient air-conditioning is another must-have.

CONFERENCE CENTRES

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With 82 years of providing locally manufactured chairs and 15 years of desk manufacturing,

Geo Cloud has become renowned for providing efficient furniture solutions for office and home working spaces since 1937. As the largest privately-owned chair manufacturers in South Africa, Geo Cloud pride themselves on delivering ergonomic efficiency and functional flexibility to any work space, for optimal employee productivity.

While following the latest European furniture trends, Geo Cloud’s top-of-the-range desking and seating ranges are locally manufactured, offering high-end quality with a high economical value. Perfectly suited for clients with specific requirements, Geo Cloud manufactures custom-made office furniture solutions from their expansive 10 000m2 factory in the industrial heart of Benrose, Johannesburg. Only the best components and materials are used in the manufacture of the desking and seating ranges, assuring buyers of high-end office solutions with a trusted quality 10-year guarantee.

Geo Cloud’s key focus has been in creating productive work spaces for industrial corporate environments. More than just pretty faces, their modern desk

and chair ranges are not only aesthetically appealing, but have been crafted for ergonomic comfort.

Geo Cloud’s range of GreenTag certified office chairs is changing the game of eco-friendly furniture. As one

of the world’s most robust, trusted and widely recognised ecolabels, Global GreenTag identifies the best eco-products within the market. This new eco-friendly accreditation is an addition to the long list of benefits of Geo Cloud chairs and can be specified on green building projects.

Beyond supporting companies with ergonomic efficiency, Geo Cloud supports the country’s economic efficiency. As a proudly South African Level 3 B-BBEE company with over 150 local employees, Geo Cloud has invested in the upliftment of the country and its people through job creation and local manufacturing. This means that when you support Geo Cloud, you can rest assured that you are supporting the local economy as well.

www.geocloud.co.za

Manufacturing office furniture

locally since 1937 82 Years of Office Space Solutions

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The pace of life online is now met by an equal expectation for work-life balance becoming both

a health and success imperative. South African estates, and not just inner cities, are waking up to the demand.

The answer lies in providing people with environments and opportunities that allow for enriched working behaviours and deeper control over the work/life balance. It lies in creating spaces that allow for people to explore their own ways of working while giving them the tools they need to work more efficiently.

With up to 75% of the workforce by 2025 taken-up by the millennial generation, many leaders are starting to redefine what work-life balance looks like. In South Africa, the rise of the residential estate may be unique to the climate and culture, but it also introduces a unique

opportunity. It is a chance to blend the stylish and secure living environment with lush scenery, running trails, bike tracks, lakes and typically beautiful South African vistas, with flexible and dynamic workspaces that allow access to home and business on demand. Instead of employees leaving their estates, sitting in stressful traffic, arriving in traditional offices, dealing with traditional workplace stress, and sitting in traffic to return home, they simply walk across the road.

It’s a concept that has clear precedent in the rising trend of people working from home or small businesses adopting flexible workspaces as their professional base of operations. It just takes the idea one step further. Imagine going to work without having to dodge taxis and 4x4s – instead, the commute is a short cycle or stroll across gardens and landscapes to an open, flexible workspace on the residential estate, but designed for the professional business and person by

WALLSCONFERENCE CENTRES

SA development responds to the

‘Gig Economy’

The latter may once have been considered a hippy trend introduced by people wielding crystals but science has proved that consideration wrong.

Burnout has become an officially recognised disease, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its International Classification of Diseases database in 2019 and cemented as an accepted condition affecting the lives of employees and the productivity of organisations. Described as a syndrome, WHO says burnout comes about from ‘chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed’.

The first Chief Mindfulness Officer (CMO) was appointed in the USA in 2015 and one of the world’s most high-powered law firms, Dentons, appointed their own CMO early in 2019, with Amazon, Nike

and Google also hot on the mindfulness trail. The goal is to create workspaces that are conducive to productivity while reducing stress and improving quality of life. These mindfulness officers and the mindfulness programs used by many organisations share specific qualities. They focus on where you eat, on physical exercise, on meditation, and on visually appealing spaces. They also have proven results in building confidence, enhancing decision making, creating stronger teams, and driving positive wellbeing.

In Somerset West, a new development ,Eastwood at Somerset Lakes, is introducing a concept called the Eastwood Club that blends secure estate living with bike tracks, running trails, picnic spots and lakes with the modern requirements of the thriving business.

The Club has hot desks, boardrooms, fibre connectivity and workspaces with views, it is also within travelling distance of homes and entertainment areas that allow people to take a break in natural surroundings. Managers, gig economy workers, entrepreneurs and startups can all use the space to build their businesses while simultaneously achieving that elusive work/life balance. Over and above affordability, tenants can network, run, cycle, meditate, and enjoy meals in an area that’s known for its outstanding natural beauty. They can also do so without traffic, fighting for parking, wrestling with politics around the half-empty water cooler, and the stress that comes with the daily commute. Prices start at R850 000.

As more and more organisations become aware of the importance of providing the right working conditions for their employees, estates that provide this level of holistic living and working are opening new opportunities. Many South African businesses are entrenched in traditional systems and processes, but as science steadily gains confidence within the corporate arena, attitudes will change and workplace trends will adapt. Defined as the workplace of the future, estates are now creatively integrating business hubs to provide residents with secure, relevant and modern working spaces, becoming a mark of innovative spirit for locals which caters for work and professional lifestyle living at its best.

www.eastwoodlife.co.za

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WALLSCONFERENCE CENTRES

With over 30 years’ collective experience in the manufacturing and assembly

business within various business models from Furniture, Hospitality, Automotive, Agri and Armoured protection vehicles, together with our own design in tooling and product formulation, Cubic DeZign has filled the gap to end user / customer, in delivering turnkey solutions. From concept to final product Cubic DeZign is capable to assist and deliver specific requirements. Without the standard brick and mortar business, Cubic DeZign embarked on an E Commerce approach to serve a wider range of customers together with face to face approach. In collaboration with the manufacturing facilities situated in Rosslyn, Cubic DeZign can offer our clients something Unique, with vast experience in various product deliverables. Recent addition to the stable is a display venue situated in Raslouw Centurion where certain products can be viewed.

Cubic DeZign specialises in stylish furniture that excels in both design and functionality. Affordability is

deeply rooted within the DNA of our organisation and plays a major role in the design process. Our products are perfectly suited for any requirement, their simplicity and elegant radiance making them highly versatile and usable for a vast range of occasions. In addition, our products are multi-functional, with them innovative linking device ensuring superfast and stable results.

