Michael Chandler’s rabbit hole

WORDS Maciek Dubla PHOTOS Michael Chandler

Just off Cape Town’s infamous Long Street, you’ll find the new Chandler House, a peculiar space that without warning draws you down the rabbit hole of designer, art historian and artist Michael Chandler’s mind.

Without a sign on the street, how is one to know what world stepping through a shop door will take you to? The feeling you get stepping into Michael Chandler’s new venture, Chandler House, must surely be the same Alice felt when she fell down the rabbit hole and landed in Wonderland – complete bewilderment that suddenly transcends into a feeling of curiosity and awe.

While both hapless visitors and dedicated fans will enjoy the ceramics for which he has become known, Michael has imagined Chandler House as more than just a shop, but rather a cultural hub for like-minded people both locally and internationally.

“I don’t want to call this an emporium because I dislike the word and the way it’s been overused. This is kind of like the meek sister of ‘emporium’,” Michael says.

Surrounded by his personal collection of paintings and a table laid out with the ceramic tiles that he paints daily, he goes on: “I want this to be a place where I can be experimental, but also bring in work from other talented individuals, things I have found, liked and believe in. I also want to invite people together to voice their opinions around topics that interest them. I want this to be more of a destination than a shop.”

The decor direction for Chandler House is taken from artists who have influenced Michael’s career and inspired his work. You’ll find some Henri Matisse – his love for fabrics and colours – and Gertrude Stein – a friend of all the great modernists, though for Chandler it’s about the way she hung her art on her Paris walls. Italian artist Giorgio Morandi’s love for light, bottles, ceramics and nude palettes also features greatly throughout the space.

It is quite possibly the building itself, however, that has caught Michael’s heart and his love of bygone eras. “The space is inspired by Sir John Soane and Louis Michel Thibault. They were both architects from the second half of the 18th century and are largely associated with their love for plaster and stone architectural elements,” he explains, modestly showing off his gargantuan historical background.

Describing the plaster pillars specially molded for Chandler House’s office and studio space, he goes on: “When designing our space, I tried to imagine what Thibault’s studio might look like at the time. It has resulted in our shop being a delightful plaster folly. Its really a fantasy of mine come true.”

Just a few weeks old now, Michael’s fantasy must surely be one of Cape Town’s best-kept secrets – although probably not for long. As a space to play and experiment, extinguishing the preciousness of his work and giving people a chance to relax and have fun Michael has created a place for everyone to enjoy a touch of the magical creative past that informs his work. 

Chandler House is not a shop – it’s a rabbit hole!

Chandler House, 53 Church Street, Cape Town, www.chandlerhouse.co.za