Our products include soft seating, armchairs, seating elements, workstations and décor. All these elements can be combined with each other to create a tailor-made arrangement. This allows Cubic DeZign to lend itself to a variety of activities such as meetings, separate quiet work and lounging.

Variable workspaces, open office environments and informal meeting spaces are more and more part of the modern office environment. With its extensive and high-quality ranges, Cubic DeZign can respond to these developments.

Technique, design and our values are the key elements that guarantee Cubic DeZign quality. Our product range has a

high local content produced, generating careers for our workforce. Our client base is Architects, Hospitality Venues, Laboratories, Corporate Offices, and personal clients. We endeavour to assist small niche businesses, in achieving their goals through our dedicated team. Cubic DeZign is a Unique business.

www.cubicdezign.co.za

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What makes this business so UNIQUE.

Glass


GLASS

A s an innovative and magical material that has an impressive range of properties and uses, glass is an

essential component in a whole range of products that we use, or are exposed to in our day-to-day lives.

Manufactured by the application of massive amounts of heat to sand or quartz, glass is an amorphous, inorganic, homogeneous, transparent or translucent material that can be moulded into any shape. In other words, glass is defined as an inorganic product of fusion that has cooled to a rigid condition without crystallising.

Because glass can be formed or moulded into any shape, traditionally it has been used for all types of vessels: bowls, vases, bottles, jars and drinking glasses. In its most solid forms, glass has also been used for paperweights, marbles and beads. In addition, the qualities of glass to transmit, reflect and refract light are enhanced by cutting and polishing to make optical lenses, prisms and fine glassware.

Glass can furthermore be coloured by adding metallic salts and can also be

painted and printed with vitreous enamels. These qualities have led to the extensive use of glass in the manufacture of art objects and in particular stained glass windows.

Indeed, across the world, glass objects and art – from ancient functional objects such as mirrors and tableware, as well as impressive stained glass windows and doors, to the most imaginative contemporary art sculptures – continue to attract attention.

Yet, while we may be well aware of the use and benefit of glass in the domestic and work environment (think tableware, drinking glasses, glass hobs and oven doors, shelves, tables, vases, partitions, balustrades, lighting, mirrors, even furniture), as well as its aesthetic qualities in the decorative and art world, most industrial uses tend to go unnoticed:

FibreglassLight, low cost, durable, strong and

impact and corrosion resistant, fibreglass is very flexible and can be made into various shapes that add to both its household and industrial value. Used in many applications, the glass fibres can be rearranged, flattened into a sheet or woven into a fabric.

Some common everyday examples of fibreglass are found in aircraft, windows, roofing, boats, and bathtubs, to mention

but a few. This high temperature insulation material also makes for a great thermal barrier, for example in the beverage/brewery industry where fibreglass grating is used for bottling liner, while its corrosive and rust resistant qualities make it ideal for use at docks and marinas where it is used as a protective barrier against corrosion and rust. Optical fibre

In the broadcast and telecom-munications industry – think phones, TVs, laptops and computers – optical fibre is used to carry information. A transparent fibre made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair, optical fibre is increasingly being used to transmit high definition television signals.

In the medical sector, the most significant and prevalent applications of optical fibre are in the imaging and illumination components of endoscopes (to collect tissue samples to test for various conditions and diseases) where multicolour laser light is transmitted through a single thin optical fibre to provide adequate illumination for viewing and colour photography. In addition, glass is used for radiation protection from X-rays (radiology) and gamma-rays (nuclear).

Innovative, versatile glassby Wilma de Bruin

Glass coated wireBesides providing thermal stability

of wires, glass coated wires also help to prevent metallic corrosion of wire. Applications for micro wire include miniature electrical components based on copper-cored micro wire. Amorphous metal cores with special magnetic properties can even be employed in such articles as security tags and related devices. Cobalt and iron base alloys are used to produce anti-shoplifting labels and security papers.

The glass-coated wire has also proven to be quite valuable in devices that are used to sense brain tumours and in medical equipment. The main consumers of glass-coated wire are the medical and automobile industries since glass coated wire is very valuable when it comes to precise sensors.

Renewable energyResins of glass fibre reinforced polyester

and glass fibre reinforced epoxy are two of

the materials used in wind-turbine blades. Combining glass fibre with a resin matrix results in composites that are strong, lightweight, corrosion-resistant and dimensionally stable.

Likewise, by absorbing sunlight and converting photons (particles of sunlight) into usable energy, glass is also a key component of conventional as well as photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. PV cells convert sunlight directly into electricity and derive their name from the process of converting light (photons) to electricity (voltage), which is called the PV effect.

When shopping for a solar panel brand, the issues at the forefront of people’s minds are usually topics such as the efficiency and wattage of a solar energy system. However, the type of glass on a solar panel really does matter and should be given due attention.

Architecture, constructionReinforced, toughened and laminated

for strength, durability, visibility and safety features, architectural glass is a first


choice of architects, interior designers and civil engineers for the construction of all kinds of buildings and houses.

Transparent or translucent glass, for example, adds extraordinary beauty to a building, on the inside as well as well the outside. Glass is also often used in building facades to visually connect inside space with the outside, creating a feeling of boundless space.

Moreover, over the past few decades, creative architects have not only optimised the use of natural light in their designs, they have designed buildings entirely of glass, such as the famous ‘Gherkin’ office towers in London, the very transparent Kanagawa Institute of Technology Workshop (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan), where the workplace connects people with the outside world as it’s situated beside tree trunks and forest-like plants, and the stunning Barcelona Hotel in Spain with its superb sea views and extraordinary amount of natural light. All three of these buildings rank among the top ten glass buildings across the globe.

What’s more: new innovations in architectural glass could be a game changer for renewable energy. By creating a glass product that is totally transparent and that gathers solar energy with no disturbance to the visual field at all, ClearVue Technologies in Australia recently caused quite a buzz in the renewable energy field. With an estimated 5,500 million square metres of flat glass used primarily in architecture and construction, the potential power that could be gathered from sky scrapers alone, is truly mind-boggling.

Conference centres provide much needed neutral spaces for cross-industry discussions

and networking. The way forward for companies, industries and nations, is crafted within these walls. Privacy and quiet are the top priorities.

It is imperative that soundproofing technologies are carefully considered and executed. It has come as a surprise to some architects and developers how much the choice of windows and doors affects soundproofing. For the Aviator Hotel and Conference Centre this was all too clear.

Set to open with a bang, they were fully pre-booked for their opening month. Located just 3km from the OR Tambo International Airport, the 3-star hotel offers premium convenience.

Weeks before opening they realised that they could still hear the planes overhead from inside the hotel and conference rooms. Enter Pieter Malherbe, MD of Teva Windows. An expert in supplying energy efficient windows to diverse clientele, Pieter knew that uPVC windows with

double-glazing would provide the required sound-proofing. He assisted the owners with the design of the conference facility, advising them to use acoustic ceilings, and installing uPVC French Doors.

The windows and doors installed at the Aviator have required minimal maintenance and continue to provide optimum insulation, sound-proofing and security. The hotel consistently achieves high ratings with online booking sites. Business is good at the Aviator Hotel and great business is being done in the peace and quiet of their conference centre.

GLASS

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Soundproof for Success

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For more information:Call 086 183 8272tevawindows.co.za

[email protected]


GLASS

A brand-new project conceived by its creator, Italian design master Alessandro Mendini.

7 STARS is a small series of seven table and bedside decorative lamps named after the Big Dipper constellation. Alongside Campanello, a small table lamp designed by Alessandro Mendini in 2013, 7 STARS will include a total of seven lamps. Throughout 2020, other small lighting performances involving world-renowned designers and architects who worked side by side with Mendini will be revealed.

To unveil this outstanding project, RAMUN presents BELLA by Marcel Wanders: the whimsical table and bedside lamp that emits a soft coloured light and delicate sounds at the touch of its cap.

BELLA creates a refined atmosphere, be it in a private bedroom, on a dining table, a hotel counter or in a restaurant lobby. The lamp offers ten different classic melodies by Bach, Chopin, Puccini, Pachelbel, as well as a ‘Happy Birthday’ song by a Swiss music box composer.

Ideal as family and acquaintance gift, BELLA is available in two kinds of patterns, crystal and plissé.

RAMUN introduces 7 STARS


Under its base, an engraved quote in Dutch by Marcel Wanders can be read: “Geef altijd meer dan men verwacht” meaning “Always give more than expected”.

BELLA is portable and rechargeable. Its charger comes as a separate item making it a perfect item to be kept around children as well.

BELLA expresses both Ramun’s and Marcel Wanders’ philosophies perfectly.

Conceived as a good luck charm for Marcel Wanders’ beloved daughter Joy, BELLA is a design piece with a great emphasis on quality. As all RAMUN products, BELLA follows international ophthalmologic guidelines and has been tested to ensure the best light for eye health.

BELLA does not produce UV, IR radiation, flicker (Flicker Zero) nor hot heat. It is RoHS certified.

Furthermore, it is also photobiological safety-certified with the best grade. This certification tests the impact of light on the human eye. BELLA’s 20 levels of brightness show that a lot of attention was paid to its functionality as well as to its design.

RAMUN: The different eye-care light founded

under the creative direction of Alessandro Mendini, RAMUN presents timeless masterpieces. The label was born out of a conversation between Alessandro Mendini and his grandson, and their shared passion for light. RAMUN lamps were originally created by the Italian designer with the intent to wish eye health and good fortune to his family, in particular to his beloved grandchild.

RAMUN has garnered enormous attention with AMULETO and CAMPANELLO. These former products are notable for their beautiful design and impeccable features. They have entered the permanent collections of several internationally renowned contemporary art museums, such as at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich (Germany), The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design (US), Groninger Museum (The Netherlands), Design Museum (Denmark), DDP (Korea) and Tsinghua University Art Museum (China).

www.ramun.com

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GLASS

On The Terrace


ON THE TERRACE

There are times that we seek company and sometimes we need to be alone. And then there

are times you need to spend among the green ones – being at one with nature, to be among the plants and trees in the outdoors... to connect.

Let’s take it for granted that we all love plants... well most of us anyway, but sometimes we want a big one to connect to. More specifically – a tree! But it is not always practical or possible to go outside when you get the “tree-hugging” feeling. So we take on the challenge of bringing them indoors... into our homes, our offices and our shopping malls.

A tree that lives and thrives indoors gives the immediate environment a decorative high point that you could hardly attain with anything else, not to mention the (green) peace it brings as a “big” plant.

Bringing tall trees (four metres and up) indoors, could be challenging but four metres has been done successfully for

The challenge of the tall ones


planting the trees should be sufficient for the first few weeks or months, but it will require some monitoring to establish the health progress of the trees in their new environment.

Some indoor trees require a lot of cleaning and pruning where others are maintenance free, but there is always some degree of care and attention needed.

And yes, there may have to be some insect management system in place… checking for bugs, nasty sap-sucking parasites or even if it’s just sweeping cobwebs off your favourite big cactus plant – there will be critters.

Most successful tree options used indoors in South Africa include: Garcinia gerrardii (Forest Mangosteen); Trichilia emetica (Natal Mahogany); a few varieties of Dracaena (Dragon Tree); most of the Palm tree species and a wide variety of Ficus tree options (Fig species).

Six point checklist summary for planting tall trees indoors:• Adequate space above and below soil.• Full spectrum light levels are a must.• Sufficient but not over-watering.• Quality fertilizer as needed.• Professional pruning & cleaning.• Insect management as needed.

www.ineeden.co.za

ON THE TERRACE

decades by the professionals, and yes – it has to be PLANNED by a professional!

Firstly you would need adequate space to bring the tall trees inside, and atriums are ideal public areas to apply this natural “oxygen manufacturing” statement. This is applicable above and below floor or soil level. How much growing up and sideways space is needed, is the big consideration here, as well as the rooting system which has to be dealt with. Roots can be aggressive but professional planning and utilizing decent big tree planting containers which are now available, could open up new tall tree possibilities not previously considered.

If not planting in an open air atrium, there will be the issue of light, and you may need to bring in additional light to supply the full spectrum in order to widen the choices of tree options for indoors.

Watering is a serious issue to contend with, but dealing with a professional tall tree company makes all the difference, as their experience will supply clear guidelines of which watering system will be the most beneficial for the specific situation.

Feeding the tall ones food to grow stronger is a must, but once again the choice of tree will determine the complexity of nutrition needed. Introducing the correct fertilizer into the soil when

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JHB +27 (0)11 386 0000 CTN +27 (0)21 521 2500 DBN +27 (0)31 263 0096

www.radiant.co.za

Let us lighten upyour project

LDL02960W Die-cast aluminium LED downlight165mm(w) x 165mm(h)3500K, 3245L

LDL05160W Die-cast aluminium LED downlight150mm(w) x 148mm(h)4000K, 3800L

KR22LED3 x 18W LED tubes. Aluminium.

595(w)mm x 1195(h)mm

Radiant Lighting offers an extensive product range to meet all your requirements for big and small architectural and building projects. Our lighting specialists can offer you professional and technical advice from specifying,

on-site supervisory to after sales service which is backed up by warranties. Lighting should not be the last thing to be considered in an industrial or retail project.

Radiant Lighting offers an extensive product range perfectly suited for your conferencing needs,

whether intimate or large scale; captivate your audience with our extensive range of stylish light fittings. A conducive conferencing, meeting and exhibition environment needs energy efficient, cost effective, eco-friendly solutions. Our range of eco-friendly LED light bulbs, LED panels and pendants

contribute towards sustainable, greener conferencing. Our lighting specialists can offer you professional and technical advice ranging from specifying and on-site supervisory to after sales services, all backed up by warranty.

www.radiant.co.za

Lighting of note

LIGHTING OF NOTE


food design – and many more. The common denominator among its myriad speakers and indeed the driving force of Design Indaba’s ethos itself, is the desire to demonstrate that ideas are universal and that the key to innovation is in the sharing of them across disciplines.

Celebrating a quarter century in 2020, Design Indaba is more committed than ever to offering a world-class event that not only equals its past stature, but also builds upon it. But this impressive 25-year milestone offers an opportunity too, to

look forward, as well as back. And while its founders reflect on this landmark with immense pride, they also consider where to next.

With the world in a period of flux - some might argue crisis - solutions-driven thinking is more important than ever. And as we usher in a new decade as well as mark this significant achievement, we will look ahead to the next era.

Design Indaba has evolved to become a hybrid Think Tank / Do Tank, ensuring that ideas surfaced on the conference

stage become real world solutions that create a better world of all, contributing to Design Indaba’s legacy of cultural invention and impact. Seeding over one hundred impact-led projects over its lifetime and poised to realize many more in the near future, Design Indaba remains unwavering in its commitment to invoking change.

Design Indaba has been built on the foundation that creativity drives progress and opens doors. In times of challenge, it can prove the key to unlocking the cures.

Events

9 – 12 November 2019

Chengdu Creativity & Design week

Chengdu Century City International Exhibition

Centre, China

www.gochendu.cn

12 – 15 November 2019

Downtown Design

Contemporary Design Fair

Dubai Design District

www.downtowndesign.com

22 – 25 December 2019

Hong Kong Interior Design & Decoration Fair

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre

www.10times.com/interiordesigndecoration-

fair

12 – 18 Jan 2020

LivingKitchen | The international kitchen

show

Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany

http://www.livingkitchen-cologne.com/

LivingKitchen

26 – 28 February 2020

Design Indaba

Artscape Theatre, Cape Town

www.designindaba.com

16 – 20 February 2020

EuroShop 2020

Messe Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

www.euroshop-tradefair.com

27 Feb – 1 Mar 2020

HOMEMAKERS EXPO

Ticketpro Dome - Johannesburg

https://www.homemakersonline.co.za

Information correct at time of going to press.

EVENTS

Design Indaba’s yearly lineup is a highly anticipated event on the creative calendar. Having

established itself internationally as one of the premier multidisciplinary programmes in the world, it consistently draws the globe’s luminaries to its stage.

But it’s not just inspiration for inspiration’s sake that the conference advocates. With ‘a better world through creativity’ as their guiding principle, founder Ravi Naidoo and his team have continually shown their commitment to positive change through design-led thinking. In line with this powerful impetus, they’ve created a legacy for including speakers in the programme whose work seeks to better the world we live in – whether through technological advances, environmental advocacy, or simply social change that fosters healthier communities.

The event can boast star-studded speaker alumni - leaders and achievers in a variety of fields – that constitute the who’s who of international design. Anyone from Thomas Heatherwick to Patricia Urquiola, Tom Dixon, Brian Eno, Yves

Behar, Jaime Hayon, and scores of other global luminaries have graced Design Indaba’s stage to share their progressive work in genres as diverse as business innovation, product design, costume design, performance art, architecture,

Better and betterDesign Indaba announces 2020 dates as it celebrates 25

years of cultural invention.


EVENTS

Johannesburg has a brand new and exciting workspace design district with the launch of The Design

Assemblage. While Kramerville is now recognised

as the city’s residential design district, this Illovo based space focuses on commercial, corporate and office design.

The Design Assemblage is a place where the creators of the workspace of the future can convene, meet, collaborate, inspire, learn, plan, build and play.

It’s a space that we hope will inspire creativity and encourage conversation; a space for knowledge shareing, business, intellectual expansion and for the meetings of enthusiasts and trailblazers and those immersed in the formal design sector.

The beautifully appointed TDA venue at 196 Oxford Road hosts a weekly programme of inspirational, transformational, topical events and activities for the design community, made up of talks, expert lectures, workshops and masterclasses. These events are free and include content: Business of Design, Future City Series and Design Tours.

The programme also supports more convivial and informal gatherings such as Wine by Design, exhibitions and installations, book and product launches and regular coffee mornings.

The aim of The Design Assemblage, which is located in an office complex that houses the Angel Shack, Inspiration Office

and ChairClub showrooms in Illovo – is to act as a catalyst to bring together the change-makers in design and to instigate creativity for designing the future way of living.

www.thedesignassemblage.com

A place to meet, collaborate,

inspire, learn, plan, build and play

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As a result, the three-day programme will continue to offer a spectrum of events that prompt people to think, and act, and from the Emerging Creatives showcase, to the daily action outside on the piazza, and of course the conference itself, the programme is designed to catalyse creativity, foster networking and inspire progress and innovation across disciplines and divides.

The conference will once again take place early in the calendar – kicking off the year with a high-octane programme of dynamic talks, exciting exhibitions and engaging workshops. It will run from 26 to 28 February 2020 at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town. Additionally it will be broadcast live via simulcast to major cities around the country, allowing design devotees in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Potchefstroom to take part in this must-attend event.

Ticket sales for the Design Indaba 2020 are officially open. Tickets can be bought through www.webtickets.co.za.

www.designindaba.com

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A recurring concept of play in the works of Gamper, a designer operating halfway between design and conceptual art, led him to dissect the material and to recontextualize it to give life to new meanings and aesthetic forms.

“Disco Carbonara” Is a further manifestation of the

profound synergy between ALPI and the world of design, telling the beauty of wood and revealing its ample aesthetic and design freedom.

ALPIA leader in the production of decorative

surfaces in wood composite, ALPI was the first company to industrialize this manufacturing process: the Alpilignum veneer, made by separating and reassembling a log of real wood, offers countless design approaches and aesthetic results.

A professional partner for large companies in the automotive and yachting

AROUND AND ABOUT

ALPI at the London Design Festival

with the “Disco Carbonara” installation

After the recent collaboration for the FuoriSalone 2019, ALPI and the designer Martino Gamper

went back to work together for the London Design Festival, one of the main international events in the design world.

The company, leader in the production of decorative surfaces in reconstituted wood veneer, contributes to the realization of the exclusive site-specific installation “Disco Carbonara” designed by Gamper, on display from 14 to 22 September 2019 at King’s Cross. The new London creative district will be, for the first time this year, a Design District of the Festival, becoming part of the most interesting addresses in London for design and architecture.

“Disco Carbonara” is conceived by Gamper as a playful temporary gateway to the new Coal Drops Yard commercial centre.

For this project, the designer has expressly chosen reclaimed ALPI wood to cover the entire structure - 10 m long and about 8 m high - composed of a fake

coloured façade that evokes in an entirely new way the lively atmospheres of the discos. By selecting waste elements that can no longer be used in production, Gamper perfectly reveals his modus operandi of deconstruction and re-contextualization of the existing, with the aim of restoring new life and value to a “forgotten” material and exploring its extraordinary potential.

The combinations of chromatic tones and variegated textures give shape to a highly scenographic geometric composition that reveals the unusual expressive language of the designer and his imaginative poetics. The installation depicts the subtle borderline between what we see and what lies behind the appearance. In fact, the project draws inspiration from the legend of the “Potëmkin Village”, a fictitious papier-mâché village built by Prince Grigory Aleksandrovič Potemkin, in the territories conquered in Crimea, to impress his lover Catherine the Great during a trip in 1787.


AROUND AND ABOUT

sectors, as well as prestigious names in product design, interior architecture and the contract market, ALPI stands out on the worldwide scene for its direct control of the entire supply and production chain, from the timber to the finished product, starting with forestry management. The firm provides a guarantee of legal and sustainable origin of the wood, and total product traceability. ALPI therefore ensures supply of an eco-responsible product.

This unique approach is based on major investments in R&D, raw materials of the highest quality, cutting-edge technologies and painstaking bespoke workmanship. Other important features include the wide product range and the remarkable ability to respond to the specific requirements of a highly diversified clientele, also through the study and development of custom solutions that can also be repeated over time for every single project.

Today ALPI – guided by Vittorio Alpi, grandson of the founder – operates in various industrial facilities employing 450 persons in Italy and over 1550 in Africa. The production of Alpilignum reached a level of 20 million square meters in 2017; the company’s products are distributed in over 60 countries.

www.alpi.it

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ALL ABOUT ART

The Karoo is a paradoxical area, dry and harsh, yet bursting with life, quirkiness and originality.

As old as time, yet tradition lives hand-in-hand with fresh ideas, where both the land and its inhabitants specialise in making something out of nothing. Sadly, time has overtaken some of the little Karoo towns, and many wear a veil of decline and desperation over their former charm. Others are flourishing with a fresh vibrancy and self-sustaining energy.

One of the jewels in the crown of Karoo towns is, undoubtedly, Prince Albert. It is set in the jaw-dropping beauty of the surrounding Swartberg mountains, which provide springs of fresh water to

feed the still-functioning leiwater system. Oozing with the authentic charm of old Karoo architecture, mostly lovingly and respectfully restored, the town has a tangible creative energy which is hard to resist.

So it is no surprise to find that it has attracted many artists, eccentrics and colourful characters, who both feed off and add to this dynamic atmosphere. Art establishments, fine food restaurants and locally produced goods abound, with plenty of delightful accommodation to welcome visitors who are drawn to this town.

One of the attractions which art lovers flock to experience is the twice-yearly Prince Albert Open Studios, brainchild of celebrated print-maker Joshua Miles, and his wife Angela. Drawing on their years of experience with the successful BBos art route in the tiny Overberg village of Baardskeerdersbos, they initiated a similar event in their new hometown, about two and a half years ago. The idea is to offer local artists a chance to attract a wider client base for their art, and to interact with art-lovers, while allowing visitors the rare opportunity to meet artists in their personal creative spaces.

It is a win-win event, which works well for both the artists and the art collectors/buyers, with the further spin-off benefit of attracting visitors and revenue to other businesses in town.

From the artists’ perspective, it brings a personal interface to the business of creating and selling art. For many artists, it can feel a little soulless, sending your creative output off to galleries around the country, never to see it again. Being present when it resonates with someone is a rewarding and inspiring motivator to further creativity.

From the art lovers’ side, the route offers a chance to see and purchase art directly from the artist. But more than that, it offers a rare glimpse into the hallowed studios of the artists, who are notoriously precious about their personal creative spaces. This is where that alchemy between materials and creativity happens. An artist enters the realm of the right-brain while creating, a zone where time ceases to exist, a solitary space where the outside world is an intruder, and a hindrance to the flow of ideas and work. And, naturally, art lovers are curious about these private spaces from which the objects they love are produced.

A delightful art route in the heart

of the KarooPrince Albert open studios

So there is great excitement twice a year, when colourful bunting and distinctive sky-blue A-frame boards pop up in front of various homes around town and between 20 and 30 very diverse artists in the Prince Albert area open their studios to the public, to share their new work, and the spaces in which it is made. Like the paradoxical Karoo itself, the range of art coming out of this small town defies cataloguing. You can find anything from ancient skills such as blacksmithing and calligraphy, woodcutting and etching, through a whole spectrum from paintings in oils, watercolours and acrylics, both traditional and contemporary, to sculpture and jewellery made from found objects, land art, ceramics, and even some steam-punk light fittings made from old Land Rover parts.

During this 4-day event, the Prince Albert Art Gallery, owned by Brent Phillips-White, hosts a few high-profile guest artists, in addition to a group show, which features a work from each participating artist. Maps of the town are available there, highlighting each open studio, so visitors can get an overview and identify those that appeal particularly to them. Leading up to the event, some of the artists offer workshops, so visitors often make a week of it and leave town brimming with fresh creative energy, and bags filled with unique treasures.

Many interior designers subscribe to the idea of “start with the art.” They will use the client’s art as the pivot point from which to build the rest of the design, and the selection of wall coverings, fabrics etc.

often hinges on a key artwork. So Open Studios is a must-see event for designers and art-lovers, who get the opportunity to spend a few days in the magical Karoo, sourcing a wide variety of high-end art direct from the artists themselves, while sampling the famous Karoo hospitality of the various eateries and charming guesthouses around town.

The 2020 Prince Albert Open Studios take place from 3rd to 6th January, 10am

to 6 pm daily, and 18th to 21st June 10am to 5 pm daily.

Visit the website and Facebook page for info on participating artists and events taking place during this time.

Prince Albert Tourism has info on accommodation, restaurants, local markets etc.

www.princealbertopenstudios.co.za

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ALL ABOUT ART

The Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett-UP) opened today (24 September).

“We’re excited,” says founding director Christopher Till. “The curators have been working for months to get the most amazing and treasured artworks to the Javett-UP from private and corporate collections across South Africa. They are now all installed and waiting to be enjoyed in this celebration of our South African heritage. It’s an incredibly special moment.” Javett-UP opens with four groundbreaking exhibitions. They are 101 – Collecting Conversations – Signature

works of a Century (a collection of 101 signature works of South African art selected from collections around the country); All in a Day’s Eye: The Politics of Innocence in the Javett Collection, guest curated by Gabi Ngcobo; National Treasures (an exhibition of significant gold pieces from the Mapungubwe Gold Collection) and more than 350 artefacts from the AngloGold Ashanti Barbier-Mueller Gold of Africa Collection from West Africa; and A Strange Thing Materialised Along the Way (a selection of quirky objects from the university’s museums). Among the works included

in the exhibitions for the opening of the Javett-UP are some of the most celebrated, admired and revered pieces ever created by South African artists. They include works by Irma Stern, Gerard Sekoto, Mary Sibande, Pierneef, Walter Battiss, William Kentridge, Nandipha Mntambo and others.

Art, Till says, is not a practice or pursuit reserved for a tiny portion of people who are schooled in fine art, in art appreciation or in reverence for priceless masterpieces that hang in respected galleries.

“Art is for everybody. It tells the story of where we come from and why we find ourselves right here, right now. The Javett-UP is, and will always be, a home for the art of Africa. In the best tradition of warm and welcoming African hospitality, the doors are wide open so all people can come and learn more about this continent, its triumphs, tragedies and its deeply layered, but fascinating complexity as expressed through African artists, both ancient and modern.”

The building itself was completed around three months ago. It’s a beautiful addition to the city, linking the Hatfield campus of the University of Pretoria to the bustling eastern district of the city. The Javett-UP bridge, that spans Lynnwood Road and houses the Bridge Gallery, has been designed to throw an ever-shifting pattern of light and Shweshwe-like

shadow on Lynnwood Road and adjacent walkways.

In all, Javett-UP comprises 13 distinct spaces. They include a 117-seater auditorium, the 265m2 space (that gives the Mapungubwe Gold Collection a permanent home); a double-volume gallery; a print gallery; a sculpture deck; and a restoration studio. In time, a restaurant will open on the expansive Museum Square.

Javett-UP is born of the vision of its founding partners, the University of Pretoria and the Javett Foundation. They have made significant material investment to bring to life their vision for a thriving art centre that not only houses and exhibits the work of great and emerging African artists, but that’s also a centre of education excellence. This will be a space that invests in the future, that acknowledges and celebrates the cultures of Africa, and invites cross-disciplinary dialogue and exploration around art and expressive creativity.

The fact that the Javett-UP is part of the University of Pretoria’s research, teaching and learning resources means that this is a place not only for enjoying art. It’s a place for learning about it, too. At the Javett-UP, learning and enjoying are two sides of the same coin. Both are valued. Both are encouraged.

Professor Tawana Kupe, vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Pretoria, says Javett-UP will support and enhance the university’s academic

arts programmes by making use of collections in teaching and research. Javett-UP will also promote appreciation of the arts and make the arts accessible to the wider South African and African community. “This Centre that celebrates African artists will further our mission of providing quality higher education to our students.”

Entry to Javett-UP is free until 29 September 2019.

Background to the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett-UP)

Over the years, the Javett family has built a significant collection of South African art, increasingly with the ultimate intention of making it widely available to the people of South Africa, primarily in support of education, through the establishment of an art centre of some kind.

It was through the intervention of the late fine art expert and auctioneer Stephan Welz that, in 2012, Michael Javett was introduced to former Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Pretoria, Professor Cheryl de la Rey, and her advisor Professor Antony Melck, and the seeds for the Javett-UP were sown. An independent institution, the Arts Centre Foundation, was then established jointly by the University of Pretoria and the Javett Foundation in 2014, in order to bring the Javett-UP to life, and oversee the work of the Centre into the future through its board of trustees.

Christopher Till, who has extensive experience in the arts sector (having been the director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe and the Johannesburg Art Gallery, and founding director of the Apartheid Museum) was appointed as director.

The Javett-UP aims to grow the creativity that epitomises the continent through permanent and temporary exhibitions, multidisciplinary events and performances, and extensive research and educational initiatives.

With one foot firmly rooted in academia, and the other embedded in the public, the Javett-UP makes the art of Africa accessible, relevant and engaging.

The building

The building was designed by award-winning firm Mathews & Associates, and is a metaphorical and physical representation of “bridging” the University of Pretoria and the city of Tshwane.

“This is a place where people can learn about how Africa’s artists express the myriad, com-plex narratives of the continent and contribute to conversations about the continent’s past, present and future.” Christopher Till, founding director

www.javettfoundation.org.za

The doors of Javett-UP are open to the arts. And to you.

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Prospect Park ApartmentBrooklyn, United States


This apartment had a beautiful view of Prospect Park but the room configuration failed to take advantage of its location. The apartment was reconfigured to collect shared spaces together

and to provide for flexible uses. Living spaces were consolidated into a single large open room overlooking the park with a flexible living/dining space that could be cleared of furniture to allow for yoga sessions led by the owner. The master bedroom was expanded into a suite of layered spaces to create a small media room and a more secluded sleeping space. The kitchen was relocated at the center of the space with visual connections toward both family spaces. The daughter’s room enjoys a corner park view.

Prospect Park Apartment

Brooklyn, United States

The material palette of white oak, white and pops of colour keeps the spaces light and airy. The kitchen is a mix of Ikea cabinets and custom oak shelving with a Popham tile backsplash. Countertops are a mix of oak butcherblock and Caesarstone around the sink. A terracotta-painted barn door separates the master suite from the living spaces. In the master suite, an open wood screen separates the sleeping space from the social space and conceals the television when not in use. The daughter’s room glows from walls painted a pale yellow. Recessed and wall mounted wood shelving adds warmth to the tiled bathroom. Bleached white floors tie the spaces together and reflect light.



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About BAAO ArchitectsBAAO Architects is an award-winning multidisciplinary practice based in New York with a focus on exploring spatial and material practices that adapt to the evolving relationships between inhabitants and the built environment.

BAAO has worked in the public and private sector on a range of projects that include ground-up private residences, interiors, and institutional and retail projects in the New York area, regionally, and internationally. The firm has engaged with a range of private and corporate clients including The Hudson Companies and Trinity Real Estate as well as developers for residential units in Inner Mongolia,China.

www.baaostudio.com

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Firm ArchitectsAmsterdam, Netherlands



Firm ArchitectsAmsterdam, Netherlands

Investment manager/developer Amvest had a new goal with its new office, to become a best practice of its own development qualities. Showcasing the epitome of how a good office, embedded

in a good environment, has to relate to its users. To reinforce that image, Amvest started pioneering in its own backyard, a former industrial zone turned into a residential area.In this time where work and private life are increasingly intertwined,

an office is more than a place of desks and chairs. More than ever, the influence of the working environment begins to emerge. We are aware that a well-designed environment leads to higher productivity, lower absenteeism and, more importantly, a higher degree of connection with the identity of a company. These insights stand at the basis of the interior design; an environment that exudes both the identity of Amvest and at the same time embodies the best possible working environment.

This project is anything but standard; everything is specifically designed and tailor-made. This applies both to the beautifully designed exterior by Rietveld Architects and to the well-crafted interior by Firm architects. It starts when entering the building, stepping into a 20m2 elevator, doubling as a meeting room complete with furniture, plants and art. It travels slowly between levels, allowing visitors to capture the views. An important effect of this choice is it encourages the use of the central staircase for the employees.



What’s unique about itKeywords for the design are sustainability, flexibility and innovation. These form the basis for everything from floor to ceiling. For example, the sustainably produced carpet looks like a fabric version of a concrete floor, referring to the old concrete factory that stood on site. The informal areas have recycled oak herringbone flooring uniquely developed for Amvest. It has a magnetic layer, ruling out the glue and therefore enabling reuse in the future. The specially developed ceiling panels serve as cooling and heating and provide acoustic enhancement. A healthy environment is also stimulated through the use of many plants, and a roof garden with WiFi access and different areas to boost working outdoors.

The plan is open, light and encourages interaction. The custom-made workplaces are height adjustable and all situated on the same floor to stimulate interaction. Set up along the double-height windows to allow an optimum of natural daylight, ensuring a minimum of additional lighting needed. In the less lit and therefore more intimate middle areas, there are different uses to accommodate the various activities of work. On the top floor, special benches and tables are integrated into the ceiling and offer instant seating capacity on the push of a button. This flexibility is also found in the upholstered mobile wardrobes, serving as acoustic screens. This high level of customisation is a leading element of the design and is used as a decisive, stimulating and moving part of the interior.

www.firmarchitects.com

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Architects Of JusticeCube Route Exterior



The new head office for Cube Route Logistics is located within the Boundary Park Industrial Park. This pet food distribution company, offering logistics services countrywide and into

southern Africa, is housed in an AAA grade office block with warehousing and e-Pet store facility.

The architecture of the office building was designed by award winning Architects Of Justice (AOJ) to impress onlookers travelling along the prominent Malibongwe Drive. Once at the facility, customers coming to the e-Pet store and retail shop engage with the very striking façade of this easily recognisable facility.

“This non-conventional façade is a rationalised version of what was initially proposed to the developer and the tenant,” explains AOJ’s Alessio Lacovig. What is visible in this ultramodern structure is an array of exposed concrete elements warpping around the building, posed against colourful wall infill panels which are broken by glass curtain walls. “Our vision was to present a raw concrete exoskeleton, filled with a pristine envelope containing a modern, clean and sleek interior. The aim was for juxtapositions of raw and polished, dull and vibrant. These contrasts make for engaging, striking and memorable architecture.”

The dominant feature of the façade is the set of staggered, angled, off-shutter concrete columns. Lacovig notes that while the tilting of columns doesn’t change structural integrity, it does add interest. These columns are completely structural (unlike often seen decorative approaches), as they connect the bottom perimeter down-stand beams and the top up-stand beams with some further intersecting the first floor slab. The more conventional approach is to have a beam and column structure behind a glass facade, yet in this case the concrete structure was made part of aesthetic in a very honest approach, driven by purpose, not only aesthetics.

“The tilt on the columns was kept the same, a 15 degree angle, to ensure enough visual variation, without excessive complexity in formwork construction and casting,” notes Mike Rassmann from AOJ. Constructed predominantly with local labour, the multi-stage pours proved challenging but certainly contributed to much needed skills development in the construction sector. “The effect created an enormous amount of value add to the building’s visual quality, and the spatial quality and the aesthetic internally, without affecting too much the budget and the project timeline,” explains Lacovig. “We had to be realistic and inventive given the site limitations.”

Concrete was, from the outset, the architect’s material of choice to complement existing structures on this site and as a contrast to the aesthetic impact of the other buildings, which have respectively a black masonry façade and a glass and spider-fitting façade. The specifiers also saw the value in using concrete because of the available knowledge on site. “It is also a relatively conventional construction method, which meant the reduction and elimination of material variation, different trades on site, difficult junctions and potential errors. This resulted in a simplified use of materials that reduced the project complexity as well as the timeline and was a more appropriate fit to the client’s budget models,” note the architects.

Architects Of JusticeCube Route Exterior

Rassmann notes that the project presented an interesting scenario, as there are two companies that run internally – the logistics company for pet products and an e-Pet store. This new head office is the amalgamation of two Johannesburg operations, with the third still located in Durban. “We had to incorporate these two companies within the one building, and while they are essentially the same company, they needed to appear as separate due to product branding. Part of the solution was splitting the two by floor and aligning the corporate identity accordingly.”

AOJ were involved in both the architecture and interior design of the Cube Route project. “The advantage of having one company dealing with both, is that you have a better sense of understanding the conceptual design of the building, and can bring that thread right through into the interior which gives you a better product at the end of the day,” says Rassmann. The interior doesn’t disregard the exterior, and vice versa. “The way interior and exterior intersect is very conscious,” explains Lacovig. “We haven’t hidden the concrete structure within the building; you can see how the ceiling edges have been stepped back to expose the underside of the concrete slab and you see the concrete beams perforating the ceiling and glass façade to intersect the columns and support the floor slab, making the expression of the structure very visible from the office interior. The complete project measures approximately 12 000m2, comprising one level of basement parking, premium office space of 1100m2, as well as the warehouse and e-Pet store facility totalling 9600m2.



The warehouse portion of this logistics facility had to be well laid out to accommodate the multiple daily deliveries via a fleet of 30 trucks which travel to approximately 800 outlets in South Africa. An array of drive-in bays, a large covered side curtain loading area and dock-leveller loading bays offer a variety of vehicles the space required for an efficient operation. A pilot office was also designed for the warehouse to offer managers an almost 180 degree view of the yard activities. It also acts as a central access point for warehouse staff, thereby increasing safety and control, and includes change rooms and ablution facilities on the upper floor and administration on the ground level. “While translucent sheeting in warehouses is standard,” says Lacovig, “we created a natural light band at around 9m high to keep the translucent sheeting above the racking level. To allow even more natural light into the facility we introduced a monitor at the centre of the roof design and included a newly patented system, one of the first to be installed, featuring a translucent smoke vent which, unlike conventional solid louvres, will let light in and also flap completely open when smoke needs to be extracted.” This duality in solutions thinking is a prime example of what AOJ and good architecture is about.

From a sustainable point-of-view, general sustainable practices were followed, as in all of AOJ’s projects. LED lights, low energy air conditioning systems and materials which have longevity and low maintenance were specified. Correct orientation and the use of double glazing on the façade – coupled with correct proportioning of this façade – ensures a passive control of natural light entering the building, as well as the thermal temperature gains and losses, improving energy efficiency. In addition, the façade’s design assists in reducing the noise from the busy road alongside the office. “We kept the size of the west façade small, thereby limiting exposure to the harsh afternoon sun and having a smaller ratio of glass to solid walls,” states Lacovig. “We specified performance glazing to effectively reduce the heat coefficient and give occupants more comfort. Furthermore, as an alternative to ambient control, and as a manual override, the windows can be opened so the space can still be ventilated naturally if needs be.”

Roughly 50-60 people will be employed in the main office space, and the architects note that the business almost has the feel of a large family business. “Very early on in the process we were informed that the old office had a tiny kitchen space, but that was where all the office staff interacted. In this new office, we ensured that the staff have enough space to gather, work in a café-style area and even cook meals together. Cube Route’s head office is a busy yet relaxed environment where people are encouraged to bring their pets to work, so it really was a project where we could explore the boundaries of the modern workspace,” says Lacovig.

This emphasis on aesthetic appeal – coupled with a human-centric design approach – has resulted in a unique, eye-catching building which deviates from the norm of a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to head office design.

www.architectsofjustice.com

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TAIL OFTHE DOG

www.designingways.com

Jacarandas, imported into South Africa from Brazil in the 19th century, line the avenues of

the older suburbs of Johannesburg and Pretoria. We, the residents of these cities, have a strong love-hate relationship with these long-suffering guardians of our streets.

They are aliens, water leechers, creatures of untidy habits, and, as such, the curse of gardeners and pool maintenance men. They lose their leaves late so look straggly and anaemic into the winter. Armies of ants have attacked them and stripped their bark, leaving them scarred and disfigured. This wave of sentiment came to a head in 2001 when they were banned outright. City fathers decreed that no more jacarandas could be planted, as part of a drastic water-saving drive. It

was even suggested that they all be removed, which was met with a wave of indignation, until it turned out to be an April Fool’s joke.

Humans, ever supporters of the underdog, clandestinely nurtured and guarded the saplings that grew in the depths of larger suburban gardens, some even actively planting them on pavements in protest. Gradually the tide of resentment abated, and the ban allowed existing trees to stay, and the draconian indigenous brigade was routed.

And what a rapturous thank you we get at the beginning of every summer. A jubilation of jacarandas flower their hearts out in our cities, and the streets become tunnels of deep lavender, with a matching carpet of blooms below, that pop and

crackle festively as you drive over them. You start to appreciate that some trees have darker flowers than others, and the surprise of seeing two small white jacaranda trees in Jellicoe Avenue gives me a jolt of delight every year. The green tree canopy over Johannesburg’s suburbs has large smudges of this particular purple throughout October, which imperceptibly fades, to be replaced by green as the leaves come out.

I thank the early town planners for their vision, for having created over the years such a magnificent backdrop to our streets and pavements. Jacarandas symbolise wisdom, wealth and rebirth. Long may these huge sentinels remind us of this legacy.

Gill Butler

Jacaranda Mimosifolia


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The antithesis between light and darkness, between Sun and Moon, is everlasting, like part of

the same flow of existence.Many allegorical meanings have been

given to the necessary relationship between two elements that each exist as a consequence of the other. The new lamp Alchemie T, designed by Giulia Archimede for Catellani & Smith, explores this dimension whose components are diametrically opposed but always, and for ever, connected.

Alchemie T is an exquisite sculpture composed of two discs: one made in brass, the other in alabaster – the latter used for the first time in a lamp by Catellani & Smith – both lying on a base made of Medea limestone.

With a light touch of the hand, the brass disc slides on the track-base. The alabaster disc, which hides an LED light source in its frame, is fixed to the base and cannot be moved.

The sculptural lighting object Alchemie T lights up by pressing the brass button in the base.

The interaction between light and shade reaches its peak the moment when

the two discs overlap and almost mimic an eclipse.

The movement of the discs, by changing both form and light intensity of the lamp to create a new ambience in the room, provides a unique user experience.

Alchemie T is able to create a connection between object and user, who is made to feel at ease and finds a connection with the space around him.

‘Love that moves the sun and other stars’ Paradiso, XXXIII, v. 145’

Alchemie TDesigned by Giulia

Archimede for Catellani & Smith

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BRIGHT IDEAS


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To truly appreciate the sophistication of ShutterGuard , close them up and leave home. Not only do their stylish, rustproof design finish off any window or door, their innovative construction provideshigh-end security. You can use them internally or externally; they’re available in custom colours*and have a 10-year warranty. *Ts and Cs apply.

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